This Sunday (3rd.) the Criterium du Dauphine starts, with a time trial in Grenoble...... Critérium du Dauphiné with same teams as Tour de France The 2012 route for the Critérium du Dauphiné has been revealed Wildcards to Argos-Shimano and three French Professional Continental teams The Critérium du Dauphiné is mirroring the Tour de France in 2012, with not only the same top stars but with the exact same teams as the three-week race. Bradley Wiggins, Andy and Fränk Schleck and Cadel Evans are expected to warm up in the Dauphine on the way to their showdown in the Tour. The same four Professional Continental teams have received wildcard invitations to the Dauphine as to the Tour de France: the three French teams of Cofidis, Europcar and Saur-Sojasun, and Argos-Shimano, around top sprinter Marcel Kittel. They will join the 18 WorldTour teams at both races. This year's Dauphine runs a total of 1052 km. It starts on June 3 with a 5.7km long prologue in Grenoble, and ends a week later in Chatel. The fourth stage will be a 53km time trial from Villie-Morgon to Bourg-en-Bresse. The race also features a climb up the Grand Columbier,which will also appear in the Tour de France for the first time. Wiggins won the Dauphine in 2011, ahead of Evans and Alexandre Vinokourov. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/criterium-du-dauphine-with-same-teams-as-tour-de-france
It will be interesting to see how cav does this year with a team not specifically built around him, personally i cant see him matching the 5 stage wins from previous years, i think the giro showed that Sky cant do a lead out like Columbia could, plus Wiggins wont want to be exerting energy in the early stages. Possible Sky Line Up ? Wiggins (GC Contender) Cavendish (Points Jersey) Boasen Hagen (Hilly Finishes) Eisel (Cavs Train) Rogers (Cavs Train) Swift (Lead out) Xando (Wiggins Mountain Helper) Uran (Wiggins Mountain Helper) Porte (All rounder)
What bikes do you own? I am going to buy my first road bike today. The Orbea Aqua TTG is favourite although I like the look of Bianchi and Wilier. Any last minute advice great fully received. Watched "Le Tour de France" greatest moments last night. What a gruelling event! MoH
Check these out, Ming (That's if you're not aware of them already): http://www.evanscycles.com/ http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?utm_source...=wiggle uk&referid=googwig&utm_adgroup=Wiggle http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/kitching-holdsworth.html ...and here's a link for the Criterium du Dauphine: http://www.steephill.tv/criterium-du-dauphine-libere/#live
I think Geraint Thomas is more likely to be Cav's lead out man. They did pretty well together at the Giro. I think Skys lead out matches Columbia's. 3 stage wins at the Giro, 2 crashes and then getting beaten by Guardini. Eisel and Thomas laid that one on a plate for Cavendish and he just got beat!
Thanks for those links TC. I shall certainly use them to buy accessories. Wrt the bike, I am fortunate that my LBS (Stonehenge Cycles) are really good. Out of interest what do you ride? MoH
Got an old (mongrel) bike based on a Peugeot, which I use for journeys around the village/to the pub; and an old Raleigh 'Weekender' (non-531), which I'm in the process of re-building, with slightly more modern/better parts. I'd love a good new road bike, but it's a question of ££££!
I currently ride a Basso Reef for the longer journeys got it reduced from 1200 to 800 with pedals and shoes because it was the season befores model and i have owned it a year and has been great, as im have been in uni a lot for my final year i got built my self a fixed gear bike (had owned them previously) but that is ideal for pub runs or short city journeys its is a Dolan Pre Cursa frame with carbon forks, h+son wheels and other decent parts and that was around 700 to build but worth every penny as i have done around 700 miles on it just in the city.
As far as i know Thomas has said he isnt riding the tour this year as he wants to concentrate on the olympics
http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,21468_7001428,00.html [Edit: ****! Just spotted it's last year's news]
Yeah that is a shame, together with Eisel they made for a good lead out. Both are strong riders in their own right too. What do we think of Wiggins chances for GC? Cav in green, Wiggins in yellow? Possible?
Frank Schleck back - and in the Tour of Luxembourg: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2012
I just think Sky are spreading their goals too far, history shows that gc winners tend to come from teams that are specifically built around the team leader, best bet for sky would be Cav in green and Wiggins top 5.
If anyone wants bike advice, feel free to pm me. Got a titanium road bike, and a Wilier Cento Uno (sram red)... and used to mountains and road cycling. Check out the "Chasing Legends" dvd if you want something to whet the appetite!
