Lesser known races 2024 edition

[Armchair Cyclist]

Two Kevins on the podium, probably a first. As another of that ilk,I approve.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I know nothing of the Luxembourgish language, not of the rider's background. Without wanting to go all Rob Hatch, are we going French style (Jehnnee-ay) or something more Germanic (Henyeetz)?

 

[tobydawq]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1751631739288477967

View: https://twitter.com/decathlonAG2RLM/status/1751631739288477967?t=WsG8XLja0w6WUQXoDFY4ww&s=19


Decathlon celebrating their tactical prowess on Twitter.

 

[Netserk]

I think they played their hand as well as they could. It's not easy to say when Baudin should have stopped pulling, as he certainly wouldn't stand a chance if Vauquelin made it back.

 

[Salvarani]

I think they played their hand as well as they could. It's not easy to say when Baudin should have stopped pulling, as he certainly wouldn't stand a chance if Vauquelin made it back.

Gotta give the rider his chance in that scenario as well.

 

[tobydawq]

I think they played their hand as well as they could. It's not easy to say when Baudin should have stopped pulling, as he certainly wouldn't stand a chance if Vauquelin made it back.

I think the issue was that they had the fastest sprinter in the group behind (hard to know that Trentin would outdo himself in underperforming in a sprint, admittedly).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Geniets is not good enough a climber for this Groupama plan to work.

Nice analysise thanks

 

[search]

I know nothing of the Luxembourgish language, not of the rider's background. Without wanting to go all Rob Hatch, are we going French style (Jehnnee-ay) or something more Germanic (Henyeetz)?

more like a mixture of the two (8s into the video): https://www.rtl.lu/video/3313923

 

[Netserk]

I think the issue was that they had the fastest sprinter in the group behind (hard to know that Trentin would outdo himself in underperforming in a sprint, admittedly).

Once Vauquelin could get away from the chasers, that card was dead.

 

[Squire]

I think the issue was that they had the fastest sprinter in the group behind (hard to know that Trentin would outdo himself in underperforming in a sprint, admittedly).

But if Baudin had anchored Geniets and made sure they were brought back, wouldn't Vauquelin have flown away on the climb regardless? So they would have been fighting for 2nd instead of giving Baudin a chance at the win? Or you think that Paret-Peintre and Baudin would have managed to keep everything together for Gautherat (who wasn't guaranteed to win a sprint, as you allude to)?

 

[staubsauger]

Was it that clear AG2R had the fastest sprinter in the group with Gautheret, until he actually beat Trentin!?

 

[Samamba]

Yes. This is the rider I thought he was going to become last year already after a promising second half of 2022.

Yeah I remember him as a Tudor talent (but has he even ridden there?)
Luckily for him he is French and not Colombian.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

more like a mixture of the two (8s into the video): https://www.rtl.lu/video/3313923

Thanks: dJunnyetz will be my approximation from now on.

 

[Samamba]

There was indeed a big crash in the peloton on the descent of Cretes btw. I think Zingle went down hard there, he was still in the group and is DNF, Slock too.

Race probably would've been completely different if that didn't happen, was still 35ish riders there.

 

[staubsauger]

Yeah I remember him as a Tudor talent (but has he even ridden there?)
Luckily for him he is French and not Colombian.

Still had to duque for a short time fairly!

 

[Samamba]

Still had to duque for a short time fairly!

But didn't get sacked while AG2R is in the MPCC. I'm not saying he had too btw, but if he was Colombian he would've been.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The idea that people should be cast out of the sport for using a painkiller is ludicrous anyway.

 

[staubsauger]

But didn't get sacked while AG2R is in the MPCC. I'm not saying he had too btw, but if he was Colombian he would've been.

Yes, you're right of course.

I've eaten a clown for breakfast and had to make that duck/duque joke though!

 

[staubsauger]

There was indeed a big crash in the peloton on the descent of Cretes btw. I think Zingle went down hard there, he was still in the group and is DNF, Slock too.

Race probably would've been completely different if that didn't happen, was still 35ish riders there.

Lotto certainly would have chased without Menten crashing.

In the end Geniets & Baudin made it to the line because ain't nobody in the chase group was willing to work. Apart from Stork for Trentin. Hoelgaard, Miquel, etc were just sitting on the wheels. While AG2R of course did everything to harm the chase.

Vauquelin missed the ideal moment to attack as pointed out above. He should've gone when the gap was 15 seconds only. Probably Francaise des Jeux & AG2R would've reeled him in the moment he passes Baudin & Genietz though. So he had to take that gamble with a late attack.


Overall it was a decent race IMHO. Not as good as Friday. But it was exciting. Not a lame bunch sprint. Nothing wrong as an early season appetizer!

 

[tobydawq]

I'm not necessarily saying that Decathlon were absolutely awful tactically but when you lose the sprint in front and win the one behind, I think it's strange to go out to social media and announce how tactically well you rode, especially when those two outcomes were quite predictable.

But as always, it isn't a video game, and APP was not quite certain what to do either.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1751687540501893304

View: https://twitter.com/AurelienParetP/status/1751687540501893304?t=5hXJOnW9mLn4wEkmJ3xXAw&s=19

 

[search]

Lotto certainly would have chased without Menten crashing.

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.

 

[ingsve]

The idea that people should be cast out of the sport for using a painkiller is ludicrous anyway.

It's not just a painkiller though. It's been on the WADA monitoring list a while and as of January 1st 2024 it is on the WADA prohibited list as a performance enhancing drug. The fact that it was prohibited for health reasons before is likely just another example of the 50% Hematocrit limit of the 1990s before there was a test for EPO.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

The idea that people should be cast out of the sport for using a painkiller is ludicrous anyway.

Medication that means one should not drive or operate heavy machinery is probably incompatible with a tightly packed group of 150 men traveling at 45km/h on thin strips of rubber.

 

[staubsauger]

Medication that means one should not drive or operate heavy machinery is probably incompatible with a tightly packed group of 150 men traveling at 45km/h on thin strips of rubber.

Are we going to to see a comeback of Novalgin in professional cycling now!?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Medication that means one should not drive or operate heavy machinery is probably incompatible with a tightly packed group of 150 men traveling at 45km/h on thin strips of rubber.

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