I really wish Eurosport would cover the early season semi classics. Failing that I need to get access to Forza. Listening to the Velocast it sounds like you can pretty much understand Flemish most of the time anyway.

Great win by Cav. Once of his stated aims down for the early season - two to go in Milan - San Remo and Ghent - Wevelgem. I wouldn't bet against him.

Some great racing on at the weekend with Paris-Nice starting and the Strada Bianchi. I think Tony Martin/Bradley Wiggins will win Paris Nice.

I just google the name of the race when its not on eurosport and it always brings up streaming site for races. Easy peasey

Race to the Sun . That will teach me to remove wiggo and add sprinters for the first day.

Great racing by Wiggo to hit the breakaway as the peloton got ripped to shreds by head winds/ cross winds. There were groups all over the place

Valverde looking very handily placed in Paris-Nice. Sky will probably look to let today's break hoover up the bonus seconds, but it's a risky strategy.

Saw some brief highlights of the Strade Bianchi after the end of the Paris-Nice stage. Cancellara just effed off into the sunset with 10km to go and TT'd it to the finish. Incredible stuff, especially as he was cornering quicker than the commissaire's car and only some smart driving avoided taking him out.

It is Wiggins race to lose but the poodle haired pr@ck Valverde knows how to win a race.

It needs Sky to pull on a brutal climb in the way they did during the Vuelta last year. Valverde knows how to attack and take time.

Enough time to neutralise the final TT? Not sure. My heart says Wiggins but my head says Valverde.

Paris-Nice: as you were. Wiggins 6 seconds clear.

Westra from Valverde and Wiggins. Brad remains 6 seconds clear, but from Westra now with Leipheimer slipping to +10. Then comes Valverde at +18.
Little opportunity tomorrow or Saturday, so all on the ITT on Sunday you'd think

Interesting day today with De gent allowed to have a 11 min lead and probs take the win. Levi 2 mins off the back of the peloton.

Tomorrows TT should be a stormer

WOAHHHHHHHH levi crashed big time trying to catch up

Chapeau, Bradley

'Hat' indeed to Bradley. Looking good and a genuine Tdf contender.

I really thought Valverde would be too much for him but he and the team are wearing the GC favourite tag very well.

Moving on - who do you fancy for Milan San Remo? For Cav it is a stated aim so that means he must win right?

I think Sky will win this race either with Cav or EBH. We'll just have to see who is in position.

Here's hoping!

Well I was completely wrong. Cav in poor shape and EBH not there in the final reckoning.

What we did see though was a great edition of the race. Liquigas pushing hard as soon as they realised Cav was in trouble. Good attack by Nibali, Cancellara giving it his best shot and Gerrans with a great win for Green Edge.

Bring on the northern classics.

Tom Boonen is in cracking form this year. Saw his win in the E3 on sporza on Friday but missed yesterdays Gent-Wevelgem. Who would bet against him for Tour of Flanders this weekend?

I didn't see the race yesterday but I wonder what Cav was up to. I've seen a comment from him via Twitter saying that he should have been in the front 10 and not the front 25. I'd have thought he would have known that in a hard classics race you need to be near where your competition is. He wasn't the only sprinter to get caught out.

The head of Yorkshire’s tourist board has officially confirmed that the region has bid to host the 2016 Tour de France, going up against Scotland, Barcelona, Venice and Berlin in trying to attract the race. Read more: www.velonation.com/News/ID/11473 ... z1qPiccegN

The head of Yorkshire’s tourist board has officially confirmed that the region has bid to host the 2016 Tour de France, going up against Scotland, Barcelona, Venice and Berlin in trying to attract the race. Read more: www.velonation.com/News/ID/11473 ... z1qPiccegN

Quote ="StuMain"The head of Yorkshire’s tourist board has officially confirmed that the region has bid to host the 2016 Tour de France, going up against Scotland, Barcelona, Venice and Berlin in trying to attract the race. Read more: www.velonation.com/News/ID/11473 ... z1qPiccegN'" It'd be nice. The big concern when this was first mooted was the state of the roads.

Quote ="StuMain"The head of Yorkshire’s tourist board has officially confirmed that the region has bid to host the 2016 Tour de France, going up against Scotland, Barcelona, Venice and Berlin in trying to attract the race. Read more: www.velonation.com/News/ID/11473 ... z1qPiccegN'" It'd be nice. The big concern when this was first mooted was the state of the roads.

I'd be pretty sure that money would suddenly be found if they got the yes vote.

Looking forward to the weekend and my fave race of the whole year. Can't believe I'm working so will have to sky + it then make sure I don't go online at all on sunday so I can watch it when I get home at 9pm.

I'm really hoping EBH can do it. Had G not been aiming for olympic glory I'd have expected him to be one of Sky's main men after last years performance and have cheered him on all the way.

As it is I'll show my ass to the pope if it's not a boonen , spartacus 1,2.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland I'd be delighted if the start of the Tdf comes to either location although I'd be happier if it'sup here. The roads are a lot better after all......

I too will be missing the race this Sunday (unless the in laws have Eurosport in Waterford) and am gutted. Happy to be back in time for my favourite race the weekend after.

Winner - Boonen. Can't see past him at the moment.

Watched [iA Sunday In Hell[/i last night. Good viewing for a cycling fan ahead of Paris-Roubaix if you've not seen it before.

Wow - how good is Tom Boonen this year? After a few disappointing years he is back with a big old bang. I backed him last year to come back and when he didn't I'd pretty much given up on him but.......wow!

He's out of my team for Amstel Gold this weekend but I wonder if I will come to regret this.

As for everyone else.

Well BMC need to thank Ballan for saving their blushes but at least have a chance with the Ardennes classics to see if they have paid over the odds for Gilbert (as well as Hushovd).

Sky are showing that when plan A doesn't work they don't have a plan B.

Tony Martin got [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/10191387Hoogerlanded[/url

Hit a car with his bike?

Bloody stupid thing to do.

Or Flecha'd, strictly speaking

Semantics, schemantics...

To be fair to Sky they had 4 riders in the break, you could argue that they should have rode it slightly differently. However no one else was going to help chase Boonen down with them being so strong in the chasing group. The main problem they had was that EBH was goosed. Flecha actually looked strong, but he has no kick to win a sprint. Next year will be different if Spartacus is fit and also they (sky) have a fully ready G man. You will see a very different race. G man will win a classic sooner rather than later IMO.

As for BMC your right Ballan has spared them. However they now have chuckles to bring them back some glory and I'm pretty sure that Gilbert has been saving himself for the Ardenne classics and an eye on winning a few early stages of the TDF which are prime for him and his abilities.



I wonder if this could have a knock on affect with on bike confidence? I'm pretty sure it won't , but you don't know and this could be a big bonus for Wiggo in both TDF and the olympics.

I doubt it - he seems a pretty determined type of chap, to say the least. It is a setback in his preparations for the big races in the summer though.