The professional cycling thread
Discussion
lauda said:
Jumbo Visma are looking seriously impressive at the Dauphine. Sepp Kuss sitting on the front and ripping the peloton apart whilst looking like he’s on a Sunday cafe ride!
I do wonder if Ineos are going for the slow burn though. You only need to look at the 2018 Giro to see that grand tours really are a marathon and not a sprint. And that’s more the case than ever with the lack of racing the riders are going into the Tour with. I’m certainly not writing Bernal, or indeed Froome or Thomas, off just yet.
I think I’m looking forward to this year’s Tour more than any other I can remember though. It’s going to be a ripper!
That's what I'm wondering as well. Four weeks today is 11th Sept and hopefully we'll be picking the results from apart stage 13 (mountain). After that, the stages go:I do wonder if Ineos are going for the slow burn though. You only need to look at the 2018 Giro to see that grand tours really are a marathon and not a sprint. And that’s more the case than ever with the lack of racing the riders are going into the Tour with. I’m certainly not writing Bernal, or indeed Froome or Thomas, off just yet.
I think I’m looking forward to this year’s Tour more than any other I can remember though. It’s going to be a ripper!
Flat
Mountain
Rest
Mountain
Mountain
Mountain
Flat
Mountain ITT
Paris
There are so many unknowns that it could be a great GT. Saying that, Jumbo have hit the ground running, whereas a lot of the other teams haven't, and don't seem to know were their form is. It's often said that all the training in the world can't give you match/race fitness - you need competition to give you that extra edge. At the moment Ineos, and a few others seem quite a way off.
Anyway, tomorrow sees the second Monument of the season; 'the race of the falling leaves' - except this year it's not. Hard to look past Evenepoel.
Anyway, tomorrow sees the second Monument of the season; 'the race of the falling leaves' - except this year it's not. Hard to look past Evenepoel.
ArnageWRC said:
There are so many unknowns that it could be a great GT. Saying that, Jumbo have hit the ground running, whereas a lot of the other teams haven't, and don't seem to know were their form is. It's often said that all the training in the world can't give you match/race fitness - you need competition to give you that extra edge. At the moment Ineos, and a few others seem quite a way off.
Anyway, tomorrow sees the second Monument of the season; 'the race of the falling leaves' - except this year it's not. Hard to look past Evenepoel.
Really difficult to read the form and understand where teams are on their preparation and build up but this is about as weak as I can remember Sky/Ineos looking.Anyway, tomorrow sees the second Monument of the season; 'the race of the falling leaves' - except this year it's not. Hard to look past Evenepoel.
JuniorD said:
Slow-mo here. Probably not the worst instance of argy bargy or bumping someone off in the sprint, but definitely one of the worst outcomes.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1291048697686622212
There are rules to cover moving off line, but they will always push the boundaries. Things will go wrong from time to time, but the outcome shouldn’t be made worse by the quality of barriers. https://twitter.com/i/status/1291048697686622212
I think at least the last 50m needs to be totally sterile. No spectators over the barriers, no loose advertising banners and a standard specification of barrier at UCI / Pro level events with a sprint finish.
I think they need a 5ft solid barrier, a flat clean surface that doesn’t deform. Sponsors printed or painted on.
Something that contains the cyclists without being able to snag on handlebars/pedals or riders. Bad injuries usually come from sudden stops, worse being into something solid. These barriers would contain the rider, possibly still falling and hit by other riders, but it would allow energy to be lost without hitting solid objects.
Maybe a white line .5m from the barrier could be introduced. You cross it you’re dq’d. If you push someone over it, you’re dq’d. But it would allow breathing space to barriers.
Perhaps no ideal solution and no one wants to see big sterile environments being used. Accidents will happen, but if they do the barriers should not be deforming into other riders and failing to contain a rider. And designs which can snag on the bike or rider is just ridiculous.
It’s also about time the standards and numbers of cars and motorcycles during the race is reviewed. lombardia was ridiculous on twisting narrow streets, team cars still trying to get along side to hand over bottles.
smn159 said:
And Thomas, no surprise really.mcelliott said:
smn159 said:
And Thomas, no surprise really.Yes, unsurprising
smn159 said:
mcelliott said:
smn159 said:
And Thomas, no surprise really.Yes, unsurprising
That’s got to sting a bit for them both. Though the dauphine really did not look good for both of them.
I think Froome will miss the sky/Ineos machine at start up nation. Will need to see whether his form returns and the team can deliver. I fear we have seen the best though. How they come back from serious injuries is beyond me though.
LM240 said:
Ouch!
That’s got to sting a bit for them both. Though the dauphine really did not look good for both of them.
I think Froome will miss the sky/Ineos machine at start up nation. Will need to see whether his form returns and the team can deliver. I fear we have seen the best though. How they come back from serious injuries is beyond me though.
I think the same, really really hope he goes well and wins the Vuelta but I can't see any more TDF titles coming his way. A real shame.That’s got to sting a bit for them both. Though the dauphine really did not look good for both of them.
I think Froome will miss the sky/Ineos machine at start up nation. Will need to see whether his form returns and the team can deliver. I fear we have seen the best though. How they come back from serious injuries is beyond me though.
I hate to say it but I really don’t think we’ll see Froome on the top step of a podium again at any major race. He’s made a remarkable recovery from his crash last year but he’s not showing anything like previous form and age just isn’t on his side.
The crop of new riders coming through now look so much stronger than the likes of Froome and Thomas. Although they need to manage to stay upright and out of hospital a bit more often.
I can see the remainder of Froome’s career looking a lot like Cav’s. Lots of questions about whether he can pull another win out of the bag and how he shouldn’t be written off just yet. But ultimately, disappointment.
The crop of new riders coming through now look so much stronger than the likes of Froome and Thomas. Although they need to manage to stay upright and out of hospital a bit more often.
I can see the remainder of Froome’s career looking a lot like Cav’s. Lots of questions about whether he can pull another win out of the bag and how he shouldn’t be written off just yet. But ultimately, disappointment.
lauda said:
I hate to say it but I really don’t think we’ll see Froome on the top step of a podium again at any major race. He’s made a remarkable recovery from his crash last year but he’s not showing anything like previous form and age just isn’t on his side.
The crop of new riders coming through now look so much stronger than the likes of Froome and Thomas. Although they need to manage to stay upright and out of hospital a bit more often.
I can see the remainder of Froome’s career looking a lot like Cav’s. Lots of questions about whether he can pull another win out of the bag and how he shouldn’t be written off just yet. But ultimately, disappointment.
Ah Cav... the tour de wallonie is quite depressing watching his form. The first day he had all the team leading him in but he just went backwards and seemed to be looking the wrong way when the main sprint kicked off and just a bit spooked.The crop of new riders coming through now look so much stronger than the likes of Froome and Thomas. Although they need to manage to stay upright and out of hospital a bit more often.
I can see the remainder of Froome’s career looking a lot like Cav’s. Lots of questions about whether he can pull another win out of the bag and how he shouldn’t be written off just yet. But ultimately, disappointment.
I loved seeing Cav at his prime, but another I fear we will never see being a main contender. I’m not sure how long Bahrain mclaren will support him. The current crop of sprinters simply look too strong for him to get back to that form.
It’s all relative though... against even a pretty decent cyclist he’s super fast. Even with talk of froome being done and off the pace, the numbers are still incredible.
Bit gutted about the news of no Froome/Thomas at the tour - was looking forward to the potential fireworks within Ineos - maybe they are genuinely scared of what Jumbo-Visma can do and don't want the power struggles going on. On the other hand, they may be thinking that there are 3 GTs for the taking and this is the way to do it.
Fingers crossed some of the outsiders come good in the tour and can put Ineos/Jumbo Visma under pressure - the likes of Landa, Quintana and Pinot getting in amongst and causing havoc would spice things up a bit. Failing that, at least Ineos and Jumbo knocking lumps out of each other should be good to watch - not sure yet if the Dauphine can be used as a form guide - in isolation it looks like Ineos have something to prove, but past history shows they are very good at riding for grand tour GC wins and I can't help but think it is all part of the master plan.
Fingers crossed some of the outsiders come good in the tour and can put Ineos/Jumbo Visma under pressure - the likes of Landa, Quintana and Pinot getting in amongst and causing havoc would spice things up a bit. Failing that, at least Ineos and Jumbo knocking lumps out of each other should be good to watch - not sure yet if the Dauphine can be used as a form guide - in isolation it looks like Ineos have something to prove, but past history shows they are very good at riding for grand tour GC wins and I can't help but think it is all part of the master plan.
I know some people seem shocked/surprised - but honestly, after last week you can't take them; they're miles off form. Froome has reasonable circumstances to be way off the pace; Thomas maybe needs more race miles to hit form. Best option is to give both of them time to recapture their form/ fitness. Calling up a GT winner in Carapaz isn't a bad position to be in - whether it works is another matter.
mcelliott said:
There is a new generation of GC rider now, I very much doubt ether Froome or Thomas will top the podium again.
Thomas had the wind taken out of his sale by losing the Tour when the stage was cut short and I don’t think he has the motivation needed to get that last few percent out of his body!I do think however they could do something in the Giro/Vuelta if the big hitters are concentrating on the Tour?
Anonymous-poster said:
mcelliott said:
There is a new generation of GC rider now, I very much doubt ether Froome or Thomas will top the podium again.
Thomas had the wind taken out of his sale by losing the Tour when the stage was cut short and I don’t think he has the motivation needed to get that last few percent out of his body!I do think however they could do something in the Giro/Vuelta if the big hitters are concentrating on the Tour?
I really wouldn’t be surprised if Ineos came away empty handed from the GTs this year.
Anonymous-poster said:
mcelliott said:
There is a new generation of GC rider now, I very much doubt ether Froome or Thomas will top the podium again.
Thomas had the wind taken out of his sale by losing the Tour when the stage was cut short and I don’t think he has the motivation needed to get that last few percent out of his body!I do think however they could do something in the Giro/Vuelta if the big hitters are concentrating on the Tour?
Since they have been around for 10 years virtually every team has an ex-Sky rider or staffer in them.
More generally over time the gap between what the top rider in the world and the average top 200 rider can achieve is dropping as more riders approach their maximum physical capabilities and know their ultimate limit in competition.
Hence the old Sky train was predicated on Sky's domestiques being stronger than most of the opposition team leaders. It isn't going to work however if most of the rivals now have 2-3 people in their teams who can hack that pace.
The net result is that finale just gets pushed higher up the final mountain and the time gaps are less but Sky can still get mugged. In fairness the Skytrain was developed to maximize Bradley Wiggins massive FTP but poor physiological resilience and ability to adapt to others tactics.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff