Lesser known races 2025 edition

[Wvv]

Nothing to do about Merlier. Fastest in the world.

Seeing Jakobsen like this is sad. Thought they had a big plan during the winter to get hem back at a decent level. If it's really a mechanical, I'd be a bit relieved.

 

[Rob5091]

Messy old sprint but Merlier wins (as expected).

 

[Berniece]

Damn forgot about the race

 

[Squire]

Doubt it.

DSM will finitely ditch him after this year (and take in Kooij), don't see any team paying a lot for him anymore. Wouldn't surprise me if he retires.

Hard to tell, but he stops pedaling for a bit as Moschetti launches. And then basically gives up. Maybe Moschetti crossed his path slightly. Doesn't look like purely a legs problem.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

4kg lighter or not, man still be stealing.

 

[search]

Do they use the 5km rule or 3km? Thinking of Majka.

there's nothing about it in the race regulations, so it's 3k only.

 

[will-10]

Jakobsen kept his 2024 shape nicely.

Had the reversing lights on

 

[Samamba]

Hard to tell, but he stops pedaling for a bit as Moschetti launches. And then basically gives up. Maybe Moschetti crossed his path slightly. Doesn't look like purely a legs problem.

Look at his face, he looks like he was at the end of a 200km stage with 6 HC mountains in it.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Jakobsen seems to get a lot of these 'mechanicals' in final run ins

Beaten by both sprinter and leadout for 'Wagner Bazin WB', who I assume is Bingoal

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

there's nothing about it in the race regulations, so it's 3k only.

Oh well. Feel sorry for Majka, it is not often he gets the chance to shine.
He came in 6 minutes down. Might abandon, from how he looked.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Jakobsen has successfully completed the Matthew Goss/Tyler Farrar sprinter career arc, just with a big interruption in the middle.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Merlier is an absolute horse. The consummate sprinter. So so good to watch , and great work by van lebergh again

 

[Netserk]

there's nothing about it in the race regulations, so it's 3k only.

Looking at this or do you also have the full roadbook?

 

[tobydawq]

4kg lighter or not, man still be stealing.

I came to the thread for this comment.

 

[search]

Looking at this or do you also have the full roadbook?

the roadbook is available online:

https://aso.hosting.augure.com/Augure_ASO/r/ContenuEnLigne/Download?id=9344197D-67B5-46FD-8D34-D287659B0210&filename=ALU25_ROADBOOK.pdf

UCI rules say "The UCI may decide to extend the distance from three kilometres to five kilometres upon request and if justified by the specific circumstances of the stage, in particular for safety reasons. [...] Applications from the organiser of the event must in principle be submitted prior to the publication of the technical guide. If the application is accepted, the details must be included in the special regulations of the event" - which is not the case.

but I missed the 2nd part, which says "In case an application is approved after the publication of the technical guide, the details must be published in a race communique prior to the start of the stage."

So it's possible that they sent out a late amendment to the teams.

 

[Netserk]

the roadbook is available online:

https://aso.hosting.augure.com/Augure_ASO/r/ContenuEnLigne/Download?id=9344197D-67B5-46FD-8D34-D287659B0210&filename=ALU25_ROADBOOK.pdf

UCI rules say "The UCI may decide to extend the distance from three kilometres to five kilometres upon request and if justified by the specific circumstances of the stage, in particular for safety reasons. [...] Applications from the organiser of the event must in principle be submitted prior to the publication of the technical guide. If the application is accepted, the details must be included in the special regulations of the event" - which is not the case.

but I missed the 2nd part, which says "In case an application is approved after the publication of the technical guide, the details must be published in a race communique prior to the start of the stage."

So it's possible that they sent out a late amendment to the teams.

Many thanks!

 

[Rob5091]

Mikkel Berg & Johannes Kulset must have a problem in the last 3km as they've got the same time as Merlier. Majka though is at 6min 14 seconds.
The roadbook has the following -
"In accordance with article 2.6.027 of the UCI regulations, the finish of the second stage is uphill finish. The rule of the last 3 kilometers does not apply."

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Mikkel Berg & Johannes Kulset must have a problem in the last 3km as they've got the same time as Merlier. Majka though is at 6min 14 seconds.
The roadbook has the following -
"In accordance with article 2.6.027 of the UCI regulations, the finish of the second stage is uphill finish. The rule of the last 3 kilometers does not apply."

I dont know if he had a puncture or something, but from the finish camera one could see Kulset very activily rode with a hand up to signal to the commisairse that he had a problem. He was clearly in the big pack with 2 km to go or something, and the group he finished with 21 seconds back were already dropped at that point (his older brother Magnus was the only Uno-X rider in this group that was clearly behind the split at this point).

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

MOD NOTE
Discussion about whether sorts is affected by politics is getting far too close to being a political discussion, with overtones of national prejudices. Twelve posts deleted. No sanctions at this point, but desist.

 

[search]

Stage 2 is interesting because there are now two ascents of the 2.6km hill at 9.2%. And their are bonus seconds on the first ascent which will change the race dynamics.

it's also not the same climb as they did the past years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884272342769000897

View: https://x.com/Eritropoetina/status/1884272342769000897

 

[Devil's Elbow]

it's also not the same climb as they did the past years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884272342769000897

View: https://x.com/Eritropoetina/status/1884272342769000897

And they're also doing three ascents, not two. But other than that, yaco is right on the money.

 

[Berniece]

it's also not the same climb as they did the past years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884272342769000897

View: https://x.com/Eritropoetina/status/1884272342769000897

Since Pidcock didn't ride any CX, I expect him to had a decent build up this winter so he should just win this

 

[Mayomaniac]

it's also not the same climb as they did the past years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884272342769000897

View: https://x.com/Eritropoetina/status/1884272342769000897

Given that the country has around 5 climbs that are harder than the Zoncolan this doesn't surprise me...

 

[Rob5091]

Majka has started stage 2 (according to PCS) so hopefully he's not broken anything.
The last 2km are really brutal so an old hand like Majka might well get the win today.

 

[search]

Since Pidcock didn't ride any CX, I expect him to had a decent build up this winter so he should just win this

I was thinking the opposite is more likely, but who knows . Majka's injury (of whatever scale) may help, but isn't the climb also too hard for him?