UCI WorldTour and other pro cycling nonsense 2011

Doesn't he know he's only supposed to *train* on a heavy bike?

(I was reading Cav's bike is a kilo heavier than the minimum because he needs it strong)

Significant LULZ:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13052011/58/tour-de-france-uci-angry-doping-index-leaked.html

If Basso is a three, doens't that mean everyone further up the list is 100% deffo on PCP and miaow miaow?

God knows why Geraint Thomas is considered such a high risk

schleck 3
armstrong 4
contador 5

looooool were barredo & popovych gurning all the way to paris?

cancellara 0

yes but what about the engines-in-bikes index eh

Are there any former dopers in the 0 category? I reckon they should each start on a minimum of 5 whatever their passports say.

today's Giro winner de Clerq was a UCI elite 2 last year:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/who-is-giro-stage-winner-bart-de-clercq_172960

that was brilliant

supreme from bertie

Yep, the race has finally burst into life.

Rumors around the peloton is that the race for 2nd is quite significant as Contador's results could be officially erased when verdict is made next month.

I have deliberately avoided picking Contador in my fantasy cycling team in case he suddenly gets disqualified.

It's snowing heavy in Lake Tahoe right now for start of Tour of California.

Journalists are leaking that the riders will protest the opening stage due to ice/snow conditions.

No Passo di Gavia parallel it seems.

wait... was andy schleck not just riding the giro?

Nope

apologies, scratch that. crossed wires
xp

dug the rapha amgen tour of california vids; UK coverage is on tonight on eurosport at 10pm

Current conditions gallery:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/road/2011-amgen-tour-of-california-pre-race-a-casey-b-gibson-gallery-2_173366

It looks like a go. Abbreviated route today, they took 1 of the 3 KOMs out of the mix, should be cold, wet and slippery.

Leopard-Trek neutral 1km rollout to honor WW#108.

And with that, they cancel the stage LOL.

impressed with rujano's epic sufferation trying to hold contador's wheel.

less impressed with getting out of bed for a cancelled stage!

Just watched a couple of videos of the descent of Crostis. Absolutely, comPletely and utterly ridiculous, safety nets or not.

link?

impeccable from sky

indeed.

crostis vid that i haven't watched yet: http://youtu.be/Zv-j9c7dmzg

crostis descent is gonna own

why is cav even riding this giro? hardly any hunting ground for him at all

I'm guessing sponsorship obligations but would have made more sense for him to ride the ToC IMO.

hehe

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/jobhosle/100_0357.jpg

The news on Saturday was that Cav avoided being time cut by just 30 seconds on stage 9...

But now the rumors are that he was holding onto the team car more than a few times during the final 5km.

zappi, your pic isn't working for me.

aww, its just a pic from the live coverage today - Italian shop called SEXY SHOP gave me childish giggles

ah okay, it's showing up now! thanks!

MarkCavendish Mark Cavendish
http://twitgoo.com/2a2hj7 Look! Look! Oh! Oh! Oh! Look! Look! A sprint! A real sprint! For sprinters!

also: egg on my face

Movistar's Ventoso calling Cav out (in Spanish w/ Italian subs):
http://bit.ly/kEKTZU

HTC not making friends across the globe in the ToC either:
http://bicycling.com/blogs/thehub/2011/05/17/mike-friedman’s-tour-of-california-stage-2/

way 2 go ilx coders! :-/

kinda seems like, y'know, when it gets shitty and someone has tbrr and pull that break back, guess whose gonna have turn themselves inside out? those eight sorry protour bastards.

uk protip: ITV4 are showing the ToC live if you don't have eurosport

Question for britishers/aussies, does this work?

http://tracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

I am on ipad :(

Yes (xp)

(but I have Eurosport anyway)

are team jelly belly the least /euro/ of all pro cycling teams

How come it appears to still be winter in California?

I think haitch will be pleased with an interview with Ben Jacques-Mayne (was in break yesterday, his twin is in the break now) when BJM mentioned how impressed he was with the Aussie cycling scene and feels they are the cleanest and fittest cyclists in the world.

Once again I am forced to say fuck US sports producers and their refusal to play ambient noise under the commentary

are team jelly belly the least /euro/ of all pro cycling teams

― taylor, the creator (cozen), Tuesday, May 17, 2011 2:11 PM (1 minute ago)

They are the oldest current US team! They also have Jeremy Powers, who is one of the best CX riders in the world which should count for some euro-currency.

How come it appears to still be winter in California?

― Que sera sera... (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Tuesday, May 17, 2011 2:11 PM (1 minute ago)

the ToC seems to be cursed as there is rarely nice weather during the stage race, whether they hold it in Feb or May. They are inexplicably skipping SF this year so I think this is a bit of regional retaliation of meteorological terrorism.

the leader's jersey is howfin

Eurosport describe it as Custard accident.

"Gold" never photographs/films well, eh?

Let's ask Footon-Serveto. :-O

Friend just joked that next time we have a drought, gov officials should contact ToC organizers.