General News Thread

[Berniece]

The course and profiles of the 50th Volta Algarve have been released. Wout Van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar and Pidcock are planned to start (PCS) so this should be fun. It'll probably go between Pogacar and Evenepoel, and thanks to that 22km I might think it's more in the favour of Evenepoel.

De Portimão ao Malhão com contrarrelógio em estreia pelo caminho

A 50.ª edição da Volta ao Algarve, na estrada entre 14 e 18 de fevereiro de 2024, começará em Portimão, consagrando os vencedores no alto do Malhão, Loulé. Pelo caminho há um contrarrelógio em Albufeira…

voltaaoalgarve.com

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

 

[Sciatic]

The course and profiles of the 50th Volta Algarve have been released. Wout Van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar and Pidcock are planned to start (PCS) so this should be fun. It'll probably go between Pogacar and Evenepoel, and thanks to that 22km I might think it's more in the favour of Evenepoel.

De Portimão ao Malhão com contrarrelógio em estreia pelo caminho

A 50.ª edição da Volta ao Algarve, na estrada entre 14 e 18 de fevereiro de 2024, começará em Portimão, consagrando os vencedores no alto do Malhão, Loulé. Pelo caminho há um contrarrelógio em Albufeira…

voltaaoalgarve.com

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Made my day a bit brighter realizing it’s only 2 months till we can watch this!

 

[Berniece]

Made my day a bit brighter realizing it’s only 2 months till we can watch this!

Had the same feeling, can't wait until the season starts.

 

[Rob5091]

Hats off to the Tro-Bro Leon poster maker - love the flying pig!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732529897698935157

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1732529897698935157

 

[RedheadDane]

Hats off to the Tro-Bro Leon poster maker - love the flying pig!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732529897698935157

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1732529897698935157

Are they expecting Madouas to show up with a sword?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Are they expecting Madouas to show up with a sword?

Perhaps Démare will loan him his recently acquired Excalibur.

 

[Sciatic]

Perhaps Démare will loan him his recently acquired Excalibur.

Swords appear to be the theme for this coming season.

 

[rallybanana]

Hats off to the Tro-Bro Leon poster maker - love the flying pig!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732529897698935157

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1732529897698935157

The poster for the canceled covid race also had a flying pig.

 

[Izzyeviel]

I'm expecting some quality puns from Kirby next season.

'& its Guilliume Martin & the philosophers attacked!' (or dropped like a goblet of fire...)

 

[Sciatic]

I'm expecting some quality puns from Kirby next season.

'& its Guilliume Martin & the philosophers attacked!' (or dropped like a goblet of fire...)

That’s pretty awesome though.

 

[Sciatic]

I'm expecting some quality puns from Kirby next season.

'& its Guilliume Martin & the philosophers attacked!' (or dropped like a goblet of fire...)

I think any race commentator will have some humorous bit if they get a shot of Martin and Pozzovivo chatting together in the peloton. Though I’m not not sure Pozzo will have a team this year?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Kirby hasn't already realised that GM is an amateur philosopher, I don't think he ever will. People have previously posted on here that his writing isn't very good (that's been said about GM's works as well).

 

[RedheadDane]

If Kirby hasn't already realised that GM is an amateur philosopher, I don't think he ever will. People have previously posted on here that his writing isn't very good (that's been said about GM's works as well).

What do you mean "amateur"? He literally has Master's Degree and has written an award winning book!

 

[Izzyeviel]

What do you mean "amateur"? He literally has Master's Degree and has written an award winning book!

we all know real philosophers don't have the time to write a book as they're too busy philosophing.

 

[Rob5091]

Want to be part of a pro-team? Now is your chance!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...nd-fail-than-to-have-no-regrets-all-your-life

Pierre-Luc Périchon has just concluded his career as a professional cyclist, but the 37-years-old Frenchman has no plans of sitting still for the time being. In fact, Périchon appears to be working on a futuristic project, which should lead to the birth of a new team if everything goes well.

"I have many ideas," DirectVelo reports Périchon's words. "And I have outlined an initial economic plan. I'm giving myself a year: the goal is to start on January 1, 2025, with a team with a Professional license.

"The underlying idea is that of an innovative reality, which can also be supported by individuals, through the form of collective financing. The first person interested in a cycling team is the cycling enthusiast and I would like to give these enthusiasts the opportunity to be even closer to their heroes."

There's a lot of tin pot dictators left out there who can sponsor a team for some sportswashing, Kim Jung Un, some Afircan military guys, Burmese military, the Chinese (China, now there's a cycling nation!), the crypto guys and gals, lots of people!

 

[firefly3323]

Want to be part of a pro-team? Now is your chance!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...nd-fail-than-to-have-no-regrets-all-your-life

There's a lot of tin pot dictators left out there who can sponsor a team for some sportswashing, Kim Jung Un, some Afircan military guys, Burmese military, the Chinese (China, now there's a cycling nation!), the crypto guys and gals, lots of people!

Team Trump?

 

[Rob5091]

Team Trump?

Trump has no money and he would want to be the star rider anyway.

 

[Aimar16]

What a joke suspension of only 25 days and basically during the offseason - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/uc...-gils-at-the-japan-cup/1bJx8cARJ6cdWhlXn28ThQ

 

[Samamba]

What a joke suspension of only 25 days and basically during the offseason - https://www.uci.org/pressrelease/uc...-gils-at-the-japan-cup/1bJx8cARJ6cdWhlXn28ThQ

It's 25 days more than anyone else who punched someone before (like Molano in the Dauphiné in 2022) so I really don't know what you're saying. It starts jan 2Oth so it's also not in the off season.

It's also 25 days more than the one who did the initial (probably even more) dangerous behavior.

 

[Netserk]

Paris-Nice 2024 route has been announced, and it's great!

H/t @ammattipyoraily

 

[Rob5091]

Thanks for the Paris-Nice route! The official website has some more info in English at
https://www.paris-nice.fr/en/
(I've got to run out and put my few centimes on Ineos in the TTT, it's the first across the line experiment again)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

If the TTT was an ITT, it would be close to perfect. Still a good route, though, and if the presence of Auron says anything about any plans for the Tour that would be the icing on the cake.

 

[ashhutch1997]

If the TTT was an ITT, it would be close to perfect. Still a good route, though, and if the presence of Auron says anything about any plans for the Tour that would be the icing on the cake.

Agreed, hopefully they are testing it like they did with the Col de la Couillole. It's just ashame they aren't using it this year as that would've worked so well instead of Isola 2000.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The route for the first RCS run edition of the women's Giro has also been revealed today.
The main highlights are the opening 14.6 km ITT in Brescia, an 11 km finishing climb on day 3 and the Passo Lanciano-Blockhaus combo on the penultimate stage.

It's of course still a shame there's only 8 stages, but overall it isn't too bad IMO.

 

[Aimar16]

It's 25 days more than anyone else who punched someone before (like Molano in the Dauphiné in 2022) so I really don't know what you're saying. It starts jan 2Oth so it's also not in the off season.

It's also 25 days more than the one who did the initial (probably even more) dangerous behavior.

Just because others have received a leniency or no punishment does not mean it is not a joke punishment. Hitting someone should be unacceptable, and if there were much harsher punishments, it would happen less often. What was his racing schedule? To miss a lower catagory one-week race in early February is not really a punishment and certainly not the highlight of the season.