OT: Cycling
- Thread starter mcpat
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The guy he's talking about, Primoz Roglic, is a risky proposition because he started racing relatively late in life and is a known poor bike handler. Crashing on your bike, going 40-60mph, hurts quite a bit, and even if you manage to break no bones in the incident, the resulting flesh wounds and muscle damage dramatically reduce your ability to produce power on the bike, aka, go fast.
He crashed again for the 2nd day in a row.
Nice to see Biniam with his 3rd stage victory. Hope he takes the Green this year. I really dislike Jasper.
Abrahamsen is really good.
Prediction: Jonas is gonna win his 3rd TdF.
That was a very mild crash, I've see a President lay their bike down harder.
Vingegaard is simply amazing to be where he is today from being in the hospital for weeks after the pileup he was a part of. Ribs, lungs, you name it he hurt it. Now chasing the title in the mountains in less than a year back.
Bini is in the form of his life. Really hoping he wins Green and it looks more and more likely.
As for GC, I think I’m starting to trend back to Vingegaard. This weekend is suuuuper hard with a ton of climbing. I think we’ll know the winner of the tour by Sunday more or less
As for GC, I think I’m starting to trend back to Vingegaard. This weekend is suuuuper hard with a ton of climbing. I think we’ll know the winner of the tour by Sunday more or less
Jonas is still over a minute down and doesn’t have Sepp’s wheel to ride in the Pyrenees. Meanwhile, Tadej has Yates to pull him through. Tadej might be too impatient and impulsive to just win the race methodically, and if he doesn’t win I think he’ll have only himself to blame this year.
Vingo’s recovery and performance so far are unbelievable! And Remco is keeping things interesting.
If Pogi adopted Vingo’s strategy and just rode Vingo’s wheel for the rest of the tour he’d win without question IMO. But like Messenbrink, Pogi doesn’t do boring and would rather let it fly even if he risks losing.
But there’s a reason no one has won the Giro/Tour double in 26 years since Pantani did it in ‘98 under questionable circumstances. That’s a heck of a lot to put your body thru.
If Pogi adopted Vingo’s strategy and just rode Vingo’s wheel for the rest of the tour he’d win without question IMO. But like Messenbrink, Pogi doesn’t do boring and would rather let it fly even if he risks losing.
But there’s a reason no one has won the Giro/Tour double in 26 years since Pantani did it in ‘98 under questionable circumstances. That’s a heck of a lot to put your body thru.
This is true, but if it had happened a km or two sooner, he’d have lost the time. Saved by the sprint zone.
Sounds like today wasn’t his fault but down he went again and now he’s way back in GC time. So long as Remco doesn’t blow up, Roglic is off the podium.
Ehhh, I don’t know if I think it’s that simple. Obviously Visma will have to hope Kelderman and co can make it difficult but I don’t think Tadej can do the watts that Jonas can on those longer, steep climbs.
A question that's less about watching and more about doing:
Anybody have a fitness app they like for measuring distances? I'm looking for something that does not require a Fitbit or similar device as I don't intend to buy one, just something that works with a smartphone.
Anybody have a fitness app they like for measuring distances? I'm looking for something that does not require a Fitbit or similar device as I don't intend to buy one, just something that works with a smartphone.
Same. Strava is great. They used to have a free option with limited functionality that works for most people. Haven't checked in a while.
Big move by Pogi! Now has almost 2 minutes on Jonas and even more on Remco.
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Soiler alert. Gosh - I gotta bust my addiction to this wrestling site …. especially biting on the Cycling thread. I belong to a Tour & Pour group that consumes each evening. At least I’ll win the pool tonight.
Someone know @baccafarmer in real life and able to do a wellness check?
I meant to share this interview clip after stage 14. Tadej shrugged off the fact that so many people say he needs to ride more conservatively to make sure he wins: "I think I will never change, I will try with the attack if I feel it... And today it worked, the other day it didn't. And hey, it's life, ... I love to race and I love to try." He and Messenbrink definitely seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Man, I certainly don’t think he’s alone. But it’s hard to suspend my disbelief about doping when guys are putting 3.5 minutes into Pantani’s record when Pantani was on every drug known to man
After watching Pogi's Saturday's performance on the Pla d’Adet, I really hope he's clean, but won't be surprised if he's not.
"Pogačar did 6.85 ᵉW/Kg for 27:50 min, which is above the All-Time Top 30 trend-line. For sea level normalised, it is 7.16 ᵉW/Kg. Pogačar beat Lance Armstrong’s 2001 and Tony Rominger, Miguel Indurain and Zenon Jaskula’s 1993 times by around two minutes.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
According to Strava, Tadej Pogacar reached a max speed of 35.4 km/h during his brutal attack on Pla d'Adet and he climbed for 1 minute at 27 km/h on a 9% gradient. Insane acceleration, nobody has an answer to that.
Credit: @faustocoppi60
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
PLA D'ADET (first 9.08 km, 8.60 %, 781 m)
2024 | 25:08 | Pogacar
2001 | 27:04 | Armstrong
| 28:00 | Ullrich
1993 | 27:06 | Rominger, Indurain, Jaskula
Credit: @ammattipyoraily
It was the Sunday performance for me. All three of them bested the pirate when he was doped to the gillls. Jonas was otherworldly and Tadej went around him like it was nothing. With cycling’s history, it’s hard to watch Remco climb the 3rd fastest ever after what they saw before it and drop minutes. I want to love cycling but they always make you question what you are seeing.
The unfortunate reality is that cycling is typically more exciting doped to the gills. I remember watching in awe as LA rode away from everyone on Sestrieres in 1999 like he was on a motorcycle thinking that was one of the greatest sporting feats I've ever witnesses. In retrospect, it was clearly medically enhanced, but exciting as hell nevertheless.
But so were the guys he left behind. Now we wonder who is playing by the rules and who is not. Back then it was who has been caught and who has not. Maybe nothing has changed.
I'm certainly not naive about pro cycling. But Armstrong, Indurain, Ulrich were 20-25 lbs bigger than Tadej. Put a 25 lb rucksack on Tadej, and see what his ascent of one climb looks like compared to these guys (well, I'm sure there's an app for it).
Pantani might be a more apt comparison. But the pirate's supplements included large amounts of Coke. Pantani was a naturally small guy (similar size to Jonas). A lot of these guys today are CRAZY lean, and surely put much more healthy fuel into their body. So, nutrition and training have improved. Equipment has improved. The "Macho" gearing has gone away.
With all that said, I'm not naive. Jonas is 128 lbs. I think of guys like Filipo Ganna in time trials. Jonas blew all those guys away by over 3 minutes in a time trial (all except Tadej, who he beat by over a minute). Sure there was some climbing in that time trial. These guys do way harder days, and steeper, longer climbs. That's the one effort I can't get my head around.
When Tadej attacks out of the saddle, he reminds me of Lemond. Powerful, athletic, gifted. Admittedly, I'm biased toward Tadej (and Remco, and Sepp). Jonas seems like an otherwise decent guy. But because of that Time Trial, and my lack of belief in what I saw, I've soured on him.
Pantani might be a more apt comparison. But the pirate's supplements included large amounts of Coke. Pantani was a naturally small guy (similar size to Jonas). A lot of these guys today are CRAZY lean, and surely put much more healthy fuel into their body. So, nutrition and training have improved. Equipment has improved. The "Macho" gearing has gone away.
With all that said, I'm not naive. Jonas is 128 lbs. I think of guys like Filipo Ganna in time trials. Jonas blew all those guys away by over 3 minutes in a time trial (all except Tadej, who he beat by over a minute). Sure there was some climbing in that time trial. These guys do way harder days, and steeper, longer climbs. That's the one effort I can't get my head around.
When Tadej attacks out of the saddle, he reminds me of Lemond. Powerful, athletic, gifted. Admittedly, I'm biased toward Tadej (and Remco, and Sepp). Jonas seems like an otherwise decent guy. But because of that Time Trial, and my lack of belief in what I saw, I've soured on him.
The one thing I think is very important to note about that time trial is that by that point in the TDF, the only guys who are racing it hard are the TT specialists (to which the course wasn’t particular suited) and the guys fighting for GC positions.
I was glued to the TDF in the Armstrong years (although some of that coincided with my riding years). Sepp brought me back. This is hard to watch. It’s like watching Bonds, Sosa and McGwire.
If Sepp was in there leading climbs before falling off and letting Jonas and Tadej duke it out, at least there’d be a fallible American keeping it real.
If Sepp was in there leading climbs before falling off and letting Jonas and Tadej duke it out, at least there’d be a fallible American keeping it real.
Damn, I was really hoping to see Matteo win his first stage today. He was so close. Tadej is just unreal.
Tadej wiping the outcome of last year's TDF off his ledger in Starocci-esque fashion!
Overall a very enjoyable TdF for me. I expected Tadej to win before the start, and he exceeded my expectations. I don't think Jonas was 100%, but he showed grit. Remco was right where I expected. Sad to see Primoz go out again. So awesome to see Biniam take the Green and 3 stages. Ecuador's Carapaz with the Polkadot was also cool. And Mark Cavendish earning #35 was unforgettable. Hats off to an absolute legend.
One of the biggest highlights of this Tour for me was Matteo and his 8th place finish. Always great seeing 🇺🇸 in the Top 10. He looked great and has a very bright future. What his role will be in Visma going forward will be interesting.
One of the biggest highlights of this Tour for me was Matteo and his 8th place finish. Always great seeing 🇺🇸 in the Top 10. He looked great and has a very bright future. What his role will be in Visma going forward will be interesting.
Agreed. And what an exciting finish today, with the top 3 GC studs putting on a show and the American boy Matteo Jorgenson taking 4th on the stage (and 8th overall!), even after laying down his bike in a corner.
Great to see Jonas in such great form after all. The Tour turned out to be much more contested than I expected, and closer than the final margin suggests, right up until these last 3 stages. Remco proved to be the incredible talent many of us suspected. Jonas' performance after his injury a few months ago is incredible, and then for him to put time into Remco deep into week 3 on both the final mountain stage AND the time trial today. Wow!
And then there's Pogi, who recovered both from the grind of the Giro and getting Covid shortly before the Tour to win 6 stages of the Tour and the overall. So impressive! Had to be cool for him that the final stage was in his hometown where he regularly trains. This was the smartest Tadej has ridden in any Tour, especially vis-a-vis Jonas. If he continues to ride more defensively and take fewer unnecessary risks like this it will be hard for Jonas to ever beat him assuming they both have strong supporting teams.
Its amazing that the top 3 are so young-- Tadej 25, Jonas 27, and Remco 24. This is a trend we've been seeing for several years now and it extends even down into the junior leagues where young teenagers are smashing times that a generation ago few could imagine. And then they show up at the TdF and other grand tours competitive in year 1. The future seems bright for pro cycling.
So many great story lines this Tour. What a treat to see the Manx Missile get #35 and break Merckx's stage win record. I thought that window of opportunity closed long ago for Cav. I'm happy that he finally gets to go out on top.
Sorry, but as someone who has been riding for 25-26 years, watching for the same period, and did low level circuit racing in Central Park for 5 years I don’t buy the just insane dominance of Pogacar (nor do I care to watch it). I hope he gets busted.
Yep - that’s a wrap! Another great tour! My wife and I have spent each July for the last two decades watching swirling team strategies and occasional beyond human performances. The doping in cycling certainly causes retrospective alteration's to how we view legacies, but, I agree with your premise about what constitutes an exciting tour. I am most thankful that we don’t have to put up with much in the way of sophisticated drug regimes in college wrestling.
I get that perspective. And if Pogi or any other rider in the pro peloton is doping I also hope they get busted.
I assume you are consistent in your perspective and don't watch any other professional sports the moment a dominant performer emerges? If so, you're going to miss a lot of exciting sports in the Olympics starting next week. Not to mention a bunch of super athletes in the recent past that you likely missed entirely, like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Steph Curry, Tiger Woods, and on and on.
As for current doping in pro cycling, I believe every team is aware of what the others are doing. And if there is some kind of magic bullet others are taking/using, it will soon be widely adopted throughout the peloton. The risk of discovery is exponentially higher now than in times past and the fallout for getting caught is also enormous. You'd think those factors would have at least some deterrent effect.
It's interesting to me that you don't hear credible doping allegations coming from the sources you would expect if it were happening, including the peloton itself and the cycling journos and others who called out Armstrong and his generation of dopers early and often.
Former pro Phil Gaimon, a vocal anti-doping advocate for years, shared some interesting thoughts on this subject in his youtube post today. His comments on doping start at about 5:00 and continue for about 5 minutes.
