slcbob

Cav vs. Greipel. What is this? 2014?

There should be a couple of bunch sprints and a decent list of folks needing their first win in a while or at all.

slcbob

Well how about that? !!

GrainBrain

GrainBrain

Also props to Rally for that win yesterday! A lot of riders have gone back to the Pro Continental teams haven't they?

GrainBrain

Double Trouble baby!! Thinking Elegant Quickstep might sweep this with their Sprint team. I think there is a mountain stage right?

slcbob

They may have another one in them but they were inelegant in Stage 1. Pesky Rally & Uni X took the day.

It's pretty impressive to watch the tiny wee Deceuninck train surf the Pro Con teams and just metastasize where they need to be.

Israel SUN and Alpecin Fenix have been more there in force but to less avail. Some tremendous bursts from Cav that he didn't have in Schelderprijs. And it seems to be more to it than simply that Bennett isn't there in Turkey.

I feel bad for the Gorilla. Interesting to hear the announcer banter that Andre and Cav are now buds. Cav and Ferrar, too.

GrainBrain

Ha speaking of those two announcers, I think this is the first time I've listened to either. Same as the previous Basque country bonanza. Quite an odd couple aren't they?

Number three for Cav ... getting dangerous for my fantasy selections if somehow Cav and Froome find themselves protected riders on the Tour.

Also this is the first I've seen/heard from Cav since I started really paying attention to world tour cycling. I really, really like how he explains the Sprint in interviews. Really technical guy, it's great.

slcbob

^ so you missed the days of Carlton Kirby gushing lyrically about Marcel Kittel's hair while Sean Kelly tried to not dope slap him?

Interesting article about Brian Smith's brief stint at Motorola here. I like his style.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ot...gs-sacked.html

MinnMan

I don't think that the rest of the world brought their best to Turkey, but even against a less than stellar field, winning three sprints in a row takes some doing. Cav should be thrilled.

But I don't expect him to be much of a factor once Turkey is done.

slcbob

I dunno. Phillipsen is no slouch. More importantly, IMHO, DQS didn't bring their super lead out train so this isn't the whole finely honed Wolfpack beating up on a bunch of Pro Con teams. They're not dropping him off at the front to claim the win. They're keeping him in it but Cav is showing an impressive burst after a bit of freelancing and closing.

I've changed my mind after Schelderprijs (not that it matters to anyone but me ) . There, I saw Cav in Bennett's slip stream and losing ground. I figured that was all he had, it was the high water mark of his resurgence, and he was done at the world class sprint level. Now, I think that was not all he had and that we'll see him take the win(s) in some top level events again. Just not sure when. Maybe the Giro? I know Bennett is slated for his green jersey defense in July so I think that dance card is full.

slcbob

Phillipsen is certainly stepping up.

It will be a shoot out for the bonus seconds tomorrow..

GrainBrain

Diaz nabbed it by a second, tuned in to see everyone congratulating him. Looks like Cav got himself win #4. I'll have to rewatch to see how vine might've tried to nab the GC.