Official Cycling Thread

[jeepers]

Roche 3rd on final stage. 5th overall

Good few weeks he's had in fairness, but I'd say he's dying for a win.

 

[jeepers]

We could have three Irish cyclists in the tour this year, Garmin and Cervelo have both received wild cards. AG2R were automatically qualified.

Nicholas Roche is pretty much guaranteed his spot given how well he went last year and how he's going this year. Dan Martin seems to be coming into form now and had been selected to go last year before he had to pull out with injury. Philip Deignan had a great vuelta last year, so I'd be surprised if they didn't include him in their tour roster.

 

[jeepers]

Ireland currently ranked ahead of France and the brits, due to the efforts of Nicholas Roche. Not bad.

Dan Martin looks he might be adding to those, he's ranked 8th on the tour of the Basque Country, having made a group of 24 that finished 1.38 ahead of the pack. It's a pretty short tour, so it's unlikely that the winner will be outside that group. There are some big names in that group but he has a good chance for a top 5 spot and looks like he's in good form.


International Cycling Union Nation Rankings
1 Spain 670 pts
2 Belgium 460
3 Italy 393
4 Australia 284
5 Germany 195
6 United States 143
7 Kazakhstan 116
8 Switzerland 103
9 Estonia 100
10 Netherlands 91
11 New Zealand 85
12 Austria 83
13 Czech Republic 80
14 Ireland 55
15 Norway 46
16 Canada 40
17 France 38
18 Russia 37
19 Great Britain 36
20 Slovakia 21
21 Slovenia 14
22 Denmark 12
23 Argentina 12
24 South Africa 11
25 Portugal 7
26 Colombia 1
27 Belarus 1

 

[jeepers]

For all the details on Irish pro cycling:

http://www.irishprocycling.com/

This could be well worth while keeping an eye on this year. Our three pros are looking to be in good shape this year so far.

 

[jeepers]

Deignan and Roche are in their respective teams for the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, the first of the Ardennes Classics.

 

[jeepers]

Good going today for Dan Martin (18th) and Nicholas Roche (30th) in Fleche Wallone, one of the last spring classics and the middle race of the Ardennes Classics. Unfortunately world ranking points only go to the top 10. Still, Martin has been showing a bit in recent weeks and we already know how good a start Roche made to the season.

 

[the puerto rican feen]

Dan Martin to ride the Giro

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/451739/daniel-martin-set-to-ride-giro-d-italia.html

 

[jeepers]

Dan Martin to ride the Giro

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/451739/daniel-martin-set-to-ride-giro-d-italia.html

Good stuff. It'll suit him I'd say, lots of steep climbing, with selections happening very quickly.

 

[the puerto rican feen]

Good stuff. It'll suit him I'd say, lots of steep climbing, with selections happening very quickly.

would be great to see him roche, & deignan in the tour de france and dare I say it a stage win from one of them !

 

[templar]

alright lads - in process of getting a road bike at the moment - anyone seen a good deal around that may have caught yer attention ? budgeting at the 1000e mark with the cycle to work scheme.