posted Jun 19, 2008

Kirchen won today's stage in the Tour de Suisse, he's also taken the overall lead.

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posted Jun 20, 2008

Kirchin looked very strong yesterday in Verbier. Frank Schelck would have been the overall leader if it wasn't for his crash into the ravine (search for it on a well known video site), his brother Andy isn't looking too bad either (shoe-in for White jersey in my opinion) Luxembourg 1-2-3 for le tour....!?

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posted Jun 25, 2008

no Cummings or Geraint in Barloworld although Chris Froome has been selected.

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posted Jun 26, 2008

Personally I'm choosing to see Froome as Kenyan (yes I know he's got a British licence, but come on: a Kenyan rider in le Tour, when are you ever going to be able to say that again?).

Actually, getting back to the Geraint/Thomas discussion:
> a serious contendor in the cobbled classics in the years to come <
Sorry, but could someone explain to me what this is based on, because I really don't see him as anything other than a sort of Wiggins mk 2; time-triallist / prologueist and lead out domestique. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I hasten to add, but it does leave me slightly puzzled as to where all these hopes and expectations come from.

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posted Jun 26, 2008

LLB - GT has won the Paris-Roubaix U23 race, and is the kind of powerful rider type who can ride well on cobbles. I'm not saying he will win P-R or Flanders but if he develops as he is at the moment there is no reason why he can't be a contender in future, look at Stuey O'G he started on the Track like GT, and thats who he should be looking to emulate.

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posted Jun 26, 2008

Thanks igmeister, still not convinced mind but at least I see where people are coming from.

Also just seen the Dave Brailsford interview. Sounds interesting but I have to say I'm quite sceptical. If there was a team by 2010 I really can't see who's going to get them up climbs, especially as he didn't seem incredibly keen on Millar and didn't even want to mention Wegelius. Not that those guys are going to win le Tour, but one climber just isn't enough and if you look at guys like Schleck, Gesink and van den Broek (and that's just the BeNeLux [approximate size: Scotland]) it's not as if there won't be competition. Having said that, British cycling needs this to make sure it doesn't seem strange to be talking about British contenders; I just wonder if he's not trying too much too soon.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

llbrit. can you please consider the fact that GT has only just turned 22! i think he is more than an outstanding classics and short tour prospect. if you doubt it, compare his palmares with other great cyclists at the age of 22 and see how his world titles, grand tour and amateur race record stands up. I think you will be hard pushed to better it!

all being well, there is far more to come from GT....

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posted Jun 27, 2008

> if you doubt it, compare his palmares with other great cyclists at the age of 22 and see how his world titles, grand tour and amateur race record stands up. <

Right first off: I didn't say he was crap, I just said I haven't seen him do anything to convince me he's any more than a slightly-better-on-the-road version of Wiggins. Again: NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING, but I can't see either of them cleaning up the Flemish classics. Love to see them prove me wrong, but not expecting it.
Oh, and I had a quick look at his palmares (probably missed lots etc. etc.) and it's pretty much all track titles and the 2006 Fleche du Sud, a race won 5 years before by... Bradley Wiggins.

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posted Jun 30, 2008

Looks like it's 3: Millar, Cavendish & Froome (and Backstedt of you want to add another 1/2).

Thomas & Wiggins were never going to do it but should be back in 2009.

Of the rest it appears Hunt (C.A) and Wegelius (LIQ) have not made the 9 or reserves.

Nor has Hammond (COL) though I've no idea how close he ever was.

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