Lesser known races 2026 edition

[Coppi-Bartali]

I don't think Plapp could have dropped Cosnefroy on the final climb.

With two more climbs, Plapp's difference as a pure climber could be even greater. We'll never know.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Barrenetxea wins in France.

1	Barrenetxea Jon	Movistar Team	125	75	3:47:04
2	Molenaar Alex	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	85	55	,,
3	Venturini Clément	Unibet Rose Rockets	70	40	,,
4	Loockx Lander	Unibet Rose Rockets	60	32	,,
5	Hardouin Louis	Van Rysel Roubaix	50	28	,,
6	Barceló Fernando	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	40	24	,,
7	Molard Rudy	Groupama - FDJ United	35	20	,,
8	Biermans Jenthe	Cofidis	30	18	,,
9	Prades Eduard	Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	25	16	,,
10	Dujardin Sandy	TotalEnergies	20	14

 

[Tim Cahill]

Race result stands, few backhanders maybe.

 

[hayneplane]

My pet hate. A WT rider dropping back to the development team. This should not be allowed.

Don’t mind it but it should only be a rider 20 and younger so still genuinely a developing rider.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

If anyone is wondering why Visma hasn't won every stage of this race.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2055679501149905089

View: https://x.com/DucalSports/status/2055679501149905089?s=20

 

[Netserk]

This can‘t be legal

no different to tignes 19

 

[QueenStagiaire]

no different to tignes 19

That‘s not even true if we discount matters of opinion, they called that race finished after the fact so kind of even worse, but on the other hand at least the favorites to be at the front at the finish were up there and Simon Yates didn‘t get everything for being in the break.

 

[Netserk]

afaik it was the same rules used in both cases

" legally " it doesnt matter at all that yates was caught by bernal

 

[Netserk]

 

[search]

If anyone is wondering why Visma hasn't won every stage of this race.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2055679501149905089

View: https://x.com/DucalSports/status/2055679501149905089?s=20

usually the riders are responsible themself, but hard to say without pictures, of course.

Visma has a DS from Luxembourg now, by the way (Gaëtan Pons), who asked the team to add the race to its program.

 

[search]

Here's also the statement from the Tour de Hongrie. It honestly sounds reasonable to me

 

[yaco]

O'brien is fine with only stitches to his ear.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Rund um Köln coming up today, Visma only have their development team because their Main Team is at Flèche du Sud, the German national team shows that there‘s been a weird naming trend among cycling enthusiasts in Germany, because four out of five U23 riders on the team have alliterative names. They will be babysat by Nils Politt and a 40 year-old Gravel rider who retired from pro road cycling a decade ago.
Meanwhile Fabio Jakobsen is here to get dropped ridiculously early and Red Bull has the favorites in Meeus and Van Poppel. Arvid de Kleijn who‘s returning after a long break from racing and Gerben Thijssen are the main sprint competitors. In the meantime, there are no real punchy attackers except for Louis Barré.

 

[RedheadDane]

Don’t mind it but it should only be a rider 20 and younger so still genuinely a developing rider.

I'm gonna go in the opposite direction as well, and say it should also be allowed for a rider who's 35+, and riding in a pure mentor role.
Like, a Chris Juul type.

 

[search]

final stage in Hungary today:

There's quite a lot of wind, so the race could blow apart again, especially on exposed roads after the final climb. But Söderqvist is of course not the ideal guy to put under pressure in those conditions.

 

[RedheadDane]

the German national team shows that there‘s been a weird naming trend among cycling enthusiasts in Germany, because four out of five U23 riders on the team have alliterative names.

I suspect it was simply a German naming trend.
You don't actually need to be a child of cycling enthusiasts to become a pro cyclist.

For example - nothing to do with this race - you can be a son of karate athletes.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Tube channel for Rund um Köln:

View: https://youtu.be/Q_AwFR5Z2lI


160kms to go.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Red Bull Boras race to lose surely in cologne. Bringing Meus and Van Poppel against this field should be straight forward.

 

[Faserr]

Politt attacking.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Paul Voß doing his first UCI race on the road in five years and almost 10 if you look past his appearance at the 2021 German NC.

 

[RedheadDane]

I have sad news regarding Hongrie; they'll get over this climb before we get pictures:

Who are the last winners in Szentkirályszabadja, Hungary?

www.procyclingstats.com

Not that I think it'll play a role in GC, I just... want to hear the commentators say it.

 

[Leadbelly]

Stream for Omloop der Kempen:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h2YBpW0FVo

 

[RedheadDane]

Okay, I'm confused:
According to PCS Gran Premio New York City will finish in around 1h30min...
Isn't it the middle of the night over there?

 

[primoz]

... Red Bull has the favorites in Meeus and Van Poppel...

That is impressive leadout train for Alessio Magagnotti.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Another sensational moral victory for Fred in progress.