Lesser known races 2023 edition

[RedheadDane]

This gimmick definitely has gotten old, though.

Guess I should have written "just because you're over 30". Lots of riders have their best years in their 30es.

 

[Salvarani]

Guess I should have written "just because you're over 30". Lots of riders have their best years in their 30es.

Yes, but that is not what was discussed. That point is neither here nor there this time.

The facts are that the team is underperforming and a reason for that MIGHT be their aging roster, where many of them has never been stars or been great riders or is clearly past their best for quite some time. That was the only thing that was being suggested.

You just fixated on a word and took offense.

 

[RedheadDane]

The facts are that the team is underperforming and a reason for that MIGHT be their aging roster, where many of them has never been stars or been great riders or is clearly past their best for quite some time. That was the only thing that was being suggested.

Quite a difference between stating that it MIGHT be their "aging rosters", and straight up writing "lots of old riders".
How come you are allowed to make an arbitrary definition of "old" (older than 30), but I'm not?

 

[Salvarani]

Quite a difference between stating that it MIGHT be their "aging rosters", and straight up writing "lots of old riders".
How come you are allowed to make an arbitrary definition of "old" (older than 30), but I'm not?

Pointless discussion, move on.

Just learn to read full sentences and things within context.

"...is the impression you get."

What is an impression. Since you now completely ruined the discussion based on your semantics and because you just dont liked me using the word "old". Hence why I said from the beginning, dont comment on everything for the sake of commenting when you just wanna act like a police.

In this argument you are clearly wrong, when there are actual facts to back up what has been said. Not just a difference of opinion on what "old" is. Everything is relative.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I am counting six riders born in the 80s and eight riders above 30 in total.

8/25 is close to a third of the team.

Then you have about 6-7 more riders that are close to thirty or will soon be thirty.

I would say that is a roster that has a lot of "old" riders on it, as I said.

They also have the second-highest average age of all WT and PRT teams. And even the one team that has them beat (no points for guessing who) only is 0.6 years ahead of them. Of course, it should drop a little when Sagan and company leave after this year, but even without him I agree there's a bit too much past glory to their roster.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

If you are born in the 80s you turn 34 or more this year. That is old in terms of professional sport.

Even if many riders are good in their 30s doesn't change that. Old is not equal to bad. Or was Valverde not old when he was 38 because he won the WC?

 

[RedheadDane]

Anyway, I'm just disappointed I never got to hear the French commentators trying to say "Ådne Holter".
Why couldn't his and Dvernes' roles not have been swapped?

 

[HelloDolly]

So Marc Soler to finally break free of his UAE shackles and win
Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
this weekend ??????

Or will Richie Carapaz deny him ??

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So Marc Soler to finally break free of his UAE shackles and win
Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
this weekend ??????

Or will Richie Carapaz deny him ??

I think neither are top favourites here. Both would likely have to win solo, because Higuita and Skjelmose are both faster in a sprint and should be up there if they're in decent form, not to mention the likes of Ulissi, Hirschi, Aranburu, Strong, Schelling who could or should all be competitive on this terrain too. Now, winning solo is definitely possible in this race, but I'm not particularly confident in either being the strongest on the day.

 

[RedheadDane]

I hope Strong wins. Just so I can truthfully claim that he was the strongest of the day.

 

[HelloDolly]

Lots of riders have won this race solo including Valverde and Soler has shown he is in great form...he has hardly lost it in a week

 

[Netserk]

All Specialized teams have underperformed so far.

 

[yaco]

I am surprised that Jayco did not send past winner S.Yates a past winner, especially when you consider he's riding Basque Country.

 

[Salvarani]

All Specialized teams have underperformed so far.

You would know, based on your avatar!

 

[Wyndbrook]

All Specialized teams have underperformed so far.

Except SD Worx

 

[Samamba]

So many crashes in Volta Limburg (especially womens race, but I think there was also a massive crash in the mens race) that both races are neutralized right now.

 

[DNP-Old]

It is almost impossible to be so far out of the race with this surplus amount of talent, but Koos Moerenhout has accomplished just that.

 

[Samamba]

Groves, Herregodts and Staune Mittet in front group. Lotto missed it and are trying to bridge now but it's a minute gap

EDIT: Van Gils, Eenkhoorn, Menten, Bregnhoj and De Bondt made the jump to the front group. Definitely costed some energy tho.

 

[Samamba]

Especially Van Gils, Groves (getting better and better uphill) and Herregodts look really good. Van Gils immediately attacked while he just closed a minute gap.

Still 70km left and it's complete carnage.

EDIT: Oscar Onley out of nowhere solo'ing his way to the front group.

 

[Salvarani]

Groves is having a great day.

 

[Samamba]

Groves looks incredibly strong.

Acting more like a climber with fast legs than a sprinter who can climb.

Think Eenkhoorn and Van Gils are going to feel that they had to close a 1min gap earlier on their own.

Bit sad for Onley.

 

[Samamba]

My God Groves is good. I see him riding on the for 20k now and still beating Van Gils.

 

[Samamba]

Groves should have this. Strongest in the race. I'm impressed.

Don't think more than 20 riders are finishing this race btw.

 

[Samamba]

Ok some sort of peloton finished.

Groves wins tho. Demolished Lotto on his own, impressive. Definitely not just a sprinter.

 

[tobydawq]

Pretty violent way to win by Groves

Also, Alpecin's first win outside the WorldTour.