General News Thread

[tobydawq]

Met of zonder Tour de France; OneCycling wil competitie in 2026 al starten

Special De belangrijkste initiatiefnemers achter OneCycling zijn overtuigd dat in 2026 de grootste hervorming uit de geschiedenis van het professionele wielrennen definitief van start gaat. “Het is de bedoeling dat de stakeholders het contract in maart tekenen. Dan kunnen we het plan eindelijk...

www.wielerflits.nl

Cycling is about to die a painful death.

Hmmm. Every time I hear about it, it sounds less disruptive.

I am optimistic by nature I know, but I fail to see why the things said in this article would be so bad. All races will remain, Grand Tours at the same length. It's definitely not great that one-week races will be reduced to six days, but the death of cycling? I don't know about that. A closed party without the possibility of relegation sounds dumb too. It also doesn't sound like everything will be circuit races, thank God.

I just don't think this will really be all that different as to what we're used to. It certainly will not be anything like formula 1...

But the teams only get one million dollars a year for this? What's all the fuss about then?

I still look forward to the big reveal with much trepidation but I am a little less worried than I was at some point.

 

[tobydawq]

Amstel goes back to having Cauberg on the penultimate kilometre. Why the hell would they do that??

 

[Netserk]

Amstel goes back to having Cauberg on the penultimate kilometre. Why the hell would they do that??

Sigh. They had the perfect finale that worked exactly as it should.

 

[Tim Cahill]

El maillot arcoíris, en peligro: el Parlamento Europeo pide la suspensión del Mundial de Ruanda | Relevo

El Parlamento Europeo levanta la voz de alarma con la cita mundialista. Pogacar, vigente campeón, Vingegaard y Evenepoel son los principales candidatos al título en la prueba en ruta.

www.relevo.com

The European Parliament has called for the suspension of the World Cycling Championships in Rwanda.

 

[Berniece]

Amstel goes back to having Cauberg on the penultimate kilometre. Why the hell would they do that??

Race director Leo van Vliet said the following:

With the type of riders who nowadays start a finale many kilometres from the end and then also the climb of the Cauberg less than 2 kilometres from the end, we expect another thrilling finale. A finale that the public in Valkenburg and on the Cauberg will experience up close.

I don't really see this as a proper explanation. Not sure how this will make sure there's more excitement.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is the most if it ain't broke, don't fix it moment since they made Milano-Torino an early season sprint race. Idiots.

 

[SafeBet]

This is the most if it ain't broke, don't fix it moment since they made Milano-Torino an early season sprint race. Idiots.

Not this year though. Superga is back!

 

[Gratemans]

This is the most if it ain't broke, don't fix it moment since they made Milano-Torino an early season sprint race. Idiots.

It's even worse: it was broke, they fixed it, and now they broke it again.
Ffs.

 

[Sciatic]

It's even worse: it was broke, they fixed it, and now they broke it again.
Ffs.

This perspective only applies to spectators at the race: it’s quite the spectacle for fans on the Cauberg when the finish is at the top. Yes folks can still see the riders make the climb earlier in the race, but the intensity when it’s the finale is amazing. But the way bike racing has evolved the recent routes seem to provide better racing for those of us watching from afar.

 

[Gigs_98]

Nobody hates cycling as much as race organizers

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

It's even worse: it was broke, they fixed it, and now they broke it again.
Ffs.

Whereas Milan-Torino wasn't broken, then was, then they fixed it, broke it again, and now they have fixed it again.

 

[pastronef]

Whereas Milan-Torino wasn't broken, then was, then they fixed it, broke it again, and now they have fixed it again.

first memories of Milano-Torino I have is 1994, rolling terrain, they rode 1 km from my home, and climbed a different side of Superga and arrived at the Turin velodrome.
in 2002 it was raining, Zulle stopped to pee 20 meters from where I stood, despite the helmet and jacket I spotted him and shouted "aupa Alex!" he smiled, quite surprised

 

[Red Rick]

Milano Torino isn't quite fixed if you look at the date and the teams participating.

 

[Samamba]

Milano Torino isn't quite fixed if you look at the date and the teams participating.

I was just gonna say. Just looks like a cheap way to get points for certain teams. Nothing "fixed" about that.

 

[Red Rick]

I was just gonna say. Just looks like a cheap way to get points for certain teams. Nothing "fixed" about that.

It looks like a 1-5 for UAE

 

[Samamba]

It looks like a 1-5 for UAE

UAE are points hunters too
Astana probably goes there with Scaroni, Champoussin, Ulissi, Fortuno, etc.

 

[Netserk]

Eikenberg returns to E3, otherwise the route is the same, including the downhill approach to Kanarieberg (where Van Aert crashed in Dwars last year and which has been removed from this year's edition of that race).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894089503679103399

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1894089503679103399

 

[Berniece]

El maillot arcoíris, en peligro: el Parlamento Europeo pide la suspensión del Mundial de Ruanda | Relevo

El Parlamento Europeo levanta la voz de alarma con la cita mundialista. Pogacar, vigente campeón, Vingegaard y Evenepoel son los principales candidatos al título en la prueba en ruta.

www.relevo.com

The European Parliament has called for the suspension of the World Cycling Championships in Rwanda.

And now Lappartient says there is no Plan B... Then start working on one. It's February, I'm pretty sure that you can arrange something if needed. Maybe pick up the phone and call race organisers who already have a connection with municipalities. As if Flanders Classics & Belgium wouldn't be able to provide you a Plan B.

'There is no plan B' for Rwanda World Championships - David Lappartient interview

Speaking exclusively to Cyclingnews, Lappartient talks about African cycling, women's cycling and the controversies surrounding the World Championships

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Devil's Elbow]

And now Lappartient says there is no Plan B... Then start working on one. It's February, I'm pretty sure that you can arrange something if needed. Maybe pick up the phone and call race organisers who already have a connection with municipalities. As if Flanders Classics & Belgium wouldn't be able to provide you a Plan B.

'There is no plan B' for Rwanda World Championships - David Lappartient interview

Speaking exclusively to Cyclingnews, Lappartient talks about African cycling, women's cycling and the controversies surrounding the World Championships

www.cyclingnews.com

You really need to learn to not take everything that's said in this sport at face value...

In this case, the UCI are contractually bound to Rwanda so long as there isn't the legal cover to move the Worlds elsewhere, and so they also aren't openly going to admit to a plan B at this time. Yes, they'll want to stick to plan A if possible because $$$, but not even the UCI are stupid enough to think there is a 100% chance of Rwanda going ahead, and hence I don't even remotely buy the idea that they have zero contingency plans.

Also, the Imola Worlds were set up at much shorter notice than this, so even if they don't have a fixed alternative location at this stage that doesn't mean we should be overly worried.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Underlying issue is Lappartient will want to stick to Rwanda, because he is a corrupt melon and only out for personal gain. Lapparient is relying heavily on the African vote to become IOC president, thus won’t take away their shiny new toy until things get really out of hand, as doing so would hurt him personally. Someone will have to show up to the races wearing a bomb belt for Lappartient, and thus the UCI, to take action.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Frank Dingenen died today, he wasn't a cyclist but for the dutchies and flemish people or people who want to hear a catchy tune. He did write "Allez Maurice". A song about a rider from the second line in the times of Planckaert, Vanderaerden, Vanderpoel and Lieckens.

Inspirations for the song were Maurice Dewaele (TDF 29) and Marc Demeyer (PR 76). Guys who always seemed to attract bad luck.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJmsS5ASOEA

 

[Squire]

You really need to learn to not take everything that's said in this sport at face value...

In this case, the UCI are contractually bound to Rwanda so long as there isn't the legal cover to move the Worlds elsewhere, and so they also aren't openly going to admit to a plan B at this time. Yes, they'll want to stick to plan A if possible because $$$, but not even the UCI are stupid enough to think there is a 100% chance of Rwanda going ahead, and hence I don't even remotely buy the idea that they have zero contingency plans.

Also, the Imola Worlds were set up at much shorter notice than this, so even if they don't have a fixed alternative location at this stage that doesn't mean we should be overly worried.

Very much this. Also, admitting to having a plan B already will make it much easier for media, riders, federations etc. to put pressure on UCI to move the WC. But as you say, there's no way they haven't thought of any contingency plans.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Frank Dingenen died today, he wasn't a cyclist but for the dutchies and flemish people or people who want to hear a catchy tune. He did write "Allez Maurice". A song about a rider from the second line in the times of Planckaert, Vanderaerden, Vanderpoel and Lieckens.

Inspirations for the song were Maurice Dewaele (TDF 29) and Marc Demeyer (PR 76). Guys who always seemed to attract bad luck.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJmsS5ASOEA

I'm not familiar with the song and Frank Dingenen, and Google translate gave me a fairly questionable lyrics translation, but I think I get the gist of the song by just watching the people in the vid - seems like fun while also acknowledging the rather dramatic frustration of the rider. Do spectators familiar with the song sing it at races?

Thanks for posting this and RIP Frank Dingenen.

 

[Berniece]

You really need to learn to not take everything that's said in this sport at face value...

In this case, the UCI are contractually bound to Rwanda so long as there isn't the legal cover to move the Worlds elsewhere, and so they also aren't openly going to admit to a plan B at this time. Yes, they'll want to stick to plan A if possible because $$$, but not even the UCI are stupid enough to think there is a 100% chance of Rwanda going ahead, and hence I don't even remotely buy the idea that they have zero contingency plans.

Also, the Imola Worlds were set up at much shorter notice than this, so even if they don't have a fixed alternative location at this stage that doesn't mean we should be overly worried.

Reason why I took it at face value is because I don't keep the UCI in high regards. I wouldn't be surprised if this would actually be the case.

 

[Netserk]

Reason why I took it at face value is because I don't keep the UCI in high regards. I wouldn't be surprised if this would actually be the case.

It was rumoured weeks ago that the original 2020 route was a back-up, but until it has been officially decided as the contingency plan, the official position of a political organ like the UCI can only be that they have no (official) Plan B. That's just how politics works.