2013 season discussion thread!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I would set up a place where we can discuss the 2013 season!

A good win for Cavendish yesterday in his first race with his new team

[Lumbering_Jack]

I meant in one year, it must be the ultimate achievement if you can. Nibali has a chance of the double. Any idea why he didn't enter the tour?

[djlovesyou]

It's never been done and nor is it likely to be.

It's fairly rare (only about 40 riders in history) for someone to even complete all three in one year, let alone ride to win all three.

[Lumbering_Jack]

It's never been done and nor is it likely to be.

It's fairly rare (only about 40 riders in history) for someone to even complete all three in one year, let alone ride to win all three.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, although I am a keen cyclist I don't really follow the sport too heavily. Why don't riders compete in all 3? Plenty of time to rest in between each tour, I'm sure they are fit enough.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

There's no way they can keep up form throughout such a length of time Jack, plus the fatigue from Grand Tours really affects them for a long time.

For example you see all the riders who compete in the Giro, none of them did well in the Tour because simply they can't recover well enough or keep their form. Thus why Nibali is doing the Giro/Vuelta and not the Tour

[Lumbering_Jack]

Bravo Tony Martin... Felt sorry for him being pipped on the line after such a fantastic effort.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

The tour tends to have longer climbs with a lesser gradient than either the giro or the vuelta so being a position physically to attack all three is next to impossible. Not all climbers are the same, somebody like Rodrigues suits a steeper climb where he can make a more dynamic attack rather than having to sustain a high cadence for a long climb like a Froome.

[Lowlandbrit]

So this is happening: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/sep/02/fernando-alonso-saves-euskaltel-euskadi

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That's pretty goddamn good news for Spanish Cycling

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Anybody watching the Tour of Britian

Magnificent scenes on Honister Pass, lovely scenery, crowds all over the climb

[JDizzle]

Comes straight past my house on Wednesday! Looking forward to getting out there and hopefully seeing Wiggins, Cav et al. in action.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I went last year Dizzle, it's good fun to see them all go by

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A shot of the crowds on Honister Pass. Cycling certainly is becoming more supported over here

[Big]

Especially when you consider the weather! That's pretty good going. Sadly I'll not be going along this year as it doesn't pass too close to home, and parental duty stops me from being able to travel too far at the moment. Hopefully next year though...

[JDizzle]

Some big crowds today. Was certainly enjoyable to watch all the big names go past!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So the Tour 2014 route is out then, highlights are 5 summit finishes, one ITT, and a day on the cobbles (love cobbled stages in Grand Tours!)

Although there is a distinct lack of France in this Tour haha

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