MN Peloton's Road Racing Spring Classics 2015 - trois, deux, un..

[derailleurdePan]

We've had training camps in Catalunya and the Canaries, eaten desert dust and limbered up in Strada Bianche yesterday. Some keen team riders have even been on turbos and rollers....or watched other people do that...which is the same thing really...so we are good to go!

If anyone is new to road racing, the spring classics are generally one-day events (but 150-200 kms long!), usually in Northern France or Belgium and are the hors d'oeuvres to the Grand Tours of Italy, France and Spain. Some though, like today's start on the Paris-Nice are multi-stage of a week or so in length.

The remaining UCI-advertised classics up the Giro d'Italia are here..

08.03 15.03 Paris – Nice France
11.03 17.03 Tirreno – Adriatico Italy
22.03 22.03 Milan – San Remo Italy
23.03 29.03 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Spain
27.03 27.03 E3 Harelbeke Belgium
29.03 29.03 Ghent – Wevelgem Belgium
05.04 05.04 Tour of Flanders Belgium
06.04 11.04 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Spain
12.04 12.04 Paris – Roubaix France
19.04 19.04 Amstel Gold Race Netherlands
22.04 22.04 La Flèche Wallonne Belgium
26.04 26.04 Liège – Bastogne – Liège Belgium
28.04 03.05 Tour de Romandie Switzerland

So shall we roll out of the neutralised zone, and start sweating??
_

at 'hard shoulder'. He's tough as old boots, is Bertie.

Saw an interview with Domenico Pozzovivo today, what a hero after that crash a few days ago. I really thought the worst when I saw him lying in the road.

Sagan & his silly wheelies... I try to like him too, MrS, but it's not easy!

And the Prem footie boys roll around like they've been hit by a sniper when someone barges them...

Guess who will be in midi-Pyrenees for the TdeF mountain stages.....?? You know, not being engaged with pro-cycling atm....
Going to Toulouse on/around 15th July....lycra boys just round the corner.

The TdeF? Ooh how exciting! Lucky you

DH & I are talking of going to Spain for the start of the Vuelta, now we almost have the DC off our hands, but I'd so love to see the Tour. Maybe next year...

Well it may only be a roll out - we can't travel on 14th as it's Bastille Day, apparently, so arriving late on 15th is prob.
Still a sign in and roll out at TdeF, in France would be jolly.

Well now I've seen Colli's x-rays and realised there was an even worse crash than the man who went down hill on his face. Oh boy, I won't let my sons play rugby and yet I encourage them to go out on bikes.

I was looking at going out for a bit of the TdF because school finishes earlier this year but my mum and dad have just offered to take all of us to Portugal for free the same week. I love my cycling but five days in France with a tent and three boys and half a million other people who love cycling or a week in Portugal all paid for with someone to help with my children. Hmmmm.

Nooo I really have!!!!!

Friend is French and wishing to re-locate back to Toulouse, in July. With nooo reference to TdeF whatsoever I agreed to go with her with her belongings to share the driving Derbyshire to southern France via a ferry, and I fly back home after a couple of days lying round in the sun recouperating. It was only after agreeing to assist my friend in this way that I realised Le Tour will be, co-incidentally, in the region. It is God's way of repaying my spirit of friendship.

Honest!

We believe you, Pan, of course we do !

MrS I'm with you on your holiday choice - Portugal all the way!

Team Sky's Richie Porte has been docked 2 minutes by the commissaires for taking a wheel from fellow Aussie Simon Clarke of OGE after a puncture, contravening the rules by getting help from someone on another team. Porte is now 12th overall, and his dreams of winning must be shattered at this stage.

Utterly absurd. Chapeau to Clarkey. Dunce hats to the commissaires. Idiots.

I had to come here to see the opinion on Wheel Gate . What utter tripe, poor Porte. Now, what's the opinion on Contador taking his helmet off?

I heard Sean Kelly's opinion 'live' but knew exactly what he would say re wheel-gate. "Well it's the rules...blah...they need enforcing...blah..." Well no Sean, only the most craven simpleton would enforce that rule in those circumstances. Every referee knows how to interpret rules.

Lordy. This is not rocket salad.

I normally have a lot of time for Sean Kelly, but not in this case.

I liked Dan Lloyd's suggestion that every rider in the top 50 other than Porte should exchange a wheel with someone from another team so that everyone would get a two minute penalty

rocket salad - one of my own creations - no need to copyright it though!

It's just all a bit poor. Luuurve the DL suggestion..

Missed the helmet thing though?

Contador helmet gate funny article anyway!

Chuffed for Gilbert today, I do like him. Wouldn't let my dog off the lead near him though

It looks like it was raining though, so taking it off means he will end up with a damp helmet...

Oh my! Carnage in the rain at the Giro & Bertie loses the lead to Aru. It'll make for an interesting TT tomorrow, and a fascinating final week.

So it's been a 'Rest Weekend' then? All on the turbos I take it?

Porte out of the Giro. Quelle surprise? You'd think with Sky's focus on GC not stage wins he'd be out despite crashing, due to lost time. Still, must be rubbish for him in a first Grand Tour as leader. And it was all looking so good for him early season.

Not surprised Porte has been pulled, he's had a rotten streak of bad luck this Giro & they'll need him on top form for the Tour.

I'd say barring accidents Bertie has it wrapped up now, he looked seriously strong yesterday & left Aru floundering in his wake a couple of times.

Does Contador have his eyebrows knitted do we think? #importantbikingquestionsoftheday

I've been Without Eurosport this weekend so have just caught up online. It's a bit disappointing that Contador seems to have it in the bag already, I think its more fun to watch when there's a bit of uncertainty about the eventual winner.

Alright, who's watching Wiggin's attempt on the Hour?!!

omg, Wiggins is so clean shaven (shed weight?!).

FWIW, i don't think he'll break it, but will be fun to watch him try.