Tour de Romandie 2014 "spoiler"

blazing_saddles

Huge crowds watching the HC races in Turkey and Germany, today.
Outside of the Montreux finishing line and the compulsory groups of school kids, one man and his dog
watching "World Tour" Romandie.

Has Michael Albasini been reading Michael Barry's book?

term1te

andyp wrote:

dsoutar wrote:

Why is it you never see Swiss wine in the UK - do they drink it all themselves ? There's hundreds of acres of vineyards, both here and also in the Rhone valley around Sion

The Swiss take pride in growing most of their food in their own country, and this includes wine, which is good stuff on the whole.

I live close to a number of Swiss vineyards, and to be honest the reason you don't see it in the UK, is that it isn't very good, not the bottles you could buy at UK prices. If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis, and I had a really nice Merlot from Tessin on a flight once, but if you can afford to drink it, it probably won't be that good. The local white wines are drinkable, but only come out when we have visitors. The reds north of the Alps, think German red wine...

frenchfighter

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Agreed and to be honest I wouldn't expect a neo pro to be doing the protecting job and being there right to the end. I have read the cycling anthology 3.

Earle's older than your usual neo pro though - 25.

Yes I am aware of this. Doesnt mean he can rock up at WT races and ride like a 3 year pro tho. His previous teams gave experience but lets be honest - its very different.

ocdupalais

Term1te wrote:

If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis,

What you talking about, Wallis?

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Agreed and to be honest I wouldn't expect a neo pro to be doing the protecting job and being there right to the end. I have read the cycling anthology 3.

Earle's older than your usual neo pro though - 25.

Yes I am aware of this. Doesnt mean he can rock up at WT races and ride like a 3 year pro tho. His previous teams gave experience but lets be honest - its very different.

It's only the Tour of Romandie.

frenchfighter

Add that one to your box of excuses. Saxo, Mov and OPQS have no issues as I have pointed out.

d_o_g

Doing Frenchie's job, as I have appreciated his links greatly in my brief time on here.

Last 6 K's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmPBl6wGLlo

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

Add that one to your box of excuses. Saxo, Mov and OPQS have no issues as I have pointed out.

Right. This plan of having the domestiques ride in the autobus to save energy is nothing new. Here is the bottom 12 of the 2010 Tour de France after the first week

177 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Astana 0:30:36
178 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:30:47
179 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:31:01
180 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:31:28
181 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Astana 0:35:16
182 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:35:39
183 Anthony Roux (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:35:45
184 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:36:27
185 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:37:59
186 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 0:39:03
187 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:40:04
188 Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Astana 0:42:55

(Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-d ... -6/results)

So who are those names in bold? Oh, yes. It's Contador's mountain domestiques. Shaming the race and the passions of the fans. (And Tiralongo was 157th)

Try to learn how cycling works, please.

frenchfighter

Thanks Rich. Please use your stat brain to search my posts to make reference to doms doing well by coming in far down where necessary.

Also please use your 'I am always right attitude' to explain why other teams dont have an issue protecting their number one and two and having a number two there at all. Additionally why a rider paid north of 1mill is gruppetto riding. In addition to why riders are fatigued despite doing hardly any km. Additionally explain why they can't protect their number one (when one bothers to turn up) on the climbs. Additionally why they were on the front using up precious energy yesterday.

These should be easy questions for you. I need some help. After all I know little about this sport.

Your point proves nothing. Arguing against me on this one is totally pointless and purely because you enjoy disagreeing with me. My points stand. SKY have been total lightweights in every stage race this year and I am pointing out how badly they are doing thus far in Romandie.

term1te

OCDuPalais wrote:

Term1te wrote:

If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis,

What you talking about, Wallis?

German name for the Canton of Valais, half of which is part of the Swiss Romandie, where apparently there is currently a cycling tour.

tailwindhome

Term1te wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

Term1te wrote:

If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis,

What you talking about, Wallis?

German name for the Canton of Valais, half of which is part of the Swiss Romandie, where apparently there is currently a cycling tour.

Er......you're not familiar with the work of the late Gary Coleman then?

blazing_saddles

I haven't seen so much interest paid to where domestiques finish, since Radio Shack
realised Lance was past his sell by date.
It was funny then, too.

Pross

TailWindHome wrote:

Term1te wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

Term1te wrote:

If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis,

What you talking about, Wallis?

German name for the Canton of Valais, half of which is part of the Swiss Romandie, where apparently there is currently a cycling tour.

Er......you're not familiar with the work of the late Gary Coleman then?

In the immortal lyrics of 'Sucks To Be' from Avenue Q

I'm Gary Coleman
From TV's
Diff'rent Strokes
I made a lotta money
That got stolen
By my folks!
Now I'm broke and
I'm the butt
Of everyone's jokes,

(this race must be dull if I've resorted to posting musical theatre lyrics!)

Anonymous

frenchfighter wrote:

Thanks Rich. Please use your stat brain to search my posts to make reference to doms doing well by coming in far down where necessary.

Also please use your 'I am always right attitude' to explain why other teams dont have an issue protecting their number one and two and having a number two there at all. Additionally why a rider paid north of 1mill is gruppetto riding. In addition to why riders are fatigued despite doing hardly any km. Additionally explain why they can't protect their number one (when one bothers to turn up) on the climbs. Additionally why they were on the front using up precious energy yesterday.

These should be easy questions for you. I need some help. After all I know little about this sport.

Your point proves nothing. Arguing against me on this one is totally pointless and purely because you enjoy disagreeing with me. My points stand. SKY have been total lightweights in every stage race this year and I am pointing out how badly they are doing thus far in Romandie.

Classic FF debate:

make point obsessively
get proven wrong
change point
insult person
reaffirm wrong point

whilst maintaining an overwhelming of self importance.

Anonymous

frenchfighter wrote:

Thanks Rich. Please use your stat brain to search my posts to make reference to doms doing well by coming in far down where necessary.

Also please use your 'I am always right attitude' to explain why other teams dont have an issue protecting their number one and two and having a number two there at all. Additionally why a rider paid north of 1mill is gruppetto riding. In addition to why riders are fatigued despite doing hardly any km. Additionally explain why they can't protect their number one (when one bothers to turn up) on the climbs. Additionally why they were on the front using up precious energy yesterday.

These should be easy questions for you. I need some help. After all I know little about this sport.

Your point proves nothing. Arguing against me on this one is totally pointless and purely because you enjoy disagreeing with me. My points stand. SKY have been total lightweights in every stage race this year and I am pointing out how badly they are doing thus far in Romandie.

Classic FF debate:

make point obsessively
get proven wrong
change point
insult person
reaffirm wrong point

whilst maintaining an overwhelming of self importance.

dolan_driver

Frenchfighter, your deep interest and passion for the sport of professional cycling is not in question. Your hatred of Team SKY is also not in doubt and you are entitled to hold that opinion if you so chose.

However your constant negative comments in every race thread in recent times about Froome and SKY is beginning to make this forum a fairly sh!tty place to come to when we neutral pro fans want to see what went on in the world of professional cycling on any given day. I neither love nor hate SKY, they are just another pro team in my humble opinion.

So FF, I implore you to draw a line under your SKY bashing for the sake of the neutrals in the audience who just want to enjoy the racing, whoever it is that is winning or losing.

DD.

wombly_knees

Richmond Racer wrote:

Earle's a climber, by the way. Winning on climbs is how he racked up so many wins in the NRS and Asian Tour. Early days for him in the World Tour, but once he's adjusted fully, he'll be more visible on the longer climbs.

He was never a consistent winner in Asia. Doubt he has even half a dozen wins in total, races, stages and even classifications. And he rarely raced against Tabriz. Fair enough, till 2011 he'd have had little opportunity with Haas and von Hoof, but he was leader in 12. His team was ridiculously strong for the NRS, and even then it required the cream to be shipped off to Raleigh & Drapac for him to win often.

Not to say he's not good, but I don't know if he'll ever be very good at this level. Only have to wait till Dyball and Haig come through...

This race has been a bit piss really.

Richmond Racer

wombly knees wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Earle's a climber, by the way. Winning on climbs is how he racked up so many wins in the NRS and Asian Tour. Early days for him in the World Tour, but once he's adjusted fully, he'll be more visible on the longer climbs.

He was never a consistent winner in Asia. Doubt he has even half a dozen wins in total, races, stages and even classifications. And he rarely raced against Tabriz. Fair enough, till 2011 he'd have had little opportunity with Haas and von Hoof, but he was leader in 12. His team was ridiculously strong for the NRS, and even then it required the cream to be shipped off to Raleigh & Drapac for him to win often.

Not to say he's not good, but I don't know if he'll ever be very good at this level. Only have to wait till Dyball and Haig come through...

This race has been a bit wee-wee really.

Tabriz! Let's have our occasional chinwag about them, WK

wombly_knees

Definitely.... *Hides Tabriz petrochemical flag*

rick_chasey

I'm the first to say how rubbish this race normally is - but why isn't it on Eurosport?

argyllflyer

Rick Chasey wrote:

I'm the first to say how rubbish this race normally is - but why isn't it on Eurosport?

Sky bought the rights to it (and Tour de Suisse which they seem to have less interest in as it wasn't shown live in 2013 and isn't going to be this year either) last year, I assume because of its position as warm-up race for the Tour contenders such as Froome. Whether they were outbidded or not I don't know. But British Eurosport have the snooker and Turkey on just now so maybe felt it wasn't worth the price.

The coverage on Sky is identical to 2013, from presenter Graham Little to pundit Roger Hammond, and there has been a predictable focus on Team Sky. Yesterday's preview was interviews with some of the Giant-Shimano squad though so no not totally GC and Sky-obsessed.

frenchfighter

Schurter finished in the top group yesterday and managed to be within a minute yesterday. Not bad for a guy who has never ridden a road race before. Talent and desire.

Richmond Racer wrote:

How they looking in the team classification, Frenchie?

*waits expectantly*

19th. Out of 19.

frenchfighter

wombly knees wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Earle's a climber, by the way. Winning on climbs is how he racked up so many wins in the NRS and Asian Tour. Early days for him in the World Tour, but once he's adjusted fully, he'll be more visible on the longer climbs.

He was never a consistent winner in Asia. Doubt he has even half a dozen wins in total, races, stages and even classifications. And he rarely raced against Tabriz. Fair enough, till 2011 he'd have had little opportunity with Haas and von Hoof, but he was leader in 12. His team was ridiculously strong for the NRS, and even then it required the cream to be shipped off to Raleigh & Drapac for him to win often.

Not to say he's not good, but I don't know if he'll ever be very good at this level. Only have to wait till Dyball and Haig come through...

This race has been a bit wee-wee really.

There is a piece on him in CA number 3 by someone who knows him very well. Says he is an excellent rider, a rider a bit like Gerrans (punchy, hard to drop on the climbs, fast finish - not the wheelsucking talent). Could lose a few kg of muscle mass as well. He has also had a bad knee injury (6month off) then when Liquigas were at a race to check him out he broke his ankle just before hand. 2013 was his first year of uninterrupted training. I dont follow Asia at all so can only go on what this chap says.

He has also been pretty good at finishing races this year unlike some of his collegaues with significantly more experience.

frenchfighter

Dolan Driver wrote:

Frenchfighter, your deep interest and passion for the sport of professional cycling is not in question. Your hatred of Team SKY is also not in doubt and you are entitled to hold that opinion if you so chose.

However your constant negative comments in every race thread in recent times about Froome and SKY is beginning to make this forum a fairly sh!tty place to come to when we neutral pro fans want to see what went on in the world of professional cycling on any given day. I neither love nor hate SKY, they are just another pro team in my humble opinion.

So FF, I implore you to draw a line under your SKY bashing for the sake of the neutrals in the audience who just want to enjoy the racing, whoever it is that is winning or losing.

DD.

This is a bit of an exaggeration imo. If you think my contribution to this forum is negative then I guess you can put me on block. If you like some of my posts and not others, well I guess you have to choose.

Please go through this thread and find what I have said about Froome then quote it back to me. You might be surprised.

I'll tone my contribution to this thread down for the rest of the race for you in compromise. Let me know at the end how you like it, ok?

frenchfighter

Edit, am removing the photo due to my commitment to stop contributing to this thread.
Some wonderful wall paper photos from yesterday on the wall paper thread.

fleshtuxedo

frenchfighter wrote:

Dolan Driver wrote:

Frenchfighter, your deep interest and passion for the sport of professional cycling is not in question. Your hatred of Team SKY is also not in doubt and you are entitled to hold that opinion if you so chose.

However your constant negative comments in every race thread in recent times about Froome and SKY is beginning to make this forum a fairly sh!tty place to come to when we neutral pro fans want to see what went on in the world of professional cycling on any given day. I neither love nor hate SKY, they are just another pro team in my humble opinion.

So FF, I implore you to draw a line under your SKY bashing for the sake of the neutrals in the audience who just want to enjoy the racing, whoever it is that is winning or losing.

DD.

This is a bit of an exaggeration imo. If you think my contribution to this forum is negative then I guess you can put me on block. If you like some of my posts and not others, well I guess you have to choose.

Please go through this thread and find what I have said about Froome then quote it back to me. You might be surprised.

I'll tone my contribution to this thread down for the rest of the race for you in compromise. Let me know at the end how you like it, ok?

DD is talking about your general recent contribution on the Pro Race forum not just this thread. You are a scratched record at the moment, the constant wheedling Sky-sniping is just boring. We know your views, so it just comes across as trolling. LBL, Dauphine, Pro Kit 2014, all the same.

You contribute a lot to the forum, and the debates you start are often good entertainment because you bring an alternate voice. However, when you overplay it, you just stink up the forum. That's how it is right now. FF vs The World. Is that what this forum should be?

Macaloon

Froome won in 2013 without much of a team for most of the Tour. He's raised his game for 2014, dispensing with the team for most of the season. He should ride the Tour in a UNESCO jersey.

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

Schurter finished in the top group yesterday and managed to be within a minute yesterday. Not bad for a guy who has never ridden a road race before. Talent and desire.

He's done road races before - and climbed well too. For example, this is the queen stage of the GP Tell (u23 race) back in 2007

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/ra ... aceid=6238

frenchfighter

edit delete

Pross

frenchfighter wrote:

Edit, am removing the photo due to my commitment to stop contributing to this thread.
Some wonderful wall paper photos from yesterday on the wall paper thread.