77th Tour de Romandie (2.UWT) // 23rd - 28th of April 2024

[RedheadDane]

Who is the "M" rider?

Well, since there are only 7 riders on a team - 8-rider teams are reserved for GTs - there isn't one.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Who is the "M" rider?

It's probably Mo Farah or one of the members of M People.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Okay, prize for coolest way of presenting your team goes to Tudor:

Had they left Wirtgen at home, they could have formed "roadie".

 

[Escarabajo]

The route is meh.

But maybe is going to be entertaining because there is no clear favorite.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Who is the "M" rider?

Perhaps a salute to the great Fausto Masnada who is starting this race. Who knows

 

[Rob5091]

Who is the "M" rider?

M ... pop pop pop muzik!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrE3Wn619z8

 

[Earns1985]

Carlos Rodriguez will also ride, until today Tarling was scheduled for him on PCS..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782395166046994683

View: https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1782395166046994683

 

[Valv.Piti]

When Romandie has a better startlist than Giro d' Italia. Lots of these names are actually interesting, so I will definitely follow the race contrary to other years where there really was nothing to get me excited at all

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Bernal says he is already pushing better numbers than before his crash, during his Giro and Tour wins. But competition just got better in the meantime as well.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Bernal says he is already pushing better numbers than before his crash, during his Giro and Tour wins. But competition just got better in the meantime as well.

I have heard him saying that as well earlier this year. Same thing with Valgren who was quite a good classics rider around 2018 and won a super impressive Amstel that year, but now is just a random domestique. Quite similar period, although Bernal's crash obviously was worse, but its very much a thing I believe to be true.

Overall level is higher, and then you have a rider like Pogacar who is just levels above that on top. Very hard to compete comparing that to beating Geraint Thomas, who we kinda laugh about right now, but is saying the exact same thing - higher numbers. And I tend to actually believe him as well when you look at the one race he's riding a year on a high level.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I have heard him saying that as well earlier this year. Same thing with Valgren who was quite a good classics rider around 2018 and won a super impressive Amstel that year, but now is just a random domestique.

To be fair, every rider ever who's declined has claimed he's pushing the best numbers of his career at some point after said decline. And, as Froome has proven more conclusively than anyone else, it's usually bulls***.

 

[Valv.Piti]

To be fair, every rider ever who's declined has claimed he's pushing the best numbers of his career at some point after said decline. And, as Froome has proven more conclusively than anyone else, it's usually bulls***.

Well, we obviously do not believe Froome for a second, but riders like Bernal who actually has managed to get back to a very good level is believeable to me considering how he won in 2019. He wasn't dominating, and the level was overall quite low for a TdF-win IMO.

 

[scribers]

That poll, though.

Very welcome after that last poll with ten dozen percentages

 

[Earns1985]

Because none of the really big guys is here, this race could really offer interesting racing.

The profiles could be a bit more inspiring, but apart from stage 5 every stage could offer GC action.
Depending on the overall classification stage 4 could really get interesting, as climbers need to get time back after the two TT and the last climb is perhaps not difficult enough to make hugh differences.

 

[Netserk]

To be fair, every rider ever who's declined has claimed he's pushing the best numbers of his career at some point after said decline. And, as Froome has proven more conclusively than anyone else, it's usually bulls***.

All indicators show that the peloton is getting stronger year after year in this era. I find it quite plausible for Bernal to push more watts now than in 2019.

 

[sam6]

Is this the race Egan Bernal will take his first win since the crash? I think he will, may struggle to make up the losses from the TTs for the overall, but I reckon he will win on Leysin on Saturday

 

[Devil's Elbow]

All indicators show that the peloton is getting stronger year after year in this era. I find it quite plausible for Bernal to push more watts now than in 2019.

I'm not saying he's wrong by definition, I'm saying I'd take his words with a grain of salt. Let's also not forget that pre-crash Bernal was 3rd in the epic 2021 Strade, behind Van der Poel and Alaphilippe but well ahead of Van Aert and Pogacar.

 

[AmRacer]

I'm not saying he's wrong by definition, I'm saying I'd take his words with a grain of salt. Let's also not forget that pre-crash Bernal was 3rd in the epic 2021 Strade, behind Van der Poel and Alaphilippe but well ahead of Van Aert and Pogacar.

A famous escape artists said a few years ago that even though he pushed higher watts than before, he couldn't get away from the peloton .

 

[Sciatic]

I have heard him saying that as well earlier this year. Same thing with Valgren who was quite a good classics rider around 2018 and won a super impressive Amstel that year, but now is just a random domestique. Quite similar period, although Bernal's crash obviously was worse, but its very much a thing I believe to be true.

Overall level is higher, and then you have a rider like Pogacar who is just levels above that on top. Very hard to compete comparing that to beating Geraint Thomas, who we kinda laugh about right now, but is saying the exact same thing - higher numbers. And I tend to actually believe him as well when you look at the one race he's riding a year on a high level.

I’m curious if any healthy riders would say “I’m pushing worse numbers.”😀

 

[search]

Due to the risk of rain, some of the favorites are starting early again tomorrow:

Startorder | ProCyclingStats

www.procyclingstats.com

Live coverage starts around 15:30

 

[Sciatic]

Well, we obviously do not believe Froome for a second, but riders like Bernal who actually has managed to get back to a very good level is believeable to me considering how he won in 2019. He wasn't dominating, and the level was overall quite low for a TdF-win IMO.

I will watch because I’m glad to have some racing between LBL and the Giro, which always feels like a long time to wait. I know there’s always a gap leading up to the Tour, but in that case we have the results from the Dauphine, Suisse, all of the Nats, and occassionaly a drug bust to chew over before Le Grand Boucle gets underway.

 

[Nerlo]

I'm ready for Bernals comeback GC win

 

[Valv.Piti]

I’m curious if any healthy riders would say “I’m pushing worse numbers.”😀

If they do push lower numbers, they usually just stay quiet. In the case of especially Bernal, I think thats the case watching him ride lately, and when Geraint Thomas is finally riding up to his standards (Tour 2022, Giro 2023) I think chances are he's not lying either. Valgren, well, his big wins were more tactical than anything, so I could also see that be true potentially.

 

[Sciatic]

If they do push lower numbers, they usually just stay quiet. In the case of especially Bernal, I think thats the case watching him ride lately, and when Geraint Thomas is finally riding up to his standards (Tour 2022, Giro 2023) I think chances are he's not lying either. Valgren, well, his big wins were more tactical than anything, so I could also see that be true potentially.

Oh, I don’t doubt riders are being truthful about their data—the fact that physiologic performance levels are higher is borne out in all the climbing times and race time records. I’m just saying it no longer means much to someone following the sport if almost all riders are saying it. If we’re not seeing the “numbers” themselves, after a while it doesn’t sound much different than the old standby “the sensations are good.”

 

[Tim Cahill]

Due to the risk of rain, some of the favorites are starting early again tomorrow:

Startorder | ProCyclingStats

www.procyclingstats.com

Live coverage starts around 15:30

Let's see if Ineos have learnt their lesson and given Omnium gold-medallist and Catalunya 1st-split specialist Ethan Hayter a good slot in dry weather.

107

84

16:36:00

HAYTER Ethan

INEOS Grenadiers

Ah.