MN Pro-Cycling Peloton - Spring Time Classics!! Starting with Milan-San Remo Sunday 23rd March

[PansBigChainring]

Resuming domestique duties ...we've raced away from the broom wagon that is a miserable winter and the dudes are up and racing on the Continent.

Milan-San Remo is first up with Cav looking to get his first race win of the season and with Petacchi and Renshawe in his lead out train (and one climb removed for safety reasons) this is where he could do it. It's live on Eurosport with highlights on Euro and Sky.

There are six other one-day classics before the Irish Giro in May, so rather than doing all the research, I'd commissioned the Beeb to do it for me!
So here is a nifty guide to all of them in one easy go

The Irish Giro may get a bit of pure local interest traffic, so I'd started a new thread just for that celebration of all that is green, lycra and on two thin wheels, here...The Irish Giro

Gent-Wevelgem - can't find it anywhere in tv! Got the Catalunya on Sky.

Coming up are classics every weekend, incl lots and lots of cobbles..

Oh stop panicking Pan, highlights are on Sky 3 at 10.30pm, albeit only for half an hour.
Yes, Sagan - started to like him a bit more towards the end of last season. De-throning Cav isn't something that we can hold against him entirely, is it? - so many other contenders to do that too. Pinching the 'podium girls' bottom was right off, though he came out with a public apology to her the following day. Idiot.

Wow! what a day's racing. Criterium, Volta AND G-W.
Odd seeing Sagan being taken on the line, and the voice off camera with the G-W winner interview was surely him saying "you took my wheel". Well, that's how it goes Peter.
Stannard and Greipel crashing, cobbles, Volta rain, Schleck taunting the rest of the field, an escapado taking the Volta final stage.
Best one days' racing I've seen (well, tv highlights anyway.)

one for Lost

I shouldn't be here, got a HUGE bit of coursework due in but, oh, you know my weak spot!

Posts again just to stop Pan talking to himself. Yes, yes we can totally hold dethroning Cav against Sagan, what are you talking about! Glad to hear he had a taste of his own medicine. Lots of them have been hurt this week haven't they, oh poor delicate boys

I'm still here!

Sagan tried to give the stage win in the first day of 3 Days of De Panne to his teammate today. Only trouble was, his teammate wasn't quite quick enough . Sagan won the stage by less than a quarter of a wheel.

Nice Cancellara pic, Pan

Yup, that'll do it.

We're easily pleased, aren't we Lost!

Quick Drama, before Pan gets back, did you see the All Blacks rugby 7s team last weekend?

Get your Hard Sums done Lost. Then look at the other figures....
#CarryOnCycling

a rare X post!

Brain broken with hard sums for today, I needed something to relax my eyes with, they seemed to be very easy on the eye .

Ooh, thanks Lost!

Sorry, back to the cycling...

Back to the cycling indeed, I didn't realise Stannard had fractured a vertebra, that's a pretty severe injury, poor bloke, no wonder his face was all contorted like that. Although that does mean the lovely Brad will be in the Tour of Flanders this Sunday, how exciting. Will that make it a good indicator of form for Paris-Roubaix? (Genuine question, I'm not quite up on how they get their training to peak for the non three week races!)

Where is everyone? Distract me from the maths with cycling talk, someone, anyone, pleeease.

Anyone heading to my home county for the tour? I really want to but logistically it's a nightmare.

I'd love to be at the Tour de Yorkshire, but also won't be able to make it. DH & I considered making the trip & linking it with a visit to my folks in Cumbria, but when he heard the dates he said it wouldn't be possible with work. Actually, I think it was an excuse to avoid the in-laws and I can't say I blame him, they are being very annoying at the moment

Logistically I could get to the Irish stages of the Giro, but DS2 is preparing for exams & I want to be around to soothe, cajole & kick ass as & when required.

So I will have to make do with the TV coverage from the comfort of my sofa. This weekend I'll be fighting DH for TV rights if the cycling coverage clashes with the Heineken Cup rugby. He has a ticket for the Munster match but still insists on recording it so he can watch it later to catch up on anything he missed

I'll be "at the TdF"...as it will be passing about 7 miles from my house (Glossop)! Matey and I are thinking of driving to York, then racing back home to see them ride past us on the A628. There's a nasty climb at Home Moss which will slow them all down so we could pop up there in fancy dress.

If I go it will have to be the most western points that I see and if I go it will be if we go because my boys will no way let me go without them, so that's a good 10 hour round trip in the car/one night camping with three excitable ginger boys and approx 90% of the rest of the country too. Is there room for a tent in your back garden Pan?

We might make the journey down from Scotland to see the TdF in Yorkshire - but we want to find somewhere close to a train station, but that isn't going to be hectically busy, as I want to be right at the edge of the road to see them go by!

If we can't find that perfect spot, I might see if I can persuade dh to drive down.

We saw a stage go past when we were on holiday in France a few years ago - it was a brilliant day, and I would love to do it again.

Dammit, they've put the giro in Ireland a couple of days before I go to Barcelona to drink cava and eye up Spanish men do some sightseeing, thoughtless sods. It'll have to be the Vuelta this year then.

Lots of train stations around that way SDT, Harrogate, Leeds and York is a big hub. Skipton has a station too but I don't think it's near the route. What side of Scotland would you be coming from

Just found out the rugby is on Saturday & the Tour of Flanders is on Sunday, so there'll be no fights over the TV.

One day, when the DC have finally flown the nest, DH & I want to follow the TdeF around in a camper van.

Bloody big camper van then?

Oh yes, it would need to be top of the range with all mod cons... A girl needs her luxuries.

Noooo! That to follow the TdF in a camper van would mean it would have to be as big as Yorkshire, Cambridge to central London and then the edges of France!
< I did consult with the Gods of Comedy and they all said it was bloody funny..>