Yeah I suppose it was lol. It must have been early season rustyness. I thought Haussler being pushed into the ditch particularly funny.

I'd love Sky to do well. The have some great riders in there such as Flecha, Micheal Barry, Lofkvist and some great young british riders for the future. I find it hard to understand why alot of guys will just hate them because it's Sky and they have a strong vision even if it is somewhat "out there" and unrealistic. Though I think Wiggins may have alot to do with it due to his attitude.

Talking of attitude I'm with you on Cav. The guy is just AWESOME! I cheered him on through the TDF as everyone hated him and blamed him for all his early season crashes ( somewhat unfairly IMO) They just all wanted him to fail miserably and he came out trumps. Yeah he's arrogant and cocky, but he knows that he is only able to do it due to the way the team pull him through to the finish line. And not just at the end either. They push him to his limit, up the hills and get him over them, then drag his booty back ready for the lead out. When ever he wins he's always the first to thank his team when interviewed which for me shows a great humility and realisation that without them he'd be nowhere near the palmeres he has achieved.

I'm looking forward to san remo and will have my fingers crossed for him and EBH at sky. Looking at their line up I presume they are going to aim to deliver him to the sprint at the end.

One thing for sure I hope Cav puts Griepel firmly in his place this season as I can't stand him lol

being off sick due to a cycling accident I get to watch Tirreno -Adriatico and paris - nice today

I had a little chuckle at Greipels face I know I shouldn't but I really don't like him

WOW! Another interesting finish in the Race to the sun

Sorry to hear about your accident - hope you're back up and riding again soon.

I'm a fairly recent convert - used to cycle when younger around the time the Milk Race always used to come through Halifax. Started cycling again and watched the TDF in 2008. Now it's pretty much the only sport I pay an interest in other than RL.

Sky said too much last year and delivered very little. Too much emphasis on the TDF and not enough on the whole season.

Can't wait for Paris-Roubaix. I cycled some of the pave last Autumn and have even more respect for these guys. One of the sections I rode was in the Arenberg Forest - absolutely brutal. No idea how they do it.

I think Boonen will get a classic win under his belt this year after a poor 2010.

Cheers fella me to. I've got The Dragon ride to aim for now as my come back ride lol.

Yeah Sky came out rather brusque, full of bravado, and good intentions, but ended up making fundamental flaws. Thus alienating themselves from the off. Hence they got taught a big lesson earlyon in Oman or Quatar last year ( can't remember which). When EBH stopped for a wee whilst in the yellow jersey and the peloton put the hammer down.
Putting blackouts up around the warm up session at TDF also earned them little respect and friends ( the were quickly taken down). And DB's realisation this year that aiming to be a totally drug free team was completely unrealistic has also made them look somewhat naive and hypocritical.

To be fair for their first ever competitive year I thought they actually did very well, but as you say there was far to much emphasis on the TDF. Lessons learnt and we're seeing a different Sky this season I feel.

I like Sky and feel that they should get much more support than they get. There's far to much snobbery goes on with wannabe pro cyclists - just look at any of the cycling forums and you'll find it in abundance. But for me Sky mission statement is enlightening within the pro cycling world and I fully hope that they succeed in producing a British TDF champion within the next 4 years. I doubt very much they will do it. However I will cheer on Sky and all it's riders throughout the coming seasons.

Well done on tackling the Arenberg. It's reputation goes before it. I'm lead to believe that you have to hit it at full speed and power your way across it. Easier said than done no doubt lol.

Well done Wiggo on achieving 3rd place in the race to the sun

No Romero or Shanaze Reade in GB's team for the Worlds - surprise?

I'm not well up on the track, but hasn't Shanaze been injured and has had trouble coming back up to speed? I know when she was with VP at the velodrome at the end of the worlds series a bit ago she really struggled from what I saw of her. I've always thought her changing from BMX to the track a strange move as she was awesome on the BMX. I suppose that the track has more potential for her though to market herself and make a living from cycling than the BMX will do.
There's a long way to go until London so being dropped now doesn't necessarily mean they are out of the reckoning. Geraint and Brad won't be at the worlds, but I'm sure they'll be at the Olympics. From what I've seen with the ladies starting to get slowly dominated by China GB need the most powerful ladies team they can from what I perceive to be a very small pool of potential riders

Cav's M-SR bike. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... laren-bike

Cav's M-SR bike. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... laren-bike

More pictures here http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/mark-cavendishs-specialized-mclaren-venge-first-look-29655?img=1&pn=mark-cavendishs-specialized-mclaren-venge-first-look&mlc=news%2Farticle That is utter bike porn

More pictures here http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/mark-cavendishs-specialized-mclaren-venge-first-look-29655?img=1&pn=mark-cavendishs-specialized-mclaren-venge-first-look&mlc=news%2Farticle That is utter bike porn