Cycling Betting & Discussion.

[tikay]

Wow. Beats the "Raleigh Dawes" I used to have. Had Campag gears though, they were the nuts then.

[Tonji]

Joaquin ’Purito’ Rodriguez was the No.1 rider in 2012. His Russian team Katusha were refused a WorldTour licence to race in 2013 (a long & mysterious story, probably involving team financial irregularities & UCI politics).

It's possible that the top rated rider will be unable to compete in the 2013 Grand Tours. Rumours of a move to BMC or Argos-Shimano would mean he could race. However, the uncertainty & disruption to winter training will be telling. Big shame as I had him down as being one of a few riders who would be able to compete with Contador & Froome in the TDF.

[Tonji]

Armstrong to appear on Oprah.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/09/lance-armstrong-oprah-winfrey-interview

Doubt if we will see a full a frank confession.

I'd prefer to see him in court under oath, & admit US Cycling and the UCI protected him.

[Tonji]

Australian National Championship Mens Road Race. Sunday 13th January.



Simon Gerrans is favourite. Based on being last years winner & he rides for Orica Green Edge, the strong Aussie team.

Eleven of the 15 Australians on Green Edge are entered in the 195.6-kilometre road race. Gerrans, Simon Clarke and Matthew Goss are considered the men most likely to have the condition to win it.

Quote from Gerrans in Aussie media:

''Of course we're going to race together. I think there's going to be five Garmin guys there, there's going to be three Sky guys, a couple of SaxoBank guys and, of course, there's a lot of GreenEDGE guys, and all the GreenEDGE guys want a GreenEDGE rider to be Australian champion. They'd be fools to think we're going to race against each other. The trade teams all work together in the national champions.''

Cameron Meyer also a GreenEdge rider won the Elite men's criterium on Thursday, so can be discounted now, as his job will be to ride for others now, I think.

Goss has been winter training in Europe. A late arrival Down Under has not been the best preparation & a DNF in the recent Jayco Herald Sun Tour showed he’s not up to speed yet.

Recent form from a week ago at the Jayco showed Simon Clarke to be in better shape than Gerrans. We missed some glorious value, his initial price was 25/1. Some Aussie shrewdies have shredded that & is now 8/1. Still worth a small interest, I think. £5.00 on Clarke.

http://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/uci-world-tour/australian-national-championship-mens-road-race/winner

If a rider outside the GreenEdge team where to be in with a shout, my pick would be Rohan Dennis. A Garmin-Sharp rider, 2nd in National TT a few days ago, with a stellar U23 career. Can climb a bit, won the Mountains classification in last year Tour Down Under. May be a year or so too early for him but I’ve had another £5.00 on him at 16/1.

[Tonji]

Milan-San Remo for me would have to be Cav if it comes to a sprint obviously.

I pretty much right off Cancellera...

Sagan is obv a threat and better all rounder than Cav, but I like riders that can get away on the climb and stay away. I'd plump for Gilbert or Boasson Hagen as I like longer odds :-)

Hi JJ,

thanks for your thoughts.

I'm going to be opposing Cav, early season, at least until his new team OPQS, seem to be up to speed. My thinking is Cavendish will be riding stage races, including his main objective the TDF, for stage wins. Whilst Tom Boonen will be the teams main Classic rider this season. We'll see how it pans out & for sure they will be one of the strong teams.

Why are you off Cancellara?

Peter Sagan, agree. Probably the most talented allrounder in the peloton. Probably will be a classics winner this year, just think he may be more suited to Tour of Flanders of Amstel Gold Race. Certainly will be winning stage races. Won a load in 2012, will be more heavily marked this year. Exciting rider, looking forward to see how he performs.

http://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/one-day-classics/milan-san-remo/winner

Gilbert & Edvald, shorter priced than Cancellara.

Interesting, Gilbert will be motivated wear the Rainbow jersey. Boassen Hagen is leading the Sky Classics squad. He's certainly due a Classics win & Sky have specifically trained this winter with that as an objective.

Competitive year 

[Tonji]

Thomas Voeckler? what an odd ball he is!

Don't think he rides in Milan-Sanremo. Normally in the Ardennes classics.

[Tonji]

Strange one.

L’Equipe reports the Giro d’Italia will kick off in Belfast in 2014.

[Tonji]

Vuelta 2013 route announced today.

Expected to be lots of up hill stuff, with 11 summit finishes.

[Tonji]

Vuelta 2013 route announced today.

Expected to be lots of up hill stuff, with 11 summit finishes.

[Tonji]

The bets in the Aussie Nationals came to nought.

Next.

The Tour Down Under, starting on the 20th.

 

[Tonji]

Meanwhile, a bit of a legend in Italy, Giuliano Calore descends the Stelvio with no hands!

[Tonji]

One to watch in 2013.



Michael Matthews has made a timely switch from Rabbobank to Orica Green Edge. His performance in the Aussie Nationals, 2nd in the Road Race & a 3rd in the TT, shows he has stepped up a level. He's not made the team for the Tour Down Under, but will be a good bet in future stage races at World Tour level.

[Tonji]

Armstrong Admits Doping, and Says He Will Testify

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/sports/cycling/lance-armstrong-admits-doping-and-says-he-will-testify-against-cycling-officials.html?ref=sports

"He is planning to testify against several powerful people in the sport of cycling who knew about his doping and possibly facilitated it, said several people with knowledge of the situation."

[TheChipPrince]

Anywhere in the Uk broadcasting the interview?

[kpnuts]

Anywhere in the Uk broadcasting the interview?

Discovery Channel. Also streamed live on Oprah.com.