General News Thread

[Unchained]

I wonder if a farmer protest can bring bike racing to the US

 

[Berniece]

Dauphine has announced it route for 2024. It's quite heavy, and perfect for Vingegaard to put his rivals in doubt for the TDF.

Spoiler: Stage 1 - Sprint

Spoiler: Stage 2 - Hills

Spoiler: Stage 3 - Hills

Spoiler: Stage 4 - ITT

Spoiler: Stage 5 - Sprint

Spoiler: Stage 6 - Mountain

Spoiler: Stage 7- Mountain

Spoiler: Stage 8- Mountain

 

[Netserk]

Plateau des Saix? Nice, very nice.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Five uphill finishes, so it looks like a perfect route for Roglič and Evenepoel to play games with each other.

 

[tobydawq]

Three MTFs in a row at the end of the race? Looks a bit repetitive and perfect for Mark Padun.

 

[Netserk]

I like it mostly.

Looks they're doing Plateau de Glieres from the soft side though?

To not go over the gravel. When used in l'Avenir as MTF, same side was used.

 

[Netserk]

Three MTFs in a row at the end of the race? Looks a bit repetitive and perfect for Mark Padun.

Miraculous. You have the most negative reaction to the route so far.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Plateau des Saix... Very interesting!

 

[repre]

Three MTFs in a row at the end of the race? Looks a bit repetitive and perfect for Mark Padun.

And what's not perfect about it???)))

 

[tobydawq]

And what's not perfect about it???)))

That Corratec will not be invited

 

[tobydawq]

Miraculous. You have the most negative reaction to the route so far.

Hehe, true. I guess it looks great. But I think and fear that Vingegaard 's superiority will render the route somewhat unimportant and it will be a bland race because of him.

 

[repre]

That Corratec will not be invited

Then we need Team Ukraine on the invite list!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Hehe, true. I guess it looks great. But I think and fear that Vingegaard 's superiority will render the route somewhat unimportant and it will be a bland race because of him.

He will face stronger opposition than he did last year, so I expect there will be a lot more suspense this time around.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Hopefully jumbo visma tries to keep Vingegard in a Tignes hotel until le tour and doesn't let him do this race. Because then it might be quite good, with remco having an advantage after the timed trial and Roglic being forced to actually attack him in the final weeekend .

 

[Netserk]

Hehe, true. I guess it looks great. But I think and fear that Vingegaard 's superiority will render the route somewhat unimportant and it will be a bland race because of him.

For the last stage, I'd have liked if they went over Pitons from the hard side instead of going over Salève first from Mornex. And doing both of them, you can still have the full ascents in the right order: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45485508

 

[Tim Cahill]

I think the parcours is good relative to the riders' strengths, the tt is long enough for Evenepoel to get a decent enough advantage such that Vingegaard will be kept honest, an uphill sprint at the end of stages suits Roglic also. Only being 1 week nullifies his greatest strength I.E inhuman recovery over 3 weeks and he wont be in top form yet, last year beaten by MIkkel Bjerg against the clock.

It's also very hard, Pogacar might be hoping it turns into this huge attritional pissing contest, enough to disrupt ideal preparation like Tirreno 2021 did to Van Aert's classics season.

 

[johnymax]

Cote de Bel-Air, very nice!

 

[zlev11]

finally a good route

 

[Rob5091]

Interesting parcours and a good round up by Mr Ring at
https://inrng.com/2024/02/criterium-du-dauphine-route-2024/

Samoens 1600 / Plateau des Saix is a dead end ...

which is why it's not been a regular fixture.

 

[Bolder]

I don’t know which country’s Eurosport you’re using but that’s been the case on French Eurosport for years.

Yes, although there seemed to be fewer Coupe de France races last few years, and the Australian races seemed spotty this year. Also, I think there is much less available on replay. Just my impression as a long-term Eurosport France subscriber. But the demise of GCN may mean more on Eurosport...also since the changover from ES Player, my iPad app is useless.

But, yes, sometimes there's actually Too much to watch...

 

[pablohidalgo7]

The stages are not really that hard and Roglic is a beast in steep mountains top finishes without too much fatigue, plus he will maybe have some margin over Jonas after the TT and the previous stages. Then it should be Jonas going all-in with Rogla only defending and trying to make at the end a Lo Port, Moncalvillo, etc... So no that easy for Vingegaard as people may think with the first impression of the route.
As for Remco I never know with him, can be great but for sure can implode completely.

 

[Bolder]

Plateau des Saix? Nice, very nice.

That is a beast of a climb, especially at the end of a stage. Have done it a few times and it was not fun.

 

[RedheadDane]

I don't think this is gonna catch on in the pro peloton anytime soon...

Wearing a turban can offer similar protection to helmets, researchers find

The religious headwear was far superior to a bare head and could be made even more bike-safe, says new study

www.cyclingweekly.com

 

[Rob5091]

To misquote Monty Python, "It's not dead yet!"
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ches-rescue-mission-for-2024-tours-of-britain

British Cycling has announced a rescue mission to take over running the 2024 men’s and women’s Tours of Britain after the previous promoter went into liquidation, but faces a race against time to stage either event.

Despite having no race routes, sponsorship or stage details finalised, British Cycling said the women’s and men’s races will remain scheduled in their original 2024 dates, of 4-9 June and 1-8 September respectively.

Maybe a few phone calls to the Gulf might help?

 

[Sciatic]

For the last stage, I'd have liked if they went over Pitons from the hard side instead of going over Salève first from Mornex. And doing both of them, you can still have the full ascents in the right order: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/4548550

To misquote Monty Python, "It's not dead yet!"
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...ches-rescue-mission-for-2024-tours-of-britain

Maybe a few phone calls to the Gulf might help?

“Ah, she must be made of sterner stuff” (different skit, I know)