Tour Mediterranen

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hard to believe Sky didn't pick him up after great performances in Leon and Great-Britain last year.

Also, considering some of the junk GreenEdge picked up they could've used a climber like this. Their best climbers now are Teklehaimanot and Weening

 

[Fus087]

CQ is not without it's flaws. Reggio Calabria this weekend is a perfect example - Mr. Viviani scored 78 points for each of his stage wins there...

That's hardly CQ's fault though. They follow the UCI classification of races (rightly so) - and adjusting points scales to take into account a race's length is opening a can of worms.

Previous Tour of Med winners

I'm going to make a huge leap now: First British Tour winner...?

 

[Andy99]

That's hardly CQ's fault though. They follow the UCI classification of races (rightly so) - and adjusting points scales to take into account a race's length is opening a can of worms.



I'm going to make a huge leap now: First British Tour winner...?

What a story that would be!

 

[hatcher]

Teams were put off by his age. Endura will be racing a decent enough program, so he should get to put himself in the shop window some more. Endura themselves are also looking to move up a step at the end of this season.

 

[taiwan]

CQ is not without it's flaws. Reggio Calabria this weekend is a perfect example - Mr. Viviani scored 78 points for each of his stage wins there...

Flawed if true.

Oh, see what you mean. Still that's misleading - had he won only one, it would only have been worth 20. You could say that about any stage race.

 

[The Cobra]

Great win for Tiernan-Locke. He was a class above everyone in the climbs on the Tour of Britain and looked a big talent. I understand he only started racing full time last year so I hope he can push on from here and get some more big results.

Teams were put off by his age. Endura will be racing a decent enough program, so he should get to put himself in the shop window some more. Endura themselves are also looking to move up a step at the end of this season.

I really hope Endura go up to Pro Conti next year. Having Sky is great but not everyone can ride for them and British riders like Tiernan-Locke and a few others deserve to be on a team that get invites to bigger races.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well doen JTL. Hopefully he can get a contract with a top team next year.

 

[maltiv]

Dan Martin on twitter: "Team was incredible today, the power of the collective only beat by an unbelievable performance."

"Unbelievable" is a word one should use carefully when it comes to impressive performances in cycling. Usually not a good sign...

 

[Andy99]

Dan Martin on twitter: "Team was incredible today, the power of the collective only beat by an unbelievable performance."

"Unbelievable" is a word one should use carefully when it comes to impressive performances in cycling. Usually not a good sign...

Don't think that is what Dan would be insinuating.

I know it proves nothing, but JTL and Endura are part of the bikepure anti doping scheme.

https://twitter.com/bikepure/status/168811191303544833

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I really hope Endura go up to Pro Conti next year. Having Sky is great but not everyone can ride for them and British riders like Tiernan-Locke and a few others deserve to be on a team that get invites to bigger races.

There's probably room for a British based Pro Conti team, and Endura look the most likely culprits, but it would be quite difficult to put together a good Pro Conti level race programme for one. Also, it isn't strictly necessary for British riders to ride for British teams, you know.

 

[jens_attacks]

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-int...on-va-nous-prendre-plus-au-serieux-22302.html

he seems like a good chap
basically from what i've read from riders reactions,nobody could respond to his attack,and there were big boys behind.so he should be a favourite now for haut var.also he would like a world tour team,well if he keeps it this way...

 

[Winterfold]

Wow - that is just brilliant for JTL and Endura

 

[Herr Katt]

JTL's interview. Instant classic. What the hell is he talking about?

 

[greenedge]

Nice work to JTL ( surprised by the fact that Martin worked for Kreder but Kreder still came 2nd )

Nice ride by Navvaro/ Garzelli ( Garzelli should go well at T-A. )

 

[eliacodogno]

Nice ride by Navvaro/ Garzelli ( Garzelli should go well at T-A. )

Since he does not race the Tour of Italy, T-A is the major goal of his season

 

[greenedge]

Also, considering some of the junk GreenEdge picked up they could've used a climber like this. Their best climbers now are Teklehaimanot and Weening

Impey. But yes a guy like JTL would have been good.

 

[greenedge]

Well that should do it for a nice contract with Sky next year.

Others will want to as well. However this win should set him on the right path to getting a contract.

 

[theyoungest]

Impey. But yes a guy like JTL would have been good.

Impey? If he's one of the best climbers on the team they're clearly doomed

 

[euanli]

What what I've gathered from Brian Smith, the intention is for Endura to go Pro Conti next season.

Gotta say something about Brian Smith. His ability to find riders who are capable of more is astonishing given his work with Cervelo and now Endura.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Such a massive result for JTL and for Endura. OK, the stages were shortened and the startlist not amazing but still better than any other race the team and JTL have won before. They also deserve credit for trying to enliven the race a bit, unlike Greenedge (because it was too cold FFS) and that idiot Madiot's team.

This should be a massive step forward for the team to go on and win more and also give them great exposure to step up next year.

However, after a terrific result I find it depressing that the mainstream news and sport outlets (BBC, Sky, newspapers, etc) have failed to even mention it. They'll happily mention wins for Cavendish (or him crashing) and Armstrong coming 2nd in a crappy Ironman competition but not for a British victory in the race.

It really saddens me that coverage of all non Sky/World tour races is pretty non existent. I just hope they get the exposure they deserve over the coming days, weeks and months.

 

[taiwan]

Impey. But yes a guy like JTL would have been good.

Gerrans and Albasini: worse climbers than Impey, Teklehaimanot and Weening?

 

[Andy99]

Gerrans and Albasini: worse climbers than Impey, Teklehaimanot and Weening?

Wouldn't really bracket any of them as climbers. Obviously Gerrans can a bit in his day though.

I guess Teklehaimanot is a bit of an unknown?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Impey? If he's one of the best climbers on the team they're clearly doomed

Just a shame they're world-tour.

They're going to be a total waste of space at so many races this year.

 

[Fus087]

I guess Teklehaimanot is a bit of an unknown?

From what I know from his performances in Africa, I wouldn't say he's a pure climber. He's a really strong rider, and while he did win a mountainfinish in the Tour d'Algérie (more than four minutes ahead of the rest, mind you) I would attribute that to him being head and shoulders above everybody else in that race, even the best Moroccans.
I rate him as a strong allrounder, better suited to the hills than the high mountains. But that is based on what little we've seen from him so far, he may well surprise big time when he hits the mountains.

 

[LugHugger]

What what I've gathered from Brian Smith, the intention is for Endura to go Pro Conti next season.

Gotta say something about Brian Smith. His ability to find riders who are capable of more is astonishing given his work with Cervelo and now Endura.

Picking up JTL was hardly rocket science given he was KoM at ToB '11 for Rapha Condor. Given last years form and with RCS deciding not to renew his contract due to changing their team selection criteria, it's great to see JTL looking like he can keep improving with the standard of competition.