I've been following bike racing for a long time, a really long time, like half a century (literally) but I haven't worked out the psychology of when a few people are off the front but prefer to risk winning nothing rather than work together and be sure of winning something, even if it's not first place. Probably that's why all I did is follow racing, and not actually race (with any success)!!
The men's [Vuelta] is cracking with some absolute beast climbs, but the women's seems to be just a string of boring sprints
That aged well !!
138km Flat stage today from Catanzaro to Cosenza which suggests SPRINT FRENZY!
Howver there's a Cat 2 climb so the sprinters might be dropped, and it's close enough to the finish that they wouldn't have the time to get back on and contest the win.
I'll probably kep an eye on things but really start following at about 14:30 (or at least I would if I had access to the live coverage, nudge nidge wink wink)
and it's close enough to the finish that they wouldn't have the time to get back on and contest the win.
Almost the perfect day for the breakaway if the 'big boy's' teams let them. Fingers crossed. Every race needs a breakaway win.
Crosswinds forecast up the coast. *ECHELON KLAXON*
I've been following bike racing for a long time, a really long time, like half a century (literally) but I haven't worked out the psychology of when a few people are off the front but prefer to risk winning nothing rather than work together and be sure of winning something, even if it's not first place. Probably that's why all I did is follow racing, and not actually race (with any success)!!
Are you serious that you don't know why it happens? I'd feel like I was mansplaining it, if I told you! 😀
New film about the Tour de France, Pumping Black https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24811710/
A cyclist and team doctor concoct a dangerous training program to win the Tour de France. As the race progresses and teammates, authorities, and paranoia close in, they take increasingly dark measures to protect his secret and lead.
It is pissing down
good stage this one
Well, I’ve got to say, you could definitely tell you were watching the Giro today.
I caught todays highlights from about 10k out. No spoilers here but WTAF did I just watch?
Well, wow. What a horrific and utterly fantastic race.
Might get a bit of crosswinds in the early part of today's race as they head up the coast but it looks more or less nailed on for a bunch sprint finish given the parcours.
I'm genuinely hopeful today's stage is uneventful. I love the chaos of the Giro but I need a day to digest the last couple of stages.
4 years ago to the day Thomas De Gendt won a brilliant Giro stage - in Naples!
The giro strikes again
Well with that finish, the crash was pretty likely.
Well with that finish, the crash was pretty likely.
It is actually becoming a case of "if you want to win the Giro, stay as far back as possible while still technically remaining "in the bunch"".
Then just wait for the finishing chaos, ride around the bodies on the floor and be given same time as the winner.
"if you want to win the Giro, stay as far back as possible while still technically remaining "in the bunch""
Visma have actually stated that's their plan for this race. They've decided that the stress of the extra positioning isn't worth it and would rather risk losing a few seconds if the bunch splits. A nice side effect of which is that fewer bodies jostling at the front is better for everyone.
Those cobbles need to be made from grippy Derbyshire Gritstone.
I'm still recovering from Wednesday's race.
Bring on the hills.
Oh and can someone gently suggest that Sean find a new career. If I had a £1 for every time he says 'difficult or difficulty' I'll be rich.
I think today i'll try and VPN to New Zealand to pick up the world feed from there. It has Ned Boulting and Jacopo Guarnieri on comms so I'm hoping that means a lot less MEN SHOUTING at NOTHING HAPPENING.
Oh and can someone gently suggest that Sean find a new career. If I had a £1 for every time he says 'difficult or difficulty' I'll be rich.
"Peletone" 🙂
I'm still recovering from Wednesday's race.
I managed to miss the highlights, very annoying!
We've not been able to watch any live racing, which is probably the case for many. It's so sad. This is the only sport I really watch on the telly (apart from winter sports). Having to rely on the highlights with Sean's dreadful commentary (there's no denying he was one of the best cyclists there ever was, but this does not mean the sportsperson will make a good commentator).
On a better note. Hubby set me up with Ned Boulting's podcast -' for the love of cycling'. It's really rather good.
JV looking very comfortable riding away from Gall on the final climb. Lot of talk about JV not being able to wear a custom skinsuit for the TT - I’m surprised it makes such a difference.
Well, we made it though the rest day and we'll be treated with the glorious spectacle of a 40-odd km time trial tomorrow. I'm not anticipating much by way of surprises at the top of the GC, but what happens tomorrow will certainly shape the race for the other podium places. I'm really interested to see how Gall does, as Decathlon have invested a lot of euros in equipment and TT coaching. I can't help but feel they're putting their best foot forward in an effort convince Paul Seixas to stay.
Lot of talk about JV not being able to wear a custom skinsuit for the TT - I’m surprised it makes such a difference.
I might be being a bit tinfoil-hat here but I can't help but wonder if some of the chat is generated by the kit sponsors to get everyone talkng about their wares. Even the teams who use unbranded/custom kit for TTs get a lot of chatter from the aero nerds who pick apart the details of peoples' kit.
We've not been able to watch any live racing, which is probably the case for many. It's so sad. This is the only sport I really watch on the telly (apart from winter sports). Having to rely on the highlights with Sean's dreadful commentary (there's no denying he was one of the best cyclists there ever was, but this does not mean the sportsperson will make a good commentator).
A VPN is considerably cheaper than TNT, and can get you the Ned/Jacopo comms on the NZ youtube feed. The TNT comms are much more into lively chatter and it's just too much energy for me to have in the background. Ned and Jacopo make an excellent pair in comms and are a much more relaxed proposition.
A VPN is considerably cheaper than TNT, and can get you the Ned/Jacopo comms on the NZ youtube feed.
Is it that simple? I have a vpn, is it really just a case of going to you tube nz and finding “giro d’Italia world feed”? If you have a direct link that would be much thanks
in fact thinking about it, I have the vpn on the firestick so will the YouTube app recognise that?
Lot of talk about JV not being able to wear a custom skinsuit for the TT - I’m surprised it makes such a difference.
It's a huge difference. Partly because they train in specific / custom-made TT gear so if they're given something else it'll feel all sorts of weird and partly because of materials, aero, and fit.
For a while it became a bit of a game to "lose" the jersey before a TT so you could use all your own kit and win the stage. More recently, sponsors have actually engaged with the teams, they'll work out who's likely to be in the GC lead and make up specific skinsuits.
But that's happened because the same aero optimisation has been going on in road racing too, it's no longer acceptable to just chuck a size Small jersey at the leader and tell them to get on with it. The presentation jerseys are purely for show.
What they wear on the road will have been worked on for months in advance based on who is likely to be in the lead. Same way that bike sponsors have custom painted bikes ready to go.
in fact thinking about it, I have the vpn on the firestick so will the YouTube app recognise that?
Unless there’s something weird that fire sticks do then it should be fine. Just set the location to NZ then search YouTube for the giro and the feed should appear.
Well, I just opened YouTube in my broswer without the VPN switched on and lo and behold there's the Giro live feed with comms:
I guess this means the world feed is available here now too.
I think this might be a one-day only thing, I seem to recall checking the Giro Youtube channel last week looking for world feed, and noting the only thing under their "live" tab was a countdown to stage 10
Still, though - WE HAVE NED!
Reminder that OPERA browser has a built-in VPN, though your only options are Americas, Asia, Europe and Optimal. MIght try that tomorrow to see how it copes
We no longer have Ned, that live stream has been cut off.
Either way over on Velogames...team tiramisu is catching the main course;)
Surviving with DMAX highlights (low res tv;) still good to see some grand tour riding:)
WTF is this stupidity about peeing in bottles? First of all, you have to appreciate the skill required. Secondly - if riders have to strictly respect the law, where are they supposed to pee? Maybe the UCI should devote a bit more time to making racing safer, and a bit less to sock height and pissing.
So it looks like a big day Saturday, or like a Toblerone, let's see who has the legs:)
Rolling rest day today in preparation for tomorrow. Bettiol won’t have the legs 😂
Today's stage:
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Time for Vingegaard to take the pink jersey?
Looks like did on the climb to Pila
That was impressive from Visma.
The views on today's stage were incredible; it did it's job as an advert for Italy. Bella!
What a FANTASTIC finish on today's "nailed on" sprint stage. I LOVE it when that kind of thing happens
Yes, absolutely riveting and chapeau to the first few riders.
It did look like the winner ALMOST celebrated too soon à la Lorena Wiebes.
We call it a Lindsey Jacobellis. In the Winter Olympics snowboarding cross event a few decades ago, she raised her hands quite a while before crossing the line, while in gold medal position, sadly catching an edge and the number 2 rider passed her and won the gold.
