General News Thread

[Unchained]

if the female peloton had their own races and their own organisers and without any crosssubsidy , they could have their races whenever and however they please

You know... somehow I don't think ASO would allow another organiser to have their own Paris-Roubaix, and the women - understandably - also want to be able to ride.
Besides, you'd think ASO would be proud of the fact that they're hosting two major races - and two youth category races - so why are they acting like they're only hosting one major race, while treating the women's race like it's secondary?
It's rather hard to feel sorry for them for the fact that there's an overlap - with all the organisational challenges that's gonna bring - when they brought that upon themselves.

They spent money for the branding rights and TV broadcast rights, if they were to allow another promoter to do women's events, it could work, but 99% likely not, there is so little left over that if ASO said we will go 50\50 on profit, standalone female race promoter wouldn't have much,
Government is a major issue with all these races, ambulance, police, road closures, traffic control ,extra security are hard resources to double, easier to just have slight crossover while everything is in place.
I find the idea of female events as stand alone races sounds great, but they don't make the money, don't have same sponsorship draw as men's events.. They are already battling for the same people to fund the races.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Could it be as simple as changing the running order.
This year it was juniors, u23's, senior men and then women. Drop one of the younger age groups, which are not televised, in between the men and women.
Generally in life if you take no for an answer there is a solution.

 

[search]

Could it be as simple as changing the running order.
This year it was juniors, u23's, senior men and then women. Drop one of the younger age groups, which are not televised, in between the men and women.
Generally in life if you take no for an answer there is a solution.

I don't think there is much room for a later finish. The women's race was over around 6:30 or so, as far as I recall? And nor will they want the men's broadcast window to change significantly.

 

[RedheadDane]

Could it be as simple as changing the running order.
This year it was juniors, u23's, senior men and then women. Drop one of the younger age groups, which are not televised, in between the men and women.
Generally in life if you take no for an answer there is a solution.

Except, the younger age groups are televised - well, were; they aren't being televised now - on YouTube. First together, then just the U23 race.
How hard could it have been to use that same stream for the women's race?


(But hopefully next year they have realised what a big mistake this was.)

 

[YavorD]

As reported in Italian here https://cyclingpro.net/spaziociclis...iportato-davanti-andavamo-15-km-h-piu-veloce/

Naah, if they were going 15 kilometres faster, a gap of 1 minute would've been closed in how much? 4 kilometres?
It wasn't, so I don't buy this. Unless in reality the gap was 3 minutes.

Well, maybe they were totally sandbagging riding 35-ish before Pogacar joined?

 

[Netserk]

Naah, if they were going 15 kilometres faster, a gap of 1 minute would've been closed in how much? 4 kilometres?
It wasn't, so I don't buy this. Unless in reality the gap was 3 minutes.

Well, maybe they were totally sandbagging riding 35-ish before Pogacar joined?

the inside view from the peloton can be quite ignorant

most of the change in speed ( would be nice if he actually quoted the relevant parts of his data file instead of going off by his impression ) is obviously from greater power at the front of the group . and to help them get back to the peloton you have to account not just for the draft they get from motos but the difference in draft compared to what the front group gets

some things are just better seen from the sofa than on the bike

 

[pastronef]

Soudal will ride MERIDA bikes from 2027. Specialized's contract ends this year

 

[Wyndbrook]

Soudal will ride MERIDA bikes from 2027. Specialized's contract ends this year

Still keeping it in the family I guess, I believe Merida own 40%+ of Spec.
No Remco I guess.