Lesser known races 2026 edition

[Samamba]

The overlap is very significant when he launches and increases when Christen approaches the barriers. Its not like the overlap is only the last 30 cm of Van Gils his bike at any point.

Nobody in van Gils his position would drop back to start sprinting on the right side of Christen in this situation.

first image of the overhead

This is not "side by side". Christen is the one that reacts first so he wants to go to that wheel, that isn't a weird move at all. Van Gils can definitely hesitate a bit here and go into Christens wheel instead of trying to go to the left of someones who's clearly going to the left.

Christen does go to the left a bit too much which endangers Van Gils, thus a DQ. I hate UAE as most people nowadays cause of their boring dominance, but I'm not gonna call for someone who just makes a mistake so many riders make to be suspended.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Wellens found the right moment to attack: a few kilometers before the Sea of Olives, just when you'd think it's a little bit to early. Pidcock was terribly positioned in that phase - possibly the result of a bike change after a mechanical. After that Bora and Q36.5 were the only teams willing to do some chasing, but they always had someone of UAE sticking to their wheel. If they had brought it back, Christen could still have won. Cosnefroy also looks a lot stronger than last year. It was an impressive solo by Wellens, but also another demonstration of UAE's collective strength.

 

[Salvarani]

Now DSQ again.

 

[AlfaLum]

This is not "side by side". Christen is the one that reacts first so he wants to go to that wheel, that isn't a weird move at all. He does go to the left a bit too much which endangers Van Gils, thus a DQ.

But even in the second picture Netserk posted van Gils is already gaining on Christen and they still have half the road left to them. And still Christen closes down further and further until there is no road left to van Gils.

As a professional rider doing sprints even in small groups you need to have some feeling about what is going on around you.

 

[Cycling111]

Christen disqualified.

 

[Faserr]

But even in the second picture Netserk posted van Gils is already gaining on Christen and they still have half the road left to them. And still Christen closes down further and further until there is no road left to van Gils.

As a professional rider doing sprints even in small groups you need to have some feeling about what is going on around you.

He even looked at Van Gils twice.

 

[Samamba]

Wellens found the right moment to attack: a few kilometers before the Sea of Olives, just when you'd think it's a little bit to early. Pidcock was terribly positioned in that phase - possibly the result of a bike change after a mechanical. After that Bora and Q36.5 were the only teams willing to do some chasing, but they always had someone of UAE sticking to their wheel. If they had brought it back, Christen could still have won. Cosnefroy also looks a lot stronger than last year. It was an impressive solo by Wellens, but also another demonstration of UAE's collective strength.

Bora did not do anything for a very long time and Pinarello only used spent Donovan to do the chasing for a while why they had 6 guys in a 40 man bunch, there are absolutely no excuses for that, they could've easily played this way better. Of course UAE might've still won but now they just gave it to Wellens (who deserved the win nonetheless)

 

[Netserk]

my first reaction was that it was completely fine, and van gils could very well have kept his balance and stayed upright

but in this particular situation with the way he moved and given he wasnt more in front of van gils, he should have given more space or at least controlled his elbow better

 

[Salvarani]

What happened with Pellizzarri?

 

[AlfaLum]

What happened with Pellizzarri?

Looked like he had a flat with about 10km to go

 

[Salvarani]

my first reaction was that it was completely fine, and van gils could very well have kept his balance and stayed upright

but in this particular situation with the way he moved and given he wasnt more in front of van gils, he should have given more space or at least controlled his elbow better

Yeah, it is a bit reckless and rightly he gets DSQ.

Them getting tangled up a little bit and the outcome being such a crash is just very unfortunate also.

 

[Offline]

Christen disqualified.

Make it make sense... What about De Lie yesterday than?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Luckily Christens DQ means we can get one of the battling youngsters from a smaller team on the podium!

 

[Netserk]

a shame he wasnt also dsq in alula

 

[Cycling111]

Wellens found the right moment to attack: a few kilometers before the Sea of Olives, just when you'd think it's a little bit to early. Pidcock was terribly positioned in that phase - possibly the result of a bike change after a mechanical. After that Bora and Q36.5 were the only teams willing to do some chasing, but they always had someone of UAE sticking to their wheel. If they had brought it back, Christen could still have won. Cosnefroy also looks a lot stronger than last year. It was an impressive solo by Wellens, but also another demonstration of UAE's collective strength.

Well, It's not difficult, Cosnefroy was practically injured for the entire season.
He made his debut in Romandie afther months of injury, and Switzerland (only one stage) was his last race after a relapse of his injury. Less than 2 months of competition in 2025. Even so, in those 2 months he managed to win a one-day race againts Vauquelin.

His final season really was in 2024. He won Brabantse Pijl and another 6 races.
Furthermore, he finished sixth in Strade Bicanche behind Van Gils and Pidcock (Mohoric fifth), the same result as today.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Luckily Christen's IQ means we can get one of the battling youngsters from a smaller team on the podium!

FTFY

 

[Rob5091]

Make it make sense... What about De Lie yesterday than?

De Lie was not the culprit yesterday.

 

[Tim Cahill]

What about Abdoujaparov grabbing Cippolini's bike in Gent-Wevelgem, did that not factor into their decision? The race jury are a load of corrupt hypocrites.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Make it make sense... What about De Lie yesterday than?

View: https://youtu.be/svAoQ4xjaSc?si=D2GoaXvPLlTBvCUp

 

[Cycling111]

What about Abdoujaparov grabbing Cippolini's bike in Gent-Wevelgem, did that not factor into their decision? The race jury are a load of corrupt hypocrites.

Well, Christen was disqualified today.

It's a shame Van Gils couldn't cross the finish line to take third place. The jury can't do any more today.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Make it make sense... What about De Lie yesterday than?

First of all, it wasn't De Lie being the culprit there but Askey...
But yes, Askey should've been disqualified.

 

[Ripper]

Well, Christen was disqualified today.

It's a shame Van Gils couldn't cross the finish line to take third place. The jury can't do any more today.

True. But if riders such as Christen just keep on racing like a$$hats, then I think the next stage is to DQ the team when members of the team act in an overly aggressive and egregious manner. DQ'ing Christen is a bit of a nothing burger in this instance. DQ'ing the whole team would have been a huge slap. And I think it is getting to that point with strong teams if they have riders who are so inconsiderate that they repeatedly keep on causing issues.

 

[Ripper]

Luckily Christens DQ means we can get one of the battling youngsters from a smaller team on the podium!

???

 

[Ripper]

But even in the second picture Netserk posted van Gils is already gaining on Christen and they still have half the road left to them. And still Christen closes down further and further until there is no road left to van Gils.

As a professional rider doing sprints even in small groups you need to have some feeling about what is going on around you.

He has more than some feeling. These are not Cat 4 racers and Christen did not just start racing his bike 3 months ago. That last swerve to his left is what tapped van Gils off line and touching the barriers. That was an overshot and either fully intentional or the kind of dangerous sloppy racing that some people just don't feel a 'need' to correct until they are given a need by someone else. If you want to see dangerous sloppy sh*t get corrected quickly, hit the team more than the racer themselves.

The racing will still be exciting and will still be inherently dangerous. Just not for stupid reasons.

 

[Offline]

De Lie was not the culprit yesterday.

First of all, it wasn't De Lie being the culprit there but Askey...
But yes, Askey should've been disqualified.

A headbutt is a headbutt.

De Lie did more to another ride yesterday than Christen did today.