The Spokes Man

... Talking points from the Commish

Predictions

A Grand Tour Stage, a thug poet body art competition, The Ronde

Name three things Pippo Pozzato is NOT going to win this season.

As March approaches and the first part of the season comes to a close (let's be honest nobody cares that much about Qatar) it is time for the real fun to begin.  Classics season is upon us.  This is where casual fans become pro cycling fanatics.  Many people cite the Omloop Het Volk (Niewsblad) as the real start to the season.  And as thus we here at the WFL should take the opportunity to get on the record now.  Who is going to win what this year?  Make some predictions and have some fun with it.  You can make any prediction you want, but if you are in need of some inspiration: What pick is your for sure lock of the season?  Surprise win of the season? Upset? Comeback?  Joker pick?  Let's hear it, bragging rights are on the line.

The Broom Wagon

... cleaning up after the week's racing.

Oh, Man

FroomeDogg seals the overall in Oman for the second year in a row.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season.  Greipel sprinted to three stage wins.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season?  With 5 different riders scoring, Team Wiskota Dynamic managed to extend his overall lead.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season?

The Spokes Man

... talking points from The Commish 

Is BMC Cool Again?

When BMC joined the Pro Tour in 2010 English speakers everywhere took note.  With the legendary Ochowicz of Team 7-11 fame at the helm and riders like Cadel Evans and Big George Hincapie leading the charge this quasi American team seemed like an obvious fan favorite.  A Tour de France win and a string of big name signings including Thor and PhilGil bolstered their reputation.  When TVG and Phinney (the great American hopes for the future) signed with BMC it became obvious this is the team to follow.  Well, that was 2 years ago and since then things haven't quite worked out as planned.  The retirement of Hincapie, a lack of results from their classics hopefuls, failure to win another grand tour and the less then meteoric progress of the great American hopes paired with the rise of another dominant English speaking team has left us with one question: is BMC still cool?

As 2014 gets into gear BMC seems poised to regain the title of coolest team.  But what really makes a team cool? Kits and Sponsors: Sure red and black is always cool and the whole Swiss watch connection naturally lends itself to the sport of racing.  National Champs:  Gotta do those jersey's well. Check the team pic above, looking good.  But we all know it's the riders that make the team.  Evans, Thor and Gilbert look to make a resurgence.  A cool team needs solid veterans but more importantly young guys who can shake things up.  Van Avermaet is a strong man to be reckoned with. Phinney is starting to win things and with his haircut and Twitter account he should keep the fans busy all year.  But the biggest change this year is the all out support for TVG.  Yeah, he gives a horrible interview but if he becomes the second American to win the Tour we won't care.  Oh yeah, did I mention they added a bad ass Colombian and Sammy Sanchez?  Cool again?  You tell me.

On the Rivet

... a look at who's riding hard this week. 

The GC boys come out to play

Once again Oman lays host to the first big showdown between the grand tour contenders.  FroomeDogg, JRod, Nibs, TVG, Gesink, The brothers Schleck, Uran, Pinot, Kreuziger and Jerkin' Hand 'n Cock should all be there when they hit the foot of the Green Mountain.  The winner of this stage (stage 5 on Saturday) will probably win the overall.  But the lumpy profile of some earlier stages especially the circuit of stage 4 may see a few top riders drop out of contention before the big climb.  In addition to the GC battle Oman serves as a final tune up for the roleurs, puncheurs and sprinters of the spring classics.  The likes of Sagan, Boonen, Iglinsky, Kristoff, Terpstra, Stybar and Gilbert will give it a go on some of the tougher stages.  While I expect Greipel to wipe the sandy desert floor with the likes of Bouhanni and Forster in the straight up sprints.

Predictions

Wiskota Podium:

JRod

Froome

Uran

Spoilers:

Albasini

Konig

Lofkvist

   

Tour of Qatar

The Terpinator

Niki Terpstra and Omega Pharma Quick Step could not be stopped in the middle east.  It was a race for the strongmen on the flat desert expanses of Qatar highlighted by heat and crosswinds.  This is a race for the sprinters but the GC was decided by a stage one breakaway, a stage two Omega Pharma echelon and a solid TT.  After that OPQS were able to control the stages rather easily.  If you call a 57 km/hr pace easy.  Yup, 135 km at a 57 km per hour pace.  In old money that's 35 miles per hour!  That's my max speed bombing down a hill.  They did that in the wind for over 2 hours.  Crazy.  The sprints decided the lesser placings with Boonen, Greipel and Roelands taking some solid points.  But in the end, it was Maillot Jaune Guillaume with Niki Terpstra making the big score moving him into 2nd place overall.