2,331 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige”

1. Pretty sure Contador would of if he could of… god it’s as awful as it is impressive!

2. @Geraint

   @wiscot I agree with you totally. Part of the build up to the latest shitstorm at Sky was Froome’s stated preference for Porte over Wiggo as his 2IC at the tour. To me, that smacked of buddy-ism rather than picking the best rider. He was picking his roommate over a rival. Porte’s performance today will throw the whole lot back up in the air, and make it easier for Wiggo to go to the Tour. Given the backlash against Wiggo not getting picked for a Tour that starts in Britain, I wonder if Porte was told to have a bad day today, then no-one loses face when there’s a U-turn. Wiggo has already made a good case with his performances at P-R and ToC.

   @xyxax Absolutely. Froome had to produce more watts for longer than everyone else there, and still won. Pretty impressive stuff.

   More conspiracies in that post than I’ve had hot dinners! Don’t you love how the simple act of professionals riding bicycles can be so full of nuance and witchcraft? Strong work!

3. The Tour will be fun. The way Contador hugged Froome’s wheel (and didn’t respond when the others attacked), I’m guessing he’ll spend the whole week sitting right behind Froome and watching him. I don’t think he wants to win the Dauphiné the same way Froome does. Instead, he’s building confidence that he can hang with Froome on the hills, while developing a tactical log of how to maximize his attacks on Froome when they count (watching his rhythms and weaknesses). When was the last time you saw Contador attack so little?

4. @VeloJello

   @wiscot He has said he’s speaking to “differeent people”. I can only imagine if money were an issue then the likes of OPQS and Tinkoff would be the only teams with the financial input to pay… Orica have stated they have no intention of taking on either Wiggo or Cadel, and are pinning their future Grand Tour hopes on the Yates et al.

   That’s not accurate. OGE have said they are interested in a GT contender but haven’t had formal talks. They (Matt White) have also said Wiggins would be a good fit.

   Tinkoff is often mentioned, but Contador is probably a better GT contender than Wiggins is ATM.

   Giant may be a feasible option?

   Giant have no money, and don’t have the team to support a GT rider.

   Personally, I’d love to see him throw caution to the wind and join IAM or Belkin…

   Belkin don’t have the budget plus Wiggins isn’t Dutch. IAM might have the money, but they don’t have the GT support team.

   I’m surprised no one has mentioned that-team-that-has-shown-they-will-always-pay-big-stars-more-than-anyone-else. Their only proven GT contender showed in the Giro he’s too old, and their young gun hasn’t delivered (yet). They have a good GT team, and are an English speaking team, too.

5. If you haven’t seen the finish of stage 2 of the Dauphine yet, do yourself a favour..

   Remember Contador vs Schleck in the 2010 TdF? It’s like that..

6. @Geraint

   @wiscot I agree with you totally. Part of the build up to the latest shitstorm at Sky was Froome’s stated preference for Porte over Wiggo as his 2IC at the tour. To me, that smacked of buddy-ism rather than picking the best rider. He was picking his roommate over a rival. Porte’s performance today will throw the whole lot back up in the air, and make it easier for Wiggo to go to the Tour. Given the backlash against Wiggo not getting picked for a Tour that starts in Britain, I wonder if Porte was told to have a bad day today, then no-one loses face when there’s a U-turn. Wiggo has already made a good case with his performances at P-R and ToC.

   @xyxax Absolutely. Froome had to produce more watts for longer than everyone else there, and still won. Pretty impressive stuff.

   True, Porte hasn’t had the best season so far, but I think trust has to play a part in Froome’s thinking. Let’s not forget that Porte buried himself time and again for Froome last year at the Tour. Without Porte, does Froome win? Maybe, but Froome knows he has a man he can trust absolutely. Can he say the same for Wiggins?

   @Steampunk

   The Tour will be fun. The way Contador hugged Froome’s wheel (and didn’t respond when the others attacked), I’m guessing he’ll spend the whole week sitting right behind Froome and watching him. I don’t think he wants to win the Dauphiné the same way Froome does. Instead, he’s building confidence that he can hang with Froome on the hills, while developing a tactical log of how to maximize his attacks on Froome when they count (watching his rhythms and weaknesses). When was the last time you saw Contador attack so little?

   I think you’ve hit something there about tactics. Contador was watching (and covering) every single move that Froome made, both offensively and defensively. He’s studying Froome. Could Contador have come around? I’m not sure, but Froome didn’t ride away from him. I think that has to tell you something.

7. @KW

   @Geraint

   @wiscot I agree with you totally. Part of the build up to the latest shitstorm at Sky was Froome’s stated preference for Porte over Wiggo as his 2IC at the tour. To me, that smacked of buddy-ism rather than picking the best rider. He was picking his roommate over a rival. Porte’s performance today will throw the whole lot back up in the air, and make it easier for Wiggo to go to the Tour. Given the backlash against Wiggo not getting picked for a Tour that starts in Britain, I wonder if Porte was told to have a bad day today, then no-one loses face when there’s a U-turn. Wiggo has already made a good case with his performances at P-R and ToC.

   @xyxax Absolutely. Froome had to produce more watts for longer than everyone else there, and still won. Pretty impressive stuff.

   Without Porte, does Froome win? Maybe, but Froome knows he has a man he can trust absolutely. Can he say the same for Wiggins?

   Excellent points of course, but my take on it is that Sky first and foremost want to win the Tour and care less about which rider wins it. Clearly Froome is their ‘Plan A’, but taking Wiggo along provides a credible ‘Plan B’ while also scoring them brownie points with a major stakeholder group – the British public.

   Brailsford had no ‘Plan B’ for the Olympic RR, and came away with nothing except criticism for single-minded tactics that failed to adapt to the situation on the road. He has said recently that, at this level, Plan Bs rarely work anyway, but he has also said that Froome doesn’t get to pick the Sky team for the Tour. I think he is going to look pretty daft if he leaves Wiggo at home and then Froome crashes on the cobbles and/or Porte doesn’t do the job he’s there for.

   Also, Sky may well have won the Giro last year* if Uran hadn’t lost time waiting for Wiggo, who was off colour and had forgotten his stabilisers. I wonder if Brailsford has learned from that.

   The question should not be whether Froome trusts Wiggo to help him win, but whether Brailsford trusts Wiggo to do as he’s told and do the best job for the team. The two are not quite the same thing.

   *who knows what Nibbles might have done under more pressure, point is that Uran would have been closer for longer, and had a better chance.

8. @Beers Thank you, sir. I don’t really believe Sky would order Porte to fail, but no harm in some entertaining conjecture, eh?

9. @Geraint

   @KW

   @Geraint

   @wiscot I agree with you totally. Part of the build up to the latest shitstorm at Sky was Froome’s stated preference for Porte over Wiggo as his 2IC at the tour. To me, that smacked of buddy-ism rather than picking the best rider. He was picking his roommate over a rival. Porte’s performance today will throw the whole lot back up in the air, and make it easier for Wiggo to go to the Tour. Given the backlash against Wiggo not getting picked for a Tour that starts in Britain, I wonder if Porte was told to have a bad day today, then no-one loses face when there’s a U-turn. Wiggo has already made a good case with his performances at P-R and ToC.

   @xyxax Absolutely. Froome had to produce more watts for longer than everyone else there, and still won. Pretty impressive stuff.

   Without Porte, does Froome win? Maybe, but Froome knows he has a man he can trust absolutely. Can he say the same for Wiggins?

   Excellent points of course, but my take on it is that Sky first and foremost want to win the Tour and care less about which rider wins it. Clearly Froome is their ‘Plan A’, but taking Wiggo along provides a credible ‘Plan B’ while also scoring them brownie points with a major stakeholder group – the British public.

   Brailsford had no ‘Plan B’ for the Olympic RR, and came away with nothing except criticism for single-minded tactics that failed to adapt to the situation on the road. He has said recently that, at this level, Plan Bs rarely work anyway, but he has also said that Froome doesn’t get to pick the Sky team for the Tour. I think he is going to look pretty daft if he leaves Wiggo at home and then Froome crashes on the cobbles and/or Porte doesn’t do the job he’s there for.

   Also, Sky may well have won the Giro last year* if Uran hadn’t lost time waiting for Wiggo, who was off colour and had forgotten his stabilisers. I wonder if Brailsford has learned from that.

   The question should not be whether Froome trusts Wiggo to help him win, but whether Brailsford trusts Wiggo to do as he’s told and do the best job for the team. The two are not quite the same thing.

   *who knows what Nibbles might have done under more pressure, point is that Uran would have been closer for longer, and had a better chance.

   Excellent commentary and anaysis sir! Yup, if Wiggo stays home and Froome and Porte fail to deliver, then the biggest game of woulda, shoulda begins. Plan B’s don’t always work, but it’s nice to have one. The Olympic RR as a case in point.

   Cav must be so happy he’s out of that team. I can see Cav taking on Tommeke as his sensei in a year or so as Cav’s sprint powers fade and Tommeke’s legs fade. Cav is made for Roubaix, maybe Flanders too with the right training and focus.

10. Tour_de_Suisse_2014

11. @unversio

    Tour_de_Suisse_2014

    Holy crap! That’s a helluva team Omega Pharma are sending! They mean business! I see Trek have both Schlecks . . .

    11.BOONEN Tom
    12.CAVENDISH Mark
    13.MARTIN Tony
    14.RENSHAW Mark
    15.STEEGMANS Gert
    16.TERPSTRA Niki
    17.TRENTIN Matteo
    18.VANDENBERGH Stijn

12. @Geraint

    @Beers Thank you, sir. I don’t really believe Sky would order Porte to fail, but no harm in some entertaining conjecture, eh?

    Exactly as stated, the sport just lends itself to it, so have at it! Loving the conjecture..

13. @Beers

    @Geraint

    @Beers Thank you, sir. I don’t really believe Sky would order Porte to fail, but no harm in some entertaining conjecture, eh?

    Exactly as stated, the sport just lends itself to it, so have at it! Loving the conjecture..

    I see Sergio Henao is back available to race.  What chance a rapid draft in if he does well in the TdS.

14. @wiscot I agree that Contador looked like he couldn’t go around Froome. It makes no sense that he wouldn’t have gone for the bonus points if he could. I also think the concern for Porte might be  unwarranted. He was right with Froome until about 5K (?) to go. Other Sky teammates were there when Porte pulled off. I assume he is just using this race to get into shape. Once he pulled off, it didn’t matter if he finished one minute down or ten minutes down, so I think he just strolled in. I’m guessing he will be fine for the tour.

15. Just out of curiosity, how come the overall has not been updated after the Giro. wondering were we are at with this, Thanks

16. @anhtony

    Just out of curiosity, how come the overall has not been updated after the Giro. wondering were we are at with this, Thanks

    My fuzzy math (and Microsoft Excel)* unofficially puts il muro di manayunk in first with 92 points, followed by;

    2. Steampunk (88 points)

    3. blue (86 points)

    4. Tom Mc (85 points)

    5. dyalander (85 points)

    6. seemunkee (84 points)

    7. sthilzy (84 points)

    8. boudewijn (83 points)

    9. Ron (83 points)

    10. freddy (81 points)

    I crashed into some road furniture (Joaquim Rodriguez), falling from 12th place down to 24th, and am making my way back through the support vehicles. I don’t see you anywhere, you must be turning squares.

    * Yes. I do this kind of stuff late at night in my hotel room when traveling for work. It’s either this, or internet porn. And sometimes they are the same thing.

17. From the Cyclingnews text updates on Stage 7 of the Dauphiné; “The holder of the yellow and blue jersey, Chris Froome, was involved in a crash in the closing kilometres yesterday… After the stage, Froome thanked Contador, Kelderman et al for not taking advantage of his accident.”

    Nice. Now contrast that to Richard Sherman’s post-game Superbowl rant.

18. @anhtony

    Just out of curiosity, how come the overall has not been updated after the Giro. wondering were we are at with this, Thanks

    Did you see your point totals in the 2014 VSP G.C. and in the VSP Giro results are listed as “anthony” but your post yesterday was “anhtony”?  I’m guessing you’re one-in-the-same. Be careful, you’re going to lose points somewhere if you enter a VSP as “anhtony”.

    You had 30 points in the VSP G.C., plus 40 points in the Giro for a jump to 26th place (nice job crossing over the gap to the yellow jersey group from 109th place). Of course, this is all by my completely unofficial, unprofessional, and unsanctioned accounting.

19. @Minnesota Expat

    @anhtony

    Just out of curiosity, how come the overall has not been updated after the Giro. wondering were we are at with this, Thanks

    Did you see your point totals in the 2014 VSP G.C. and in the VSP Giro results are listed as “anthony” but your post yesterday was “anhtony”? I’m guessing you’re one-in-the-same. Be careful, you’re going to lose points somewhere if you enter a VSP as “anhtony”.

    You had 30 points in the VSP G.C., plus 40 points in the Giro for a jump to 26th place (nice job crossing over the gap to the yellow jersey group from 109th place). Of course, this is all by my completely unofficial, unprofessional, and unsanctioned accounting.

    Thanks, I’m not built for the classics anyway. It’s my Mom’s fault for giving her dyslexic child a name like that, you think I would learn my lesson i just go by Tony, but you can’t really switch at 38 can you. I should be fine as they go by Email address not name I belive.

20. @anthony

    @Minnesota Expat

    @anhtony

    Just out of curiosity, how come the overall has not been updated after the Giro. wondering were we are at with this, Thanks

    Did you see your point totals in the 2014 VSP G.C. and in the VSP Giro results are listed as “anthony” but your post yesterday was “anhtony”? I’m guessing you’re one-in-the-same. Be careful, you’re going to lose points somewhere if you enter a VSP as “anhtony”.

    You had 30 points in the VSP G.C., plus 40 points in the Giro for a jump to 26th place (nice job crossing over the gap to the yellow jersey group from 109th place). Of course, this is all by my completely unofficial, unprofessional, and unsanctioned accounting.

    Thanks, I’m not built for the classics anyway. It’s my Mom’s fault for giving her dyslexic child a name like that, you think I would learn my lesson i just go by Tony, but you can’t really switch at 38 can you. I should be fine as they go by Email address not name I belive.

    I wondered why the silly autofill had my name twice, thanks for pointing that out I honestly don’t see the difference unless someone lets me know .

    Cheers

21. I’m over Froome. All this TUE business smacks way too heavily of Pharmy’s saddle sore in ’99. And if the “New” UCI wants to build credibility, they should steer a mile wide of this sort of behavior.

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-uci-fast-tracked-froome-tue-request-at-tour-de-romandie

22. @anhtony

    The page cache for the VSP wasn’t updated. It has now been refreshed and is showing the correct points.

23. @wiscot

    @unversio

    Tour_de_Suisse_2014

    Holy crap! That’s a helluva team Omega Pharma are sending! They mean business! I see Trek have both Schlecks . . .

    11.BOONEN Tom
    12.CAVENDISH Mark
    13.MARTIN Tony
    14.RENSHAW Mark
    15.STEEGMANS Gert
    16.TERPSTRA Niki
    17.TRENTIN Matteo
    18.VANDENBERGH Stijn

    Looks like they’re ignoring the sprint stages then and going for the overall.

24. What a race! Well done Andrew Talansky and Garmin Sharp. Chris who? Damn that was good to watch and adds a whole new angle on TDF. 4th in ITT, swinging in the high mountains and a team ready to ride, looks very good for Talansky, Contador missed his ‘A’ team but Froome had all of his on board, hope Horner shows some form, TDF 2014 could be off the charts!

25. @frank Groovy, Thanks Frank

26. @piwakawaka

    What a race! Well done Andrew Talansky and Garmin Sharp. Chris who? Damn that was good to watch and adds a whole new angle on TDF. 4th in ITT, swinging in the high mountains and a team ready to ride, looks very good for Talansky, Contador missed his ‘A’ team but Froome had all of his on board, hope Horner shows some form, TDF 2014 could be off the charts!

    Was a great couple of days. Great watching Bertie soar. Interesting to note he was the only guy Sur le Plaque on those last two climbs. Showing some real strength.

27. @Daccordi Rider

    @piwakawaka

    What a race! Well done Andrew Talansky and Garmin Sharp. Chris who? Damn that was good to watch and adds a whole new angle on TDF. 4th in ITT, swinging in the high mountains and a team ready to ride, looks very good for Talansky, Contador missed his ‘A’ team but Froome had all of his on board, hope Horner shows some form, TDF 2014 could be off the charts!

    Was a great couple of days. Great watching Bertie soar. Interesting to note he was the only guy Sur le Plaque on those last two climbs. Showing some real strength.

    We are a dying breed! I have always mashed a big gear, but this month of June I am off the bike, working on my yacht, I am going to try and spin my way back to form and increase my climbing cadence from 60’s to 80’s. The biggest gear I’ve got is 38-25 and I’ve packed on 4 kilo’s in two weeks, putting me 7kg over racing weight, it’s gonna hurt- a lot.

28. @Daccordi Rider

    @piwakawaka

    What a race! Well done Andrew Talansky and Garmin Sharp. Chris who? Damn that was good to watch and adds a whole new angle on TDF. 4th in ITT, swinging in the high mountains and a team ready to ride, looks very good for Talansky, Contador missed his ‘A’ team but Froome had all of his on board, hope Horner shows some form, TDF 2014 could be off the charts!

    Was a great couple of days. Great watching Bertie soar. Interesting to note he was the only guy Sur le Plaque on those last two climbs. Showing some real strength.

    yes, yes and yes that was fun shit to watch, and holly fucking super domestiuqe, Fucking Ryder, absolutely selfless once again. awesome stuff from the big Canadian, Talansky has been knocking on the door in these one week races, nice to see him break through.

29. @frank

    @wiscot

    @unversio

    Tour_de_Suisse_2014

    Holy crap! That’s a helluva team Omega Pharma are sending! They mean business! I see Trek have both Schlecks . . .

    11.BOONEN Tom
    12.CAVENDISH Mark
    13.MARTIN Tony
    14.RENSHAW Mark
    15.STEEGMANS Gert
    16.TERPSTRA Niki
    17.TRENTIN Matteo
    18.VANDENBERGH Stijn

    Looks like they’re ignoring the sprint stages then and going for the overall.

    Which would lead you to wonder why Pettachi is left out, surely they need a climbing domestique?

30. @frank

    I’m over Froome. All this TUE business smacks way too heavily of Pharmy’s saddle sore in ’99. And if the “New” UCI wants to build credibility, they should steer a mile wide of this sort of behavior.

    I totally agree Frank. The way Sky are handling it as well leaves a lot to be desired. Along with how they handled Henao and now Wiggins, the cracks from earlier this year are getting larger. I can see Geraint Thomas looking at other options too. ..

    This years TDF is going to be great, and it’ll be good to see other teams taking dominance at the front of the Peleton. I’ll be at the Grand Depart in Leeds, and at the second stage hopefully at Blubberhouses!

31. @frank

    I’m over Froome. All this TUE business smacks way too heavily of Pharmy’s saddle sore in ’99. And if the “New” UCI wants to build credibility, they should steer a mile wide of this sort of behavior.

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-uci-fast-tracked-froome-tue-request-at-tour-de-romandie

    ” Furthermore, the code notes that “the majority of the members of any TUEC should be free of conflicts of interest or political responsibility in the Anti-Doping Organization.”

    WTF!  So one of the three physicians could quite happily have a conflict of interest and still be allowed on the panel.  Where the fuck is there room for the word majority in this?

    and to wrap it all up, a week in Scotland strolling around gods country left me with my first Delgado of the season which has most definitely not improved my mood!

32. The Dauphine at the weekend was truly the most exciting two days racing I’ve seen in a very long time. Nice to see the major protagonists going at each other. Even better to see Talansky riding smart and captializing on Bertie and Froome keeping tabs on each other. The Lumberjack deserves whatever break he’ll get between now and the Vuelta.

33. Horner for the win. Mark this date.  I said he’d win the Vuelta.  Mind you, I got the rest of the top 5 all wrong.

    http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/06/news/horner-line-race-tour-de-france_332642

34. Giro Rosa will be interesting – lots of contenders, and Vos will be riding with some in-form team-mates. So much so that she might end up riding for one of her in-from team-mates – not sure I’d bet against her though.

35. Well shit, gonna have to leave my dog off my Tour de France team this year. She’s got Addison’s disease and takes Prednisone daily.

    Froome’s recent juice:

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/team-sky-no-medicine-for-regret

36. Both Schlecks in Trek’s TdF squad! Unbelievable. Shows what a shallow roster Trek has. If either of these clowns wins anything after the form they have shown over the last 2 years, that team needs to be disbanded.

    Needed to get that in before @Brett did…

37. Fuck. The peloton has lost it’s cool. Millar been dropped by his own team!

    You would have thought that you you’d get wield a bit of power when you’re a part owner of the team

    No Dowsett either.

38. @Chris he seems to have a weird relationship with JV, half the time they’re best buds & then the other half JV seems to treat him like dirt…

39. @Chris  @Mikael Liddy that’s a great call by his team, I don’t think he is any better than anyone on their roster.

40. @dyalander Happy to say I raced alongside one of them in PNP Easter Tour in NZ, in fact she made the tour winning break with 6 of us, the woman’s A grade raced with men’s B grade, and chicked me on the finishing climb of the Queen stage! Best of luck Samara Sheppard, now where are those cookies you promised if we stayed away?

41. @Chris

    Fuck. The peloton has lost it’s cool. Millar been dropped by his own team!

    You would have thought that you you’d get wield a bit of power when you’re a part owner of the team

    No Dowsett either.

    Yeah, I’m kinda pissed about that call too. Miller was totally psyched for his last Tour and barring accidents you know he was going to make it to Paris come hell or high water. JV just went down a notch in my opinion. I know cycling is business, but Millar would have worked his ass off for Talansky. He has been (since the ban) a superb advocate and ambassador for the sport and HIS tream. I’m roioting for Talansky, but not for JV and the rest of that squad better show up good.

    Is it too late for Trek to sign him? – Merckx knows Millar would do a better job than either Schleck . . .

42. I’m a big fan of Millar, but he packed in a 40k time trial on Thursday, and wasn’t far of being lapped out of the RR on Sunday. Given the state he’s in at the moment, I doubt he’d have made it to Le Touquet, never mind Paris. I think it’s a tough but fair call by JV, as if he’d picked him and then he’d packed, he’d have let Navardauskas (and his fans) down, as well as the team.

    Throwing his toys out of his cot hasn’t helped his image much either – it’s the fans’ place to be outraged, not the rider’s.

43. @Chris

    Fuck. The peloton has lost it’s cool. Millar been dropped by his own team!

    You would have thought that you you’d get wield a bit of power when you’re a part owner of the team

    No Dowsett either

    As a nation the UK is down to 3 riders thus far. Cav (A Manx), Froome (A Kenyan) and Gee T (A Taffy). Following the Yates performance in this weekends Nationals, unless they’re saving their legs, I’ll be surprised if OGE pick them for the TdF.

    Anyone going to be in Leeds for the Gran Depart by the way? I will with the family, then plan to go to Keighley for Stage 2. Enjoy!

44. @Chris

    Fuck. The peloton has lost it’s cool. Millar been dropped by his own team!

    You would have thought that you you’d get wield a bit of power when you’re a part owner of the team

    No Dowsett either.

    He’s probably thanking the little baby Jeebus he doesn’t have to wear that stupid POC helmet for three weeks.

45. @VeloJello

    @Chris

    Fuck. The peloton has lost it’s cool. Millar been dropped by his own team!

    You would have thought that you you’d get wield a bit of power when you’re a part owner of the team

    No Dowsett either

    As a nation the UK is down to 3 riders thus far. Cav (A Manx), Froome (A Kenyan) and Gee T (A Taffy). Following the Yates performance in this weekends Nationals, unless they’re saving their legs, I’ll be surprised if OGE pick them for the TdF.

    Ebay are likely to be installing new infrastructure to deal with the surge in second hand bike sales as the fickle UK public decide the cycling boom is over and we’ve returned to a pre-2000 TdF state.

46. Am I missing something here? I mean no offense to the UK brethren, this is an honest question. I have heard/seen lots of commentary bemoaning the fact that there is a dearth of British riders in the Tour this year, and how disgraceful and rude it is since the Grand Departe is in the UK. Is there a belief/feeling (among the public anyway) that because the first three stages are in England that teams should be obliged to bring every British rider they’ve got?

    Seems to me that the team directors have one main objective, and that’s to put the best team together that they can. Both Garmin and Movistar have legitimate contenders, so they’re bosses are going to give them the best support they are able.

    Does it suck for Millar not to be able to race the Tour in his last season? Sure. Has his form been there? No.

    And look at it this way. Now the peloton don’t have to decide whether it should be Millar or Jens that leads them into Paris.

47. @KW

    Am I missing something here? I mean no offense to the UK brethren, this is an honest question. I have heard/seen lots of commentary bemoaning the fact that there is a dearth of British riders in the Tour this year, and how disgraceful and rude it is since the Grand Departe is in the UK. Is there a belief/feeling (among the public anyway) that because the first three stages are in England that teams should be obliged to bring every British rider they’ve got?

    Seems to me that the team directors have one main objective, and that’s to put the best team together that they can. Both Garmin and Movistar have legitimate contenders, so they’re bosses are going to give them the best support they are able.

    Does it suck for Millar not to be able to race the Tour in his last season? Sure. Has his form been there? No.

    And look at it this way. Now the peloton don’t have to decide whether it should be Millar or Jens that leads them into Paris.

    Nah you are not missing anything.  It’s just like soccer fans saying that English football is great because of the Premiership, then we get our asses whipped at the World Cup and suddenly people remember there are few English footballers actually playing in the Premiership.  In simple words it’s part of the emotion of sport I’d suggest.  Oh and also the UK press is mostly uninformed rubbish based on past performance and ignorant of current capability.

48. @KW I don’t think any UK brethren i.e. us Velominati based in the UK will take any offence at your comment at all.   The “cycling is the new golf” brigade are who I was really poking fun at.

    The British public know Wiggo; some may remember Cav from his winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year a couple of years back, but 99.99% of the public won’t have a clue who Millar, Dowsett, Yates (not Sean), Thomas etc are.  And Chris Froome?  Forget it – he was only the second Brit (or rather first Kenyan) to win the Tour and has had a personality bypass.  The UK worships at the alter of celebrity these days, so he really doesn’t feature in the social conscience.

    I do feel for Millar – a reformed character by all accounts (other opinions are all valid) who has worked towards this final Tour and not made it.

49. @Teocalli

    @KW

    Am I missing something here? I mean no offense to the UK brethren, this is an honest question. I have heard/seen lots of commentary bemoaning the fact that there is a dearth of British riders in the Tour this year, and how disgraceful and rude it is since the Grand Departe is in the UK. Is there a belief/feeling (among the public anyway) that because the first three stages are in England that teams should be obliged to bring every British rider they’ve got?

    Seems to me that the team directors have one main objective, and that’s to put the best team together that they can. Both Garmin and Movistar have legitimate contenders, so they’re bosses are going to give them the best support they are able.

    Does it suck for Millar not to be able to race the Tour in his last season? Sure. Has his form been there? No.

    And look at it this way. Now the peloton don’t have to decide whether it should be Millar or Jens that leads them into Paris.

    Nah you are not missing anything. It’s just like soccer fans saying that English football is great because of the Premiership, then we get our asses whipped at the World Cup and suddenly people remember there are few English footballers actually playing in the Premiership. In simple words it’s part of the emotion of sport I’d suggest. Oh and also the UK press is mostly uninformed rubbish based on past performance and ignorant of current capability.

    I’d mirror that sentiment. I think there are a lot of people (public, press and local businesses) in the UK who would love to see more British riders in the Tour because of the extra impetus it will have with regards the image of cycling in the UK. These same people need to remember that a British Team have won the TdF 2 years in a row. And the number of Brit riders with ever expanding palamares in the last ten years is astounding. But sadly the UK press is only interested in the TdF and the Olympics/Commonwealth Games when it comes to the positive aspects cycling. 

    Interestingly the amount of grants given to cycling is much higher than many other sports in the UK.

     (https://www.sportengland.org/our-work/national-work/national-governing-bodies/sports-we-invest-in/)

50. Simon Yates is in. Rule Britannia and other such jingoistic bollocks!

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