Yo-Yo

Yeah, I get that but I didn’t realise you got a cop out on performing because the team comes from Africa. It’s a competitive environment but TDD is in the world tour, the top tier and they can’t get into to a break. You could have removed them from le tour and giro and no one would have noticed. There was a time that no break, how suicidal, would go up the road with out a TDD rider there. People smash cav’ but at least he delivered some amazing results on the big stage. Nizzo has done well and saved the season to a degree (much like ben king did last year) but what about the top steps of the Amstel Gold race that they signed and haven’t even shown the shirt let alone delivered on the promise? Surely we’re allowed to ask or does the fact they are Africa’s team preclude them from criticism and scrutiny? Louie is a fan fav’ but believe he is getting a good contract and hasn’t won a thing since 2015. Yup, GC is a different beast and he’s delivered some top 10 presence in le Tour which is no mean feat but GC riders win stages and the intent Isn’t there. It’s follow wheels until you’re dropped and limit losses over everyone else to shore up you position. Not sure i’ve Ever seen what an attack from the cheddar looks like. All things said i’d Think a stage win would trump a 8th or 9th in terms of publicity and brand promotion. The qhubeka angle is touted in every press releas, interview and that is what the team is about but frankly the budget of a wt team can buy more bikes than the current awareness from the team is creating. Some one did the maths here and the tangible results from the bikes donors in the time the team has run is pretty average. Don’t forget they haven’t got a women’s team and their blooding of new African talent hasn’t been front and centre since they became more ‘global’. They haven’t done well for 2 solid seasons and that is starting to become a habit.

If Tubby Betty was in the top 10 that must have been a stellar sprint! A result is a result though.

Good on them.

What I was thinking exactly, checking the reviews though they sound like a great option.

Such a tragedy. A very talented guy.

I’ve got a canvas one with a solid base you use did me fine for airlines through England, Spain and France. It’s no evoc style one but took my carbon bike around without damage. Else there were a few cheaper ones like the evoc on bike market and in the classifieds.

Wonder if PL fat shaming did the trick.

You don't want to put the boot in but wild card teams are at least up the road in the various doomed breaks. Maybe the DS needs to go and chat to Gianni Savio and see how he gets his riders in to 90% of the break in the Giro.

Asked if he enjoyed his first tour his response was 'the best thing I've done in my life. Period'. No sure how his wife will feel about that but suffice to say he is a massively positive guy. His episode on 'Life in the Peloton' podcast was pretty good as well.

Honestly that is the best way. Last set up I did we ended up changing out the stem and shortening the bars. I tested the static set up with the range of bars / stems that they had and we found a good spot between their 'right fit' width and my feelings.

I'll be keen to take out one of those for sure.

At least we have the Vuelta to look forward to.

Who knows with Movistar. They have such a strong squad but seem addicted to this trident / co leadership path that keeps leaving them flat. There is always Quintana and Landa steaking their claim in the press weeks out from a GT and then the weirdest tactics. Honestly the best thing is those new DS that was working with them at the giro. Was it Max S or Charlie W? But that team looked like a different beast all together and got the job done with little fuss. Let’s see who stay and who leaves at then did this year and hopefully that will help.

Seems he knows (or thinks he knows). Wonder if our own secret pro Mr Wakefield can shed some light.

Pretty excited about that as i’m Heading down that way early December. Holding thumbs it’ll be open.

That is stunning.

Huchinson drop a new dry weather combo. Looks like it could be worth a look. https://www.bikemag.com/gear/components/tires-components-gear/tested-hutchinson-griffus-2-4-and-2-5/

Was an amazing tour this year. Shame it kinda fizzled out a bit in the last two stages with the weather, the loss of Pinot as challenger and the short stage today. You have to wonder what Ineos are going to do next year. Froome back, Thomas won’t have the same distractions as this year and a drive to be back at top form, Bernal will be the defending champ and then Carapaz will also be in the mix. 4 GT champs, 3 GTs. At this rate you’ll have more leaders than domestiques in the tour team!

He did try hard to hold on and use his strengths but you’ve got to say Bernal ripped almost everyone’s legs off and beat them with the wet ends yesterday. And he’s 22!

Oh I see it was a mistake by the website KS is riding for ICA not TDD. Cav’ also was a DNF on the first stage. Seems the team decision on le tour was right.

I did say ‘imagine’ but holy cow I didn’t know Kristen Sprag’ was still a part of team DD. Apparently he was in the break today and reports he was a team DD rider. I thought he’d left to Israel CA.

Movistar have been playing this game for how many years now and apart from in this years Giro I've never seen them anywhere close to making it work.

and imagine if he wins a stage at what ever half ass'd race he's at now AND the tour is going on. coverage, coverage, coverage!

I still would have bet on a Cav over a Cummings.

Well not bringing Cav has worked out brilliantly so far. All those stage hunters and opportunists getting into breaks each day is really paying off for Mr Ryder.