Cycling Betting & Discussion.

[Tonji]

Some comments from Gilbert after the People's Choice Classic.

“The feeling was good. That's the most important news of the day. I think the legs are good and I'm really confident,”

& from the Directeur sportif

“They did a good job of training during the week and they're ready for the race. Phil is motivated and we'll surround him and hope for a good result."

[Tonji]

News that Contador is planning a Giro & TDF double.

That'll please Sky & Wiggins 

[Longy]

News that Contador is planning a Giro & TDF double.

That'll please Sky & Wiggins 

Didn't he do this 2011 and was shot by the TDF came round?

[Tonji]

News that Contador is planning a Giro & TDF double.

That'll please Sky & Wiggins 

Didn't he do this 2011 and was shot by the TDF came round?

Was it 2011? the year he crashed in one of the early stages? & never really recovered. I'm not sure, but remember Contador won the Giro in 2011.

I think maybe alot of the talk will be mind games to try & put Sky & Wiggins on the back foot before any of the Grand Tours start.

[Tonji]

Looks like Sky will be behind Geraint Thomas in the TDU, a few rumours were around this morning, but looks to be confirmed by Ian Stannard in this interview.



I guess EBH has not been performing well in the heat, he does seem a bit chubby 

Thomas available in few spots at 50/1. Has a good engine, but questionable on the hills. I'd rate him as top 5 if the team was all strong, but suspect after the People Choice Classic, the group is a bit off.

Stage 1 markets are out. Greipel a short priced fav. A few thoughts later if time permits.

http://www.oddschecker.com/cycling/tour-down-under/tour-down-under-stage-1/winner

[Tonji]

TDU Stage 1.

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-1.pdf

A lumpy stage, with plenty of opportunities to attack. However Greipel's Lotto-Belisol & the other sprint teams will be keen to control it for a bunch sprint.

A slightly up hill finish straight is no problem for Greipel, the only world class sprinter in the field.

Early season is a fine time for some emerging young guns to spring surprises. Look out for Boy van Poppel (Vacansoleil-DCM), impressed at the Tour of Britain. The brit Andy Fenn (OPQS), a neo pro on the World Tour, expecting some good rides from him in the future.

[Tonji]

Cavendish takes the win in Tour de San Luis Stage 1. 

[Tonji]

Cavendish takes the win in Tour de San Luis Stage 1. 

[Tonji]

TDU. stage 1.

Greipel wins easily. Gerrans & Gilbert showed their intentions for GC by going for time bonuses.

[Royal Flush]

Currently working my way through the Tyler Hamilton book, quite amazing to somebody with not much knowledge at all of this sport.

Two questions for you aficionados, is the sport mostly clean now in your opinions and what's the best way for me to become a fan, it seems like a sport that appeals to me with all the tactical nuances but i can't just sit there watching geezers pedal for hours without understanding the tactics.

[Tonji]

hey flushy, hope your recovering well.

imo, cycling still has problems. The UCI still faces so many questions, re corruption, political power struggles. Until there is a change at the UCI its difficult to move on from the Armstrong era.

If I was to make a guess (it can only be a guess, who really knows?) I'd say it's 90-95% clean. Cycling is the most tested sport. It has a blood passport system. Riders also have the "hour a day" system, for random testing. They must be available on the hour notified to the testing authorities, 365 days a year. The young generation in the peloton, are not afraid to speak out against doping, big change there.

Watch the Grand Tours, flushy. Drama unfolding over 3 weeks. You'll pick up the tactics, as it unfolds.

[Tonji]

TDU. stage 1.

Greipel wins easily. Gerrans & Gilbert showed their intentions for GC by going for time bonuses.

[Tonji]

I like these vids, a back stage view of the stage from the Aussies Orica GreenEdge

[vegaslover]

Currently working my way through the Tyler Hamilton book, quite amazing to somebody with not much knowledge at all of this sport.

Two questions for you aficionados, is the sport mostly clean now in your opinions and what's the best way for me to become a fan, it seems like a sport that appeals to me with all the tactical nuances but i can't just sit there watching geezers pedal for hours without understanding the tactics.

Would say it's the cleanest I have ever known it, how clean that is is anyones guess, but testing better now than has ever been. Sky have been massive in this change imo. Done more in a couple of years in the sport then other teams combined. Their contracts on being clean etc are the way to go. Wasn't the least suprised by any of the people who have left or 'retired' from the sport since Sky brought them in.

Best way to get into it imo would be to watch the coverage of the tours from start to finish, just the hourly highlights shows are fine to start with. ITV and Eurosport showed a lot of coverage of the circuit last season. Most also show the last hour or so of a stage, where all the tactics, chase downs, sprint assembles takes place

[Tonji]

TDU Stage 2.

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/documents/2013-stage-2.pdf

The last 20km will be the selection. Up Corkscrew Road, nearly a 4km climb with up to 10% gradient. 7km descent to finish.

Interested to see if Sky with EBH & Thomas attack as a team here, to try & nullify the expected attack of Gilbert & Gerrans.

Over the top it looks possible for a rider to solo for victory on the descent. I’m expecting Gilbert to try this & win.

If a group of 10 or so make it over together, this brings opportunities for some EW betting. I’ve gone small EW Simone Ponzi (Astana) @ 20/1. Peter Velits (OPQS) @ 33/1. Both showed yesterday they are in good shape, finishing well up in the bunch.