Official Cycling Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by goheels10, Jan 2, 2012.

  1. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    So the Vuelta, the 3rd and final Grand Tour of the season, started on Saturday and the Pro Cycling Challenge (basically the Tour of Colorado) started today.

    Vuelta Results so far:
    My prediction is that Contador wins this thing by 5+ minutes. He's out to prove hes the best on the planet and this course suits him too well. Its a shame Andy Schleck isn't in the race with him...

    Stage 1 (Team Time Trial): Movistar won and J. Castroviejo crossed the finish line first so he won the Red Jersey. Biggest surprise was that Garmin-Sharp had a huge mishap and dropped 1:28. Garmin's team leader is Andrew Talansky, one of the US's next great hopes in the sport.

    Stage 2: Won by Argos-Shimano's John Degenkolb in a field sprint.

    Stage 3: Not quite a mountain top finish but close enough. There was a 5 km climb on the route with 8 km left in the race so it really split the race apart. Alberto Contador attacked like 6 times and kept dropping people and would then sit up and wait for them to come back. As soon as they came back, he'd attack again. Just fuckin with everyone. The stage was won by Alejandro Valverde of Movistar who took over the yellow jersey.

    Tour of Colorado: this is a week long race. Its probably my favorite week long race of the year because its chaos. The organizers make these guys race at ridiculously high altitudes for 7 stages. Two of the stages go over Independence Pass which tops out near 12,500 feet elevation. To put that in perspective, thats over 3,000 feet higher than the highest peak ever used in the TdF. In fact, I think theres one stage in the race where the entire stage is at an elevation higher than the highest ever used in the TdF. All the american boys ball out hard for this race. Leipheimer won the inaugural race last year for Radioshack.

    Stage 1 results:
    Our very own favorite Ginger Balls wins stage 1!!!!
     
  2. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    In other news, pro cycling's equivalent of Free Agency began officially on August 1st.

    FA in cycling is really fucked up. Firstly, it starts in the middle of the damned season. Secondly, all of the points that a rider accumulates throughout the season travel with him when he transfers teams. Those points are then added up for each team to decide which teams stay at the top level of cycling and which ones are demoted. All teams at the top level are guaranteed a spot in all of the big races (Giro, TdF, Vuelta, Roubaix, Flanders, etc). The rest have to fight for wild card spots. In any case, since FA begins in the middle of the season, if a rider signs with another team (or even hints at it), his current team often sits him for the rest of the year so he can't accumulate more points for another team.

    Here are the big transfers so far:
    Astana - Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Jakob Fuglsang (Radioshack-Nissan), Andrea Guardini (Farnese-Vini) one of the next great sprinters.
    AG2R - Y. Hutarovich (FDJ), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago), Carlos Betancur (Acqua & Sapone)
    BMC - Daniel Oss (Liquigas)
    Cofidis - Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin), Jerome Coppel (Saur), Daniel Navarro (Saxo Bank)
    Garmin - Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank), Rohan Dennis (Jayco) this kid is gonna be a superstar.
    Saxo Bank - Daniele Bennati (Radioshack), Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel), Nicholas Roche (AG2R)
    Orica- GreenEdge - Michael Matthews (Rabobank)
    Rabobank - Lars Peter Nordhaug (Sky)
    Radioshack - Jens Voight is coming back for another year. Looks like the team might not fold after all.
    Sky - Vasil Kiriyenka (Movistar)
    Movistar - Sylvester Symzd (Liquigas), Eros Capecchi (Liquigas)

    One rumor to watch out for is that Mark Cavendish is unhappy at Sky and will leave. 6 teams are apparently in the running for him (BMC, Omega-Pharma, Lampre, Katusha, Rabobank and I can't remember the last one).

    Nobody knows whats going on at Liquigas either. Aside from the fact that Liquigas itself is leaving as a sponsor and Cannondale, a US-based bike manufacturer, is rumored to be taking over as the primary sponsor. They'll probably still survive with Ivan Basso, Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani and Moreno Moser but they've lost a lot of big horses this year (see Nibali, Oss, Symzd, Capecchi, and three other riders).
     
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  3. 2

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    Volunteered for stage one in Telluride today. Never followed cycling, but event was pretty cool to see. Will definitely take an interest in cycling.
     
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  4. Duck Smoker

    Duck Smoker Cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin.
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    I'll be in Beaver Creek on Thurs and then see it again over the weekend.

    Fuckin' ginger winning stage 1 invalidates this whole race.
     
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  5. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    I'm jealous! I'm actively trying to get a gig with the race organizers for the World Championships in Richmond in 2015. Doubt it happens but we'll see.

    Vuelta results:
    Stage 4: Simon Clarke (Orica-Greenedge)
    Stage 5: John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano)

    US Pro Cycling Challenge results:
    Stage 2: Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) - took the yellow jersey from Ginger Balls
    Stage 3: Tom Danielson (Garmin) - Christian Vande Velde of Garmin took the yellow jersey from Tejay but they have the same time on the overall.
     
  6. 2

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    Like I said, never followed cycling before. I've watched all 3 stages now. Can you explain to me how the leaderboard works? Why are all riders with a pack at the finish line all given same times?
     
  7. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Riders get the same finishing time on a stage if they finish in the same group. Technically, being in the same group means there is less than a bike length between the riders. For example, in a typical sprint stage (one that ends in a bunch sprint), all 170+ riders often finish with the same time if there are no large gaps in the peloton.

    So why did Tejay lose the jersey yesterday if he finished in the same group as Christian Vande Velde? Well, thats a tad controversial. Here's a good explanation from cyclingnews.com

    The last sentence is referring to the Stage 2 results where van Garderen won and Vande Velde finished second. There was a clear gap of 3-5 bike lengths between the two riders yet race officials gave them both the same finishing time.
     
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  8. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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  9. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    just so its here too, Lance Pharmstrong gave up in his fight against the USDA. He will lose his 7 tour de france titles and faces a lifetime ban from all sports.
     
  10. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Tour of Colorado results:
    Stage 4: Jens Voight (Radioshack-Nissan) - won after breaking away from the peloton at the beginning of the stage and went the whole way solo.
    Stage 5: Ginger Balls again ?!? wtf is happening?

    Tomorrow is a big day for the overall contenders. Tejay van Garderen (BMC) still has the leaders jersey but Garmin has 3 guys within 12 seconds of him. If Tejay takes the yellow jersey into Sunday, he'll likely win because Sunday is a TT.

    [​IMG]

    Vuelta results:
    Stage 6: Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) - he has the red leaders jersey
    Stage 7: John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) - again... his third win in 7 stages. Impressive performance for the former HTC rider.

    Tomorrow should see the big boys come out. Look for Contador to try and blow the doors off of folks.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Tour of Colorado results:
    Stage 6: Rory Sutherland of United Healthcare won Saturday's stage and Tejay blew up on the final climb. Levi Leipheimer took the yellow jersey.
    Stage 7: Taylor Phinney (BMC) won the final stage, a 15km TT. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) had the TT of his life, finished 10 seconds behind Phinney and won the race overall. Watch out for Phinney in the world time trial championships coming up in a few weeks. He's in killer form right now and the regular favorites are a bit down. Cancellara is still beaten up from his crash, Tony Martin is trying to gain last minute form at the Vuelta, and Brad Wiggins isn't riding the race.

    Vuelta results:
    Stage 8 (Saturday): Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won again. His 2nd stage win in the race.
    Stage 9 (Sunday): Phillipe Gilbert (BMC) won the stage and J. Rodriguez (Katusha) extended his overall lead. Gilbert looks to be coming into form before the World Road Race. He's aiming for the rainbow jersey.
    Monday was the first rest day.
    Stage 10 (Tuesday): John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) won his 4th stage of the race. This guy is on fire.
    Stage 11 (Wed): Frederck Kessiakoff (Astana) won the stage. Alberto Contador finished second and put some time into Chris Froome and J. Rodriguez, who kept the red jersey (surprisingly).
    Stage 12 (Thurs): J. Rodriguez won again on one of the nastiest climbs I've seen in a while. 1.9 km long, an average gradient of 17% with ramps up to 30%. Some of the best climbers in the world were climbing at 6 mph. Fucking insane.. Rodriguez & Contador were the only two guys who could dance up the climb. Pretty much everyone else blew the fuck up.

    Here's the top 10 as of right now. Huge time gaps have appeared already. Rabobank is having a great showing with 3 guys in the top 10. None of them seem to be able to stick with these Spanish climbers though. Also note Andrew Talansky (Garmin) sitting there at 8th on the overall. He's the other young American, along with Tejay, who is a rider for the very near future.

    General Classification after Stage 12
    1 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) 44:50:35
    2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK) + 0:13
    3 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 0:51
    4 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 1:20
    5 GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) + 2:59
    6 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel (KATUSHA) + 3:29
    7 ROCHE, Nicolas (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 4:22
    8 TALANSKY, Andrew (GARMIN-SHARP) + 5:17
    9 TEN DAM, Laurens (RABOBANK) + 5:18
    10 MOLLEMA, Bauke (RABOBANK) + 6:01
     
  12. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Stage 13 (Fri): Steve Cummings (BMC) won out of the breakaway. Love it when this happens, especially when it happens for a domestique like Cummings.
    Stage 14 (Sat): Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) won for the 3rd time. I'm starting to get a little sketched out by this. I like him as a rider but I've never seen him climb this well, for this long. That coupled with the not-so-clean reputation of Katusha gives me a weird vibe.
    Stage 15 (Sun): A monster stage. Won by Antonio Piedra of team Caja Rural, one of the tiny Spanish teams who got an invite to the race. He was in the breakaway all day and attacked on the last climb to win. This single stage win will make Caja Rural's season. It was awesome to see...

    Contador attacked like crazy but couldn't drop Rodriguez. I don't know if Contador's time off is holding him back or if Rodriguez is in this good of form, but its really strange to see.

    Todays stage is the queen stage of the race (see spoiler). It will be live at 9 AM EST. I'll post a link when the race comes on if anybody is interested.
    [​IMG]

    In other news:
    * Mark Cavendish is definitely leaving Sky. Seems like its down to Omega Pharma - Quick-Step and Katusha. Odds are he goes to OPQS b/c he has a sponsorship deal with Specialized, and thats what they ride.

    * USADA's evidence against Lance will be published in mid-late September. Early reports state that, in the report, we will learn that his blood samples from multiple TdF wins, and other races, did test positive.
     
  13. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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  14. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    I've been slacking in this thread... here's what I missed.

    Results:
    * Contador won the Vuelta.
    * Phillipe Gilbert (BMC) won the World Championship Road Race and will wear the rainbow jersey next year
    * Tony Martin (OPQS) won the World Championship Time Trial. Taylor Phinney finished second... he almost had it. Was an awesome race!
    * Omega Pharma-QuickStep won the World Championship Team Time Trial.
    * J. Rodriguez (Katusha) won Il Lombardia and finished the season as the top ranked rider.

    Other news:
    * Rabobank is leaving the sport as a sponsor. They've been in the game for 17 years and are the best talent developers out there. They will continue to support their youth teams but not the pro level. Next year the team will wear blank jerseys and Rabobank will pay their salaries. Team HTC was formed in a similar fashion when the Telekom team dissolved.
    * Mark Cavendish left team Sky and signed with Omega Pharma Quick Step.
    * Saxo Bank has been super busy making moves in the offseason, and rightfully so. Contador's points don't count toward their total next year and without them they don't have enough to ride at the top leve. They've signed Roman Kreuziger (Astana), Daniele Bennati (Radioshack), Matti Breschel (Rabobank), Rory Sutherland (United Healthcare), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua-Sapone), Nicholas Roche (Ag2R), Oliver Zaugg (Radioshack).
    * Levi Leipheimer got shit-canned by OPQS.
    * Cancellara is staying at Radioshack. He wants to skip the TdF and focus fully on the classics (i.e. Milan San Remo, Flanders, Paris-Roubaix).
     
  15. Duck Smoker

    Duck Smoker Cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin.
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    TheOnion's new Tour de France t-shirt.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Duck Smoker

    Duck Smoker Cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin.
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    Schleck boys' father has suggested they retire. Being a cyclist in the modern testing environment is no way to live. Or, he's blowing smoke to cover-up for Frank's positive test. Or, both.
     
  17. Duck Smoker

    Duck Smoker Cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin.
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    Lastly, please change thread title to "Title Stripping Season".
     
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  18. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    i definitely think its cause of the latter. I don't like Frank, but I kinda believe him when he says he was slipped something by team management.
     
  19. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    So the final 3 spots in the World Tour were given out today. Teams who are in the WT get automatic invites to all of the big races.

    The spots went to:
    FDJ
    Argos-Shimano
    Lotto-Belisol

    That means that Saxo Bank missed out. They'll still get invites to some of the big races but the Tour isn't a guarantee.
     
  20. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Edit to that last post... Holy fucking shit, Saxo Bank gets a slot and Katusha gets kicked out. J Rodriguez is the top ranked cyclist for two years in a row, finishes second in two grand tours this year and they get relegated... Dirty news must be coming out soon.
     
  21. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
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    bump

    Is this just a thread to follow the sport, or is this a thread for guys that actually ride road bikes? If I'm in the wrong place, please link me to where I need to be.

    Got a specialized road bike from my folks for Christmas (I have torn my ACL twice, jogging hasn't been very enjoyable, but I have really enjoyed riding borrowed bikes, so they got me one) which I got the other day. Has an aluminium frame and a carbon fork (which is what my dad's friends told him I should get). Also got a helmet and a pair of riding shorts (which feel like a pair of sliders with the insole of a running shoe stitched into the crotch, but I figure they'll pay dividends).

    Really enjoyed riding it my last day in Dallas for a couple miles while it was 70 degrees, but probably won't be in suitable weather for a couple weeks. Any tips or things I should know before trying to dive in?
     
  22. Jean-Ralphio

    Jean-Ralphio A real toe-tapper
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    yeah you're in the wrong thread but i don't think there is a right one. you could start one.

    not saying you can't post about it here. i'm sure it's not a problem but not sure you'll get a lot of responses.
     
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  23. bRamonceTaylor

    bRamonceTaylor Well-Known Member
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    well I've ridden my bike for no more than 3 miles and my only feedback is that my ass hurts, so that's all I'll probably able to contribute.

    But I'll come back when my ass stops being sore and I might know a thing or two about the sport.
     
  24. Jean-Ralphio

    Jean-Ralphio A real toe-tapper
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    well the seat is probably a race bike seat. get some bike shorts. they're gay but they'll stop your ass from hurting.
     
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  25. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
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    bRamonceTaylor


    http://the-mainboard.com/index.php?...cyclocross-road-mountain-cruisers-etc.118495/

    as far as tips, I have a couple

    Keep your knees in tight, don't let them start splaying out away from the frame, you want to turn your legs into pistons

    Keep your arms bent at the elbow, this helps absorb bumps and keeps you from becoming to stiff in the upper body

    Avoid riding in large groups until you get a really good feel for your bike, shit can happen really fast in large groups and at high speed
     
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  26. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    feel free to post in this thread. it seems like most posters on TMB hate cyclists so feel free to post in here where you might get a little bit of attention.

    the biggest issues with pain related to cycling is A. position/fit of your body and the bike and B. just getting used to it.

    A. If you bike is too big or small for you it will result in excess pressure being put on your ass or on your hands (depending on your set-up). getting the right size frame is a huge step.

    B. Just an example, I ride a lot. I've been off my bike for a few months after a major accident. Yesterday was the first day back on my bike in a while. I rode 30 miles and my ass is killing me. In the summer, after having rode all spring, I can go 100+ miles without it hurting. It just takes some getting used to.
     
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  27. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    welp, the season is about ready to kick off again. The season starts with the Tour Down Under in Australia and the Tour de San Luis in Argentina. Both races start next weekend and will be full of big names trying to get their winter legs in shape before the spring classics.

    Big news this offseason:
    * Katusha lost their license which means, if they lose their appeal, that Joaquim Rodriguez (#1 rider in the world) will be a free agent. Only two teams, maybe 3, have the roster spots to sign him and his entourage (Movistar, BMC, and I forget the other). Its expected that his entourage will travel with him, much like Contador's does when he switches teams, but its not guaranteed. If only he leaves, plenty teams have one roster spot left.
    * Mark Cavendish switched teams again.
    * Joe Dombrowski, the next big Merican hope, signed for team Sky. Fuck him.
    * George Hincapie and Vino retired.
    * Rabobank left the sport as a sponsor. The team still exists under the name Blanco.
    * Argos-Shimano moved up to the World Tour level (replacing Katusha). They will win a shit-ton of races this year with two of the best sprinters in the world, Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb.
    * Liquigas also left the sport as a sponsor. Cannondale took over as the main sponsor for the squad.

    Here are some of the transfers this offseason (big transfers in ital/bold):
    AG2R La Mondiale
    Ins: Steve Chainel (FDJ-BigMat); Davide Appollonio (Sky); Carlos Betancur(Acqua & Sapone); Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-BigMat); Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago - CSF Inox); Julian Kern (Leopard-Trek);Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis)

    Outs: Nicolas Roche (Saxo Bank - Tinkoff); Martin Elmiger, Kristof Goddaert, Sébastien Hinault and Romain Lemarchand (IAM Project)

    BMC Racing Team
    Ins: Daniel Oss, Dominik Nerz (Liquigas-Cannondale);

    Outs: Johann Tschopp (IAM Project); George Hincapie (retiring)

    Euskaltel-Euskadi
    Ins: Igor Anton, Mikel Land and Jon Izagirre (re-signed); Samuel Sánchez (re-signed); Mikel Nieve (re-signed); Omar Fraile (neo)

    Outs:

    FDJ-Big Mat
    Ins: Murilo Fischer (Garmin-Sharp); Alexandre Geniez (Argos-Shimano); Pierrick Fedrigo (re-signed); Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun); Laurent Pichon (Bretagne-Schuller)
    Outs: Steve Chainel (AG2R La Mondiale); Yauheni Hutarovich (AG2R La Mondiale); Rémi Pauriol (Saur-Sojasun); Gabriel Rasch (Sky)

    Garmin-Sharp
    Ins: Rohan Dennis (Jayco-AIS); Daniel Martin (re-signed); Thomas Dekker (re-signed); Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank - Tinkoff)

    Outs: Murilo Fischer (FDJ-BigMat); Christophe Le Mével (Cofidis), Henrich Haussler (IAM Project)

    Katusha Team
    Ins:
    Outs:

    Lampre - ISD
    Ins: Jan Polanc (neo), Miguel Ubeto (Androni-Giocattoli)

    Outs: Leonardo Bertagnolli (retired); Grega Bole (Vancansoleil-DCM)

    Liquigas-Cannondale
    Ins: Matthias Krizek (neo); Ivan Basso, Peter Sagan, Moreno Moser, Elia Viviani, Damiano Caruso, Stefano Agostini, Maciej Bodnar, Federico Canuti, Mauro Da Dalto, Ted King, Kristijan Koren, Paolo Longo Borghini, Alan Marangoni, Maciej Paterski, Daniele Ratto, Fabio Sabatini, Juraj Sagan, Cristiano Salerno and Josè Cayetano Sarmiento (re-signed); Alessandro De Marchi (Androni-Venezuela); Matthias Krizek (Neo-pro); Cameron Wurf (Champion System)

    Outs: Daniel Oss, Dominik Nerz (BMC Racing Team); Vincenzo Nibali, Valerio Agnoli, Alessandro Vanotti (Astana);Eros Capecchi and Sylwester Szmyd (Movistar); Timothy Duggan (Team SpiderTech)

    Lotto Belisol Team
    Ins:
    Outs: Mehdi Sohrabi (uknown);

    Movistar Team
    Ins: Eros Capecchi and Sylwester Szmyd (Movistar); Arkaitz Durán (Azysa Telco-m Conor)
    Outs: Vasili Kiryienka (Sky); Ignatas Konovalovas (MTN-Qhubeka), David Lopez (Sky)

    Omega Pharma - QuickStep
    Ins: Mark Cavendish (Sky); Gert Steegmans, Julien Vermote, Niki Terpstra, Nikolas Maes, Matteo Trentin, Stijn Vandenbergh and Andy Fenn (all re-signed through 2014); Pieter Serry (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator); Gianluca Brambilla (Colnago-CSF Inox); Iljo Keisse (re-signed)

    Outs: Dario Cataldo (Sky); Francesco Chicchi (Farnese Vini - Selle Italia), Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka)

    Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
    Ins: Michael Matthews (Rabobank)

    Outs: Robbie McEwen (retired); Matthew Wilson (retired); Jack Bobridge (Rabobank)

    Pro Team Astana
    Ins: Jakob Fuglsang (RadioShack-Nissan); Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia); Vincenzo Nibali, Valerio Agnoli, Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas-Cannondale); Fredrik Kessiakoff, Maxim Iglinsky (re-signed); Fabio Aru (neo)

    Outs: Robert Kiserlovski (RadioShack-Nissan); Alexandre Vinokourov (retiring)

    Blanco Cycling Team (formerly Rabobank)
    Ins: Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky); Graeme Brown (re-signed); Luis Leon Sanchez (re-signed); Moreno Hofland (Rabobank Continental), David Tanner (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank), Robert Wagner (RadioShack-Nissan); Jack Bobridge (Orica-GreenEdge); Jos van Emden (re-signed)

    Outs: Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge); Grischa Niermann (retiring); Coen Vermeltfoort (Cyclingteam De Rijke-Shanks).

    RadioShack-Trek
    Ins: Robert Kiserlovski (Astana); Jens Voigt (re-signed through 2013); Giacomo Nizzolo, Yaroslav Popovych (re-signed), Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil-DCM)

    Outs: Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank), Robert Wagner (Rabobank)

    Sky Procycling
    Ins: Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing); Joe Dombrowski (Bontrager Livestrong); Dario Caldato (Omega Pharma - Quickstep); Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar), David Lopez (Movistar); Gabriel Rasch (FDJ-BigMat)

    Outs: Davide Appollonio (AG2R La Mondiale); Lars Petter Nordhaug (Rabobank); Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM); Jeremy Hunt (retiring); Michael Barry (retiring); Thomas Löfkvist (IAM Project)

    Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
    Ins: Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale); Marko Kump (Adria Mobil); Michael Mørkøv (re-signed through 2015);Manuele Boaro (re-signed), Daniele Bennati (RadioShack-Nissan), Benjamin Noval and Jesus Hernandez (re-signed); Jay McCarthy (Jayco-AIS); Roman Kreuziger (Astana); Michael Rodgers (Sky)

    Outs: Daniel Navarro (Cofidis), David Tanner (Rabobank)

    Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
    Ins: Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky); Grega Bole (Vancansoleil-DCM); William Wauters (neo)

    Outs: Stijn Devolder (RadioShack-Nissan); Gustav Larsson (IAM Project)
     
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  28. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    Kits for 2013:

    Argos Shimano
    [​IMG]
    BMC - pretty much the same
    [​IMG]
    Lampre
    [​IMG]
    Garmin-Sharp
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Sky - fucking wankers
    [​IMG]
    Lotto-Belisol -
    [​IMG]
    Movistar -
    [​IMG]
    Blanco (formerly Rabobank)
    [​IMG]
    Euskaltel
    [​IMG]
    Vacansoleil
    [​IMG]
    Astana
    [​IMG]
    OmegaPharma - Quick Step
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Cannondale (formerly Liquigas)
    [​IMG]
    Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
    [​IMG]
    FDJ
    [​IMG]
    AG2R
    [​IMG]
    Katusha
    [​IMG]

    Coming soon:
    Radioshack-Trek
    Orica-GreenEdge
     
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  29. Duck Smoker

    Duck Smoker Cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin.
    Donor
    Florida GatorsDetroit Tigers

    goheels10 likes this.
  30. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Radioshack-Leopard kit - pretty much the same as last year.
    [​IMG]
     
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  31. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    goheels10 that's a pretty good rundown of unis

    Do you know what each team rides as well? I saw lst years bikes so are they much different?
     
  32. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    while most of the bikes have changes style (colors, design, geometry, etc), most teams kept the same brands of bike. As has been the case for the past few years, Specialized leads the way with 3 World Tour teams using their frames (Omega Pharma, Astana and Saxo Bank).

    Specialized
    Omega Pharma (same as last year)
    [​IMG]

    Astana (same)
    [​IMG]

    Saxo Bank is still riding Specialized (it will look very similar to Omega Pharma's, just with different colors)
    Pinarello
    Sky is still using Pinarello. It could have been one of the reasons Cav switched teams (he has a big sponsorship deal with Specialized)
    [​IMG]

    Movistar (same)
    [​IMG]

    Merida
    Lampre switched from Wilier frames to Merida frames. The team name is now Lampre-Merida
    [​IMG]

    Focus
    AG2R has this hot-ass Focus bike. I'd kill for this thing...
    [​IMG]

    Cannondale
    Cannondale (formerly Liquigas) - (Same)
    [​IMG]

    Cervelo
    Garmin is still riding Cervelo
    [​IMG]

    Orbea
    Euskaltel (same) - pics look the same as last year

    Ridley
    Lotto-Belisol - no pics yet

    Bianchi
    Vacansoleil
    [​IMG]

    Giant
    Blanco (formerly Rabobank) - same
    [​IMG]

    Trek
    Radioshack-Leopard-Trek
    [​IMG]

    Felt
    Argos Shimano - (same) - this bike is gonna win a shit-ton of races this year
    [​IMG]
     
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  33. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    thanks a ton goheels10

    you doing good work here
     
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  34. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    also, what are your thoughts on the Orbea Orca

    I was able to get a new Bronze Carbon late summer for basically a song and I couldn't pass up that deal

    I like it a ton but I came from an all aluminum bike (except for the bottle holders, lol)

    just wanted to get an opinion from someone who seems to know alot (other than the sales manager who swore it was a great bike, duh)
     
    goheels10 likes this.
  35. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Really wanted Lance to just take the moment in the spotlight to explain that everyone in pro cycling dopes, everyone lies about it, and nothing will change. Long live Ullrich, my all time favorite.

    Cheers, Lance.

    [​IMG]
     
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  36. Jean-Ralphio

    Jean-Ralphio A real toe-tapper
    Donor
    Michigan WolverinesUtah JazzGreen Bay PackersArsenal

    That doesn't look a thing like Jan Ullrich. but i could be wrong as most riders gain a lot of weight fast after they retire.
     
  37. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Orbea makes kick ass bikes. if you can afford one and get your hands on one, i'd say do it.

    i was in a pretty nasty crash this summer that fucked up my carbon frame and was really close to buying an Orbea until I found out that i could fix my old frame.
     
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  38. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    got it and love it

    I can attack hills like I never imagined and about a month ago it got me out of 2 very nasty situations in the same day that had I been on any other bike I've road, would have messed me up pretty bad. It is more agile than I even thought possible until those happened

    glad to see you're back on the road
     
    goheels10 likes this.
  39. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    awesome that you got the bike. i'm jealous. little-known fact for ya. Orbea is owned by a worker-owned cooperative, so every dollar made benefits everyone who works there...

    i just got back on the road last weekend for the first time since the end of june. it fucking sucked because it was 39-degrees and raining but I felt like a little kid on christmas morning out there. I rode until my hands went numb and then worked my way home. i want to go out tomorrow so badly but it feels like 13 outside right now.
     
  40. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Greg Lemond says whaaaaaaaaat.
    [​IMG]
    I bet he can descend like a fucking rock.
     
  41. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    So the first 'stage' of the Tour Down Under wrapped up last night. It wasn't really an official stage, in that it doesn't count towards the GC, but it does count for World Tour points and for the riders win total.

    Andre Greipel of Lotto-Belisol won this race again in an impressive fashion. His leadout train was so fast that it blew the peloton apart with 750 meters left. Obviously this showing bodes well for the Lotto-Belisol team as the new season gets underway, but the thing that really stood out to me here was the form of Matt Goss, the second place rider. He stuck on Greipel's wheel and almost came around him at the end. Greipel's power meter had him at 73.8 km (~46mph) when he crossed the line, but Goss was coming around him. After a disappointing year last year maybe this means Goss is back?


    1. GREIPEL, Andre (GER) Lotto Belisol 1:04:01
    2. GOSS, Matthew (AUS) Orica GreenEDGE 1:04:01
    3. HENDERSON, Greg (NZL) Lotto Belisol 1:04:01
    4. VAN POPPEL, Boy (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM 1:04:01
    5. BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald (NOR) Sky Procycling 1:04:03
    6. CIMOLAI, Davide (ITA) Lampre-Merida 1:04:03
    7. VON HOFF, Steele (AUS) Garmin Sharp 1:04:03
    8. ROJAS GIL, Jose Joaquin (ESP) Movistar 1:04:03
    9. GIACOPPO, Anthony (AUS) UNI SA - Australia 1:04:03
    10. HUTAROVICH, Yauheni (BLR) AG2R La Mondiale 1:04:03
     
  42. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Yesterday was Stage 1 of the first two big races in the racing calendar.

    In the Tour de San Luis, in Argentina, Mark Cavendish sprinted to a win on the first stage. This race is a week long and it should see multiple sprint finishes, but the overall winner will be someone who can time trial and climb. Last years race was won by Levi Leipheimer. Lots of big names are riding this race but its mostly for just form, not for results. Most people are saying that this is Tejay Vangarderen's race to lose.

    Last night / this morning was stage 1 of the Tour Down Under. Andre Greipel won in dominating fashion again. Nobody was even close to him.
     
  43. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Better pics of the 2013 courtesy of CyclingTips.au, a great blog that covers cycling from an Australian perspective.

    Radioshack-Leopard : Trek Madone
    [​IMG]
    AG2R - Focus Izalco
    [​IMG]
    Argos Shimano: Felt F1
    [​IMG]
    Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank: Specialized Venge
    [​IMG]
    Astana: Specialized Tarmac
    [​IMG]
    Blanco: Giant Propel
    [​IMG]
    Cannondale: Cannondale EVO
    [​IMG]
    Euskaltel: Orbea Orca
    [​IMG]
    Omega-Pharma: Specialized Tarmac
    [​IMG]
    FDJ: Lapierre Xelius 400
    [​IMG]
    Lampre: Merida Scultura
    [​IMG]
    Lotto-Belisol: Ridley Noah
    [​IMG]
    Garmin-Sharp: Cervelo S5
    [​IMG]
    Orica-GreenEdge: Scott Foil
    [​IMG]
    Sky: Pinarello Dogma
    [​IMG]
    Vancansoleil: Bianchi Oltre
    [​IMG]
     
    alexander supertramp likes this.
  44. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    man those bikes are sic

    I would love to ride one 1 time but I'd be scared as hell I'd lay it over
     
  45. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Tour Down Under: Stage 2 results
    Geraint Thomas of Sky won Stage 2 in convincing fashion and took the overall lead. A lot of the pre-race favorites were hung up in a crash with about 10 km left so Thomas could win this. I still think someone else takes it but Geraint, and Sky, are good enough to hold on to this.
    [​IMG]

    Tour de San Luis - Stage 2 results:
    Sacha Modolo beat Mark Cavendish in a sprint to take the stage and the overall jersey.

    Stage 3 results:
    Alex Diniz (Funvic Brasilinvest) won the uphill climb today by smoking some of the sports best. I'm pretty skeptical of this win b/c the guy just came back from a 2-year doping ban for EPO and he left great climbers like Contador and J. Rodriguez in the dust. Tejay is in good position for the overall at 0:25 back of the leader with a TT and some climbing stages to come.
     
  46. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Tour Down Under:

    Stage 3 Results
    [​IMG]

    Stage 3 Results NED 1 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) 3:36:46 AUS 2 GOSS, Matthew Harley (ORICA GREENEDGE) BEL 3 GILBERT, Philippe (BMC RACING TEAM) GBR 4 THOMAS, Geraint (SKY PROCYCLING) ITA 5 VISCONTI, Giovanni (MOVISTAR TEAM) ESP 6 MORENO BAZAN, Javier (MOVISTAR TEAM) ITA 7 PONZI, Simone (ASTANA PRO TEAM) ITA 8 PIETROPOLLI, Daniele (LAMPRE-MERIDA) ITA 9 SANTAROMITA, Ivan (BMC RACING TEAM) ESP 10 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI)
    Stage 4 Results

    [​IMG]
    Stage 4 Results GER 1 GREIPEL, André (LOTTO BELISOL) 3:02:52 ITA 2 FERRARI, Roberto (LAMPRE-MERIDA) AUS 3 CANTWELL, Jonathan (TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF) GBR 4 FENN, Andrew (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP) NED 5 MARKUS, Barry (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) GER 6 KITTEL, Marcel (TEAM ARGOS-SHIMANO) AUS 7 RENSHAW, Mark (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) NED 8 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) FRA 9 DEMARE, Arnaud (FDJ) BEL 10 LODEWYCK, Klaas (BMC RACING TEAM)
    Stage 5 Results

    [​IMG]

    Stage 5 Results AUS 1 GERRANS, Simon (ORICA GREENEDGE) 3:36:25 NED 2 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) ESP 3 MORENO BAZAN, Javier (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 10 ESP 4 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 12 POR 5 MACHADO, Tiago (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 13 NED 6 KELDERMAN, Wilco (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) + 16 ESP 7 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) ESP 8 VALLS FERRI, Rafael (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) ITA 9 PIETROPOLLI, Daniele (LAMPRE-MERIDA) BEL 10 HERMANS, Ben (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) FIN 11 VEIKKANEN, Jussi (FDJ) + 21 FRA 12 ELISSONDE, Kenny (FDJ) ITA 13 SANTAROMITA, Ivan (BMC RACING TEAM) + 23 NZL 14 BAUER, Jack (GARMIN SHARP) + 25


    Stage 6 Results


    [​IMG]
    Stage 6 Results GER 1 GREIPEL, André (LOTTO BELISOL) 1:52:59 AUS 2 RENSHAW, Mark (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) NOR 3 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald (SKY PROCYCLING) AUS 4 GOSS, Matthew Harley (ORICA GREENEDGE) USA 5 FARRAR, Tyler (GARMIN SHARP) GBR 6 THOMAS, Geraint (SKY PROCYCLING) BEL 7 LODEWYCK, Klaas (BMC RACING TEAM) NED 8 MARKUS, Barry (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) BLR 9 HUTAROVICH, Yauheni (AG2R LA MONDIALE)
    NED 10 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny Robert (VACANSOLEIL-DCM)

    Overall results / observations:
    * TJ Slagter wins the overall. He's a youngster for the Blanco Cycling team (formerly Rabobank). He was clearly the canniest rider and in the best form out of anyone there.

    * Also note Blanco's Wilco Keldermann with a top-10 overall finish. This kid is the next great Dutch stage racer. He can do it all.

    * Andy Schleck dropped out of the race again. I don't think he's finished a race in the last 6 months.

    * Andre Greipel and his Lotto-Belisol sprint train look filthy. He won the most races out of any rider last year and with 3 wins out of 7 stages at the TDU, he's well on his way to that title again. Look for him to carry his form into the next stage races in either Oman or Qatar.

    * Two Euskaltel riders in the top 10 of the overall of a short stage race. Looks like this team of climbers may be tweaking their goals this season.

    * Sky and Radioshack looked to be in the best position heading into the queen stage but they blew it.

    * Garmin sent a really young team, aside from Ginger Balls & Robbie Hunter, and they rode the race with 2 less guys than most other teams. With all that, they still placed a guy at #11 overall in the GC. This team lacks superstardom (Hejesdal is a GC winner but I wouldn't say he's a superstar) but they have riders capable of winning every type of race.

    Final General Classification
    NED 1 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM) 18:28:32
    ESP 2 MORENO BAZAN, Javier (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 17
    GBR 3 THOMAS, Geraint (SKY PROCYCLING) + 25
    ESP 4 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 32
    BEL 5 HERMANS, Ben (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 34
    NED 6 KELDERMAN, Wilco (BLANCO PRO CYCLING TEAM)
    ESP 7 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 36
    ITA 8 PIETROPOLLI, Daniele (LAMPRE-MERIDA)
    POR 9 MACHADO, Tiago (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 38
    FIN 10 VEIKKANEN, Jussi (FDJ) + 41
     
  47. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    The World Cyclocross Championships are being held today in Louisville, KY.

    Live link here starting at 9:30 AM and different races throughout the day
    http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jev4Z4KdQAA

    Schedule:
    Elite Men start this afternoon at 2:30
    [​IMG]
     
  48. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    So the Tour of Qatar wrapped up last weekend with the following results:
    Stage 1: Brent Bookwalter (BMC) surprised everyone and won out of the breakaway. Great win by a solid American domestique.
    Stage 2: BMC won the Team Time Trial and Bookwalter kept the leaders jersey.
    Stage 3: Mark Cavendish (OPQS)
    Stage 4: Mark Cavendish (OPQS) - Cavendish took the leaders jersey from Bookwalter.
    Stage 5: Mark Cavendish (OPQS)
    Stage 6: Mark Cavendish (OPQS)
    Overall: Mark Cavendish (OPQS), Bookwalter +2, Taylor Phinney (BMC) +8

    The Tour of Oman wrapped up this morning:

    Stage 1: Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano)
    Stage 2: Peter Sagan (Cannondale) - Sagan took the leaders jersey.
    Stage 3: Peter Sagan (Cannondale)
    Stage 4: Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) - Rodriquez won the queen stage up the Green Mountain climb. Chris Froome (Sky) took the leaders jersey.
    Stage 5: Christopher Froome (Sky)
    Stage 6: Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ)
    Overall: Chris Froome (Sky), Contador +27, Cadel Evans (BMC) +39

    Tour de Haut Var is going on today and tomorrow. Its a great two-day stage race that is highly underrated.
    Stage 1: Thor Hushovd (BMC) - won for the first time in 17 months.
    Stage 2: tomorrow

    Upcoming races:
    Vuelta a Andalucia (Routa del Sol) - Starts tomorrow and wraps up on Wednesday. Has a short TT, a sprinter stage, and a mountain stage. Great race to see who is good form at this point.

    Tour of Langkwai - a very challenging week-long stage race in Malaysia. Feb 21 - March 2

    Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - the first spring classic. Next Saturday, Feb 23rd. Can't fucking wait.

    Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne - the next spring classic, the very next day.

    Strade Bianche - March 3rd - my second favorite race of the year. Its ridden on sections of white gravel throughout Tuscany and it just fucks people up. Cancellara won last year.
     
  49. a.tramp

    a.tramp Insubordinate and churlish
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsTexas Rangers

    wish I could follow/watch cycling on the tv

    got rid of cable in order to be more productive as a New Year's resolution :facepalm:
     
  50. goheels10

    goheels10 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina TarheelsCleveland BrownsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    none of its on TV anyway. NBCSports picks up the big races but they do a shitty job of covering it. I watch all of the races online, fo free.

    i will start posting links if you're interested.