Pro cycling thread

[Jim Lahey]

I think it was an unfortunate incident. VDP goes for it at the same time Philipsen moves out and cuts out the gap. Shows the danger of being in the gutter on the cobbles. Unfortunate for Debenkolb and VDP got the bounce of the ball.

Having said all that I don't think it had a major effect on the outcome of the race. VDP would've had too much for the rest of the pack anyway, especially given Wout's puncture.

[Blackmac]

I think it was an unfortunate incident. VDP goes for it at the same time Philipsen moves out and cuts out the gap. Shows the danger of being in the gutter on the cobbles. Unfortunate for Debenkolb and VDP got the bounce of the ball.

Having said all that I don't think it had a major effect on the outcome of the race. VDP would've had too much for the rest of the pack anyway, especially given Wout's puncture.

I'm not saying VDP did it deliberately but it was a very poor manoeuvre. I would imagine the team were screaming at Philipson and VDP to get off the crown and into the gutter to block Degenkolb. Philipson had the room but VDP didn't.
Degenkolb has been very diplomatic but was quite clear that he was forced off the road. Clearly VDP felt guilty enough that he apologised to Degenkolb after the race.
Cycling decisions have always favoured the bigger names. The sport depends on them too much, but I think if the roles had been reversed and a lesser rider had done that to VDP they are getting stepped off their bike quick smart. It's also interesting that they are accusing VDP of doing exactly the same thing to Ackerman earlier in the race.

[Blackmac]

Rightfully, there is a bit of a storm brewing that Pippa York hasn't been given any part in either the presentation or commentary teams for the upcoming Worlds in Glasgow. Considering that the races will be on roads she knows so well and the route actually goes past her mural, it's an incredible oversight

[BnM]

There was prize equity for men's and women's races and males took the top pot on both

[BnM]

And then

[Jim Lahey]

A real shambles for women's cycling at a time when its really starting to grow.

I watched the female Paris Roubaix a few weeks ago and it was excellent entertainment. As good as watching the men. But this bollocks needs stamped out.

You simply cannot be a transgender woman and compete in pro sports. Amateur stuff, crack on. And I say that as someone who has no moral issues with transgender rights. But when one group's rights encroach on another's, and in this case it is a very small part of the population versus over 50% of the population, then you have to be utilitarian.

Women are massively under-represented in the sporting world (in terms of fame and recognition). The trend is thankfully changing and we do not need these type of hurdles in the way.

[robmatic]

A real shambles for women's cycling at a time when its really starting to grow.

I watched the female Paris Roubaix a few weeks ago and it was excellent entertainment. As good as watching the men. But this bollocks needs stamped out.

You simply cannot be a transgender woman and compete in pro sports. Amateur stuff, crack on. And I say that as someone who has no moral issues with transgender rights. But when one group's rights encroach on another's, and in this case it is a very small part of the population versus over 50% of the population, then you have to be utilitarian.

Women are massively under-represented in the sporting world (in terms of fame and recognition). The trend is thankfully changing and we do not need these type of hurdles in the way.

It's a shame that women's cycling doesn't get more attention because I think you're right, it is as good a spectacle as watching the men.

[Jim Lahey]

Outrageous TT from Remco yesterday. Bad for the event given the time he already has on the rest of the pack FFS.

Hope Rog can find a bit of form. I dislike JV but Rog seems a decent lad. Deserves another GT title after the disappointment of the TdF in 2020.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Outrageous TT from Remco yesterday. Bad for the event given the time he already has on the rest of the pack FFS.

Hope Rog can find a bit of form. I dislike JV but Rog seems a decent lad. Deserves another GT title after the disappointment of the TdF in 2020.

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

[Jim Lahey]

Outrageous TT from Remco yesterday. Bad for the event given the time he already has on the rest of the pack FFS.

Hope Rog can find a bit of form. I dislike JV but Rog seems a decent lad. Deserves another GT title after the disappointment of the TdF in 2020.

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

Was impressed with TGH's TT. His time to shine will be in the Dolomites.

[Jim Lahey]

Utter carnage today. A wild sport.

[charltom]

Outrageous TT from Remco yesterday. Bad for the event given the time he already has on the rest of the pack FFS.

Hope Rog can find a bit of form. I dislike JV but Rog seems a decent lad. Deserves another GT title after the disappointment of the TdF in 2020.

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

It's not a name drop if you don't drop the name!

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Outrageous TT from Remco yesterday. Bad for the event given the time he already has on the rest of the pack FFS.

Hope Rog can find a bit of form. I dislike JV but Rog seems a decent lad. Deserves another GT title after the disappointment of the TdF in 2020.

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

It's not a name drop if you don't drop the name!

Think I mentioned it previously. Tao.

[Jim Lahey]

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

It's not a name drop if you don't drop the name!

Think I mentioned it previously. Tao.

Nice! Thought it might have been some lowly domestique.

I have a 10er on him for the GC

[Jim Lahey]

Remco out, which is a real shame. You'd have to think he'll do the Tour now, which could be epic if Pog can get over his injury.

3 way shootout between G, TGH and Rog in the Giro now.

[clydecloggie]

Remco out, which is a real shame. You'd have to think he'll do the Tour now, which could be epic if Pog can get over his injury.

3 way shootout between G, TGH and Rog in the Giro now.

Ineos vs Jumbo. Could be epic. Struggling to see who else could be in the conversation, but there might be a mountain goat lurking within striking range still.

[Jim Lahey]

Remco out, which is a real shame. You'd have to think he'll do the Tour now, which could be epic if Pog can get over his injury.

3 way shootout between G, TGH and Rog in the Giro now.

Ineos vs Jumbo. Could be epic. Struggling to see who else could be in the conversation, but there might be a mountain goat lurking within striking range still.

Yeah don't see Almeida or Vlasov hanging in there with them.

Really wish someone like Carapaz was doing it as well to throw a cat amongst the pigeons.

[Biffer]

Awful for TGH. Hope he makes a full recovery.

[Jim Lahey]

Awful for TGH. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Complete shitshow of a race so far.

Stuck a 5er on Eddie Dunbar at 71/1 last night
At this rate he has a chance, only 2min 30 something down on GC, and he should fair well in the mountains.

[Jim Lahey]

I did the Maratona last year, which involves a few of the climbs/descents in Stage 19 this year.

Checked the weather and it looks awful for next week. I'm a woeful descender at the best of times so even on a dry track I was shitting my pants. Would be fearful for the pack descending the Giau in the pissing rain . . . .

[Guy Smiley]

Awful for TGH. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Complete shitshow of a race so far.

It's a Grand Tour. There shouldn't be a script

[Biffer]

Awful for TGH. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Complete shitshow of a race so far.

It's a Grand Tour. There shouldn't be a script

Yeah, but a broken hip is particularly nasty

[Guy Smiley]

Rest day yesterday and as expected, Cavendish announced his pending retirement from racing.

First serious day in the mountains and Geraint Thomas showed surprising strength in putting some time into Roglic, who lost about 20 seconds to him. Almeida looking very strong... could actually be in the running for the overall.

[Biffer]

Gonna miss Cav, he’s an all time great. Always comes over as a good bloke.

[Happyhooker]

Evenpoel's TT time was all done on the flat. He wasn't great up the climb. There's plenty of climbing in this Giro.

Name drop. My cousin's son is riding in the Giro so I'm paying more attention than usual.

It's not a name drop if you don't drop the name!

Think I mentioned it previously. Tao.

Missed this.

Nice bloke, used to work in my local bike shop. Hope his hip recovers

[Jim Lahey]

Rog must have had, or has the lurgy.
That, or he just doesn't have it any more.

I hope its the former and he just needs a few days to right himself before Stages 19 and 20, to make a decent finale for the Giro.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

It's not a name drop if you don't drop the name!

Think I mentioned it previously. Tao.

Missed this.

Nice bloke, used to work in my local bike shop. Hope his hip recovers

He started working at Condor pretty much the day he was old enough. They sponsored him as a junior by giving him some very nice bikes!

He has 6 months rehab ahead of him. 1st month with no weight on the leg - really sucks.

[Jim Lahey]

Think I mentioned it previously. Tao.

Missed this.

Nice bloke, used to work in my local bike shop. Hope his hip recovers

He started working at Condor pretty much the day he was old enough. They sponsored him as a junior by giving him some very nice bikes!

He has 6 months rehab ahead of him. 1st month with no weight on the leg - really sucks.

A real shame, he was looking great. Think he'd have handled this week best given the climbing involved, so definitely in for a shout for a podium, and probably the GC. Hope he's able to come back as strong as he was.

Paddy Power have him down as 19/1 for the TdF ffs. Never underestimate a bookie's ability to shaft punters.

[Jim Lahey]

Wow-zers.

What an effort from Pog, after the mechanical and the mental baggage of 2020.

Gutted for G, he looked like a broken man on the final couple of kms.

[Blackmac]

Wow-zers.

What an effort from Pog, after the mechanical and the mental baggage of 2020.

Gutted for G, he looked like a broken man on the final couple of kms.

Yeah, he has had so much bad luck over the years, but today he just has to accept he was beaten by an outstanding ride.

[Biffer]

Cav wins the sprint outside the coliseum in the final stage of his last Giro. Geraint Thomas leading him out like in the old days just for the hell of it. Fairytale stuff. Would need four wins in the TdF to go second on the all time list of stage wins in the big three. Doubt he’ll do that, but just getting one to go ahead of Merckx on the TdF list would be an amazing, and fitting, finale to his career.

[Slick]

Anyone watched “Wolfpack” on Prime? Seen the first 3 episodes and enjoying it a lot

[Slick]

Gino Mader dies after a crash on the Tour de Suisse. How sad

Until watching that series above I probably didn't realise quite how dangerous it is.

[Jim Lahey]

Gino Mader dies after a crash on the Tour de Suisse. How sad

Until watching that series above I probably didn't realise quite how dangerous it is.

Shocking stuff. RIP.

The first episode of Unchained on Netflix does a bit of detail of Fabio Jakobson's crash in Poland during a sprint finish. Grim watching. Amazing that he is back on the bike, never mind winning races.

I had my first crash earlier this year (hit by a retarded old man driving at low speed while I was going 35kmph) and it shook me up a bit tbf. Haven't been out anywhere near as much as I normally would this summer so far, but I'm doing 4 or 5 Zwift races a week instead (no wind, rain or cars in Watopia ).

[Slick]

Gino Mader dies after a crash on the Tour de Suisse. How sad

Until watching that series above I probably didn't realise quite how dangerous it is.

Shocking stuff. RIP.

The first episode of Unchained on Netflix does a bit of detail of Fabio Jakobson's crash in Poland during a sprint finish. Grim watching. Amazing that he is back on the bike, never mind winning races.

I had my first crash earlier this year (hit by a retarded old man driving at low speed while I was going 35kmph) and it shook me up a bit tbf. Haven't been out anywhere near as much as I normally would this summer so far, but I'm doing 4 or 5 Zwift races a week instead (no wind, rain or cars in Watopia ).

They did a similar episode on Jakobson on that prime series. They seemed a bit reluctant to go into details but it sounded like he pretty much had his face ripped off.

I had a mate at Uni who was making his way in road racing and got killed going into the back of a truck on Orkney at 18, horrible.

[Tichtheid]

Kelly Brown was very badly hurt last summer, an oncoming car turned in front of his bike, he smashed both his knees and had bad facial injuries. He's still doing physio.

A mate of mine had to get airlifted to hospital from a B road in the Scottish Borders after being run off the road by a car.

[duke]

Kelly Brown was very badly hurt last summer, an oncoming car turned in front of his bike, he smashed both his knees and had bad facial injuries. He's still doing physio.

A mate of mine had to get airlifted to hospital from a B road in the Scottish Borders after being run off the road by a car.

There are plenty of aggressive/negligent drivers out there now. That and the state of the roads locally mean that, like Jim, I spend much more time on Zwift than I did pre pandemic.

[Tichtheid]

Kelly Brown was very badly hurt last summer, an oncoming car turned in front of his bike, he smashed both his knees and had bad facial injuries. He's still doing physio.

A mate of mine had to get airlifted to hospital from a B road in the Scottish Borders after being run off the road by a car.

There are plenty of aggressive/negligent drivers out there now. That and the state of the roads locally mean that, like Jim, I spend much more time on Zwift than I did pre pandemic.

The number of cars on the road in the UK topped 20 million in the early 80s, it's over 32 million now. The sheer number means an increase in likelihood of meeting a disgruntled and or crap driver now.

I wouldn't cycle around here in the South East, though I have mates that do.

[Biffer]

Kelly Brown was very badly hurt last summer, an oncoming car turned in front of his bike, he smashed both his knees and had bad facial injuries. He's still doing physio.

A mate of mine had to get airlifted to hospital from a B road in the Scottish Borders after being run off the road by a car.

On the flip side I turned a corner near my house this morning in the car and there was a MAMIL coming along square in the middle of the road, head down, not looking at what was in front of him. If I had been as cavalier as he was he'd be in hospital now.

[yermum]

I have been a club cyclist and road racer/time trial trihard for 25 years.

The roads are really dicey these days. Full of potholes and impatient dangerous drivers in massive cars that they can’t gauge how wide they are.

I have taken up gravel riding to minimise my road exposure as I feel very unsafe these days.

Anywhere else in Europe is fine it’s the angry UK drivers that scare me