The professional cycling thread

The professional cycling thread

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Discussion

mcelliott

8,677 posts

182 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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What a finish today, brutal.

mikeswagon

707 posts

142 months

Monday 13th September 2021
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MagicHat said:
Fancy going to see some of the last stage of the tour of Britain. Undecided on trying to catch them going up/down the climb at Cairn'o'mount or just to get them at stage finish. Any thoughts on what may be best?
Did you go anywhere to see it? I was in town yesterday, and happened to be at the office around lunchtime, so plonked myself just before Queens Cross. Really enjoyed it, impressed with the speed of the riders, and of the police motorcycles negotiating the roundabout.

Johnny

9,652 posts

285 months

Monday 13th September 2021
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Thoroughly enjoyed this year’s ToB.

Great racing, great weather, full participant list and some great media friendly moments!


thegreenhell

15,415 posts

220 months

Monday 13th September 2021
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Johnny said:
Thoroughly enjoyed this year’s ToB.

Great racing, great weather, full participant list and some great media friendly moments!
Agreed. Speaking of nice moments...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-wes...

johnpsanderson

509 posts

201 months

Thursday 16th September 2021
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It must be an experience working for Patrick Lefevre, I can't recall a team/rider row as bad as what's going on with Sam Bennett at the moment... In other news, can't wait for the next couple of weekends - have blocked out the next two Sundays to watch my two favourite races of the year. And, for the first time in all the years i've been watching, there might even be a wet Roubiax!

MagicHat

29 posts

58 months

Friday 17th September 2021
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mikeswagon said:
MagicHat said:
Fancy going to see some of the last stage of the tour of Britain. Undecided on trying to catch them going up/down the climb at Cairn'o'mount or just to get them at stage finish. Any thoughts on what may be best?
Did you go anywhere to see it? I was in town yesterday, and happened to be at the office around lunchtime, so plonked myself just before Queens Cross. Really enjoyed it, impressed with the speed of the riders, and of the police motorcycles negotiating the roundabout.
Yeah, we went to the end of the 3rd KOM climb near Tarland. Found a good stop to see them coming up the hill for a reasonable distance, though still over very quickly with the speed they go.

Was a big crowd there and good atmosphere and good to see all the support crews/police bikes getting a wave and clap as they went by. Although one policeman stopped to tell us all to boo the next police bike through so as he came along waving he got loudly boo'ed by everyone and promptly carried on, head down.

Aberdeen has the start next year so will try to plan to maybe see them at a couple points on route.

mikeswagon

707 posts

142 months

Friday 17th September 2021
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MagicHat said:
mikeswagon said:
MagicHat said:
Fancy going to see some of the last stage of the tour of Britain. Undecided on trying to catch them going up/down the climb at Cairn'o'mount or just to get them at stage finish. Any thoughts on what may be best?
Did you go anywhere to see it? I was in town yesterday, and happened to be at the office around lunchtime, so plonked myself just before Queens Cross. Really enjoyed it, impressed with the speed of the riders, and of the police motorcycles negotiating the roundabout.
Yeah, we went to the end of the 3rd KOM climb near Tarland. Found a good stop to see them coming up the hill for a reasonable distance, though still over very quickly with the speed they go.

Was a big crowd there and good atmosphere and good to see all the support crews/police bikes getting a wave and clap as they went by. Although one policeman stopped to tell us all to boo the next police bike through so as he came along waving he got loudly boo'ed by everyone and promptly carried on, head down.

Aberdeen has the start next year so will try to plan to maybe see them at a couple points on route.
Was that at the Queens view? Was a bit disappointed at the tv coverage I saw, thought they'd have managed a quick flash of the view.

Didn't realise it was starting in Aberdeen next year, thanks for that, I'll try and make sure I'm not on Dads taxi duties next year.

Parsnip

3,122 posts

189 months

Monday 20th September 2021
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Ganna - love it, he's just an absolute monster - no wonder he has a fancy new Bolide for pretty much every event, they must go in the bin once he's done trying to tear the cranks off...

Also great effort by Josh Quigley on taking the 7 day record - passed him on Saturday and he was going strong - the support on the road was great to see.

RR world champs predictions? Van Aert looks to be well on form, but I think its a really hard one to call - especially as he will be so well marked. Not enough pure climbing for the light guys to take it, but loads of stabby climbs that could smash the race to bits - get caught out and in the wrong group and it could be curtains.


johnpsanderson

509 posts

201 months

Monday 20th September 2021
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Parsnip said:
RR world champs predictions?
I think the RR has plenty of potential to throw up a somewhat unexpected winner. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see someone totally unconsidered winning it, like Bettiol winning Flanders (or Pedersen winning in Harrogate). Who that might be though, no idea!



LM240

4,680 posts

219 months

Monday 20th September 2021
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Parsnip said:
Ganna - love it, he's just an absolute monster - no wonder he has a fancy new Bolide for pretty much every event, they must go in the bin once he's done trying to tear the cranks off...

Also great effort by Josh Quigley on taking the 7 day record - passed him on Saturday and he was going strong - the support on the road was great to see.

RR world champs predictions? Van Aert looks to be well on form, but I think its a really hard one to call - especially as he will be so well marked. Not enough pure climbing for the light guys to take it, but loads of stabby climbs that could smash the race to bits - get caught out and in the wrong group and it could be curtains.

He’s a machine!

I just can’t get over how easy he makes it look pushing the monster gears.

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 20th September 2021
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Can’t see beyond WvA to be honest, even if he is marked he can take a group to the line and out sprint them. I don’t think VdP has recovered enough to challenge so Alaphilipe et al will have to go with Wout if he attacks long.

It’s 250kms though so it’s just about survival but I think it’s ripe for a strong break to win to be honest, Cavagna, Craddock or Asgreen jumping with others from the bunch would be quite dangerous.

MatteAva

88 posts

77 months

Thursday 23rd September 2021
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LM240 said:
He’s a machine!

I just can’t get over how easy he makes it look pushing the monster gears.
Apparently he has done 500W average for 20mins


LM240

4,680 posts

219 months

Friday 24th September 2021
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MatteAva said:
LM240 said:
He’s a machine!

I just can’t get over how easy he makes it look pushing the monster gears.
Apparently he has done 500W average for 20mins

Going off my last ftp test… head can’t compute how I could hold another 200w for 20 mins!!! (Younger, fitter, less fat, stop drinking, train harder, shouldn’t have eaten so much toblerone last night would be a start though!)

I don’t know how they do it, a brutal sport to be a professional in.

Highway Star

3,576 posts

232 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
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Anyone else see Zoe Backstedt win the junior ladies world champs with her Dad doing commentary? Lovely moment and brought a tear to my eye!

frisbee

4,981 posts

111 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
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Highway Star said:
Anyone else see Zoe Backstedt win the junior ladies world champs with her Dad doing commentary? Lovely moment and brought a tear to my eye!
Yep, happened to catch the end of it. The other commentator also proudly announced he had known her since she was 2 weeks old.

Amazing size difference between her and the American rider. Zoe has inherited her build from her dad (6'4" and over 200 lbs when he rode the Tour de France) but the American must have been under 5 feet.

anonymous-user

55 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
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I think someone from the Cosnefroy break will take this…

Johnny

9,652 posts

285 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
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Hectic AF this is…

Digger

14,702 posts

192 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
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Does Pidcock have a sprint on him?

LM240

4,680 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
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Firing Remco up the road gives others something to think about if that gap grows a bit more. A couple of other stronger riders but not a devastating break.

frisbee

4,981 posts

111 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
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Digger said:
Does Pidcock have a sprint on him?
He lost a two up sprint to Wout Van Aert by a few milometers earlier in the year. Strange things happen in the very long races but he was showing he was there or thereabouts earlier in the year in similar races.