Itzulia Basque Country 2023 (April 3-8)

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Apr 30, 2011
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While we didn't see any images of Dennis, there was an extra Jumbo bike on the road when Leemreize crashed, so I think Dennis also crashed then.
 
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KZD

Feb 21, 2019
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Vingegård with a deserved win but a shame for Landa once again.

One trend that has really been emerging over the end few years is that the best GC riders monopolise the wins. 5 or 10 years ago it were sprinters like Cav, Greipel or Kittel that got 15 wins or even more in a good season but last years Pogačar, Roglič and Remco were at least once above 10 wins in a single season, with Pogačar reaching 16 last year and the trend seems to be even stronger this season with Vingegård likely surpassing 10 wins as well.

Even though we have been witnessing some great performances by these top GC riders in the last seasons things have become more predictable in stage races and I feel for the second tier GC riders like Mas, Yates or Landa that are now barely able to win at all despite being in fine shape too.
 
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Jul 15, 2021
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Vingegård with a deserved win but a shame for Landa once again.

One trend that has really been emerging over the end few years is that the best GC riders monopolise the wins. 5 or 10 years ago it were sprinters like Cav, Greipel or Kittel that got 15 wins or even more in a good season but last years Pogačar, Roglič and Remco were at least once above 10 wins in a single season, with Pogačar reaching 16 last year and the trend seems to be even stronger this season with Vingegård likely surpassing 10 wins as well.

Even though we have been witnessing some great performances by these top GC riders in the last seasons things have become more predictable in stage races and I feel for the second tier GC riders like Mas, Yates or Landa that are now barely able to win at all despite being in fine shape too.
While I agree, let's just be thankful there's three of 'em instead of just one guy.
 
Jul 15, 2021
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I like the guy. He is a offensive rider and it appears to be a humble, discrete, a guy with a small ego.
I gotta admit this season he seems to be riding a bit more adventurous and with some grinta, and yes, he's humble (Which is not necessarily a plus for me. That's a whole other discussion though)
What really infuriates me for some reason is how he always has to call his gf immediately after a race. I don't know if it's a PR thing (look at me being the wholesome familyman!) or he really feels the need to talk to her and it can't wait a minute longer: both reasons equally annoy me.
 
Aug 3, 2015
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I'd much rather watch Evenepoel, Pogacar, Roglic and Vingegaard fighting over these stage races than watching Gaudu, Simon Yates, Landa and what not fight it out. But you gotta cash in when they are not there, races like Romandie and Tour de Suisse are often not that contested!
 
Aug 3, 2015
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I gotta admit this season he seems to be riding a bit more adventurous and with some grinta, and yes, he's humble (Which is not necessarily a plus for me. That's a whole other discussion though)
What really infuriates me for some reason is how he always has to call his gf immediately after a race. I don't know if it's a PR thing (look at me being the wholesome familyman!) or he really feels the need to talk to her and it can't wait a minute longer: both reasons make me equally annoyed.
Its definitely not a PR stunt, and yes, it is a bit annoying (or rather weird) to me as well. Vingegaard is not really a champion of the people, he reminds me a bit of Chris Froome in the sense that comes across as such a nice and gentle guy that can't say or do anything bad, but it comes a bit too robotic - both off and on the bike.

Well, most Danes obviously really like him and he has a lot of support, but cmon, everyone would be liked in Denmark if they won the Tour. Its especially the July-watching female segment that really tend to like him also off the bike for probably the same reasons that many people on this forum doesn't really like him a lot.

Personally, he's a bit vanilla and I dont really like his racing style, but I'll still root for him in July (mainly cause of my passport, because I like Pogacar as well - honestly, I just hope for a good duel again).

Edit: Rasmussen on the other hand. He was strange, a lot more strange than Vingegaard, but he was everything but ordinary or vanilla off the bike. Still blame Rabobank to this day.
 
Jul 18, 2020
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I gotta admit this season he seems to be riding a bit more adventurous and with some grinta, and yes, he's humble (Which is not necessarily a plus for me. That's a whole other discussion though)
What really infuriates me for some reason is how he always has to call his gf immediately after a race. I don't know if it's a PR thing (look at me being the wholesome familyman!) or he really feels the need to talk to her and it can't wait a minute longer: both reasons equally annoy me.
It could be also to see if his kid is fine. He had some familiar problems before PN.
 
Jul 15, 2021
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Its definitely not a PR stunt, and yes, it is a bit annoying (or rather weird) to me as well. Vingegaard is not really a champion of the people, he reminds me a bit of Chris Froome in the sense that comes across as such a nice and gentle guy that can't say or do anything bad, but it comes a bit too robotic - both off and on the bike.

Well, most Danes obviously really like him and he has a lot of support, but cmon, everyone would be liked in Denmark if they won the Tour. Its especially the July-watching female segment that really tend to like him also off the bike for probably the same reasons that many people on this forum doesn't really like him a lot.

Personally, he's a bit vanilla and I dont really like his racing style, but I'll still root for him in July (mainly cause of my passport, because I like Pogacar as well - honestly, I just hope for a good duel again).

Edit: Rasmussen on the other hand. He was strange, a lot more strange than Vingegaard, but he was everything but ordinary or vanilla off the bike. Still blame Rabobank to this day.
Agreed on everything. Except that I don't really root for him (or against him). And that while he resembles Froome in a lot of ways, he doesn't nearly ride his bike as ugly. Then again, 98% of the peloton look better on a bike than Froome. But a Contador or Mathieu, Jonas clearly is not :laughing:

It could be also to see if his kid is fine. He had some familiar problems before PN.

Fair enough. Just tell him not to make a habit out of it will you?
 
Aug 3, 2015
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He's definitely not an Alberto Contador, Van der Poel or even Andy Schleck. Definitely not an aesthetic pleasing rider to watch, much like his personality and he way he approaches races, its bland.

But who cares (apart from us weirdos on a cycling forum), it all gets the job done. But its quite hard to get fully behind him as much as I want to really root for a successful danish rider in TdF. Guess Im rather neutral when it comes to him and the current generation of danish riders - for example, I'd rather watch one of the big 3 winning Flanders than the danish riders upsetting the race.
 
Jul 15, 2021
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I do have a soft spot for Pedersen. He's incredibly strong (again) this season and up there all the time, but for some reason Paris-Roubaix and Mads just don't seem to get along.
 
Even though we have been witnessing some great performances by these top GC riders in the last seasons things have become more predictable in stage races and I feel for the second tier GC riders like Mas, Yates or Landa that are now barely able to win at all despite being in fine shape too.


Agree with this...I dont need to see the top 6 (whoever they all maybe be ) in every race to make it feel like a great race

What I need is attaking racing where 2 or 3 riders are neck and neck ...I couldnt care less if the are pushing 7W/Kg or 6W/Kg,,,,,,that doesnt make a race

That is why I deplore comments on here saying a race isnt good enough unless Pog , Remco or Vinge are in it

It would be nice to see some of the others slog it out between them from time to time

But Landa went to SKY for the money and lost his chance when he could have won big and Simon Yates lost that Giro ,,,, time and tide and cycling wait for no man
 
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Jun 1, 2015
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So do I have this correctly? Using Catalunya and Itzulia,

Remco:Roglic :: Landa:Vingegaard
But Landa was crushed by Roglic / Remco ergo…
 
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Mar 20, 2010
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I really can't understand all the Landa love. Very RARELY does he ever actually win! In 2017 he won Burgos then Nothing until 2021 when he won Burgos again without winning a stage. Zero since. Not exactly an overwhelming palmares. Yet people are always fawning over him. SMH in wonder.
 
Jul 22, 2010
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I gotta admit this season he seems to be riding a bit more adventurous and with some grinta, and yes, he's humble (Which is not necessarily a plus for me. That's a whole other discussion though)
What really infuriates me for some reason is how he always has to call his gf immediately after a race. I don't know if it's a PR thing (look at me being the wholesome familyman!) or he really feels the need to talk to her and it can't wait a minute longer: both reasons equally annoy me.
I think its great he has the self confidence to do what the F he wants, not pander to what media and fans want
 
Dec 6, 2012
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I really can't understand all the Landa love. Very RARELY does he ever actually win! In 2017 he won Burgos then Nothing until 2021 when he won Burgos again without winning a stage. Zero since. Not exactly an overwhelming palmares. Yet people are always fawning over him. SMH in wonder.

Not only winner deserve love, maybe all your favourites are prolific winners so you can't understand it, but it's not the same to everyone. In Landa's case I think his lack of winning even contributes greatly in making him an endearing rider to many.
 
Jun 20, 2015
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Vingegård with a deserved win but a shame for Landa once again.

One trend that has really been emerging over the end few years is that the best GC riders monopolise the wins. 5 or 10 years ago it were sprinters like Cav, Greipel or Kittel that got 15 wins or even more in a good season but last years Pogačar, Roglič and Remco were at least once above 10 wins in a single season, with Pogačar reaching 16 last year and the trend seems to be even stronger this season with Vingegård likely surpassing 10 wins as well.

Even though we have been witnessing some great performances by these top GC riders in the last seasons things have become more predictable in stage races and I feel for the second tier GC riders like Mas, Yates or Landa that are now barely able to win at all despite being in fine shape too.

Another trend is the paucity of breakaway wins in stage races - These types of riders will have to wait for GT's.
 
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Dec 6, 2012
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Vingegård with a deserved win but a shame for Landa once again.

One trend that has really been emerging over the end few years is that the best GC riders monopolise the wins. 5 or 10 years ago it were sprinters like Cav, Greipel or Kittel that got 15 wins or even more in a good season but last years Pogačar, Roglič and Remco were at least once above 10 wins in a single season, with Pogačar reaching 16 last year and the trend seems to be even stronger this season with Vingegård likely surpassing 10 wins as well.

Even though we have been witnessing some great performances by these top GC riders in the last seasons things have become more predictable in stage races and I feel for the second tier GC riders like Mas, Yates or Landa that are now barely able to win at all despite being in fine shape too.

I'm torn about this. I don't like domination in sports, but high level competition is good. I still think we're lucky we have at least four incredible stage racers, not two, or one, or none. At least for now, before they do it for too long.

I find it a bit overwhelming in monuments and big classics, though, to me one day race should have been less predictable, now it's almost too easy to predict the scenario with all the superheroes. Adding to the 'problems', some of them are the same guys with the stage race winning machines. If Roubaix fail to give us refreshment, I don't know what will.
 
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