Lesser known races 2024 edition

[RJH]

Mareczko still winning races, that’s good.

Specialist for the flat stages within stage races…

 

[Samu Cuenca]

That's actually Mareczko's 50th pro win, is it time to put him on the race to 100 list?

If we consider him and Guardini to be one rider, they're now at 93.

 

[Brullnux]

If we consider him and Guardini to be one rider, they're now at 93.

I think that's only fair given that Mareczko was robbed of at least 20 wins by an act of god (the Covid pandemic).

 

[Mayomaniac]

If we consider him and Guardini to be one rider, they're now at 93.

Nah, Guardini could actually survive proper echelons racing in the Tour of Quatar at his best.
Never able to climb, but the guy could handle the heat and crosswinds pretty well.

 

[RedheadDane]

Martin Laas was the quickest panda on the podium*, while Aaron was unable to open the gate for the win.





*Joke proudly stolen from @Samu Cuenca!

 

[Ricco']

Why hold the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen today, at the same time as the Renewi Tour, on the same roads that will be used on the last stage of that race, preventing any crossover of riders between both startlists, and not do it yesterday, monday, or one week from now?

 

[RedheadDane]

Why hold the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen today, at the same time as the Renewi Tour, on the same roads that will be used on the last stage of that race, preventing any crossover of riders between both startlists, and not do it yesterday, monday, or one week from now?

Or Sunday. At the same time as Renewi Tour.
Just... embrace the chaos!




(I know, it wouldn't work.)

 

[Squire]

Why hold the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen today, at the same time as the Renewi Tour, on the same roads that will be used on the last stage of that race, preventing any crossover of riders between both startlists, and not do it yesterday, monday, or one week from now?

Been thinking the same. Very strange.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Is there any tv or live updates from Muur Classic?

 

[Squire]

Is there any tv or live updates from Muur Classic?

Here: https://www.pickx.be/nl/2426671/liv...rijs-geraardsbergen?v5=Partner&v6=MuurClassic

 

[Samamba]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1828819508930240852

View: https://x.com/PickxSports/status/1828819508930240852

 

[Samamba]

That commentator shitting on Lotto all the time but they get 1st, 5th and 8th lol

Berckmoes was a guaranteed win if they went to the finish with him. very good season from him. Surprisingly good even.

TV directors were horrible not showing the final 300m tho.

 

[Squire]

That commentator shitting on Lotto all the time but they get 1st, 5th and 8th lol

Berckmoes was a guaranteed win if they went to the finish with him. very good season from him. Surprisingly good even.

TV directors were horrible not showing the final 300m tho.

Yeah, seeing the dropped breakaway riders going past the camera with 150m to go was more interesting than the sprint for the win apparently.

Uno-X finally beaten in a 1.1 race.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Wow they are just inventing random races for Belgians to win now

 

[Samamba]

Wow they are just inventing random races for Belgians to win now

Ok i often defend these small Belgian races cause a lot of them actually have history, but this one is actually just made up last year and it's hilarious it's already .1 when it's being ridden at the same time as Renewi Tour meaning it has a low level field. I don't really understand. That being said, it's pretty entertaining one (probably cause of the low level field) and it seems to attract a lot of people in Geraardsbergen.

EDIT: ok apparently it's actually the oldest kermesse of Belgium that went up some levels cause pro riders don't want to (or more teams don't want them) ride kermesses anymore.

 

[RedheadDane]

Aaron opened the gate for the win!

No pandas anywhere near the podium.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ok i often defend these small Belgian races cause a lot of them actually have history, but this one is actually just made up last year and it's hilarious it's already .1 when it's being ridden at the same time as Renewi Tour meaning it has a low level field. I don't really understand. That being said, it's pretty entertaining one (probably cause of the low level field) and it seems to attract a lot of people in Geraardsbergen.

EDIT: ok apparently it's actually the oldest kermesse of Belgium that went up some levels cause a Belgian team got relegated from the WT

FTFY. Probably being on at the same time as Renewi was a conscious choice, a lot of WT teams won't do it, free UCI points for Lotto. Very unsurprising the only other top two tier teams there are ones like Arkéa and the rest are development squads and small ProTeams and Contis that aren't trying to hit the top 20.

Just like why Astana are over in the Tour of Hainan right now against the likes of Green Project and Burgos-BH.

 

[Bolder]

FTFY. Probably being on at the same time as Renewi was a conscious choice, a lot of WT teams won't do it, free UCI points for Lotto. Very unsurprising the only other top two tier teams there are ones like Arkéa and the rest are development squads and small ProTeams and Contis that aren't trying to hit the top 20.

Just like why Astana are over in the Tour of Hainan right now against the likes of Green Project and Burgos-BH.

Astana in Hainan for future sponsorship reasons, I'd guess, too.

One thing I do miss with the watering down of Eurosport coverage over the past few years and now being rolled in to Max is the coverage of even minor WT races, let alone .1s and .2s and coupe de France rounds.

 

[Squire]

Astana in Hainan for future sponsorship reasons, I'd guess, too.

They do have a long history of doing some Asian races, even back when they absolutely didn't need the points. They did Hainan in 2014-2016, for example.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Aaron Gate and Henok Mulubrhan when the race starts in East Asia

 

[Bolder]

They do have a long history of doing some Asian races, even back when they absolutely didn't need the points. They did Hainan in 2014-2016, for example.

Definitely, being that Kazakhstan is sort of Asian, anyway.

 

[search]

In the end, Lutsenko didn't score any points, but was disqualified:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829183206157070813

View: https://x.com/tourofhainan/status/1829183206157070813


not quite sure what for. Not the final sprint today, I guess

View: https://youtu.be/txoUopGwhZQ?t=16241

 

[Ilmaestro99]

In the end, Lutsenko didn't score any points, but was disqualified:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829183206157070813

View: https://x.com/tourofhainan/status/1829183206157070813


not quite sure what for. Not the final sprint today, I guess

View: https://youtu.be/txoUopGwhZQ?t=16241

Lustenko collided with another rider contesting the intermediate sprint, causing a crash

Astana general manager Alexandre Vinokurov has contested the disqualification, in a statement linked below.

Lustenko going for record of most stage race DNF in a single year

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829236334675812520

View: https://x.com/AstanaQazTeam/status/1829236334675812520?s=19




“The decision by the commissaires came as a surprise to us. Yes, there was an unfortunate racing incident during the intermediate sprint when Alexey collided with a rider from another team, resulting in a crash. The riders’ wheels got tangled; this happens: someone looks one way during the sprint, someone else looks another… such moments are common in racing, it was an accident. Yes, the commissaires could have penalized the rider in some way, but to remove him from the race? Our team completely disagrees with this decision. Alexey did nothing in that moment to warrant disqualification. We regret that the crash happened, it’s very unfortunate, but Alexey Lutsenko is not to blame. And this is our position on the matter”, – commented Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.

 

[search]

Lustenko collided with another rider contesting the intermediate sprint, causing a crash

Astana general manager Alexandre Vinokurov has contested the disqualification, in a statement linked below.

Lustenko going for record of most stage race DNF in a single year

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829236334675812520

View: https://x.com/AstanaQazTeam/status/1829236334675812520?s=19




“The decision by the commissaires came as a surprise to us. Yes, there was an unfortunate racing incident during the intermediate sprint when Alexey collided with a rider from another team, resulting in a crash. The riders’ wheels got tangled; this happens: someone looks one way during the sprint, someone else looks another… such moments are common in racing, it was an accident. Yes, the commissaires could have penalized the rider in some way, but to remove him from the race? Our team completely disagrees with this decision. Alexey did nothing in that moment to warrant disqualification. We regret that the crash happened, it’s very unfortunate, but Alexey Lutsenko is not to blame. And this is our position on the matter”, – commented Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.

thanks! That sprint is on the Youtube video as well, but difficult to say what really happened there

View: https://youtu.be/txoUopGwhZQ?t=2829

 

[yaco]

Yet, no disqualification for Merlier at the Renewi Tour. Sometimes it is luck of the draw.