Lesser known races 2024 edition

[Armchair Cyclist]

I'm not saying tramadol is unproblematic, I'm saying that it shouldn't be an unforgivable offence.

Once it is on the WADA list, there is no excuse for taking it though. Prior to that inclusion, it was not considered an unforgiveable offence, as a glance at yesterday's podium, or Movistar's squadlist, will confirm.

 

[Samamba]

it's a different crash he was referring to there, and not televised, as far as I could see.

After Baudin and Geniets went clear, the chasing group consisted of around 30 riders at the top of the climb. At the bottom of the following descent, only ~10 were left.

Correct, Menten crashed earlier with Oldani among others, they could've survived too but hard to know. Anyways, someone like Zingle (who crashed himself together with Slock) was still in the group with 2 teammates before the crash on the descent, Cofidis would've chased for example, Tudor was with 4 so would've chased, Alpecin had Laurence and Kielich in that group, ... Don't think Baudin and Geniets stay ahead without that crash.

 

[Leadbelly]

Queen stage in Sharjah tomorrow.

On stage 1 the break (led by Ewart) held on to win by 5s. The second day had echelons and the front group ended up with less than 30 riders with Pierre Barbier taking the victory ahead of Bonifazio. There was a short TT on Sunday which Glivar won and that all leaves us with still a fair few riders within reach of the lead. Some of those riders are of course big lumps and/or sprinters and normally won't feature, but we've still got Glivar (leading), Ewart, Kukrle, Jamba and Pernsteiner in the top-ten.

I'll be cheering on Jasim (11th).

There's been a stream here on previous days.

 

[yaco]

At the end of the day at the start or the final climb Geniets and Baudin had a 15 second gap over a chase group of 12 to 14 riders - For unknown reasons noone would commit to bridge to the leaders - I am certain there were three or four riders who could have done it - Crashes are irrelevant because you dont need domestics to catch up 15 seconds on a 4km climb.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Queen stage in Sharjah tomorrow.

On stage 1 the break (led by Ewart) held on to win by 5s. The second day had echelons and the front group ended up with less than 30 riders with Pierre Barbier taking the victory ahead of Bonifazio. There was a short TT on Sunday which Glivar won and that all leaves us with still a fair few riders within reach of the lead. Some of those riders are of course big lumps and/or sprinters and normally won't feature, but we've still got Glivar (leading), Ewart, Kukrle, Jamba and Pernsteiner in the top-ten.

I'll be cheering on Jasim (11th).

There's been a stream here on previous days.

Wish they used this MTF in the UAE Tour instead of Arabian Montevergine (aka Jebel Jais).

 

[Leadbelly]

53km to go. 5 man break with I think riders from Aisan, Mauritius, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and ??? (could be a national champ).

 

[Leadbelly]

Not far off the start of the final climb.

Stream is still here.

 

[search]

the new Zubeldia is on the attack in the Saudi Tour. That's not very Haimaresque, unfortunately.

 

[Samamba]

Not confirmed yet, but first stage of Bessèges might be cancelled, because of raging farmers.

 

[Netserk]

Not confirmed yet, but first stage of Bessèges might be cancelled, because of raging farmers.

I thought they only blockaded Paris.

 

[Samamba]

I thought they only blockaded Paris.

Those farmers are everywhere.

No, the organizers of the protests have said they don't want to stop the race, but all the gendarmerie is needed elsewhere now.

So yeah one guaranteed Pedersen win less this week. Some of the other good TTers will be happy tho, less boni seconds for Pedersen.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Yeah, confirmed cancelled.

The French do love a protest don't they.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752393720299733380

Valenciana has a better looking stage anyway tbf

 

[DNP-Old]

I fucking hate farmers.

 

[repre]

Why farmers are protesting all over EU? I'm reading polish, romanian, hungary and slovak farmers are protesting regularly too, french too

 

[RedheadDane]

I fucking hate farmers.

Yeah, it's annoying. But you know what?
I really like food!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Was going to put up a Bessèges thread tonight, but I’ll hold off until it’s actually clear that the remainder of the race will go ahead.

Why farmers are protesting all over EU? I'm reading polish, romanian, hungary and slovak farmers are protesting regularly too, french too

When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.

In this case, plans to partially reverse decades of heavily pro-farmer policy from the EU in particular for a variety of reasons (particularly environmental ones), mixed in with a variety of petty grievances (including against farmers from your country, because in the world of Eastern EU farmers, they’re the real victims of the Russian invasion).

Sorry if this is too political but I can’t take a movement seriously when its members vandalise a McDonalds because they refuse to give all farmers free coffee. Yes, this actually happened.

 

[repre]

Was going to put up a Bessèges thread tonight, but I’ll hold off until it’s actually clear that the remainder of the race will go ahead.


When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.

In this case, plans to partially reverse decades of heavily pro-farmer policy from the EU in particular for a variety of reasons (particularly environmental ones), mixed in with a variety of petty grievances (including against farmers from your country, because in the world of Eastern EU farmers, they’re the real victims of the Russian invasion).

Sorry if this is too political but I can’t take a movement seriously when its members vandalise a McDonalds because they refuse to give all farmers free coffee. Yes, this actually happened.

Thanks, i was thinking the same way. And i think it's not too political, cause we miss races and can get more of this in near future, so it's important to understand the issue

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I fucking hate farmers.

Me when Roglic wins another Spanish stage race against enric mas with bonus seconds.

 

[Froome]

Me when Roglic wins another Spanish stage race against enric mas with bonus seconds.

What would you do if Roglic won some spanish stage race against Fausto with bonus seconds?

 

[RedheadDane]

You know, sometimes the national teams that get invited to various races seem a little arbitrary.
Take Tour Colombia:
There's a Colombian National Team. Obviously; it's the Tour Colombia.
Then there's a Brazilian National Team. Makes sense too.
And then there's an... Estonian National Team... okay...

 

[tobydawq]

You know, sometimes the national teams that get invited to various races seem a little arbitrary.
Take Tour Colombia:
There's a Colombian National Team. Obviously; it's the Tour Colombia.
Then there's a Brazilian National Team. Makes sense too.
And then there's an... Estonian National Team... okay...

What's wrong with Estonia?

 

[RedheadDane]

What's wrong with Estonia?

Nothing, just not a country I'd expect to see in Tour Colombia.
Just like I'm not expecting to see a Colombian National Team in the Tour of Estonia.

 

[Leadbelly]

Not far off the start of the final climb.

Stream is still here.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgAk4rf8pyA


A slightly surprising winner yesterday with Aparicio. The team looked to be working for Jamba, but when it was obvious he didn't have the legs to challenge for the GC lead they must have decided that a stage win was the next best thing and the young Spaniard attacked out of the yellow jersey group and caught and passed Heidemann/Budyak with a little to spare.

Considering the size of Heidemann he too had a very good climb and moved up to second in the GC behind Glivar who did enough to hold onto the lead, but without looking that impressive I thought.

Barbier won the final stage this morning with no changes in the GC.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

I fucking hate farmers.

Bernard Hinault: The Punch

Occasionally, a spontaneous moment occurs in a great rider’s career that comes to be seen as an encapsulation of their personality. Lance Armstrong had ‘The Look’, a glare delivered to Jan Ullrich on Alpe d’Huez as he rode away at the 2001 Tour de France after bluffing for half the day. Snidey...

www.rouleur.cc

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Nothing, just not a country I'd expect to see in Tour Colombia.
Just like I'm not expecting to see a Colombian National Team in the Tour of Estonia.

I guess if a national federation asks for a place, and they have one available, they are likely to get one. And riders based in Estonia (highest point 318m) don't get much chance to race or train on long climbs and at altitude.