Lesser known races 2023 edition

[postmanhat]

1100+ UCI points for Astana from two 2.1 races and the summer games in the last 3 weeks. If they monster the Asian calendar like this next season, they could save themselves from relegation?

 

[CHGJ2000]

I presumed Tarling would ride track in Paris (Team Pursuit) but on current trajectory would be in the 3/4 top favourites for the TT- the only thing against him would be lack of Tour in the legs as the others will have ridden the tour

Top 1 favourite if he progresses like he should.

He certainly won't do a GT next season and doing a GT just before a TT isn't ideal prep anyway. His coach says at the moment he trains at a very low volume so he doesn't get burnt out although his volume apparently will be going up next year, but also isn't a very good trainer accuracy-wise. So I think we can be sure he'll make another step next year.

 

[KZD]

Even if Tarling doesn't get a spot in the team pursuit, GB team should absolutely let him ride the road race (in order to compete at the time trial). He is their biggest chance of getting gold in road cycling at the Olympics even if Pidcock rides the road race.

 

[tobydawq]

For the ITT, I think it's better not to ride the Tour.

Recent history shows that the best preparation is to crash out of the Tour.

 

[JRanton]

Remco was faster towards the end, but it wasn't enough. Still a better performance from him than the last time he rode there.

Turns out that Tarling went the wrong way at a roundabout near the end so that explains the time gap closing.

 

[JRanton]

Even if Tarling doesn't get a spot in the team pursuit, GB team should absolutely let him ride the road race (in order to compete at the time trial). He is their biggest chance of getting gold in road cycling at the Olympics even if Pidcock rides the road race.

Definitely. Tarling should take total priority when it comes to selection.

 

[Nick2413]

Even if Tarling doesn't get a spot in the team pursuit, GB team should absolutely let him ride the road race (in order to compete at the time trial). He is their biggest chance of getting gold in road cycling at the Olympics even if Pidcock rides the road race.

How does it work again? You have to ride the RR to be in the TT?

 

[search]

How does it work again? You have to ride the RR to be in the TT?

not necessarily, but there are no additional spots for the ITT. So normally the ITT rider is one from the (up to) 4 who also do the road race.

 

[RedheadDane]

After an unusual situation yesterday, I'm happy to report that things are back to normal in China.

 

[DNP-Old]

How does it work again? You have to ride the RR to be in the TT?

In the Olympics cycling isn’t torn into multiple discplines, everything is all and the same. You select an X amount of riders based on your rankings in a particular discipline. You can only enter riders from said list. So if your road ranking gathered you 3 spots, you have to fill all road events with the three riders you select. If they were to select Tarling as a road racer, he has to do the road race.

Now, there is a leeway with the other disciplines, since cycling is one thing. So if you have a multidisciplinary like Ganna or Pidcock, you can make changes, as you’ve already selected them as a trackie or mtb. Which is why selecting Tarling as a track rider is almost a necessity, since he offers little to nothing in the road race.

 

[tobydawq]

After an unusual situation yesterday, I'm happy to report that things are back to normal in China.

Hmm, he'll probably win the points competition this way.

 

[tobydawq]

The gap is around 3:20. I clocked it myself as there is apparently no need for timing in this WorldTour race.

 

[RedheadDane]

Molano wins the stage.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Molano wins the stage.

Do you have a source for this rumor?

 

[RedheadDane]

Do you have a source for this rumor?

The live coverage.

 

[Rob5091]

Guangxi, stage 5 (2.UWT, for those who want to know) - Milan (Jonathan, not Vader) gets dropped off by his lead out man 200m from the finish, but gets passed by Molano and Kooji with 50m to go. Somebody needs to do some maths at Bahrain ... Molano lucky though as he was boxed in until Milan moved away from the barriers.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yep! Dries De Front-of-race is at it again.
He's joined by Keukeleire (celebrating his last day as pro in style), Herregodts, Onley, and Reynders.

Peloton at 1:15

 

[DNP-Old]

So why did INEOS wait until the last stage to sprint with Hayter?

 

[theyoungest]

So why did INEOS wait until the last stage to sprint with Hayter?

Because he's not that fast. A real sprinter would have won with the advantage he had today.

 

[DNP-Old]

Because he's not that fast. A real sprinter would have won with the advantage he had today.

The difference in speed between him and Viviani is negligible, so that's 1. Furthermore, he doesn't have to win, he just needs time. There have been stages in this race where the bonus seconds are somewhat close to the start or the finish, but I haven't seen them bother about those either before today. He could have had a shot at winning this whole thing with a little effort. A victory he could very well use, because he has been horrific this year.

 

[search]

Viviani won a stage, so you can hardly criticize the team for going for him. Maybe they should have switched to Hayter yesterday already, but it's not like it would have changed much. 9/10 he doesn't get bonus seconds in this field anyway

 

[theyoungest]

The difference in speed between him and Viviani is negligible, so that's 1. Furthermore, he doesn't have to win, he just needs time. There have been stages in this race where the bonus seconds are somewhat close to the start or the finish, but I haven't seen them bother about those either before today. He could have had a shot at winning this whole thing with a little effort. A victory he could very well use, because he has been horrific this year.

Maybe for the intermediates it would have made sense, but in a bunch sprint he doesn't stand a chance. Even in a reduced bunch sprint, like the first stage Kooij won. He barely made the top-10.

 

[DNP-Old]

Viviani won a stage, so you can hardly criticize the team for going for him. Maybe they should have switched to Hayter yesterday already, but it's not like it would have changed much. 9/10 he doesn't get bonus seconds in this field anyway

Trust me, I can. I am always harsh on Bennett for delivering positively nothing, but Viviani ain't too far off. Getting paid two million a year to lose sprints to Leitão, Tesson and Ganna. A broken clock is right twice a day, which is ironic given Viviani was only able to win twice this season despite his PCT level riddled calendar. Any day riding for Viviani is a wasted day, victory and all.

 

[Salvarani]

Trust me, I can. I am always harsh on Bennett for delivering positively nothing, but Viviani ain't too far off. Getting paid two million a year to lose sprints to Leitão, Tesson and Ganna. A broken clock is right twice a day, which is ironic given Viviani was only able to win twice this season despite his PCT level riddled calendar. Any day riding for Viviani is a wasted day, victory and all.

Viviani said he went back to Ineos with Olympics in 2024 as the big goal. Track is where his main objectives are. Two wins is not bad for 34 year old Viviani, not really competing for the big races on road anymore.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

To be fair to INEOS, it's not like Hayter has done a lot to earn leadership this year, although he's obviously also been unlucky. In CRO race it turned out to be a mistake to ride for him on the queen stage, which might have cost Sheffield the overall win. However if you have a rider on the team with the status and paycheck that Viviani has, you also need to ride for him in some races, and I can't get too worked up over who gets to sprint in the Tour of Guangxi.