Lesser known races 2025 edition

[Samu Cuenca]

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Wellens didn't win after he was dropped 300 times by a "washed" Pogi the other day.

 

[Unchained]

Kwiat really impressive. Not just giving the victory, but holding everyone off. Surely one of the strongest today. Could’ve been a good duel with McNulty.

Guy is a stallion.. He worked all 4 hours, well deserved victory!!
In Spanish they are saying someone has broken collar bone.. Bernal!!

 

[Escarabajo]

Great win for Kwiato!
Hate to see Bernal crashing in the first race in Europe. What a great form He is showing. He was blocking most of the attacks. So strong. Hope He is OK.

 

[Didinho]

Wellens congratulate Del Toro during his interview. So he finished and didn’t look like he crashed.

 

[yaco]

That was a tactical disasterclass by UAE and Ineos. Both teams needed to get a second rider to join the front three in case of mechanicals or crashes. And guess what happened!

 

[Tim Cahill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891524750205157421

View: https://x.com/AS_Colombia/status/1891524750205157421


Broken collarbone

 

[Landeirovic]

Collarbone fracture for Bernal

 

[Brullnux]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891524750205157421

View: https://x.com/AS_Colombia/status/1891524750205157421


Broken collarbone

Cancel this race

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A tad too tactical overall today for my liking, but the puncture gave the race the needed drame at the business end. Solid win for Kwia and luckily Ruiz managed to hold on to 3rd after being in the break .

 

[Escarabajo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891524750205157421

View: https://x.com/AS_Colombia/status/1891524750205157421


Broken collarbone

This is a nightmare!
I don't understand.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

That was a tactical disasterclass by UAE and Ineos

They won?

 

[yaco]

They won?

Because it could have been Ineos who suffered the mechanical. Both teams needed a second rider to join the front to cover all eventualities. [[content deleted]]

 

[Escarabajo]

Because it could have been Ineos who suffered the mechanical. Both teams needed a second rider to join the front to cover all eventualities. [[deleted content]]

Ineos had 4. They didn't need them anyway!

 

[Coffeeplanter]

CX'er Schwarzbacher 13th.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Because it could have been Ineos who suffered the mechanical. Both teams needed a second rider to join the front to cover all eventualities. [[deleted content]]

Having 2 riders in the front group would not cover all eventualities if both of them puncture. Then you would need 3 riders.

But that doesn't cover all eventualities if all 3 of them puncture. [[response to deleted content removed]]

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Egan is fragile
he shouldn't ride unnecessary sterrato.

 

[topcat]

That's a race I'd like to watch: where the front group consists of 2/3 riders from the same team and they all puncture and a rider from another team wins. A race like that could save cycling.

View: https://youtu.be/_t42lAfu7Cs

 

[Pantani_lives]

It was the first time I watched the Clásica Jaén, and I'm pleasantly surprised. It really looks like the Spanish answer to the Strade Bianche, with a combination of climbing and unpaved roads. I hope this will be a WT race in the future.

Kwiatkowski was world champion eleven years ago, and he's still going strong, while most of his rivals of back then are retired or washed up. Not many riders perform on such a constant level for over a decade.

EDIT: I just heard about Bernal and that's a pity. McNulty's flat tire was also unlucky.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

5000m - what a race. Brilliant.

 

[RedheadDane]

Was Kwiatkowski always supposed to do Andalucia, or did Ineos management quickly decide that:
"Michal! We need you!"?

 

[Netserk]

For a more attractive field, they probably also have to cut out the main sector today. It's not good to have a gravel descent before the pivotal moment of the race.

Clásica Jaén – Paraíso Interior: Úbeda > Úbeda

184.5 km, +2773 m. Bike ride in Úbeda, Andalucía

ridewithgps.com

 

[yaco]

Ineos had 4. They didn't need them anyway!

All the more reason Ineos and UAE needed to send a second rider up the road to cover all contingencies

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891543169734521269

View: https://x.com/ClasicaJaen/status/1891543169734521269


H/t @faustocoppi60

 

[yaco]

Having 2 riders in the front group would not cover all eventualities if both of them puncture. Then you would need 3 riders.

But that doesn't cover all eventualities if all 3 of them puncture. [[response to deleted content removed]]

When both teams have 4 riders in the chase group then you both send one up the road in case of mechanical or crashes. It also means that you destroy the chances of Ruiz placegetter because one rider from each team would attack forcing Ruiz to follow and burn themselves out. At the end of the day both teams displayed tactical naivety and one team was lucky and one team was unlucky.

 

[Unchained]

It was the first time I watched the Clásica Jaén, and I'm pleasantly surprised. It really looks like the Spanish answer to the Strade Bianche, with a combination of climbing and unpaved roads. I hope this will be a WT race in the future.

Kwiatkowski was world champion eleven years ago, and he's still going strong, while most of his rivals of back then are retired or washed up. Not many riders perform on such a constant level for over a decade.

EDIT: I just heard about Bernal and that's a pity. McNulty's flat tire was also unlucky.

Special K is exactly as you described.. He is always well prepared and is super intelligent on the bike.. Strange final 20 kilometers for sure!! My personal opinion is that the broken collar bone will be temporary setback for Bernal..4-6 weeks up and training.. It does happen just wish it didn't happen to him..