General News Thread

[Dazed and Confused]

Team Vini Zabu is going to ban heart rate monitors and power meters in races (not training). They feel their riders are too depended on them and don't like the impact they have on the race. Supposedly reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Chapeau!

 

[Bonimenier]

The Tour of Oman will go on anyway. Will be ridden 3-8 march. 7th is Strade and P-N starts the 8th so not really the best moment.

 

[sir fly]

Preposterous!
Right when I planned to crash at Ginger's, they avoid her altogether.

 

[tobydawq]

Preposterous!
Right when I planned to crash at Ginger's, they avoid her altogether.

Her and me both! Though, I did already have the Giro pass through my teeny tiny hometown once.

And nice plan!

 

[RedheadDane]

Preposterous!
Right when I planned to crash at Ginger's, they avoid her altogether.

They can never avoid me!

 

[sir fly]

They can never avoid me!

What we're gonna do, then?
Where we gonna crash?

 

[RedheadDane]

What we're gonna do, then?
Where we gonna crash?

Personally my plan is to just take the train down to Sønderborg Sunday morning, watch the stage, and then... take the train back home again...

 

[tobydawq]

Personally my plan is to just take the train down to Sønderborg Sunday morning, watch the stage, and then... take the train back home again...

Let's hope the train won't crash.

 

[sir fly]

Personally my plan is to just take the train down to Sønderborg Sunday morning, watch the stage, and then... take the train back home again...

You're suggesting I should go to train?

 

[OlavEH]

This has probably already been discussed, but I am the only one finding the routes for this year's PN and TA really mediocre? Mostly flat(ish) stages and one stage with a 12-15 km, 6-7 % MTF. Even the last Nice stage in PN is average compared to the better versions. Where are the stages encouraging aggressive riding and attacks?

More stages like this would be much more interesting:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/paris-nice/2017/stage-6

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tirreno-adriatico/2019/stage-5

 

[Red Rick]

This has probably already been discussed, but I am the only one finding the routes for this year's PN and TA really mediocre? Mostly flat(ish) stages and one stage with a 12-15 km, 6-7 % MTF. Even the last Nice stage in PN is average compared to the better versions. Where are the stages encouraging aggressive riding and attacks?

More stages like this would be much more interesting:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/paris-nice/2017/stage-6

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tirreno-adriatico/2019/stage-5

Think both are a little disappointing.

I basically dislike PN routes almost any year but then the echelons happen, but this time they actually *** with the final stage which has been fire literally every year.

TA gets major props for DITCHING THE TTT but just putting another sprint in doesn't do much for me. Wish they'd just have 2 hard hilly stages, a medium MTF like they do now, and then increase the ITT length by a few km.

 

[OlavEH]

Think both are a little disappointing.

I basically dislike PN routes almost any year but then the echelons happen, but this time they actually *** with the final stage which has been fire literally every year.

TA gets major props for DITCHING THE TTT but just putting another sprint in doesn't do much for me. Wish they'd just have 2 hard hilly stages, a medium MTF like they do now, and then increase the ITT length by a few km.

PN should use climbs like Mende and Mont Faron rather than the 15 km climbs in Mercantour. And surely there have to be other climbs along the Saone or Rhone valley that could be used in PN. Neither race should use these longer climbs, but rather rely on stages with shorter and steeper climbs encouraging aggressive riding.

 

[yaco]

Tour of Columbia has an underwhelming route this year, though the high altitude may cause surprises.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

And of course someone forgot to tell Rebellin that you are allowed to retire before winning the Tour de France.

Terminator or what:
Rebellin goes on with Meridiana: “Until at least the Nationals. And then...".
Gazzetta [Paywall]

Rebellin va avanti con la Meridiana: “Fino almeno al Tricolore. E poi...”.

Il veneto ha 48 anni ed era passato professionista dopo i Giochi di Barcellona 1992

www.gazzetta.it

 

[Mayomaniac]

Terminator or what:
Rebellin goes on with Meridiana: “Until at least the Nationals. And then...".
Gazzetta [Paywall]

Rebellin va avanti con la Meridiana: “Fino almeno al Tricolore. E poi...”.

Il veneto ha 48 anni ed era passato professionista dopo i Giochi di Barcellona 1992

www.gazzetta.it

Rumour has it that he's gonna face Bala and Sevilla at the Gathering at the end of the 2021 season to win the prize.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Magnus Cort calling out the UCI publicly:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8YMeCPikmC/

 

[Koronin]

Wait, WHAT?!?! How do they get away with that?

 

[42x16ss]

Good work Magnus.

 

[RedheadDane]

That is disgraceful indeed.
The lack of control, not Magnus' post about it.

 

[Red Rick]

Itzulia 2020 route is out but I haven't found stage profiles yet

1 | Eibar — Arrate (160 km)
2 | Amurrio — Llodio (162 km)
3 | Vitoria — Ibardin (198 km)
4 | Bera — Renteria (176 km)
5 | Renteria — Sestao (180 km)
6 | Bilbao — Bilbao (21 km, ITT)

Stage 2 apparently finishes on this thang

 

[Mayomaniac]

The route of the Giro di Sicilia has been unveiled:

Stage 3 finishes uphill after 3km at 6%, the side of the Etna on stage 4 is the same as the Giro, minus the final 2km, followed by a 30km descent with a few technical sections.
According to La Gazzetta every stage will have at least 2 hours of TV coverage on RAI.

 

[Koronin]

Klasika Amorebieta has been cancelled.

Amorebieta se queda sin su Klasika | El Correo

Patrimonio del ciclismo vasco, la cita nacida en 1955 no se hará este año por falta de presupuesto y relevo generacional en la organización

www.elcorreo.com

 

[Red Rick]

Itzulia profiles.

Looks disappointing to me tbh.

 

[yaco]

Profile looks OK as it's always a tough ride on Basque roads and often wet - The ITT looks a tantalizing prospect.

 

[tobydawq]

Itzulia profiles.

Looks disappointing to me tbh.

Now, there's a shocker.