Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11

[Krzysztof_O]

UAE are so overpowered that Sivakov is the second weakest climber in the 7 rider team and yet would be the team leader on at least 9 of the other teams competing.

Yeah, UAE is taking this one seriously. It's not Pogacar who needs such a massive support: it's Majka. UAE is preparing a gift for Rafał at the end of his career. Pogi will be the last superdom and they will shake hands at the line 5 minutes ahead of Remco.

 

[Tim Cahill]

There's always a chance, it's still cycling

 

[burning]

I want a 2001 Roubaix style win, but with Majka being Knaven, Pogacar being Museeuw and Del Toro winning the sprint for 3rd 5 mins later.

 

[James M]

We finally have a startlist out now and it’s actually a pretty decent one. Of course there a few riding who are names for this terrain but in no kind of form worthy of even spouting that they are there.

UAE are so overpowered that Sivakov is the second weakest climber in the 7 rider team and yet would be the team leader on at least 9 of the other teams competing.

Soudal have a decent squad of in form riders around Remco with only the injured Van Wilder missing.

Leaders need to go in the early break and be willing to risk a DNF than settle for waiting for the move from Pogacar.

- Will the prince podium a long monument and how does he do against Remco, Healy, and most of the main protagonist in these races(besides Ciccone)

- Will Pogacar lift his bike over his head again at the line and thereby make De Vlaeminck have a tantrum and choke on his own meds again when the chosen one type history?

 

[Potomac]

I demand a poll asking people would they accept Pog winning if they could go on a date with Margot Robbie.

I'm worried she would keep following me around once I was done with her.
She might be a bunny boiler. Who knows?

 

[peterfin]

With UAE so strong, Pogacar will wait longer to attack so we can at least watch the race a bit longer than usual. On the other hand, it's also good if he decides to go 80 km from the finish. It frees up 2 hours to do something useful. So I am still in doubt if a strong UAE team adds value.

 

[Cycling111]

I don't understand the insistence of some people saying theywon't watch a race.
If they think a race is boring and unimportant, how much do you think people care if they don't watch a race?
I don't understand this need to announce in every thread that they won't be watching a race and three times. Don't watch it.

 

[Cycling111]

Only goes to show that when victories are completely guaranteed and given, they cease to have meaning.

So the Vueltas that Roglic has won have no meaning because he was an ultra favorite.
Whether Duplantis competes in a competition is irrelevantand, so on in most individual sports

That's what individual high-level sports are like; in 90% of cases, the best win.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I don't understand the insistence of some people saying theywon't watch a race.
If they think a race is boring and unimportant, how much do you think people care if they don't watch a race?
I don't understand this need to announce in every thread that they won't be watching a race and three times. Don't watch it.

I'm just sharing my opinion about the race, which is exactly what this forum is for. I love I'l Lombardia, one the most beautiful races of the year, but we are basically going to get the exact same race for the third week running. But I certainly don't think the race isn't important.

 

[Heston]

I don't understand the insistence of some people saying theywon't watch a race.
If they think a race is boring and unimportant, how much do you think people care if they don't watch a race?
I don't understand this need to announce in every thread that they won't be watching a race and three times. Don't watch it.

Its a forum. Nobody's opinion here really matters, but the point is for people to share their opinions. By your logic no one should post anything here.

This is genuinely looking like the least exciting monument of all time. Pogacar is at 1.15 odds at the bookmakers.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Its a forum. Nobody's opinion here really matters, but the point is for people to share their opinions. By your logic no one should post anything here.

This is genuinely looking like the least exciting monument of all time. Pogacar is at 1.15 odds at the bookmakers.

Well said.

 

[James M]

I don't understand the insistence of some people saying theywon't watch a race.

My guess its a defense mechanism and part of the third steps in the stages of grief. Considering the same guys said the same after TDF 24 but yet here they are. Considering the state of things, I’d let them grieve in peace.

And keep in mind, boys, Im just addressing the point that they need to point out they wont watch, not that they have a different opinion or dislike the dominance and greatness, which is completely fair and subjective.

 

[ashhutch1997]

My guess its a defense mechanism and part of the third steps in the stages of grief. Considering the same guys said the same after TDF 24 but yet here they are. Considering the state of things, I’d let them grieve in peace.

And keep in mind, boys, Im just addressing the point that they need to point out they wont watch, not that they have a different opinion or dislike the dominance and greatness, which is completely fair and subjective.

If its me you are referring to, I literally said this is the first time in my life I will not be watching a race, never said I wouldn't watch a race before today.

 

[peterfin]

My guess its a defense mechanism and part of the third steps in the stages of grief. Considering the same guys said the same after TDF 24 but yet here they are. Considering the state of things, I’d let them grieve in peace.

And keep in mind, boys, Im just addressing the point that they need to point out they wont watch, not that they have a different opinion or dislike the dominance and greatness, which is completely fair and subjective.

Cycling is entertainment. Posting here is entertainment too. So I don't see what grief has to do with it? The issue is that the entertainment value of the race is rather low now. Luckily posting here partly makes up for the loss!

 

[James M]

If its me you are referring to, I literally said this is the first time in my life I will not be watching a race, never said I wouldn't watch a race before today.

I was talking in general since I can recall its been announced before by others in different scenarios and often by the same persons.

Cycling is entertainment. Posting here is entertainment too. So I don't see what grief has to do with it? The issue is that the entertainment value of the race is rather low now. Luckily posting here partly makes up for the loss!

Sure it can, I get that. It was just a guess as to why the need to announce wont watch to fastforward a few months and say the same, its rather peculiar that part to me, nothing else. Its nothing wrong with it either.

 

[Cycling111]

Cycling is a professional sport, and in professional sports, the best try to win. In reality, high-level sports aren't meant to be entertaining. Whether or not this is entertaining will always be secondary; the athlete is thinking about winning.

Duplantis breaks records to be the best as a professional athlete; whether others enjoy themselves or not is secondary

Those whose goal is to entertain and enjoy above all else are arts like film and music. The athlete who trains and sacrifices part of their life has the goal of winning.

In any case, if one person isn't interested in a race, imagine how interested the rest of us are when several people tell us at every race that they won't watcg it. And even less so when they sometimes seem to be trying to convince others. If they don't like it, don't watch it; I don't care. I don't understand this eagerness to announce at every race that they won't watch it.
In the end, those comments talking about boredom are more boring.

I'm not going to judge who talks about boredom and deep down wants their favorite cyclist to do the same.
That, obviously, is something else.

 

[peterfin]

Cycling is a professional sport, and in professional sports, the best try to win. In reality, high-level sports aren't meant to be entertaining. Whether or not this is entertaining will always be secondary; the athlete is thinking about winning.

Duplantis breaks records to be the best as a professional athlete; whether others enjoy themselves or not is secondary

Those whose goal is to entertain and enjoy above all else are arts like film and music. The athlete who trains and sacrifices part of their life has the goal of winning.

In any case, if one person isn't interested in a race, imagine how interested the rest of us are when several people tell us at every race that they won't watcg it. And even less so when they sometimes seem to be trying to convince others. If you don't like it, don't watch it; I don't care. I don't understand this eagerness to announce at every race that they won't watch it.

It's not at all entertainment for the athlete but it is entertainment for us, the spectator. There is no utility in watching a race unless you use it for something else (writing a blog, learning something ...). You could argue that we use it at least for something: discussions with people we do not know personally. So some of us may actually learn something.

 

[Cycling111]

Its a forum. Nobody's opinion here really matters, but the point is for people to share their opinions. By your logic no one should post anything here.

This is genuinely looking like the least exciting monument of all time. Pogacar is at 1.15 odds at the bookmakers.

It's a cycling forum where some people tell us not to watch cycling .

And as you've said, I've also given my opinion.We mostly read the same thing in these threads, so I've decided to give a different opinion than the usual "boring or don't watch it".

During the World Championships, someone said he didn't post during races when the same people started talking about boredom. Several of us decided not to do it. In the end, those of us who watch the races are the ones who comment on them the least for that reason.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

My guess its a defense mechanism and part of the third steps in the stages of grief. Considering the same guys said the same after TDF 24 but yet here they are. Considering the state of things, I’d let them grieve in peace.

And keep in mind, boys, Im just addressing the point that they need to point out they wont watch, not that they have a different opinion or dislike the dominance and greatness, which is completely fair and subjective.

If there’s no tension about who’s going to win, there’s no reason to watch this race vs. random video footage of Pogi riding his bike. Or old videos of races that had suspense, attacks, counterattacks, tactics beyond attack and ride solo to the finish. This has nothing to do with liking Pogacar or not. I happen to like him but will check pcs and if he’s away solo with 50km to go will likely not turn it on.

Cycling is a professional sport, and in professional sports, the best try to win. In reality, high-level sports aren't meant to be entertaining. Whether or not this is entertaining will always be secondary; the athlete is thinking about winning.

Duplantis breaks records to be the best as a professional athlete; whether others enjoy themselves or not is secondary

Those whose goal is to entertain and enjoy above all else are arts like film and music. The athlete who trains and sacrifices part of their life has the goal of winning.

In any case, if one person isn't interested in a race, imagine how interested the rest of us are when several people tell us at every race that they won't watcg it. And even less so when they sometimes seem to be trying to convince others. If they don't like it, don't watch it; I don't care. I don't understand this eagerness to announce at every race that they won't watch it.
In the end, those comments talking about boredom are more boring.

I'm not going to judge who talks about boredom and deep down wants their favorite cyclist to do the same.
That, obviously, is something else.

These statements have nothing to do with each other. Of course the athlete is trying to win, although savvy athletes recognize they are dependent on viewers and sponsors and keep that in mind. Sport’s primary function is to entertain. People watch because it is entertaining. Sponsors throw dollars at it because viewers watch it. If it didn’t serve as entertainment, all the money would dry up and it would be reduced to the level of a local crit, where, as far as I can tell, even riders’ girlfriends don’t bother attending.

 

[Cycling111]

Entertainment is also subjective. For some of us, the Sky team Tour de France era or Roglic's multiple hill sprints don't seem like the most entertaining thing in the world, but some people yearn for them.
What is objective is that this year's audiences have increased in France, especially in Roubaix, Dauphin, Flanders, and the Tour de France .

The most ironic thing of all is that without Pogacar, there would be three other riders sweeping the Tour and the Monuments. In 2024, without him, MVDP did it, and Remco in Liège, who hasn't been there, and Vingegaard would have won this Tour with Lipowitz by a distance.

 

[Berniece]

The most ironic thing of all is that without Pogacar, there would be three other riders sweeping the Tour and the Monuments. In 2024, without him, MVDP did it, and Remco in Liège, who hasn't been there, and Vingegaard would have won this Tour with Lipowitz by a distance.

Indeed, more exciting

 

[Ancalagon]

Some of the best races this year were exciting because of Pogacar — MSR especially, which in my opinion was the best major race of the season. Paris–Roubaix and Flanders were also pretty good, with Pogi as the main animator, and Strade Bianche too.


Unfortunately, Il Lombardia might end up being pretty dull, just like the Worlds and the European Championships were. But honestly, I can’t blame Pogacar for that — he’s just doing what every pro cyclist (and every pro athlete) is supposed to do: try to win.


If the races are boring, it’s not on him — it’s on the competition for not being strong enough to make it a real fight.

 

[Cycling111]

Some of the best races this year were exciting because of Pogacar — MSR especially, which in my opinion was the best major race of the season. Paris–Roubaix and Flanders were also pretty good, with Pogi as the main animator, and Strade Bianche too.


Unfortunately, Il Lombardia might end up being pretty dull, just like the Worlds and the European Championships were. But honestly, I can’t blame Pogacar for that — he’s just doing what every pro cyclist (and every pro athlete) is supposed to do: try to win.


If the races are boring, it’s not on him — it’s on the competition for not being strong enough to make it a real fight.

Roubaix without Pogacar would have been like in 2024, a 60-kilometer MVDP solo.

And he's definitely turned MSR into one of the most exciting races of the year. Perhaps younger don't remember what MSR has been like for many yearr . The word boredom was associated with that race; now it's a highly anticipated race.
Also because they want to see him lose .

 

[Unchained]

If there’s no tension about who’s going to win, there’s no reason to watch this race vs. random video footage of Pogi riding his bike. Or old videos of races that had suspense, attacks, counterattacks, tactics beyond attack and ride solo to the finish. This has nothing to do with liking Pogacar or not. I happen to like him but will check pcs and if he’s away solo with 50km to go will likely not turn it on.

These statements have nothing to do with each other. Of course the athlete is trying to win, although savvy athletes recognize they are dependent on viewers and sponsors and keep that in mind. Sport’s primary function is to entertain. People watch because it is entertaining. Sponsors throw dollars at it because viewers watch it. If it didn’t serve as entertainment, all the money would dry up and it would be reduced to the level of a local crit, where, as far as I can tell, even riders’ girlfriends don’t bother attending.

Best post ever. And yes wives, girlfriends, family, friends have a hard time showing up to, another industrial park to watch a bunch of guys go in what seems like circles.. And field sprint.
I think that they are going to force Pogacar to ride a heavy beach bike with a basket and balloon tires..coaster brake, tassels on the handlebars..
And if he is required to race a PeeWee Herman replica those will sell out.. Or mine will go up in value.

 

[hayneplane]

I'm worried she would keep following me around once I was done with her.
She might be a bunny boiler. Who knows?

It’s a chance I am willing to take the risk with