Recent content by xo 1

The way INEOS has played with transfers the last couple of years, reaching terms then not sending a contract, it will be interesting to see if agents start to guide riders away from the team. Perhaps they already have.

Based on his performance to date, the two I had in mind were MSR or LBL.

My guess is that Pidcock's motivation to show INEOS that INEOS underappreciated him will lead Pidcock to have his best road season. I expect he will be bag a Monument, take an additional podium or two, and win a couple of stages in lower-tier GC races. I'm picturing a year similar in shape to...

Lefereve would be a kick in the pants. Given the talent of the squad, following a Wolfpack approach would be a welcome change from the mid-table GC focus.

I think that's exactly right. The races Q36.5 won't be invited to are the races Pidcock doesn't want to ride. If he wanted to be a Grand Tour rider, leaving a very nice contract on a World Tour team would be madness. But I suspect Q36.5 will be able to secure an invite to support the program...

Perhaps I misunderstand your point, but my skepticism on the continued viability of INEOS is not because there is a clash of personalities but rather because INEOS appears determined to allow such a clash to run off one of their most talented riders out of pique.

Spot on. INEOS' handling of Pidcock over the past season has reinforced my concern that the team is not long for this world. They resemble the worst-run organizations in the world in any sport.

I've got no sources at all, but Benson is reporting it as a contract termination. If that's right, any expense for the team is simply adding salary. And all INEOS gets from this is reduction in salary expenditure with a significantly weaker squad. Benson also suggests that the "rationale"...

I agree that it is a very high bar to assess finishing second in the TdF as cracking, but watching the two seasons of Unchained on Netflix again, I'm struck each time that Pog failed in a very human manner.

With respect (and not aimed specifically at this comment so much as the whole "Pog is too strong - resistance is futile" narrative), Pog cracked on two consecutive TdFs. I'm not sure what more evidence of humanity skeptics want.

Noob question, but without radios, how did Tratnik know to drop back? It had to be planned, no?

There are few parallels between Israel Premier Tech and Team Jumbo-Lease a Bike, but this structure reminds me of the Froome disaster. Letting your counterparty decide when he wishes to stop being paid is rarely going to work out well -- even with a rider as quality as Wout.

True. As well, I don't know that senior management from that period - even if still at INEOS - would win now. Based on interviews with riders who span the time period, I believe the top teams now - TVLB, UAE, especially - are much advanced from the Sky Boys. RBH seeks to join TVLB and UAE...

How so? 2023 was a cracking race. You're entitled to your opinion, but I can't reckon how any cycling fan would deem it "rancid." Similarly, 2022 was well raced, had great drama and sympathetic characters, so I'd rate it highly - although I acknowledge the palmares of Hindley are less...

From my perspective, that's a decision for QS to make. If QS believes the annual mating dance isn't worth the trouble, QS can engineer a lucrative exit from the contract. I don't blame Remco for pushing for his worth. It's up to the teams to evaluate whether he is worth the hassle - because...