Lesser known races 2023 edition

[Taxus4a]

Froome droped early, at more than 4 km to the line, but he finished quite close to the first...with 2 climbs I think he coudl have been fighteen for victory, and no reason to dont descent today. This is really bad for cycling.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Froome beat Padun once more, but unlike in Mercan'Tour he couldn't follow Bizkarra.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Speaks okay english too

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Martinez is really an exciting talent!

Also quite a good spring from young Kulset, a year younger than Martinez. 14th in Tour of the Alps, 3rd in Alpes Isere Tour and 11th here. I expect him to go to Occitanie also, but the field there should probably be a bit stronger.

 

[Taxus4a]

Froome beat Padun once more, but unlike in Mercan'Tour he couldn't follow Bizkarra.

Froome is a rider for long stages. even the initial parcours was short for him. But this was for juniors, and a semijunior I like a lot won...Lot of people in one minute.

 

[Samamba]

Is this some Ilmaestro-Masnada level meme or is this for real?

Or Logic-Remco level meme

In all seriousness I think it's for real this time

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Froome is a rider for long stages. even the initial parcours was short for him. But this was for juniors, and a semijunior I like a lot won...Lot of people in one minute.

He obviously doesn't have much acceleration these days, but I still expected hom to do better. Especially after I read your preview earlier.

I want him to win a stage in the Tour, but I gotta say after this performance, the team shouldn't bring him, unless they have some training numbers that point in a better direction. But I still expect him to be selected.

 

[rallybanana]

Martinez takes it.

Random fact:
IPT had both the youngest and the oldest rider in the race. The youngest being 18-year-old Academy rider Pau Marti, the oldest being... well... you can probably figure that out yourself.

Froome? Pozzovivo? Fuglsang? Impey?

So many possibilities. I'll have to check the startlist to figure it out

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Which other Martinez?

Is this a joke i'm not understanding?

 

[RedheadDane]

Froome? Pozzovivo? Fuglsang? Impey?

So many possibilities. I'll have to check the startlist to figure it out

Well, Fuglsang is in Switzerland. Dunno where Impey is.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Froome droped early, at more than 4 km to the line, but he finished quite close to the first...

How is 3min 12sec considered quite close to the first when you drop just a bit more than 4 km from the finish line?

 

[Rob5091]

Chapeau young Lenny! You now have the hopes and dreams of an entire nation on your shoulders (well, after Pinot retires anyway).

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Is this a joke i'm not understanding?

I misread, you were talking about Kulset.

Or Logic-Remco level meme

In all seriousness I think it's for real this time

I appreciate the dig, but i don't think i have the habit of having completely preposterous expectations of Evenepoel

 

[rallybanana]

The storm, maybe strong wind, I am not sure..But the storm at the finish hour could be strong or just gone..so I think is early to take that dessisions..... A pity, becouse after thursday very good weather...

I looked at the past weather function on the timeanddate website. Wind speed on Mont Ventoux today was less than for last year's race. So strong wind can be ruled out as the reason.

 

[Taxus4a]

I looked at the past weather function on the timeanddate website. Wind speed on Mont Ventoux today was less than for last year's race. So strong wind can be ruled out as the reason.

if there is a storm, and today is was likely, the wind can be strong up there...it is a place where weather condition can change heavily and become dangerous in about 5 minutes.

But you can predict that 10 minutes before and to stop the race if that is the case.. Today if wanst, so they could have go on with no problem....

You can even put riders in a car, and later start again starting with the same time you were losing....yes, it is half an hpour in a car, but you are not going to start totally rest then.

If today is the queen stage of le Tpur of course they would have done full stage.

 

[RedheadDane]

Hmm... how are both Trek-Segafredo, and Baloise Trek Lions allowed to ride Belgium Tour? Aren't they basically the same organisation?

(I know this question has probably come up before.)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1668612949370363904

 

[RedheadDane]

Matisse Julien has won the opening stage, and clained all the jerseys, in the Tour de Beauce.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The Route d‘Occitanie is exceeding 175 kms per stage. Has the UCI identified the culprits and arrested them yet?

 

[search]

looks like it's a very windy day over there at the Route du Sud. Usually not an issue in races like this - but Ineos brought a team to absolutely destroy everyone in the crosswind.

 

[SafeBet]

looks like it's a very windy day over there at the Route du Sud. Usually not an issue in races like this - but Ineos brought a team to absolutely destroy everyone in the crosswind.

Lol just saw the startlist, pray for Ivan Sosa...

 

[DNP-Old]

Speaks okay english too

Took them a while, but French development teams are finally evolving, as English lessons have become a regular habit. AG2R in particular have been working hard on it, and you can regularly hear Bisiaux give an interview in English.

 

[RedheadDane]

Took them a while, but French development teams are finally evolving, as English lessons have become a regular habit. AG2R in particular have been working hard on it, and you can regularly hear Bisiaux give an interview in English.

I just love the fact that TOS used a photo to illustrate Martinez' English abilities. Is it his English-speaking smile, as opposed to his French-speaking smile?

Regarding Occitanie; I just hope Valgren will be able to have a good performance. Would be a pretty neat way to go full circle.

 

[Rob5091]

looks like it's a very windy day over there at the Route du Sud. Usually not an issue in races like this - but Ineos brought a team to absolutely destroy everyone in the crosswind.

Ineos team is not exactly a climbing powerhouse. Where did they think they were going?
Pozzovivo - the man to watch.

 

[Rob5091]

It looks like Viviani got demoted from his second place yesterday at the Route d'Occitanie - so much for all of Ineos hard work! The important news is Pozzovivo came in with the front group. The dream lives on!