Seeing as there is no current thread for cycling news ....

Anyone watching the Giro d'Italia? Fascinating race this year, unusual breaks, terrible weather, Wiggins going well with the mountains to come this weekend. [url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/20052010/58/angry-evans-hits.htmlCadel Evans having a hissy fit and tip-tapping with another rider.[/url (apologies for the advert)

Armstrong - Crashed out of the Tour of California as well as Landis pointing the finger re: alleged doping, not a good week.

Wiggins looked out of it by stage 4 so the fact he's now back in contention shows what a brilliantly unpredictable race it's been thus far.

Blow for Britain though as Dave Millar has abandonned today's stage having been going well until today.



Landis has zero credibility. Accusations that LA doped are nothing new but he can still point to zero official positive tests despite being the most tested athlete ever. Only going to be one winner here.

Not managed to get into the Giro this year yet. Hopefully will get into it over the weekend with the mountain stages starting. That's when the fun starts.

Still can't believe the importance put on Basso - particularly when Liquigas are holding back Nibali

I take it you saw Sundays stage, Basso riding everyone off his wheel, just like the good old days, absolutely brutal day. [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8699676.stmNot a good day for Wiggins but the big Tour remains his priority.[/url

Didn't see Sunday's stage but he's not the cyclist he was pre-scandal IMO

Hope Wiggins is saving himself for the big one though always the danger that he's a one season wonder when it comes to the Tour De France.

That's the worry I have too. He looked to be at his absolute physical limit on some of those climbs last year, he was clinging on more than anything, and I'm not sure there is any more to give.

It was great for him last year as nobody really saw him as a contender - he wasn't a marked man so to speak and I guess it will be much different this year.

I'll be interested to see what team Astana put out in Le Tour. Will Vino decide he's going to ride it as well as having El Pistolero in the team?

Re: Wiggins: He's 30 yrs old now so maybe has another 4 or 5 seasons riding at the top level, podium would be his target this season but as stated, he will be closely watched now. Think he is using the Giro as a warm-up, get some mountain km's into his legs, should stand him in good stead for the less arduous climbs of Le Tour.

Vino will make a good lieutenant to Contador and nothing more, wether his ego can tolerate that is another matter.

I suspect as said that Wiggins is using the Giro as a warm up but also had one eye on tomorrow's TT.

Re: Vino, no chance of him not being at the TdF unfortunately.

Bloody hell I'm not alone



I thought the Giro was absolutely superb this year. Leaky Gas were just sublime in the way they controlled the peloton and destroyed it completely once the big hills started. Initially I thought that Basso was holding back Nibali as the stages developed but once on the big stuff he just became awesome.

I was quite disappointed for Cuddles but he didn't have a hope with the team he had around him. There was no support for him when he needed it. I presume we'll see a different BMC once they have Hincapie and co back in with Evans for the TDF. However I'm not expecting much from them to be honest.

As for Sky they started well and were unlucky not to hold the pink jersey for a few days longer thanks to Dutch road furniture. On the whole though they had people in the breaks, worked hard to try and get Henderson in when they could but are clearly lacking on all fronts for anything serious at the moment. I think Wiggo will be lucky to make top 10 in the TDF GC this coming July. But it's good to have a "brit" team, all though I know alot of the cycling community are looking forward to watching them go down in flames

Wiggins in [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8763911.stmpeak condition[/url. According to this he went into the Giro a little overweight so it's clear where his priorities were throughout that. Armstrong has also, unsurprisingly, been confirmed as the RadioShack team leader having denied it earlier in the year. Difficult to see past Contador though.

Hard to see past Contador but would love to see Schleck Junior get closer than last year and obviously Team Sky

Saxo bank look like the strongest squad to me. 8 Brits riding I think: Cavendish, Wiggins, Thomas, Cummings, Dave Millar, Charley Wegelius, Jeremy Hunt & Dan Lloyd. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... iders.html Good warm up for Team Sky yesterday. 1-2-3 in the nationals meaning Geraint Thomas will sport the GB champion's jersey at Le Tour. There's an hour long preview on ITV4, Friday at 7PM.

Saxo bank look like the strongest squad to me. 8 Brits riding I think: Cavendish, Wiggins, Thomas, Cummings, Dave Millar, Charley Wegelius, Jeremy Hunt & Dan Lloyd. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... iders.html Good warm up for Team Sky yesterday. 1-2-3 in the nationals meaning Geraint Thomas will sport the GB champion's jersey at Le Tour. There's an hour long preview on ITV4, Friday at 7PM.

Looking forward to Le Tour although like many, it's hard to see past Contador. Hopefully a good show by the Brits; Wiggins for possible podium, Cav for green jersey, Millar for a breakaway stage win or two.

The Radioshack team could be interesting to watch if Armstrong is not on his mettle, a few quality G.C. riders ready to seize upon any weakness.

no chance, if armstrongs an hour down and radioshack have someone in the top 5 he still wouldn't have the team ride for anyone but himself. i wouldn't be suprised if ASO kick him and the rest of the team out due to more doping accusations though

i'll miss the itv preview on friday, unfortunately i'll be on the ferry to rotterdam

I think you'll be quite happy to miss the preview in that case! Enjoy.

Looking like ITV4 are covering the last couple of hours of each stage live.
Not that up on the cycling but love Le Tour, ever since watching Robert Millar flog himself in the mountains mid-80ish. Fantasic stuff.

Yeah the same here, not a huge cycling fan but the Tour de France is one of the great sporting events, a must see for anyone who loves sport

Every stage is live on itv4 and eurosports. Bloody fantastic



With frank winning the tour of Switzerland does this now mean that he will ride for his younger brother? His answers on the team presentations yesterday could be interrpreted as such IMO.

A fully focused Saxo Bank with 1 rider aiming for 1st place would seriously hamper AC. Andy could do it as long as he develops a selfish streak and tries to not Frank on the podium as well like last year.

Podium will be Alberto, Andy and Ivan Basso.

I think day 3 could be the best days riding especially if the weather sets in and gets the pave wet and slippy. Some of the GC hopefuls could have their hopes destroyed before we even reach the mountains if they get caught up in a bad spill somewhere.

Hope Rogers does well this year.



Four things:
[1 It's not about credibility, it's about the truth.
[2 Lance is not the most tested athlete ever
[3 Lance has [url=http://velocitynation.com/content/interviews/2009/michael-ashendenfailed tests[/url
[4 [url=http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/11/8-things-on-lance-armstrong-from-other.htmlcozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/11/8-things-on-lance-armstrong-from-other.html[/url. No. 11 is the one which convinced me from Oakley employee Stephanie Mcllavain. [url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/landis/instantmessage.htmlVaughters[/url I trust as well.

I used to believe him and it would be nice to, but I'm very prepared for Landis's claims (at least some of them) to be true.

Fun and games in the TdF today. Never seen anything quite like that!

Cav's pre season must have really been affected.....he's forgotten how to steer his bike!

The whole peloton being bliocked was hilarious.