2024 European Championships in Heusden-Zolder/Hasselt (September 11-15) Discussion Thread For All Races

[Breh]

Everyone's favourite Vaticany rider right behind the commisaire car!

Apparently his wife is the Australian ambassador to the Holy See.

 

[theyoungest]

Six gold medals for the Netherlands so far at these championships. You'd almost think Dutch cycling is doing well (it isn't).

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I'm keeping my eye on the Vatican guy, just because he's such a novelty. (It's a Sunday, eh, maybe the pope can say a prayer for him during mass.)

Edit: just found out Vatican guy is 42, he's gonna need a lot of prayers.

 

[Heston]

French tactics are baffling

 

[will-10]

I'm keeping my eye on the Vatican guy, just because he's such a novelty. (It's a Sunday, eh, maybe the pope can say a prayer for him during mass.)

Edit: just found out Vatican guy is 42, he's gonna need a lot of prayers.

it's not as much fun as it could be, the guy was Dutch until about 5 minutes ago

 

[Heston]

Seriously what the hell are France even doing

 

[RedheadDane]

it's not as much fun as it could be, the guy was Dutch until about 5 minutes ago

Impressive, considering that race has been on for over an hour.

 

[Didinho]

We’re all questioning France so they’re gonna win.

 

[tobydawq]

Seriously what the hell are France even doing

Maybe catching the break do a third French rider can get away and a fourth can pull him in.

That way, they'll all have the feeling of being involved.

I also have no clue.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

it's not as much fun as it could be, the guy was Dutch until about 5 minutes ago

I googled him and apparently he holds three citizenships - Dutch cause he was born in the Netherlands, Australian because his wife is Australian, and Vatican because he's lived in Rome since 2020. Interesting, and I guess it's good he's at least lived in Rome for a few years and has competed for Vatican City since 2021.

He's not a stellar rider by any means, but I think it's always nice to learn something new and interesting about an athlete.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Cobbles!

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Titi Voeckler is just operating on a higher sphere than us. Ever since he's joined the French national team they've thrown major bombs every race, making the viewer question whatever the hell is going on, only to go home with big time silverware.

Making the entire team pull full gas 220 km from the finish in Wollongong is something I'll never forget.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Riders in the break look like they're irritated with each other, especially the French guy

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Mandatory scenery comment: the weather is nice and sunny, so far it looks like they've been riding through what I think would normally be quiet residential areas with some very twisty roads, decent crowds, and the peloton isn't actually on a Sunday ride.

126km to go.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Disgrace how the UK skips these championships. Not like there isn’t sufficient strength in depth these days.

Still some Brits who took that whole Brexit thing too literally

 

[Didinho]

I’ve been searching Mathieu the whole time and now I see he’s riding in his Worlds jersey. Making the race hard already.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I googled him and apparently he holds three citizenships - Dutch cause he was born in the Netherlands, Australian because his wife is Australian, and Vatican because he's lived in Rome since 2020. Interesting, and I guess it's good he's at least lived in Rome for a few years and has competed for Vatican City since 2021.

He's not a stellar rider by any means, but I think it's always nice to learn something new and interesting about an athlete.

I believe his wife works for the Vatican.
Something Social media related if I remember correctly

 

[Didinho]

Kragh, Pedersen, Trentin, Teunissen, Van der Poel, Meeus in the group.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I believe his wife works for the Vatican.
Something Social media related if I remember correctly

She's an ambassador to Vatican City, I'm not even sure what ambassadors actually do.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I'm surprised there haven't been more mechanicals on the cobbles (so far) since everyone is just hauling ass today.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Germany closing that gap as if Zabel and Greipel have resurrected, but they're doing this, I kid you not, for Max Walscheid.

 

[Netserk]

Who is Germany riding for? I don't see the point in using Politt to pull in the move that they missed.

EDIT:

Germany closing that gap as if Zabel and Greipel have resurrected, but they're doing this, I kid you not, for Max Walscheid.

You've got to be shitting me.

 

[RedheadDane]

You know... the usual trick of identifying riders in races like this - where they wear national kits - by their helmets is rather unhelpful when all the Norwegians ride for Uno-X!

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I feel like I'm watching a U23 race because things look pretty wild and disorganized...

Lovely occasional castles and greenery though. And now a vineyard! 🥂

 

[KZD]

Van der Poel attacking in this cobbled section