General News Thread

[Netserk]

More details regarding the Paris - Nice route: https://twitter.com/LasterketaBurua/status/950735467430981632

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Huh? I'd have thought with a finish in Châtel-Guyon with a final loop as the map seems to suggest stage three would have a bump in the finale as well?

 

[May0maniac]

According to Vegni the Giro wildcards will be revealed nex week, on the 16th or 17th.
Source: http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/2018/01/...6-o-il-17-wildcard-giro-d-italia-tuttobiciweb

 

[barmaher]

That Paris Nice route doesn't excite me.

 

[Netserk]

It's not too dissimilar to last year, which provided excellent racing, but I must admit that I'm a bit skeptical as well. The MTF is shallower, the hilly finish easier and the TT without a proper climb in it. It should suit Thomas very well. I'm not sure if the last stage is an improvement or not.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

It's not too dissimilar to last year, which provided excellent racing, but I must admit that I'm a bit skeptical as well. The MTF is shallower, the hilly finish easier and the TT without a proper climb in it. It should suit Thomas very well. I'm not sure if the last stage is an improvement or not.

That's pretty much also my opinion.
Lil Pete Kennaugh to finish top 3 on gc, you heard it here first!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Its basically 2017 with an easier mountain stage. Last year was super difficult for P-N standards. I like the time trial better this, I think. Paris-Nice last year proved to be one of the absolute best one week stages races I have seen, probably the best tbh.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Maybe they made the mountain stage easier (both the MTF itself and the run up) with Alaphilippe in mind?

 

[Breh]

The Flanders regional government wants to bid for the WC 2021.

Ardennes are out of the question so we are very likely to see the cobbles.

 

[Alexandre B.]

 

[Red Rick]

Let's waste the hilliest stage with the MTF.

How steep are the murito's?

That's maybe 4km of action on an MTF and 2 Murito's to offset 20km of TTT and 10km of ITT.

Don't like it.

Shame that Tirreno will never ditch the freaking TTT.

 

[Netserk]

Why, oh why? Sassotetto is perfect as it has usually been used, a pass not too far from the finish (a format that is the essence of T-A in the past decade). Other than that it is quite fine, and I like that they'll have a stage finish in Filottrano. Perhaps one of the sprint stages could have been a bit trickier towards the end.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Re:

The Flanders regional government wants to bid for the WC 2021.

Ardennes are out of the question so we are very likely to see the cobbles.

There aren't a lot of Ardennes in Flanders anyway.

 

[Breh]

Well, we usually speak of the Ardennes and the Flemish Ardennes. The Flemish Ardennes are very likely, the real Ardennes not. It was an awkward way of putting it into words

 

[Netserk]

Route for Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, thanks to @LasterketaBurua:

 

[Valv.Piti]

Thats not too bad, but not really good either. Its fine I guess.....

Valencia is much like last year. Looks fine, teams are gonna want to try out some TTTs ahead of TdF.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Route for Tour du Haut-Var (17-18 February)

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Let's waste the hilliest stage with the MTF.

How steep are the murito's?

That's maybe 4km of action on an MTF and 2 Murito's to offset 20km of TTT and 10km of ITT.

Don't like it.

Shame that Tirreno will never ditch the freaking TTT.

I feel like they got the balance right on paper (1 mountain, 2 hilly, 2 flat and the usual ttt and itt) but it needed to ditch the mtf and go old school sassotetto. I would also say ditch one of the muritos but I understand the thinking behind the two and making them different (filottrano is more subtle as the second half isn't as steep).

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

The Flanders regional government wants to bid for the WC 2021.

Ardennes are out of the question so we are very likely to see the cobbles.

The city of Geraardsbergen has send a dossier to the Belgian Federation. They want this.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Thats not too bad, but not really good either. Its fine I guess.....

Valencia is much like last year. Looks fine, teams are gonna want to try out some TTTs ahead of TdF.

Here's to hoping Eurosport (Scandinavia?) will actually show us the finale of the Queen Stage... yes! I'm still bitter about that one!

 

[May0maniac]

Giro wildcards delayed until Friday.
The official reason for the delay: Vegni got sick.
Source: http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/2018/01/17/108242/giro-d-italia-wildcard-venerdI-tuttobiciweb
I don't buy it, probably some drama with various sponsors who want to get a wildcard for their teams.

 

[staubsauger]

More likely they demand 5 wildcards from the UCI because of the riders per team reduction.

Androni, Israel Cycling Academy, Bardiani or Nippo, Wilier and Vital Concept IMHO!

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

More likely they demand 5 wildcards from the UCI because of the riders per team reduction.

Androni, Israel Cycling Academy, Bardiani or Nippo, Wilier and Vital Concept IMHO!

Vital Concept? That would be a bit of a surprise.
I've heard some rumours about Aqua Blue wanting to get a Giro wildcard, but nothing about Vital Concept.
Caja Ruraj are now also riding De Rosa bikes, but they are probably happy with a Vuelta wildcard and a few shorter Italian stage races.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

More likely they demand 5 wildcards from the UCI because of the riders per team reduction.

Androni, Israel Cycling Academy, Bardiani or Nippo, Wilier and Vital Concept IMHO!

Vital Concept? That would be a bit of a surprise.
I've heard some rumours about Aqua Blue wanting to get a Giro wildcard, but nothing about Vital Concept.
Caja Ruraj are now also riding De Rosa bikes, but they are probably happy with a Vuelta wildcard and a few shorter Italian stage races.

I thought it was quite suspicious RCS waited which team didn't get a Tour invitation until the Giro wildcards are announced. Plus, in a sprinters field with Gripe, Viviani, Ewan, Marcezko, Nizzolo and Sbaragli to invite Bryan Coquard would certainly be a quality addition. But that's just my personal opinion!

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I like the 5 PCS teams idea, If I were in charge (imagine that ) I would've reduced team sizes but kept the number of riders equal. I don't think this new smaller peloton will reduce crashes, most crashes happen because everybody wants to be on the front of the race and some riders don't really have the technique for that so they require a team or use their elbows (not pointing at anyone here). In my mind the addition of more PCT teams might spice up things, more riders in the break during boring flat stages and more riders trying to mix it up for the KOM jersey during the first weeks. Wanty has shown in the latest tour why PCT teams are such a vital part of grand tours and I think that every 3week GT would benefit from teams racing like that.