they all look like they are pedaling squares
Just finished watching Strade on catch up - what was under Pog's saddle? Was it just the transponder as it looked awfully like a tool wrap!
No commentary, from 93km to go if any one wants to watch.
Amazing ride by Pog. Felt at first that the reason he got away was everyone looking at each other and not wanting to risk blowing up, but agree that the rest just seemed knackered. Appreciated Pidcock's honesty in his interview!
Impressive but dull.
Impressive but dull.
👆
most notable bit of the last 80k was that bloke slapping pog square on the forehead
he is really suited to this kind of racing, his seated power is just so good he doesn't have to risk losing traction out of the saddle and he can hold his own with the sketchy stuff on the downs (also it's a very difficult to chase down a lone rider in this kind of terrain if his team has already smashed the race wide open, there's only a few places where through and off can be utilized and most of the riders left consider themselves contenders so are unwilling to burn their chances on the front). Wouldn't bet against him repeating his tour of flanders win in a similar fashion (if he rides it).
Toms Skujiņš up there again. One of the riders of the classics so far.
The womens race was (as usual) excellent today. I know SD worx winning is a bit samey, but seeing the other teams getting closer and closer is fascinating. Also got to give kudos to Kpecky for playing that to perfection.
Yep, the women's race was more dynamic, more constantly changing. Great ride from Lotte Kopecky.
Impressive but dull.
It was simply too hard, there were maybe 8 riders left in it at the end. It didn't need the extra loop in it at all.
Anyway, onto Milan - San Remo in 2 weeks time where MvdP will be making his road racing season opener!
Always love a Tom Pidcock interview.
Almost as good as "he was just playing with our balls really"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3KxWJp2DQ
Not sure the extra loop was really needed, it seems to have become more of a climbers course; the race was fine as it was enabling classics riders, climbers, GT winners to be all in the mix.
If it's not broken, don't fix it. Can't help but think they organisers have been persuaded by all the 'Monument' talk.....
Those 5 races are all of their time; late 19th/early 20th century...so over 100 years of history; stop trying to make this race something it's not.....186km & 3500m of climbing is more than enough for a great race.
You might be right @wipperman95 but I think it's hard to judge the course based on yesterday's race. Just about any race at the moment can be rendered dull with the presence of one of the superhumans if they're unopposed. Without Pog there yesterday (or with, say an in form WvA) it could have been quite the punch-up.
(or with, say an in form WvA)
Nah, WvA plays by the rules too much, one of the reasons I think he has sadly been eclipsed by MvdP/Pog etc. in big monuments and one-day races
He would not have attacked there and at best would just have ridden himself into the ground chasing. Particularly during the big monuments WvA always seems to be on the wrong side of heroic yet doomed chases
I think only an inform MVdP would have stood a chance of following that attack.
Particularly during the big monuments WvA always seems to be on the wrong side of heroic yet doomed chases
Actually I'm going to amend that statement to 'often' seems to be on the wrong side, not forgetting his own S.B. victory or sprint finish defeat against MvdP in RvV
Interesting, looking at it, it seems like future desires in terms of Tours etc has somewhat killed off the WvA we used to see, he seemed to have more power previously and would destroy a field and attack. He's now far more of a tempo and a sitting kind of racer. Pogacar and VdP are still animals and just hit the bunch whenever and however they feel 'right'.
you do get the feeling that WvA looks at the Tom Dumoulin 2017 Giro win and thinks yeah I could do that.
The point I was trying to make is that if someone who could follow pogs moves was there it could have been a good watch. WvA has been in the finale with pog a bunch of times (last years classics, Glasgow worlds) - although granted he’s usually in 2nd place at the end of the day. But yeah, sub in a MvdP (or maybe a Remco, even Roglič at a stretch) to go toe to toe with Pog then we probably wouldn’t criticise the course for being too hard.
It’s the same with any of the races at the moment. If one of the superstars is there unopposed the race is usually dull but throw a few of them in the mix and we get awesome racing.
Taking my own thread off topic cos it's obviously not a cobbled classic but Paris-Nice - the Race to the Sun - is looking really ****ing grim at the moment!
Shortened stage due to the snow on the mountains but it's chucking it down, spray going everywhere and everyone is looking thoroughly miserable.
Back to the Classics this next weekend with Milan - San Remo.
was'nt very nice @ Tirreno-Adriatico either 😕 Both Cav and Froome timed out on stage 5 by about 8 mins as Vinggegggaaaarrrddd rip everyone a new one.
OK it's not cobbled but it is a Classic - a Monument even!
After a couple of weeks off for some stage race stuff, we're back in Classics territory with Milan-San Remo and Cyclist have kindly done a bit of a guide to it (with further links in the article to the route, timings etc)
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/milan-san-remo-predictions-2024
Personally my guide to it is to ignore the first 220km and tune in for the last 80km but what do I know?!
can the Pog smash the poggio fast enough to gap the likes of MvdP & Mohoric and the descend like the hounds of hell are on his tail 😕 it would be nice cos then he has to ride Roubaix one day for the full set.
has a team ever smashed it on the Cipressa to force a win ?
looking very pleasant weather wise.
In short, yup.
I suspect the UAE plan will be to do whatever they can to thin things out before the cipressa then try and get over the top of that with as few people as possible. Will be interesting to see if it's possible or not.
Failing that I'd like to see a total outsider win. Throwing my hat in the ring for Benoît Cosnefroy.
rocking all white with stripes and a mullet..... MdvP leads them out
lot of talk of UAE going up the Cipressa in a sub nine minutes
must be a nightmare of a race to ride - 27 hours in the saddle and a seaside town every few hundred yards, so nowhere to take a piss without a cheering crowd lurking round a corner
lot of talk of UAE going up the Cipressa in a sub nine minutes
That didn't seem to work, the peloton seemed well prepared for that.
Poggio just coming up, everything looking frantic.
Actually really tense! That was one hell of a descent too.
Really quite pleased that one of the big 2 didn't win
Lance won't be happy with all the backslapping and hugs after the finish line 😂
Great descent off the Poggio by Pidders but no way he could live with those fast guys.
Great descent off the Poggio by Pidders but no way he could live with those fast guys.
Yeah but in that situation you just have to go for it - if you know you can't win a sprint against the likes of Philipsen, you just have to go early and hope that there's enough looking around and hesitation in the group behind to pull it off.
He did well and it's better to finish 11th by giving it everything and "failing" than by sitting in the bunch and getting your arse kicked in a sprint anyway.
The women have Trofeo Alfredo Binda tomorrow:
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/trofeo-alfredo-binda-preview
Yeah but in that situation you just have to go for it – if you know you can’t win a sprint against the likes of Philipsen, you just have to go early and hope that there’s enough looking around and hesitation in the group behind to pull it off.
Yes, of course.
Was happy that neither Pog nor MVDP dominated. Not a criticism, just that it’s boring.
Pog talked about the UAE “plan” and how they are “perfecting” it. I didn’t see much of a plan beyond the usual “get a bunch of blokes on the front, ride very fast, burn everyone off, and Pog takes a flyer”. None of it worked.
Too bad that Pidcock didn’t cling on. I’d have been happy to see Mads Pedersen win, but you have to give credit to Philipsen – he is a very good sprinter!!
Brugge de Panne today (for the Men) and tomorrow (Women's race). Sadly only highlight on Eurosport this evening (5.30pm UK time). It used to be a 3-day but switched to a 1-day Classic in about 2018.
Normally one for the sprinters although last year, British rider Pfeiffer Georgi won the Women's race with a solo attack from 7km out.
Women's team SD Worx won't be there, the whole team has pulled out due to various riders having injuries from a big crash at Nokere.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/classic-brugge-de-panne/
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/classic-brugge-de-panne-2024-preview
Eurosport has Brugge De Panne listed on the schedule at 14:15.
Eurosport has Brugge De Panne listed on the schedule at 14:15.
I've got Volta a Catalunya on at the moment until BdP highlights later.
Pogacar blew the Volta to bits yesterday, made it look like a little training ride.
Unfortunately the Volta has Carlton Kirby and Brian Smith commentating and I can't stand Smith!
Pogacar blew the Volta to bits yesterday, made it look like a little training ride.
Did I read that they went away on a two man break, he stopped for pee and hid in a bush whilst the peloton passed him, then jumped on the back again? It was on road.cc earlier (headline 'literally taking the piss' 😂)
much the same today from only about 8k out , first WvA v MvdP road match up Friday @ E3 Saxo, not much work done friday afternoon 🙂 Carlton "We Shall See" Kirby 😕
Unfortunately the Volta has Carlton Kirby and Brian Smith commentating and I can’t stand Smith!
It's Carlton I struggle with. I sometimes wonder if he's commentating on the race that I'm watching.
E3 could be a cracker, Flanders will be great, Wout has laid his cards down can MVdP drop him or get inside his head 1v1 in a sprint. Jumbo may try to work him over with attacks but he might just let them go at Flanders and follow Wout. Wout seems under more pressure to win (self induced).
If MVdP attacks can Wout follow, that kick from MVdP to close down Pogs attack on the Poggio was hugely impressive, he flew across that gap.
