General News Thread

[Robert5091]

Being an old sceptic, I wonder if the new UAE tour has "incentivized" coming to the Emirates?

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Being an old sceptic, I wonder if the new UAE tour has "incentivized" coming to the Emirates?

No scepticism needed. It's an everyday thing for races, even smaller ones, to pay a certain team to show up and bring a certain name. It's the reason the middle east races have always had the field that they do, they give out lots of money so that Quickstep will force Alaphilippe to ride, Movistar Valverde, etc.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Being an old sceptic, I wonder if the new UAE tour has "incentivized" coming to the Emirates?

No scepticism needed. It's an everyday thing for races, even smaller ones, to pay a certain team to show up and bring a certain name. It's the reason the middle east races have always had the field that they do, they give out lots of money so that Quickstep will force Alaphilippe to ride, Movistar Valverde, etc.

You can assured they are pay big money to have certain riders there with their teams. I highly doubt Valverde would go there over Andalucia if it wasn't for a huge payday both he and his team are getting.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Being an old sceptic, I wonder if the new UAE tour has "incentivized" coming to the Emirates?

No scepticism needed. It's an everyday thing for races, even smaller ones, to pay a certain team to show up and bring a certain name. It's the reason the middle east races have always had the field that they do, they give out lots of money so that Quickstep will force Alaphilippe to ride, Movistar Valverde, etc.

You can assured they are pay big money to have certain riders there with their teams. I highly doubt Valverde would go there over Andalucia if it wasn't for a huge payday both he and his team are getting.

I remember reading figures about that from Lefevre. I can't recall the exact numbers but it wasn't that much at all. And I very much doubt that any money from it goes to individual riders rather than to the team.

 

[Red Rick]

https://nos.nl/artikel/2266846-ek-wielrennen-dit-jaar-in-nederland.html

European Championships to be held in the the Netherlands. Which town isn't known yet, but it's between Ede, Den Bosch, and Emmen.

Gonna be a bunch of sprints

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

https://nos.nl/artikel/2266846-ek-wielrennen-dit-jaar-in-nederland.html

European Championships to be held in the the Netherlands. Which town isn't known yet, but it's between Ede, Den Bosch, and Emmen.

Gonna be a bunch of sprints

All at the same time, or are they going to repeat their *** We're just gonna hold the Juniors and U23 races completely in the shadow of the Tour move from last year?

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

https://nos.nl/artikel/2266846-ek-wielrennen-dit-jaar-in-nederland.html

European Championships to be held in the the Netherlands. Which town isn't known yet, but it's between Ede, Den Bosch, and Emmen.

Gonna be a bunch of sprints

All at the same time, or are they going to repeat their *** We're just gonna hold the Juniors and U23 races completely in the shadow of the Tour move from last year?

Mind telling that to the Giro Rosa organisors?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

https://nos.nl/artikel/2266846-ek-wielrennen-dit-jaar-in-nederland.html

European Championships to be held in the the Netherlands. Which town isn't known yet, but it's between Ede, Den Bosch, and Emmen.

Gonna be a bunch of sprints

All at the same time, or are they going to repeat their *** We're just gonna hold the Juniors and U23 races completely in the shadow of the Tour move from last year?

Didn't know the Tour still casted a shadow tbh

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

https://nos.nl/artikel/2266846-ek-wielrennen-dit-jaar-in-nederland.html

European Championships to be held in the the Netherlands. Which town isn't known yet, but it's between Ede, Den Bosch, and Emmen.

Gonna be a bunch of sprints

All at the same time, or are they going to repeat their *** We're just gonna hold the Juniors and U23 races completely in the shadow of the Tour move from last year?

Didn't know the Tour still casted a shadow tbh

Well, last year the Junior and U23 European Championships were held at the same time as the Tour.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I wonder whether they were detached from the main Euros because the senior races were part of the multi-sport European championships in Glasgow (several cycling disciplines, gymnastics, swimming, rowing, triathlon), and there are only so many times they will tolerate the city streets being closed amid all the other disruption.

Is that planned on being repeated?

 

[RedheadDane]

Great news.

Manfredi is out of coma

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Great news.

Manfredi is out of coma

Very good news. Well wishes on his recovery.

 

[LiquidCrystalDynamic]

Paris Roubaix wildcards announced:

https://twitter.com/Paris_Roubaix/status/1087289697653661697

Cofidis
Delko Marseille Provence
Direct Energie
Arkea - Samsic
Vital Concept - B&B Hotels
Roompot Charles
Wanty - Gobert

 

[Alexandre B.]

Here it is.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Here it is.

Good. The top guns will have to attack early, otherwise Sagan wins.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ehm, ok...

 

[Red Rick]

I guess I'll have to give it a shot, but I'm not loving it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I guess I'll have to give it a shot, but I'm not loving it.

My feelings exactly. Better than Ans, still.

 

[Velolover2]

I like the finish but I wish there could be added a couple of extra climbs before the Redoute.

We need to crowdfund the paving of the downhill gravel sector of Targnon, so it can be added to Liege.

With it's 2.1km at 13%, it's the hardest climb in the Ardennes and can be added to be 50-60km from the finish line like Muro di Sormano to favor the climbers more. What do you think?

https://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?col=Targnon&qryMountainID=17475

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Here it is.

Good. The top guns will have to attack early, otherwise Sagan wins.

Even slightly lesser climbers than Sagan like Colbrelli, Cort and Trentin might give it a shot.

I don't think they have the endurance to win (the new) Amstel any longer, but Liege might be their chance if the favorites are afraid to attack.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I like the finish but I wish there could be added a couple of extra climbs before the Redoute.

We need to crowdfund the paving of the downhill gravel sector of Targnon, so it can be added to Liege.

With it's 2.1km at 13%, it's the hardest climb in the Ardennes and can be added to be 50-60km from the finish line like Muro di Sormano to favor the climbers more. What do you think?

https://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?col=Targnon&qryMountainID=17475

Is it a viable option?

I've looked at climbs in that area and I'm never sure.

They removed the Femme Libert, which was the hardest one as well.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

I guess I'll have to give it a shot, but I'm not loving it.

This is the biggest praise I've seen you give a race route.*

*Selective memory notwithstanding.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

I like the finish but I wish there could be added a couple of extra climbs before the Redoute.

We need to crowdfund the paving of the downhill gravel sector of Targnon, so it can be added to Liege.

With it's 2.1km at 13%, it's the hardest climb in the Ardennes and can be added to be 50-60km from the finish line like Muro di Sormano to favor the climbers more. What do you think?

https://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?col=Targnon&qryMountainID=17475

Is it a viable option?

I've looked at climbs in that area and I'm never sure.

They removed the Femme Libert, which was the hardest one as well.

The ascent is a narrow, wooded road on asphalt that suits the characteristics of LBL. But it's only an option if they resurface the northern gravel road that leads to Liege.

And if you want it 50-60 km from the finish, you have to get rid off the Forges climb as well. So it's Targnon -> Redoute -> Faucons -> finish line. But you can make the middle section much harder than it is now.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

I guess I'll have to give it a shot, but I'm not loving it.

This is the biggest praise I've seen you give a race route.*

*Selective memory notwithstanding.

I was quite positive a few times.

Like 4 years ago.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think people are severely underestiming the difficulty of all the climbs in LBL if you seriously think Sagan or Colbrelli stand a chance, even if the finish is not in Ans....

No chance.