Bianchisti

fabian seems to have lost his rythm. martin up );22. wiggo coming back at fabian now

Wiggo of by 0:21 now. coming back

martin by 0:15

Awesome bike skills fabian. Hopping an open manhole cover

Martin by 0:10. Spartacus nearly rubbing a kerb sitting up

Wiggo down by 25 s at the moment. Not getting much visuals of him

martin by 13 seconds

Spartacus no. 1 at first check. 20 s

Actually sorry. martin quicker on GPS timing (before first checkpoint). martin by 0.07s

Fabian fastest

Not leaving the office until this is over

Officially entered. Hope to make the trip and get a frame built up for the occasion

Where is it on the shelves?

close that

Salaam!

Hehe. No don't think so. Sounds fishy for your coach to tell you to expect gains after a year. In 6 months I have seen good gains, but I'm just getting the feeling I would have made those gains without a coach anyway. Part of the reason I'm with the coach is to learn from him but that hasn't really happened to the extent I would've liked. I will probably switch to a 16 week program with no interaction to save some moolah in the near future.

I'm battling with the same question at the moment. I am on R1100p/m with one of SA's leading coaches. I have seen improvement but feel I could've made those gains by myself on a non structured program anyway. A friend of mine is not on a program and he consistently show me a set of heels. I did a test with GBSP in November last year and he put down specific targets. Targets I have met/only just missed with my new coach. I went from a 3:43 94.7 in 2011 to 3:08 in 2012 by self coaching and started training with coach in March 2013. Decided to stay with the coach till I can do a retest under the same conditions in November and hopefully after the 94.7 this year. So yes, the gains are there but all my friends who are on non structured training have made equally good gains (I feel) by just riding their bikes (into stiff headwinds) and riding the same route every day.

I don't agree. They do haul themselves over those hills for the finally on the champs elesys for a chance to win and the big moolah payout. Any main sprinter would have a few things to say if his sprint train bailed and is not there to give him a lead out. Even for the sprinters finishing a tour is a big thing.

That IS cool!!!

Is there somewhere in JHB where one can buy beetroot concentrate????

I believe the SA Junior Road Race Champion was affected by the crash and has been replaced in the team for the Road Race World Champs in Toscana later this month. I think he based his season on the WC and must be gutted!

Anyone taking the plunge on the new Vector peddles? I like it but don't want to enter the market on it to early and be a guinea pig. With all the delays they've had I can't help but feel there was major issues with it (otherwise why hold it back and spend so much money on R&D?). Not saying it's a bad product but there is bound to be the initial niggly little issues with it, Like any new cellphone these days they test it in the market. I did see someone riding with it last weekend though. Said is was his first weekend out with it and it seems very consistent. Gave him a 75-25 left to right power distribution but he did have a cross wind from the left. Garmin is also talking about peddle stroke analysis in future releases which will let you know where your power in the stroke is distributed. Ie.: 6-9 o'clock, 9-12 o'clock etc..... That will be useful.

How is the frog' name pronounced?

No doubt the only reason why he wasn't the first "Brit" to win the TDF is that we was never "British" enough. He was undoubtedly stronger than the Wig last year but unfortunately for him, Brialsford started Sky with the intention of producing the first "Brit" winner. Rather a Belgium born Brit than an African born one to be the first. Also dont think the poms fancy Froome as much. He can talk the talk but he will never be British enough. But a lot of this is not his fault. I'm sure he'd love to stand on the podium with his national flag. But I'm sure his to confused to figure out which one it is. Globalization for you! it's not his fault. But for the sake of diplomacy, he has to talk the "I am British" talk.....

Guess we will know tomorrow how good this Springbok team really is. Lotsa hype!