General News Thread

[El Pistolero]

http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=4C3JNAQ2

The Ronde van Limburg will return next year. Will take place on 17th May.

 

[El Pistolero]

Philippe Gilbert is Sportman van het jaar for the third time in a row. He leaves the Borlée brothers behind him.

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/16447/philippe-gilbert-opnieuw-belgisch-sportman-van-het-jaar.html

 

[The Hitch]

Philippe Gilbert is Sportman van het jaar for the third time in a row. He leaves the Borlée brothers behind him.

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/16447/philippe-gilbert-opnieuw-belgisch-sportman-van-het-jaar.html

Forget Belgium, Gilbert is the best sportsman of 2011, period.

 

[Gloin22]

Tour Méditerranéen 2012 cancelled.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10687/Tour-Mediterraneen-2012-cancelled.aspx

 

[jens_attacks]

Tour Méditerranéen 2012 cancelled.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10687/Tour-Mediterraneen-2012-cancelled.aspx

sad news

 

[El Pistolero]

Tour Méditerranéen 2012 cancelled.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10687/Tour-Mediterraneen-2012-cancelled.aspx

No surprise, I've mentioned it a couple of time already.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

sucks that michele scarponi is gonna skip ii giro

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

sucks that michele scarponi is gonna skip ii giro

that does suck. He was a chance to win imo.

 

[roundabout]

Link to the announcement?

 

[theyoungest]

sucks that michele scarponi is gonna skip ii giro

Isn't he still considering his options? This year could be his chance to win the Giro.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Isn't he still considering his options? This year could be his chance to win the Giro.

yes...his chance could have been very very good...dont know why...
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...Cycling+News+&+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com)

 

[El Pistolero]

On a more positive note, we might see Scarponi in the Ardennes classics now

 

[Michielveedeebee]

On a more positive note, we might see Scarponi in the Ardennes classics now

Which is good, I can see him winning Fleche Wallonne and be a major role in the other 2. Also, if he feels he should give le Tour a go, let him, me thinks he'll podium tbh. And if not, he'll at least make hell break loose on the mountains!

 

[craig1985]

Why would Scarponi want to ride the Tour? I mean he has a chance to go all out and win the Giro and have a break or then do the Tour but just to lol about and maybe go for KOM points or get a stage win.

I would rather a Giro victory then some anonymous 8th placing. That's why I respect Purito so much, he can ride the Tour and finish in the top 10 (like he did in 2010), or have a real go of it at the Giro and Vuelta and if luck went his way, finish on the podium of either GT.

 

[roundabout]

yes...his chance could have been very very good...dont know why...
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...Cycling+News+&+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com)

I am being obtuse but where in the link does Scarponi himself or the Lampre management say that he is riding the Tour?

 

[Parrulo]

that's just very weird coming from an italian team, have none of their team leaders in giro? hmmm i smell something fishy.

there is no way in hell one of either scarponi or cunego aren't at the giro in top shape

 

[42x16ss]

that's just very weird coming from an italian team, have none of their team leaders in giro? hmmm i smell something fishy.

there is no way in hell one of either scarponi or cunego aren't at the giro in top shape

My guess is Cunego and Lloyd to hit the Giro at peak form and Scarponi and Ulissi to go for the TdF.

Would love to be wrong though, as said above, Scarponi is a real chance to win the Giro next year. However, if Scarponi races the Tour I can see him gaining some 3 week fans with his style of racing.

 

[Swede1]

that's just very weird coming from an italian team, have none of their team leaders in giro? hmmm i smell something fishy.

there is no way in hell one of either scarponi or cunego aren't at the giro in top shape

Cunego is skipping the Giro too? Scarponi is their main rider though, hes much better than Cunego.

 

[theyoungest]

yes...his chance could have been very very good...dont know why...
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...Cycling+News+&+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com)

That's the article where his teammates say that he could be good in the Tour. Where does it say that he'll actually ride it? And more importantly, that he'll skip the Giro?

 

[auscyclefan94]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/frank-and-andy-schleck-training-on-ghent-track

Heaven forbid Andy has to ride down the banking of the velodrome as that is not part of cycling!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

that's just very weird coming from an italian team, have none of their team leaders in giro? hmmm i smell something fishy.

there is no way in hell one of either scarponi or cunego aren't at the giro in top shape

Ale-Jet ftw!

 

[Parrulo]

Ale-Jet ftw!

he also said he will skip the giro to focus on the green jersey

 

[Lupetto]

Brajkovic via Twitter.

janibrajkovic janibrajkovic
I've been just told that I was racing with mononucleosis this year. Explains many things

 

[El Pistolero]

Brajkovic via Twitter.

I bet Bruyneel is cursing right now.

 

[craig1985]

Ale-Jet ftw!

Who are you and what have you done with the real Libertine?