The season opens...**SPOILER**

[Flying_Monkey]

The new season is under way, with the Tour Down Under and the Tour of San Luis. We're seeing a lot of riders who will be going for wins later in the season not being risked yet - Basso in San Luis, Cavendish in the TDU, and other riders in the same teams having a chance to shine. So, the question of Greipel vs. Cav turned out to academic, especially as Griepel couldn't even beat Goss, HTC-Highroad's protected man for the TDU, who isn't as strong a sprinter as Cav.

 

[rich p]

Nice touch if Cav can support Goss and maybe Renshaw for some payback for all their efforts. He has tried to gift a stage in the TdF and Vuelta to them but it didn't work out.

 

[raindog]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFifvUWSbu0


Goss must be in great shape to get that one - really long sprint and he never really looked threatened by Greipel. Cav and Farrar came in around 60th.

 

[raindog]

Blimey, Robbie 1st overall and Ben Swift picks up the win!! Although crashes influenced the results.

 

[MotorpointProCycling]

That crash looked terrible and Henderson is still suffering from his crash in the first race. Could mean that Cavendish is effected for other races.

 

[raindog]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYLF094mdA&feature=player_profilepage

 

[Aperitif]

Ouch - the blood on the tarmac was all too vivid.
Thanks raindog for posting these up - I don't see it on TV!

 

[iLB]

get well soon cav... (and others)

 

[Aperitif]

Nice pic Andy - you can just feel that spray that is aboutto be applied can't you? Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Ow! Ow! Ow! A great result for young Ben Swift though - his first Pro-Tour victory...

And over in Argentina, an awesome display of climbing by Jose Serpa for the win in the second stage of the San Luis.

 

[strutton1981]

cav is a soldier he''ll probably come back tomorrow and win the stage!! i hope

 

[Keith Oates]

Cav looks a mess in that photo, as others have said I hope he recovers quickly.

Yes FM, a good win for Ben Swift and Sky, let's hope the rest of the season is also good for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paul_L]

Cav still in the race but finished stage 3 well behind the main bunch and is a distant last in GC.

 

[raindog]

Yes, apparently he was grimacing with pain just getting on to his bike at the start. Got to admire his courage carrying on in that state. The young Mathews took the stage easily from Greipel. Ben Swift looking handy in 5th overall.

 

[rich p]

Yes, apparently he was grimacing with pain just getting on to his bike at the start. Got to admire his courage carrying on in that state. The young Mathews took the stage easily from Greipel. Ben Swift looking handy in 5th overall.

I haven't seen the finish but I was sloghtly surprised to see Gerrans and Henderson finishing ahead of Swift.