Recent content by xanadu

  1. xanadu

    Teams & Riders Fabio Aru discussion thread

    With the departure of Quintana this years Vuelta threatened to become a re run of 2012. The presence of Aru has been a welcome distraction from this years re run of the 4 Amigos. Whilst he cannot quite manage to hold the likes of Valverde and Purito he has proved himself a fighter and a mighty...
  2. xanadu

    Who will win the 2014 Vuelta?

    If Horner podiums after riding le Tour my love affair wirth this sport will cease and you will find me on the tiddlywinks forum
  3. xanadu

    Is 2014 Tour the beginning of a new cycling era

    The problem with heralding the dawn of as new era is that they were all comprehensively beaten by the third string of the old guard. What ever his tour credentials Nibali is yet to prove himself equal to a fully fit Skybot vroom and Alberto where it reeally matters. Dont get me wrong , Tejay...
  4. xanadu

    sky vs tinkoff

    The skybots did everything right exceot win, they played their cards well but so too did Saxo-Tinkoff grabbing 3 stage wins and the polka dots but then again Majika and Rodgers are class acts.
  5. xanadu

    2014 Tour de France July 26, Stage 20: Bergerac - Périgueux (ITT) 54km

    Well there is no doubting that Nibali is in the form of his life and is still going strong and will have the benefit of going last. Martin on the other hand is a proven act at the TT discipline but has been active in several breakaways and may be tired. For me Nibali might just have the edge.
  6. xanadu

    TDF Podium

    Before today's stage i would have nominated Tejay for a place on the podium and Chris Broadman was of a similar opinion noting that the American was getting stronger. Do any Tejay watchers here know if he habitualy has a problem after a rest day.
  7. xanadu

    Rank the young GT talents

    Pinot seems to have overcome his fear of decsending so thats a big plus for the youngster and a podium place would do his confidence no harm at all. Of course he still needs to prove himself in the time trials if he ever to wear the maillot jaune in Paris.
  8. xanadu

    Nibali at the same level as Froome/Contador?

    All this talk of Skybot 1, Nibbles, and 'berto is all very well, but the youngsters have been strutting their stuff on the steeps this year to good effect. If they return for the 2015 tour a year older and a year better then it could well be game on. Pinot, Bardet,Tejay and Quitana could yet...
  9. xanadu

    Tommy Voeckler Discussion thread

    Voeckler dates back to the LA era and arrived at the Tour with a bang. Whilst other tour newbies are content to strut their stuff for a couole of days before fading into anonimity the man from Martinique became the envy of the pro peloton by grabbing the yellow bib and courageously holding it...
  10. xanadu

    2014 Tour de France, Stage 16: Carcassonne–Bagnères-de-Luchon (237.5 Km)

    The usual suspects will be chasing KOM points. As for the podium contenders, they may jump aroind a bit but as long as everyone remains upright i cant see leaderboard being disturbed too much.
  11. xanadu

    Nibali at the same level as Froome/Contador?

    In the past Froome and Contador have both proved themselves a notch or two above Nibbles but there is no doubting that the Italian has looked nothing short of majestic in this years tour. The only climb of note where the 3 riders slugged it out on this years tour was the ascent of Jenkins road...
  12. xanadu

    2014 Tour de France July 18, Stage 13: Saint-Étienne - Chamrousse 197.5km

    Epic ride from Nibbles, his team seem to have struggled a bit today but Nibali hung on well. Absolutely wonderful to see Pinot, Tejay and Bardet strutting their stuff. Absolutely wonderful.
  13. xanadu

    2014 Tour de France July 18, Stage 13: Saint-Étienne - Chamrousse 197.5km

    Wheres 'Berto when we need him, the notion of following Nibali and sprinting for the win may well happen, but the newly crowned Italian Champ is unlikely to be concerned. He can afford a handful of seconds every day. What we need is more of Contador`s gung ho insanitry. He may have been...
  14. xanadu

    Has the green jersey lost its prestige?

    The problem seems to be that a great many sprinters do not want to come out and play. Sure enough there is a massive charge for the line at the end of the stage, but only limited interest in the intermediate sprints. There does indeed appear to be a Sagan factor, he is the sprinter most likely...
  15. xanadu

    Has the green jersey lost its prestige?

    The total dominance of Peter Sagan has turned the battle for the points jersey from a competition into a virtual formality.