I'd be pretty sure that money would suddenly be found if they got the yes vote.

Looking forward to the weekend and my fave race of the whole year. Can't believe I'm working so will have to sky + it then make sure I don't go online at all on sunday so I can watch it when I get home at 9pm.

I'm really hoping EBH can do it. Had G not been aiming for olympic glory I'd have expected him to be one of Sky's main men after last years performance and have cheered him on all the way.

As it is I'll show my ass to the pope if it's not a boonen , spartacus 1,2.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland I'd be delighted if the start of the Tdf comes to either location although I'd be happier if it'sup here. The roads are a lot better after all......

I too will be missing the race this Sunday (unless the in laws have Eurosport in Waterford) and am gutted. Happy to be back in time for my favourite race the weekend after.

Winner - Boonen. Can't see past him at the moment.

Watched [iA Sunday In Hell[/i last night. Good viewing for a cycling fan ahead of Paris-Roubaix if you've not seen it before.

Wow - how good is Tom Boonen this year? After a few disappointing years he is back with a big old bang. I backed him last year to come back and when he didn't I'd pretty much given up on him but.......wow!

He's out of my team for Amstel Gold this weekend but I wonder if I will come to regret this.

As for everyone else.

Well BMC need to thank Ballan for saving their blushes but at least have a chance with the Ardennes classics to see if they have paid over the odds for Gilbert (as well as Hushovd).

Sky are showing that when plan A doesn't work they don't have a plan B.

Tony Martin got [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/10191387Hoogerlanded[/url

Hit a car with his bike?

Bloody stupid thing to do.

Or Flecha'd, strictly speaking

Semantics, schemantics...

To be fair to Sky they had 4 riders in the break, you could argue that they should have rode it slightly differently. However no one else was going to help chase Boonen down with them being so strong in the chasing group. The main problem they had was that EBH was goosed. Flecha actually looked strong, but he has no kick to win a sprint. Next year will be different if Spartacus is fit and also they (sky) have a fully ready G man. You will see a very different race. G man will win a classic sooner rather than later IMO.

As for BMC your right Ballan has spared them. However they now have chuckles to bring them back some glory and I'm pretty sure that Gilbert has been saving himself for the Ardenne classics and an eye on winning a few early stages of the TDF which are prime for him and his abilities.



I wonder if this could have a knock on affect with on bike confidence? I'm pretty sure it won't , but you don't know and this could be a big bonus for Wiggo in both TDF and the olympics.

I doubt it - he seems a pretty determined type of chap, to say the least. It is a setback in his preparations for the big races in the summer though.

Actually I was going to change my statement about Sky after watching the highlights again. I originally thought they were setting a tempo which kept Boonen at less than a minute and expecting Boonen to blow up in the last 30km. I may still be right about that but agree EBH was goosed. Poor classics season from him this year - maybe this year is all about Tdf stage wins for him?

But when you watch agin you see how little effort the other teams are making to close the gap. Maybe they all thought Boonen would blow up or maybe they thought Sky would tow them to the finish.

As for the G man - yes. He's got it in him to win a cobbled classic. Wish we could have seen him there this year but understand his reasons for choosing to be in Melbourne.

As for Gilbert - I really don't think he's the same man as he was last year. With him and Hushovd way off the pace and BMC being all about Cuddles at the Tdf I can't see either of them making the same waves this season.

So.....did anyone have Gasparotto in their fantasy team?