General News Thread

[tobydawq]

I literally posted about how good a Mur de Kigali World Championships could be yesterday

Is there a stretch of road in the world that you are not familiar with it?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Is there a stretch of road in the world that you are not familiar with it?

To be fair, they include that stretch of road in the Tour de Rwanda on the final stage every year. Yes, it's a fairly obscure race, but from a cycling POV it's probably the most famous place in the country.

 

[tobydawq]

To be fair, they include that stretch of road in the Tour de Rwanda on the final stage every year. Yes, it's a fairly obscure race, but from a cycling POV it's probably the most famous place in the country.

Yes, I have also heard of the Mur in Kigali, it was more of a general question

 

[RedheadDane]

To be fair, they include that stretch of road in the Tour de Rwanda on the final stage every year. Yes, it's a fairly obscure race, but from a cycling POV it's probably the most famous place in the country.

Not like races being obscure has ever stopped you.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Mur de Kigali isn't that obscure though, it's the best-known climb in a country that only hosts smaller races, similar to how Kiddesvej is well-known by the standards of a Danish climb because it's a focal point of the national race every year. Except that Mur de Kigali is obviously a better climb in every aspect, of course

Heart says Rwanda gets to host, my head otoh...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Morocco has a lot of places that could offer some great opportunities (I have a half-complete Tour du Maroc). Fes and Tangier I believe would be best as you could have courses as hilly or as flat as you like, especially in Fes, Agadir potentially likewise. Rabat, Meknes or Mohammadia would give some possibilities but would likely be more along the lines of Geelong or Valkenburg at most. Ifrane is the sort of domestic capital of cycling, but not that big a place and most of the roads around there are undulating or would result in a circuit way too long. Casablanca or Marrakech would be pan-flat and dull.

Morocco has a much longer history and tradition of cycling, and a good infrastructure and many decent races and riders, but North African cycling is kind of one of those scenes that take place in a bubble, like Central American cycling or South East Asian cycling, whereas Rwanda has a relatively short but passionate history of the sport and has captured a good amount of attention from both media and fans alike; and Kigali offers just as many potential options for a variety of courses as Fes, which I consider the likely best of the Moroccan options. Morocco would be far more accessible for fans from the existing cycling heartlands to help create an atmosphere, Rwanda would be far more likely to create a crazy supportive atmosphere on its own.

I honestly can see lots to like about both options just from an on-paper standpoint. Would be interesting to know if these are formal bids and if so, what the Moroccan bid is, because where that is held will be a major factor. Wollongong ought to be pretty hilly, Glasgow is not especially but has a lot of short digs in it. It really depends on the Zürich course proposal as we may be well overdue a Geelong-type course by then.

 

[Breh]

Kigali and Tanger are the two options left afaik.

 

[RedheadDane]

It's been 10 years today...

Remembering Wouter: An-Sophie and Alizée a strong twosome 10 years on | Trek Race Shop (trekbikes.com)

 

[TourOfSardinia]

It's been 10 years today...

Remembering Wouter: An-Sophie and Alizée a strong twosome 10 years on | Trek Race Shop (trekbikes.com)

"If Wouter’s death has taught me anything then it’s to be happy with what you have rather than be unhappy with what you don’t."
Wise words indeed.

 

[RedheadDane]

Route for Tour de Pologne:

Tour de Pologne 2021 route unveiled | Cyclingnews

Highlights include an ITT in Katowice, instead of that finish, and - as mentioned in the crash-prevention thread - usage of the new Boplan barriers, and other safety equipment.

 

[yaco]

The most important fact is that it overlaps with the Vuelta, so it will attract a mixed type of riders.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's been 10 years today...

Remembering Wouter: An-Sophie and Alizée a strong twosome 10 years on | Trek Race Shop (trekbikes.com)

And following that, it's now 10 years to the day since Xavi Tondó's death as well

 

[roundabout]

Route for Tour de Pologne:

Tour de Pologne 2021 route unveiled | Cyclingnews

Highlights include an ITT in Katowice, instead of that finish, and - as mentioned in the crash-prevention thread - usage of the new Boplan barriers, and other safety equipment.

This section offers them a breathtaking panorama of the Tatra Mountains in the vicinity of the Tatra National Park and a murderous route.

Stage 4 - Tour de Pologne

www.tourdepologne.pl

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujVMIYzYXg

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Yikes, maybe they should spend less money on balloons and more money on a good PR consulting firm.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yeah... especially with what happened last year, and especially two years ago, it... might not be the best word to use.

 

[BlueRoads]

Why? I think it's called honesty and authenticity.

 

[limak_]

I feel the need to stand up for my country's tour.

In the Polish version of the descreption of this stage (btw the English one is 1:1 translation of Polish text except this one particular word), the word used in the same place as "murderous" is "trudna". Which means exactly and nothing more than "hard".

So I have no fcking idea why in the English version someone used "murderous".

As for the baloons 100% agree. Tour de Pologne is commonly known as Tour de Baloon.

 

[RedheadDane]

So I have no fcking idea why in the English version someone used "murderous".

Google Translate?

 

[limak_]

Google Translate?

No way, even Google Translate isn't that stupid as word "trudna" is as common as "hard" in English.
It must have been intentional but still can't see the reason to add that irrelevant drama in the English version.

 

[RedheadDane]

Here's a quick run-down of the 2021 World's (Elite Men) route:

The men's road race course for the 2021 Worlds is pretty wild - CyclingTips

Just to sum up:

• Down from Antwerp to Leuven.
• 1.5 laps of the Leuven finishing circuit.
• South for one lap of the Flandrien circuit.
• Back to Leuven for four laps of the finishing circuit.
• Back down to the Flandrien circuit for another lap.
• Then back up to Leuven again for another 2.5 laps of the finishing circuit.

 

[spalco]

That's weird as ***, in and out of Leuven 3 times. Also a Flanders WC without a single one of the famous Flandrian bergs? But I suppose it will be challenging enough regardless.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's weird as ***, in and out of Leuven 3 times. Also a Flanders WC without a single one of the famous Flandrian bergs? But I suppose it will be challenging enough regardless.

The biggest challenge will be knowing where they are.

 

[limak_]

All those local town circuits look on the maps more like CX or crit courses. And the most crucial thing is, that the race ends with 2,5 laps (38 km) of one of them.
So actually it's gonna be 5,5 hr of racing with a sub 1 hour CX-like effort at the end.

Needless to say, top 3 of this year's Worlds is already decided

 

[spalco]

Tokyo Olympics are still in doubt, or maybe moreso than a couple weeks ago.

Tokyo Olympics: Asahi Shimbun newspaper says Japan Games must be cancelled

The liberal daily, an official sponsor of the Games, says public health should be a priority while the coronavirus is still spreading See all our coronavirus coverage

www.theguardian.com

 

[BlueRoads]

All those local town circuits look on the maps more like CX or crit courses. And the most crucial thing is, that the race ends with 2,5 laps (38 km) of one of them.
So actually it's gonna be 5,5 hr of racing with a sub 1 hour CX-like effort at the end.

Needless to say, top 3 of this year's Worlds is already decided

Hm, Alaphilippe, van Aert, van der Poel, Pidcock, and Asgreen with the long shot?