Giro d'Italia / Tour de France Cycling thread 2013

[Dante Lavelli]

Went to see a stage of the Tour Of Portugal last week, so low key you could wander around the team camper vans, chat to riders & team mechanics and nobody batted an eyelid, great fun.

They're doing the same in london on sunday.

[Eckybloke]

Why was the opening stage of the Tour Of Britain on farm tracks?  Oh no my mistake it was in a third world country and they were A roads. 
Finish on the pavement, that didn't really do the sprinters any favours did it.

I realise that it's probably to do with logistics and you don't necessarily want a really hilly first stage but I've often wondered why they don't bring the Scottish stage up the country a bit.  There's some pretty challenging climbs up here near-ish the Highlands which then quickly turn into flat roads near the coast for the sprinters.

Maybe I should send Alex Salmond an email saying part of his independence campaign should be the Tour de Scotland.

[taylorsworkrate]

Not a particularly auspicious day for British Cycling. The whole team out of the road race before the BBC coverage starts

[ACVilla]

Not a particularly auspicious day for British Cycling. The whole team out of the road race before the BBC coverage starts

And this, which is being quietly reported by SSN:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24321502

[Jon Crofts]

Big girls blouses all of 'em.

Rui Costa World Champion?  Well done mate but not exactly who anyone would have picked before the race.

[N'Rexy]

Brotherton (BBC Commentator) picked him.

I went.  What a 'mare of a day for the brits.  Only two of em showed up (Cav and Rowe). The rest were counting down the miles to thier holidays except Wiggins who was counting down the miles to the bus...

The race was about 1.5 hours too long really and the weather was biblical but the last lasp and a half of th circuit were pretty spectacular.  If no-one has seen Urans crash then check it out on t'web.  A right belter (and I can say that as he was ok).

Only one decent race left this season now (Lombardia).  Booo.

[SteveN]

I'm just pleased the Spanish didn't win, I still think of Valverde as a wrong'un.

 

[lovejoy]

I agree Valverde is an unabashed drugs cheat. Felt sorry for Nibali at home being made to chase Rodriguez so Rui Costa got a free tow.

[lovejoy]

The bloke who runs the Giro (Aquarone) has stepped down amid allegations of financial irregularities. An Italian sports administrator taking back handlers (allegedly) -who'd have thunk it.