Lesser known races 2023 edition

[postmanhat]

Anywhere but a French 2.1, it would have been a five-second decision by the commissaries to DQ him from the race.

And maybe one day, Hugo Page will acquire the skill and confidence to contest a minor bunch sprint. Not the first time he's finished like a bullet, far too late.

Maybe two days then. Looking forward to seeing what type of rider Page will develop into?

 

[Didinho]

That explains it haha

Saw the video now on Sporza, it seems that Victor was already closing in and passing Tiller. Then it happened, but you can't see how much effort it cost beforehand when he led the sprint.

 

[Samamba]

Saw the video now on Sporza, it seems that Victor was already closing in and passing Tiller. Then it happened, but you can't see how much effort it cost beforehand when he led the sprint.

Yeah saw, not sure if he was already passing him but hard to know who would've won.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Tour de Leuven - De Lie wins again, but he owes Campenaerts a beer or two. Chapeau!

Chapeau indeed!

Sorry to be late to the party. It was rather hot and humid on Tuesday, so while we had intended to attend the race from the start, grandparents and children and all, we only went to Ladeuzeplein for the last hour or so. As already noted in this thread, Lotto dominated most of the race. With all the work Campenaerts was doing, I was hoping for a win for him, like last year, but was happy to see De Lie come through as well.

Fun fact, we used to live near the top of De Wijnpersstraat and bike up and down that street several times a day. If I forgot something in the morning, I invariably realized this at the foot of the hill and had to pedal all the way up again. Of course, it's a lot easier if you haven't ridden to Ottenburg and back just before. Good times.

 

[Samamba]

Mike Theunissen on his way to winning the Egmont Cycling Classic. Incredibly weird tactics from Alpecin and UNO X mainly. Alpecin was with 3 in a 9man group and they let Theunissen, who was alone, go solo lmao.

EDIT: group behind is chasing now so could still be a sprint with 9 man. Actually think they'll catch them. Tiller for Kristoff, Alpecin guy and Livyns for De Buyst working hard now.

EDIT2: yeah they're catching him pretty fast now. might be the god tactic from UNO X after all.

 

[Samamba]

Photofinish between Kristoff and De Buyst (who did a ridiculously long sprint).

Think Kristoff but not sure

EDIT: Its De Buyst (provisional)

Lotto Dstny won all the small Belgian races this week.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Photofinish between Kristoff and De Buyst (who did a ridiculously long sprint).

Think Kristoff but not sure

EDIT: Its De Buyst (provisional)

Lotto Dstny won all the small Belgian races this week.

I too thought Kristoff had won it, but well done by De Buyst, and happy for Lotto's successful week in Belgium.

 

[postmanhat]

Photofinish between Kristoff and De Buyst (who did a ridiculously long sprint).

Think Kristoff but not sure

EDIT: Its De Buyst (provisional)

Lotto Dstny won all the small Belgian races this week.

Unshackled from Ewan, De Buyst immediately gets his career back. Hope he's largely allowed to ride for himself from now on.

 

[Samamba]

Unshackled from Ewan, De Buyst immediately gets his career back. Hope he's largely allowed to ride for himself from now on.

Don't see what this has to do with Ewan? De Buyst has always been good in these late summer/fall races. Like in 2019 for example, it's not like he wasn't working for (a succesful) Ewan back then. He's not good enough for the top tier WT races or sprints in GTs, so obviously he's going to work for someone else in them and then get his own chance in some smaller races. That hasn't changed.

 

[postmanhat]

Don't see what this has to do with Ewan? De Buyst has always been good in these late summer/fall races. Like in 2019 for example, it's not like he wasn't working for (a succesful) Ewan back then. He's not good enough for the top tier WT races or sprints in GTs, so obviously he's going to work for someone else in them and then get his own chance in some smaller races. That hasn't changed.

Are the two season's/rider trajectories comparable? Ewan was the big star signing then and still delivering, so worth supporting. Now he isn't, at least at Lotto, so Jasper is hopefully free to focus on his own career again. The last two years have mostly been a waste of his talent, albeit he's had injury issues as well.

 

[StryderHells]

Are the two season's/rider trajectories comparable? Ewan was the big star signing then and still delivering, so worth supporting. Now he isn't, at least at Lotto, so Jasper is hopefully free to focus on his own career again. The last two years have mostly been a waste of his talent, albeit he's had injury issues as well.

I doubt much will change with Ewan gone, Jasper will still work for someone else in bigger races and get his own chances in races like this.

 

[Samamba]

Are the two season's/rider trajectories comparable? Ewan was the big star signing then and still delivering, so worth supporting. Now he isn't, at least at Lotto, so Jasper is hopefully free to focus on his own career again. The last two years have mostly been a waste of his talent, albeit he's had injury issues as well.

I still don't get what you're trying to say. Ofcourse they were comparable, the season planning was the same. The fact that Ewan isn't performing now has nothing to with it. He will just support De Lie instead of Ewan. What do you expect for him? To sprint for himself in the Tour? To be a leader in big classics? He isn't good enough for that, obviously he's gonna be a dom there. He never focussed on Ewan before May anyways.

It's simple, he will get his own chances in smaller races and work for better riders in big races, doesn't matter if it's Ewan or not. He's also completely fine with it.

 

[postmanhat]

After his bad luck in Denmark, nice to see Waerenskjold straight back to winning ways at Poitou. Don't know much about this race, but the profiles and field seem in his favour for a first GC win? He could be Uno-X's highest scorer point this season. Pretty good for a neo-pro who spent most of the year supporting Kristoff.

 

[RedheadDane]

Poitou seems to have become the "Race of Mixed Emotions" for FDJ.
Yesterday (stage 2): Penhoët won the stage, and got all the jerseys (except KOM), but... Pinot crashed out.
Today (stage 3b). Armirail won the stage, but... Penhoët lost at least two jerseys (dunno about points)

 

[postmanhat]

Despite losing the TT, Waerenskjold does just enough to retake the leader's jersey after a losing time in this morning's stage. He's had a busy season and is probably due a break, though hopefully he can come back for a few of the late-season one-dayers (Paris-Tours?).

Looks like the GC will come down him or Amirail tomorrow, as they're 40 seconds clear of Suter in 3rd

 

[Samamba]

Despite losing the TT, Waerenskjold does just enough to retake the leader's jersey after a losing time in this morning's stage. He's had a busy season and is probably due a break, though hopefully he can come back for a few of the late-season one-dayers (Paris-Tours?).

Looks like the GC will come down him or Amirail tomorrow, as they're 40 seconds clear of Suter in 3rd

He didn't loose time this morning. They were all put in the same time (apart from the break).

 

[postmanhat]

He didn't loose time this morning. They were all put in the same time (apart from the break).

Ok.

Was checking my phone at work when the original results came through.

 

[KZD]

It ended up a bit closer than I thought but still first GC win ever for Wærenskjold.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Francisco Mancebo is currently racing in the Tour of Iran at the age of 47. Does he have any plans to retire?

 

[staubsauger]

Talking about Iran it seems that Lucas Carstensen really likes it there. Taking 3 wins in the last 2 years.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Francisco Mancebo is currently racing in the Tour of Iran at the age of 47. Does he have any plans to retire?

He and Sevilla watched Highlander too often and now they think that they'll win the prize if they are the last one standing.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Talking about Iran it seems that Lucas Carstensen really likes it there. Taking 3 wins in the last 2 years.

I mean, who wouldn't like racing in Iran?
That said, the last 2 routes of this race have been pretty meh...

 

[staubsauger]

I mean, who wouldn't like racing in Iran?
That said, the last 2 routes of this race have been pretty meh...

Iran is a beautiful country. Not just the capital and the ancient cities of Täbris & Isfahan. The Alborz Mountains are quite pittoresque too. Especially the Hyrcanian Forests part which partly stretches through the Azerbaijan province the race actually takes part in. Hyrcanian Forest has been declared UNESCO world heritage just like the Dolomites. Actually that side of the Alborz Mountains funnily enough kinda looks like South Tyrol a bit. You also have got lot of ancient persian culture and historic buildings. Not just Persian actually, but Iranian. So also Kurdish. Piranshar is one of the oldest Iranian cities. It's Kurdish. Hewramat / Uraman Takht is an old Kurdish village build into the mountain rocks.

Teheran is the big capital with lots of art and the big Totschal mountain range towering above the city. There are various paths from north Teheran up towards the peaks. Most famous the broad main ridge towards the ski station and the path through Darband. Darband is a lovely little quarter build into the rocks with lots of restaurants close to the river. Ascends are not technical and easily doable from my knowledge apart from the intensity of walking 4-5 hours of course.

Also food is very delicious. Tender chicken with saffron rice and barberrys. Or sweets with pistachio.


Sadly I've never been to my roots so far.

Okay this ended up some kinda love letter. SCNR

 

[Mayomaniac]

Iran is a beautiful country. Not just the capital and the ancient cities of Täbris & Isfahan. The Alborz Mountains are quite pittoresque too. Especially the Hyrcanian Forests part which partly stretches through the Azerbaijan province the race actually takes part in. Hyrcanian Forest has been declared UNESCO world heritage just like the Dolomites. Actually that side of the Alborz Mountains funnily enough kinda looks like South Tyrol a bit. You also have got lot of ancient persian culture and historic buildings. Not just Persian actually, but Iranian. So also Kurdish. Piranshar is one of the oldest Iranian cities. It's Kurdish. Hewramat / Uraman Takht is an old Kurdish village build into the mountain rocks.

Teheran is the big capital with lots of art and the big Totschal mountain range towering above the city. There are various paths from north Teheran up towards the peaks. Most famous the broad main ridge towards the ski station and the path through Darband. Darband is a lovely little quarter build into the rocks with lots of restaurants close to the river. Ascends are not technical and easily doable from my knowledge apart from the intensity of walking 4-5 hours of course.

Also food is very delicious. Tender chicken with saffron rice and barberrys. Or sweets with pistachio.


Sadly I've never been to my roots so far.

Okay this ended up some kinda love letter. SCNR

I almost went on a big field trip to Iran during Uni, but in the end it was just too expensive (around 2,500€) for a Student.

Not to mention the fact that Iran has enough hard climbs and mountain passes for an entire gt.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Does nobody (want to make) a thread for Bretagne Classic?
We got VDP doing his first race in his Road-Rainbow.

Perhaps you and Toby can collab on this one? He can do the writing, while you insert the pictures.