***Official 2024 Pro Cycling Thread*** - The road to the Four Horseman in France begins now (1 Viewer)

[Sand]

Getting this underway. So far this year we've seen Primoz move, setting up a huge four way battle in the tour. MVdP is destroying the cyclocross world. And a Mexican rider is announcing himself down under.

Oh, and GCN+ folded, so watching stuff in the US now officially sucks. This is the best roundup of that situation I've seen.

What GCN+ Shutdown and Shift to Max Means for US Bike Racing Fans in 2024 - PezCycling News

 

[DA RAIDERS]

White corner

 

[BobbyLayne]

Stage 3 of Santos Tour Down Under is 7:30 pm tonight on Peacock

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Getting this underway. So far this year we've seen Primoz move, setting up a huge four way battle in the tour. MVdP is destroying the cyclocross world. And a Mexican rider is announcing himself down under.

Oh, and GCN+ folded, so watching stuff in the US now officially sucks. This is the best roundup of that situation I've seen.

What GCN+ Shutdown and Shift to Max Means for US Bike Racing Fans in 2024 - PezCycling News

Nice breakdown. Thx

 

[the moops]

Met a dad of a friend of my kids last weekend while at a climbing competition down in Chicago. Good guy - we became instant friends. He told me that he used to race professionally. We didn't get into too many details, and turns out he way undersold just how damn good he was, This is his wikipedia page


1994 - 7th United Kingdom British National Road Race Championships
1995 - 1st Wales Welsh National Road Race Championships, 8th United Kingdom British National Road Race Championships
1996 - 1st Paris-Auxerre France
1997 - 9th United Kingdom British National Road Race Championships, 1st Stage 4, Tour de Haute Marne France
1998 - 5th Malaysia Commonwealth Games Road Race, Kuala Lumpur, 1st Final Classification Tour de Haute Marne France
1999 - 4th United Kingdom British National Circuit Race Championships, 1st Stage 3, Tour of Lancashire, Premier Calendar Event, 2nd Tour of the Cotswolds, Premier Calendar Event, 2nd Five Valleys GP, Premier Calendar Event. 3rd Stage 12, Commonwealth Bank Classic Australia. 4th Stage 1, Commonwealth Bank Classic Australia
2004 - 1st Deer Trail Road Race. 1st Golden Criterium. 1st Estees Cycling Challenge
2005 - 1st Boulder-Roubaix, 1st Louisville Criterium, 1st Stage 4, Amateur Tour of the Gila, 4th Amateur Tour of the Gila
2008 - 8th United States US Elite National Criterium Championships
2009 - 5th United States US Elite National Road Race Championships, 1st Bannock Street Criterium Masters
2010 - 10th United Kingdom British Road Race Championships, 18th India Commonwealth Games Road Race, Delhi, 1st Colorado Masters Road Championships, 1st Bannock Street Criterium Masters, 1st Prairie Center Criterium Masters, 1st Sunshine Hill Climb Masters, 1st BRC Real Estate Criterium Masters, 1st Wheels of Thunder

 

[Nick Vermeil]

 

[Sand]

So Cav is winning early season sprints already?

HFS this year's tour may be the most awesome cycling spectacle ever.

 

[BobbyLayne]

r.i.p. GCN+

Is there any way to view Paris - Nice in the U.S. next weekend?

What’s the best streaming this year for the spring classics?

 

[Jaysus]

r.i.p. GCN+

Is there any way to view Paris - Nice in the U.S. next weekend?

What’s the best streaming this year for the spring classics?

Do you mean, like, legal ones?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Getting this underway. So far this year we've seen Primoz move, setting up a huge four way battle in the tour. MVdP is destroying the cyclocross world. And a Mexican rider is announcing himself down under.

Oh, and GCN+ folded, so watching stuff in the US now officially sucks. This is the best roundup of that situation I've seen.

What GCN+ Shutdown and Shift to Max Means for US Bike Racing Fans in 2024 - PezCycling News

@BobbyLayne

 

[Jaysus]

Getting this underway. So far this year we've seen Primoz move, setting up a huge four way battle in the tour. MVdP is destroying the cyclocross world. And a Mexican rider is announcing himself down under.

Oh, and GCN+ folded, so watching stuff in the US now officially sucks. This is the best roundup of that situation I've seen.

What GCN+ Shutdown and Shift to Max Means for US Bike Racing Fans in 2024 - PezCycling News

@BobbyLayne

I actually have the keys to my FIL's Max subscription... but they just implemented a password lock down based on location or something.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Gotta get me one of these sweet new team Visma-Lease TT helmets for my daily commute -- https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vRT9DMn95GyXatdh8dxNA3-650-80.png.webp

 

[Sand]

Gotta get me one of these sweet new team Visma-Lease TT helmets for my daily commute -- https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vRT9DMn95GyXatdh8dxNA3-650-80.png.webp

The model for this helmet.

On relevant notes, what Pogacar did in Strade Bianchi with his called shot is just ridiculous. Just rode away and stayed away for 2 hours. Not even human. And the huge underdog team sprint win today in Paris Nice with as deep a sprinter lineup as I've ever seen was awesome. No idea who that dude is, but he's legit.

 

[Sand]

Not pro, but this is a good one: Doping control shows up and 2/3 of the field abandons.

 

[Sand]

FYI the conclusion of Milan San-Remo was pretty spectacular. I highly recommend at the least catching the highlights on youtube. While you're at it watch the end of the Vuelta a Catalunya stage 1 finish. Might be even more awesome.

 

[Sand]

Summary of the season so far: Tadej rides away from the field, Tadej rides away from the field, Tadej rides away from the field.

Ridiculous.

 

[Sand]

Summary of the season so far: Tadej rides away from the field, Tadej rides away from the field, Tadej rides away from the field.

Ridiculous.

And just to add: Tadej takes the last stage in a field sprint to finish off the Vuelta there.

So insane.

 

[Jaysus]

So... Basque Country had horrific scenes today that saw Vinegaard, Roglic, and Remco (among others) forced to abandon via ambulance. I hope everyone is ok, but it is looking pretty bad at the moment.

ETA: Looks like Roglic and Remco were able to walk to ambulance - Roglic even left in the team car.

Remco surely broke his collar bone. https://twitter.com/ehitzulia/status/1775895569027981704

JV had to be stretchered out and looks bad - rumored pelvic injury: https://twitter.com/willwrite4cake/status/1775900538426544135

ETA: Per Reddit:

The race was neutralized after a major crash in the peloton in the descent towards Untzilla, involving Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, Jay Vine, Remco Evenepoel, Sean Quinn, Steff Cras and others, with Vine and Vingegaard requiring ambulance transport. All riders are conscious and stable.

The breakaway at the time raced for the stage win, while the peloton rode neutralized to the finish, and no GC times were taken.

As updates come in on all these riders, we ask that you share them in this thread.

Team updates

• UAE: Vine in hospital, conscious/talking and undergoing checks
• Visma: Vingegaard in hospital, conscious and undergoing checks
• Soudal: Evenepoel abandon and headed to hospital for checks
• Lidl: Tesfatsion headed to hospital for checks
• Total: Cras headed to hospital for checks
• EF: Cepeda and Quinn involved, Quinn abandon
• Bora: Roglic involved, no further updates (he was able to walk to team car)

 

[Sand]

So... Basque Country had horrific scenes today that saw Vinegaard, Roglic, and Remco (among others) forced to abandon via ambulance. I hope everyone is ok, but it is looking pretty bad at the moment.

Wow, that's 3 of the 5 big names in the sport. Wout broke his collarbone and some ribs just a bit ago, so he's out of Paris Roubaix (huge bummer).

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday/Sunday. Not sure if they are carrying the women's race, but for sure the men. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

 

[Jaysus]

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

yeah, I was in the middle of watching the GCN preview when I got the news about Basque Country.

 

[Sand]

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

yeah, I was in the middle of watching the GCN preview when I got the news about Basque Country.

Correction. Men are Sunday. Women Saturday.

 

[Jaysus]

So... Basque Country had horrific scenes today that saw Vinegaard, Roglic, and Remco (among others) forced to abandon via ambulance. I hope everyone is ok, but it is looking pretty bad at the moment.

ETA: Looks like Roglic and Remco were able to walk to ambulance - Roglic even left in the team car.

Remco surely broke his collar bone. https://twitter.com/ehitzulia/status/1775895569027981704

JV had to be stretchered out and looks bad - rumored pelvic injury: https://twitter.com/willwrite4cake/status/1775900538426544135

ETA: Per Reddit:

The race was neutralized after a major crash in the peloton in the descent towards Untzilla, involving Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, Jay Vine, Remco Evenepoel, Sean Quinn, Steff Cras and others, with Vine and Vingegaard requiring ambulance transport. All riders are conscious and stable.

The breakaway at the time raced for the stage win, while the peloton rode neutralized to the finish, and no GC times were taken.

As updates come in on all these riders, we ask that you share them in this thread.

Team updates

• UAE: Vine in hospital, conscious/talking and undergoing checks
• Visma: Vingegaard in hospital, conscious and undergoing checks
• Soudal: Evenepoel abandon and headed to hospital for checks
• Lidl: Tesfatsion headed to hospital for checks
• Total: Cras headed to hospital for checks
• EF: Cepeda and Quinn involved, Quinn abandon
• Bora: Roglic involved, no further updates (he was able to walk to team car)

Jay Vine broke his back

Vingegaard broke his collarbone and several ribs

Remco broke his collarbone and a scapula

 

[BobbyLayne]

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

yeah, I was in the middle of watching the GCN preview when I got the news about Basque Country.

Correction. Men are Sunday. Women Saturday.

Getting up at 5 a.m. to watch the hell of the north. 260 km - 55 km on cobblestones.

MVdP is in fine form, fresh off winning his third Tour des Flandres; that’s his 5th win in a Monument, tied with Pogačar.

Mathieu also won E3 Saxo a few weeks ago; now up 21 wins in Classics. Tadej has 13 Classics himself, and way more overall wins (69-48.)

ETA: TP not racing this weekend. They’re both set to race at LDL in two weeks.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

So... Basque Country had horrific scenes today that saw Vinegaard, Roglic, and Remco (among others) forced to abandon via ambulance. I hope everyone is ok, but it is looking pretty bad at the moment.

ETA: Looks like Roglic and Remco were able to walk to ambulance - Roglic even left in the team car.

Remco surely broke his collar bone. https://twitter.com/ehitzulia/status/1775895569027981704

JV had to be stretchered out and looks bad - rumored pelvic injury: https://twitter.com/willwrite4cake/status/1775900538426544135

ETA: Per Reddit:

The race was neutralized after a major crash in the peloton in the descent towards Untzilla, involving Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, Jay Vine, Remco Evenepoel, Sean Quinn, Steff Cras and others, with Vine and Vingegaard requiring ambulance transport. All riders are conscious and stable.

The breakaway at the time raced for the stage win, while the peloton rode neutralized to the finish, and no GC times were taken.

As updates come in on all these riders, we ask that you share them in this thread.

Team updates

• UAE: Vine in hospital, conscious/talking and undergoing checks
• Visma: Vingegaard in hospital, conscious and undergoing checks
• Soudal: Evenepoel abandon and headed to hospital for checks
• Lidl: Tesfatsion headed to hospital for checks
• Total: Cras headed to hospital for checks
• EF: Cepeda and Quinn involved, Quinn abandon
• Bora: Roglic involved, no further updates (he was able to walk to team car)

Jay Vine broke his back

Vingegaard broke his collarbone and several ribs

Remco broke his collarbone and a scapula

Just awful. The crash didn’t look that bad in the above link. Are there more videos?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Looking in to it, there was a cement drainage ditch that they went over. It runs between the road and the dirt. Gnarly

ETA: only about 12 feet of the ditch is paved. The part they went over.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Unpleasant video

 

[Sand]

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

yeah, I was in the middle of watching the GCN preview when I got the news about Basque Country.

Correction. Men are Sunday. Women Saturday.

Getting up at 5 a.m. to watch the hell of the north. 260 km - 55 km on cobblestones.

MVdP is in fine form, fresh off winning his third Tour des Flandres; that’s his 5th win in a Monument, tied with Pogačar.

Mathieu also won E3 Saxo a few weeks ago; now up 21 wins in Classics. Tadej has 13 Classics himself, and way more overall wins (69-48.)

ETA: TP not racing this weekend. They’re both set to race at LDL in two weeks.

Cheering for Mads. Might as well have an upset!

 

[BobbyLayne]

BTW, this weekend Peacock will be carrying Paris Roubaix on Saturday. Definitely the best of the spring classics.

yeah, I was in the middle of watching the GCN preview when I got the news about Basque Country.

Correction. Men are Sunday. Women Saturday.

Getting up at 5 a.m. to watch the hell of the north. 260 km - 55 km on cobblestones.

MVdP is in fine form, fresh off winning his third Tour des Flandres; that’s his 5th win in a Monument, tied with Pogačar.

Mathieu also won E3 Saxo a few weeks ago; now up 21 wins in Classics. Tadej has 13 Classics himself, and way more overall wins (69-48.)

ETA: TP not racing this weekend. They’re both set to race at LDL in two weeks.

Cheering for Mads. Might as well have an upset!

For sure, he and Jasper are best bets behind van der Poel.

Race officials made a last minute course change; they created a chicane (u-turn would be more apt) right before the downhill entry into the Forest of Arenberg sector. That’s one of 29 (!!) cobblestone sections totaling 55.7 km.

Should be insane.

---

Femmes did not disappoint.

Positive updates from Jay Vine and from Wout. A good day for cycling.

 

[BobbyLayne]

90 km to go

Situation:​

1		1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu
2		4	PHILIPSEN Jasper
3		17	VAN DIJKE Mick
4		21	PEDERSEN Mads

 

[BobbyLayne]

MvdP wins by three minutes, the largest gap in Paris-Roubaix since 2002. Amazing ride.

---

The current season King of Spring Ranking.

#	RIDER		POINTS
1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu		975
2	PHILIPSEN Jasper		962
3	PEDERSEN Mads		551
4	POLITT Nils		522
5	MOZZATO Luca		466
6	MERLIER Tim		455
7	VAN GILS Maxim		380
8	POGAČAR Tadej		375
9	VAN AERT Wout		345
10	WELLENS Tim		321

 

[BassNBrew]

MvdP wins by three minutes, the largest gap in Paris-Roubaix since 2002. Amazing ride.

---

The current season King of Spring Ranking.

#	RIDER		POINTS
1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu		975
2	PHILIPSEN Jasper		962
3	PEDERSEN Mads		551
4	POLITT Nils		522
5	MOZZATO Luca		466
6	MERLIER Tim		455
7	VAN GILS Maxim		380
8	POGAČAR Tadej		375
9	VAN AERT Wout		345
10	WELLENS Tim		321

Not even worth watching when he shows up.

 

[Sand]

MvdP wins by three minutes, the largest gap in Paris-Roubaix since 2002. Amazing ride.

---

The current season King of Spring Ranking.

#	RIDER		POINTS
1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu		975
2	PHILIPSEN Jasper		962
3	PEDERSEN Mads		551
4	POLITT Nils		522
5	MOZZATO Luca		466
6	MERLIER Tim		455
7	VAN GILS Maxim		380
8	POGAČAR Tadej		375
9	VAN AERT Wout		345
10	WELLENS Tim		321

Not even worth watching when he shows up.

I figured this year would be like what they used to do with Fabian and just mark him even if it meant they lost. Yeah, no. Just like Tadej did earlier no one can hang and we get a ridiculous 60km breakaway.


I mean, damn. I sure hope we get both in the Tour.

 

[BassNBrew]

MvdP wins by three minutes, the largest gap in Paris-Roubaix since 2002. Amazing ride.

---

The current season King of Spring Ranking.

#	RIDER		POINTS
1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu		975
2	PHILIPSEN Jasper		962
3	PEDERSEN Mads		551
4	POLITT Nils		522
5	MOZZATO Luca		466
6	MERLIER Tim		455
7	VAN GILS Maxim		380
8	POGAČAR Tadej		375
9	VAN AERT Wout		345
10	WELLENS Tim		321

Not even worth watching when he shows up.

I figured this year would be like what they used to do with Fabian and just mark him even if it meant they lost. Yeah, no. Just like Tadej did earlier no one can hang and we get a ridiculous 60km breakaway.


I mean, damn. I sure hope we get both in the Tour.

Is MvdP a tour contender or will the climbs be too much for him? When you can just pull away from 3 pros working together I would think you would have the power numbers to hang on the climbs.

 

[BobbyLayne]

MvdP wins by three minutes, the largest gap in Paris-Roubaix since 2002. Amazing ride.

---

The current season King of Spring Ranking.

#	RIDER		POINTS
1	VAN DER POEL Mathieu		975
2	PHILIPSEN Jasper		962
3	PEDERSEN Mads		551
4	POLITT Nils		522
5	MOZZATO Luca		466
6	MERLIER Tim		455
7	VAN GILS Maxim		380
8	POGAČAR Tadej		375
9	VAN AERT Wout		345
10	WELLENS Tim		321

Not even worth watching when he shows up.

I figured this year would be like what they used to do with Fabian and just mark him even if it meant they lost. Yeah, no. Just like Tadej did earlier no one can hang and we get a ridiculous 60km breakaway.


I mean, damn. I sure hope we get both in the Tour.

Is MvdP a tour contender or will the climbs be too much for him? When you can just pull away from 3 pros working together I would think you would have the power numbers to hang on the climbs.

not his thing

incredible in Cyclocross and as good as gets for Monuments though

last year he did training intervals during TDF stages to prepare for the Worlds lol

his main role is being a fantastic leadout man for Jasper Phillipsen

 

[Jaysus]

Yeah, he's way to big to compete for yellow in a grand tour.

 

[Sand]

Repeat this mantra - "Don't celebrate early, DON'T celebrate early!"

 

[Jaysus]

Repeat this mantra - "Don't celebrate early, DON'T celebrate early!"

lol

P.S. Anyone know what happened to MvDP in the men's race yesterday? He didn't win

 

[Sand]

Repeat this mantra - "Don't celebrate early, DON'T celebrate early!"

lol

P.S. Anyone know what happened to MvDP in the men's race yesterday? He didn't win

He got caught out and wasn't in the winning break. He was 11 seconds back in the chasing group. So he was right there.

BTW, my favorite race of the year, Fleche Wallonne, is on Wednesday. I love, love the racing up the Mur de Huy. I so want to ride that one of these days. This race is definitely not MvDP. No Tadej, so probably between Hirchi, Pidcock, and Mollema. Would love to see Carapaz grab it, though.

 

[Jaysus]

awful conditions in Wallonne today - SO many abandons.

 

[Sand]

awful conditions in Wallonne today - SO many abandons.

I know, right? All the favorites - Teuns, Pidcock, Hirschi. Sideways raid/sleet at 40ish degrees for a while. Oof. Totally unexpected winner, but man Stevie Williams was shot out of a cannon on the last part of of the last climb.

 

[Sand]

Liege Bastogne Liege tomorrow!

Also - this guy has all the skills.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Liege Bastogne Liege tomorrow!

Also - this guy has all the skills.

Stay thirsty my friends.

 

[BassNBrew]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

 

[Sand]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

 

[Jaysus]

Ineos squad for the Giro: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6LigjToi5e

 

[Nick Vermeil]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

Has someone fired up the FBG tournament?

 

[Jaysus]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

Has someone fired up the FBG tournament?

I checked this morning, it is not open yet

 

[Sand]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

Has someone fired up the FBG tournament?

Tadej is at -450. Geraint is next at +450. I think we can safely assume everyone will have Tadej on their team, so he essentially doesn't count.

I wonder if there has ever been a more prohibitive favorite. He may well win by 10-15 minutes.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

Has someone fired up the FBG tournament?

Tadej is at -450. Geraint is next at +450. I think we can safely assume everyone will have Tadej on their team, so he essentially doesn't count.

I wonder if there has ever been a more prohibitive favorite. He may well win by 10-15 minutes.

{if he doesn't crash out}

 

[Sand]

WTF, Pogacar doing the Giro? Guess it gives him an excuse for losing to Rolgic or Vinegard. Between the crash and this, none of these guys will be at their best.

He has said all along he wants the double. With Vengegaard in real doubt for the Tour he has a good shot. IMO right now if he only did the tour he'd pull a Lance and win by 7+ minutes.

The spring classics have been ridiculous. MvDP and Tadej have just torched the fields. The only one that wasn't a complete blowout was Fleche Wallonne. Who thought Stevie Williams would take that? I mean, every favorite was out due to cold (including a couple that went to the hospital for hypothermia, so it was bad), so it was PvE as much as PvP. Stevie will always be known as the hard man of Fleche, just as much as Desiree Linden is the hard woman of the Boston Marathon.

On to the Giro!

Has someone fired up the FBG tournament?

Tadej is at -450. Geraint is next at +450. I think we can safely assume everyone will have Tadej on their team, so he essentially doesn't count.

I wonder if there has ever been a more prohibitive favorite. He may well win by 10-15 minutes.

{if he doesn't crash out}

As always.

BTW, just read an article about his Liege performance. The hill he got away on he held 530 watts for 4.5 minutes (8.2 W/kg). Jaw hit floor.