Teams & Riders EF Pro Cycling

[Anderis]

Best EF rider in each recent WT race (except MSR):
Catalunya: 26th (as of stage 3)
Classic Brugge-De Panne: 20th
Paris-Nice: 40th
Tirreno Adriatico: 40th
Strade Bianche: 12th
UAE Tour: 20th
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: 54th

Man, without Bettiol they would be totally pathetic this spring. After a decent 2023, relatively good last transfer window and a good start to 2024 in Mallorca, I didn't expect such a calamity.

 

[pastronef]

Archie Ryan was 3rd at Coppi-Bartali today

 

[Potomac]

Archie Ryan was 3rd at Coppi-Bartali today

And that moved him into 3rd place overall.

 

[Anderis]

Good to see Van den Berg winning in Catalunya because otherwise it would look stupid to send the team's only decent sprinter to a stage race with just 1-2 sprint opportunities when they have nobody for sprinter-friendly classics like Brugge-De Panne that take place at the same time.

 

[Potomac]

Good to see Van den Berg winning in Catalunya because otherwise it would look stupid to send the team's only decent sprinter to a stage race with just 1-2 sprint opportunities when they have nobody for sprinter-friendly classics like Brugge-De Panne that take place at the same time.

And they come away with a WT victory that they weren't going to get at Brugge-De Panne.

So what I thought was silly, looks like a stroke of genius.

 

[Potomac]

Well done these past 8 days with two wins.

A year ago they had 13 victories by the end of March. This year they are now on 5.

 

[SafeBet]

Ryan is also looking good at Coppi e Bartali: I don't know whether he'll manage to win the race but he's probably the best climber there. Bodes well for his future races.

 

[Bolder]

Well done these past 8 days with two wins.

A year ago they had 13 victories by the end of March. This year they are now on 5.

They've been pretty close a few times, I'm especially excited about Bettiol's return to form. I missed Ryan's top placing -- high hopes for him.

I'm a little concerned with Powless, though. Not sure if his training is correct or if he's sick, but I thought he'd do well in T-A and Strade Bianche. Hoping Healy can pull off a classics win, although he showed his hand last year so it's going to hard to get riders to work with him in a break or late attack...

 

[Potomac]

They've been pretty close a few times, I'm especially excited about Bettiol's return to form. I missed Ryan's top placing -- high hopes for him.

I'm a little concerned with Powless, though. Not sure if his training is correct or if he's sick, but I thought he'd do well in T-A and Strade Bianche. Hoping Healy can pull off a classics win, although he showed his hand last year so it's going to hard to get riders to work with him in a break or late attack...

I read or heard Powless hurt his knee at T-A.

I agree with you about Healey. Now he's clearly a strong opponent instead of a relatively unknown quantity.

 

[Bolder]

Archie Ryan! Keep strengthening your knee, young man.

 

[Potomac]

Yes big win for the young man. I wonder if Ryan can take the GC tomorrow too?

 

[Potomac]

This weeks UCI team rankings have EF in 12th so far this season.

1	BETTIOL Alberto	739	-
2	CARAPAZ Richard	379	-
3	VAN DEN BERG Marijn	290	-
4	HEALY Ben	208	-
5	RYAN Archie	167	-
6	CARR Simon	149	-
7	BISSEGGER Stefan	89.3	-
8	RAFFERTY Darren	86	-
9	RUTSCH Jonas	73.3	-
10	URÁN Rigoberto	70.3	-
11	CEPEDA Jefferson Alexander	68	-
12	COSTA Rui	50	-
13	DOULL Owain	49.3	-
14	CHAVES Esteban	46	-
15	NERURKAR Lukas	45	-
16	HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich	43	-
17	CARTHY Hugh	43	-
18	VALGREN Michael	30.3	-
19	QUINN Sean	21	-
20	SWEENY Harry	15.3	-
21	DE BOD Stefan	-	15
22	SHAW James	-	14
23	ROOTKIN-GRAY Jack	-	12
24	VAN DER LEE Jardi Christiaan	-	10
25	TODOME Yuhi	-	5

And Powless has yet to score any points.

 

[Anderis]

I stopped watching when Bettiol got cramps. First WT race in eternity that seemed to be going really well for EF and it's still gone bad in the end.

 

[Potomac]

Maybe Valgren and Bettiol and can make something happen Sunday the RVV

 

[SafeBet]

Last two weeks have been the whole Bettiol experience at its finest.
Fantastic legs, crashes, not feeling the chain, cramps, a solo win you still talk about with your friends, doubts, dreams...

He's honestly the only rider I could see challenge Van der Poel on Sunday even in case it becomes a race of brute force. But he could DNF without ever being shown on TV and it wouldn't surprise me one bit. It's absurd.

 

[Potomac]

Per PCS, the Ronde start list

• 101BETTIOL Alberto
• 102BISSEGGER Stefan
• 103DOULL Owain
• 104VAN DEN BERG Marijn5h
• 105SWEENY Harry5h
• 106RUTSCH Jonas
• 107VALGREN Michael

 

[Sciatic]

I stopped watching when Bettiol got cramps. First WT race in eternity that seemed to be going really well for EF and it's still gone bad in the end.

If the cramp was because he (or the team) are not staying on top of his electrolytes and hydration, we can hope this happening today will get him prepared so it won’t happen Sunday.

 

[Mayomaniac]

If the cramp was because he (or the team) are not staying on top of his electrolytes and hydration, we can hope this happening today will get him prepared so it won’t happen Sunday.

Tbf, he has a cronic disease, so I don't know how much that plays a part.
But yeah, if they managed to get this under control he could be even better. Not the first time he's having them either (Olympic RR, 2020 Strade Bianche, that TDU stage...)

 

[Anderis]

Tbf, he has a cronic disease, so I don't know how much that plays a part.
But yeah, if they managed to get this under control he could be even better. Not the first time he's having them either (Olympic RR, 2020 Strade Bianche, that TDU stage...)

The frequency with which this happens makes me think that this is 100% related to his intestinal issues. Gut inflammation -- > reduced nutrient absorbtion --> cramps is a logical chain, though I have no proof other than my guesswork.

 

[Sciatic]

Tbf, he has a cronic disease, so I don't know how much that plays a part.
But yeah, if they managed to get this under control he could be even better. Not the first time he's having them either (Olympic RR, 2020 Strade Bianche, that TDU stage...)

Ah, ok good to know. Will just have to hope his body holds together for 260 kms. We know it has before.

 

[velaso montador]

Bettiol cramps comfirmed interview today he will be good to go on sunday. Hes shown good form i kinda have high hopes from him, so strong.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol cramps comfirmed interview today he will be good to go on sunday. Hes shown good form i kinda have high hopes from him, so strong.

Bettiol is one of those gusy who has crazy potential. When he's on he's genuinly world class.

 

[Bolder]

Per PCS, the Ronde start list

• 101BETTIOL Alberto
• 102BISSEGGER Stefan
• 103DOULL Owain
• 104VAN DEN BERG Marijn5h
• 105SWEENY Harry5h
• 106RUTSCH Jonas
• 107VALGREN Michael

That's a pretty solid lineup. Sweeny or Doull in the break, maybe, then just see how things develop. I was also happy to see Valgren competitive again.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, they have a special edition kit for Vlaanderen.
Does anyone have a picture in... colour?

 

[Sciatic]

That's a pretty solid lineup. Sweeny or Doull in the break, maybe, then just see how things develop. I was also happy to see Valgren competitive again.

It’s all about Bettiol for EF, though I hope they can get at least one rider in one of the earlier front groups who could then provide support for Bettiol when the group is caught. But by that point in the race it probably won’t matter much—it will be simply be a matter of whether Bettiol has the legs to stay with the MVDP group (at last for while) or he doesn’t.