General News Thread

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Um, that can't be legal can it?

Iirc, there's some law here in Belgium having to do with hair in the workplace, dating back to the Industrial Revolution when women would often get their long hair stuck in the machines and therefore there was a only a certain length allowed.

Wouldn't a rider need to have a pretty long beard for safety to be an issue? I suppose you could potentially get your beard (hair) stuck in parts of the bike, but those parts aren't really where the head usually is when you're riding your bike.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

Um, that can't be legal can it?

Iirc, there's some law here in Belgium having to do with hair in the workplace, dating back to the Industrial Revolution when women would often get their long hair stuck in the machines and therefore there was a only a certain length allowed.

Wouldn't a rider need to have a pretty long beard for safety to be an issue? I suppose you could potentially get your beard (hair) stuck in parts of the bike, but those parts aren't really where the head usually is when you're riding your bike.

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

 

[Echoes]

I like Walter Planckaert, if only for his career as a rider but this looks like Czar Peter the Great or Mustapha Kemal Attaturk. Being irresistably modern at the detriment of traditional freedoms. :Neutral: I know that cycling has attractiveness problems but this is not the right measure to take, I think.

 

[RedheadDane]

Small news, but Tour of Denmark will be six-man teams next year.

---

Out of curiosity I went to check what the relation - if any - is between Walter and Emiel is, and I think my brain exploded. Just how many of those Planckaerts are there?

 

[Echoes]

There were two historical Planckaert clans with no relation to one another. Recently there's been a third one, though with no relation to the two former.

The Planckaert's of Nevele were represented by the brothers Willy, Walter and Eddy. The most famous lineage, multiple classic winners. They had racing children as well Francesco and the infamous Jo.

The Planckaert's of Zwevegem were represented by André and Jozef. Jozef was the most famous. Winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège

and now the Planckaert's of Kortrijk are represented by Baptiste, Edward and Emiel. All three are Ignace Planckaert's children, an average rider in the eighties.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Echoes are they teally "kortrijkenaars" I taught they were from Spierre-Helkijn/Spierre-Helchin?

 

[Echoes]

You must be right. I just took their birthplace but there's probably no clinic in their small town, so they were born in Kortrijk just like Devolder.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

You must be right. I just took their birthplace but there's probably no clinic in their small town, so they were born in Kortrijk just like Devolder.

Yeah, pretty much everybody from around those parts, including me

 

[Beech Mtn]

Re: Re:

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

Mayonnaise law? Do tell.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

Mayonnaise law? Do tell.

In Brief, there was a law saying that every single branch of mayonaise in Belgium had to contain atleast 80% of fat. Sauces with a lower amount of fat were illegal. Absurd right?

 

[Beech Mtn]

Re: Re:

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

Mayonnaise law? Do tell.

In Brief, there was a law saying that every single branch of mayonaise in Belgium had to contain atleast 80% of fat. Sauces with a lower amount of fat were illegal. Absurd right?

 

[fauniera]

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

Mayonnaise law? Do tell.

In Brief, there was a law saying that every single branch of mayonaise in Belgium had to contain atleast 80% of fat. Sauces with a lower amount of fat were illegal. Absurd right?

That is the most belgian thing I've ever heard.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Alongside with those another law got withdrawn: Foreigners in Belgium are now allowed to keep Pidgeons.
And one we kept: The military can take your horses and oxen to pull military vehicles in times of need. Also technically our own flag isn't conform with our constitution. The constitution says our flag is red-yellow-black while every flag in this country is black-yellow-red.

Back to cycling now: That Turkey field looks rather weak.

 

[yaco]

The field is better than it looked 2 months ago with only one or two WT teams - Not helped by the Tour of Guangxi having a surprisingly loaded field.

 

[jens_attacks]

world tour sucks...no torku (((

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

I think it's one of those ancient laws we have (like our mayonnaise law who we just modernized). I think it just allows the employer to prescribe certain rules about hair. (Again I could be completly wrong on this)

BTW: Neo-pro Emiel Planckaert who will join them says he'll shave his beard.

Mayonnaise law? Do tell.

In Brief, there was a law saying that every single branch of mayonaise in Belgium had to contain atleast 80% of fat. Sauces with a lower amount of fat were illegal. Absurd right?

Well, you can't both eat mayonaise and watch your fat-intake. If you wanna eat mayonaise you better commit to eating that mayonaise, and therefore the manufacturers can't help you cheating by having a low-fat option!

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

The field is better than it looked 2 months ago with only one or two WT teams - Not helped by the Tour of Guangxi having a surprisingly loaded field.

"Events registered on the UCI WorldTour calendar for the first time in 2017 and thereafter shall ensure the participation of a minimum of 10 UCI WorldTeams in their events," the rules now state. "In case of failure by one of these events to ensure the participation of 10 UCI WorldTeams during two consecutive editions, the registration of the said event shall be withdrawn from the UCI WorldTour calendar."

So they might get back to 2.HC soon.

 

[Breh]

According to Sporza UCI has some new guidelines for next season:

-Ignoring the red lights at a railroad crossing will get you suspended for a month and a fine up to €4300. Same punishment goes for riders hanging onto a teamcar.

-Missing the time limit will result in loss of all points in the minor classifications if the jury decides not to kick you out.


These seem like decent measures. I hope they'll enforce them. Ignoring stoplights at a railroadcrossing is incredibly stupid and a horrible example for society.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

According to Sporza UCI has some new guidelines for next season:

-Ignoring the red lights at a railroad crossing will get you suspended for a month and a fine up to €4300. Same punishment goes for riders hanging onto a teamcar.

-Missing the time limit will result in loss of all points in the minor classifications if the jury decides not to kick you out.


These seem like decent measures. I hope they'll enforce them. Ignoring stoplights at a railroadcrossing is incredibly stupid and a horrible example for society.

Seems decent. I guess giving time penalties wouldn't do too much for those finishing outside the teme limit.

 

[Sestriere]

While browsing Twitter during the last few days, I noticed the speculations about Kigali/Rwanda as a future host of the world championships spreading again. I remember this being the case during last year's worlds taking place in an empty desert, while the Tour du Rwanda was celebrated by huge crowds.
Do you think this is just pure speculation by some who are taking themselves too seriously or is there a chance? Even the Rwandan Minister of Sports got involved and stated that Kigali had the necessary infrastructure to organise an event like that.
There have never been Road World Championships in Africa, so regarding the globalisation of the sport it seems like a logical step. With the new UCI president in mind the chances might be bigger than before, after all Lappartient looks like he wants to bring more passion into the sport again especially regarding the Qatar fiasco.
How do you rate the chances of this happening in the next, say, five years?

 

[RedheadDane]

Having seen those pictures from the Tour of Rwanda I really hope they can get it some day. However, and this might be extremely prejudiced, I dunno if they can afford it. If not, then maybe the richer national federations should lend them a hand.

According to Sporza UCI has some new guidelines for next season:

-Ignoring the red lights at a railroad crossing will get you suspended for a month and a fine up to €4300. Same punishment goes for riders hanging onto a teamcar.

-Missing the time limit will result in loss of all points in the minor classifications if the jury decides not to kick you out.


These seem like decent measures. I hope they'll enforce them. Ignoring stoplights at a railroadcrossing is incredibly stupid and a horrible example for society.

Seems decent. I guess giving time penalties wouldn't do too much for those finishing outside the teme limit.

I honestly found myself wondering why your placing in the GC wouldn't be affected...
My brain's a bit behind.

 

[Breh]

Re:

Having seen those pictures from the Tour of Rwanda I really hope they can get it some day. However, and this might be extremely prejudiced, I dunno if they can afford it. If not, then maybe the richer national federations should lend them a hand.

That would be great, seeing these riders on their bikes worth €10k race on dirt tracks while about 40% of the children in Rwanda is malnourished.

Not to mention the variety of other reasons why this would be a bad idea.
Rwanda is really not an option for atleast the next 20years.

 

[RedheadDane]

If only there was a way to host a big event in Rwanda or other countries in similar situations - maybe not the World's, but something slightly smaller - and instead of having it cost them money it would actually give them money.
Have the richer national federations, and UCI in general, pay the bill while the host country gets to keep the revenue.

 

[Sestriere]

The problem is that it's difficult to earn money from organising a bike race because there are no entrance fees. The only chance are sponsors and selling TV rights. I have no idea if there is a rich patron in Rwanda who would be willing to pay the costs.
From what I know, the people in Rwanda are very passionate about cycling, so that will help to find the necessary support among the people. It would be very bad indeed if the funding of the event would result in budget cuts in other way more important sectors such as education or health care.