Lesser known races thread 2022

[RedheadDane]

QS just showing off!
Vernon, Cerny, Mørkøv.

 

[yaco]

I don't understand small stage races that don't have super hard stages but do have a long TT. Isn't it just Thomas that's gonna win this and Skjelmose 2nd probably?

Yes - Tour of Algarve has a longish ITT, although the climbs are more challenging at Algarve. One of the four day stage races ( women ) in Belgium and Holland had an 18km ITT with the other three stages being flat - Of course there was no no cross winds and it was a damp squid.

 

[DNP-Old]

Vernon is a former world record holder in the IP, although that one got broken again like ten minutes later. He is made for prologues.

 

[tobydawq]

My surname can't really be translated, though...

Son of Jens? Jenson? Jens-one? Jenlate?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Four races today and they're all televised!

The Giro della Toscana has switched to the hardest side of Monte Serra this year, definitely one of the most climber-friendly classics around these days.

Monte Serra (they climb up to Prato di Calci as that's where the descent joins):

The GP de Wallonie sees both Mathieu van der Poel and the cobbled finish up to the citadel return this year.

Tienne aux Pierres:

Citadelle de Namur (cobbled section, profile ends at the flamme rouge, then flattish before the final 400 metres at 4%)

The Tour de Luxembourg features the easiest stage of the race.

Côte de Steinsel:

Col de l'Europe:

Poteau de Kayl:

And the Okolo Slovenska also has its easiest stage, sadly that's saying a lot more in this case...

 

[Berniece]

The GP de Wallonie sees both Mathieu van der Poel and the cobbled finish up to the citadel return this year.

It's been raining all day, and it will keep raining until late in the evening in Belgium. Wonder what effect this will have on the cobbled section. If I was Mathieu I would try to finish alone, and definitely not in a large group. Just to be sure that he doesn't put is WC in danger.

 

[Didinho]

The women's race GP de Wallonie:
Planta Pura had 3 upfront at the end, paced the whole Citadel of Namen. Justine Ghekiere had a big gap in the last km but almost ended up the wrong way and went so slow in the last corner and became 2nd (she would've won I think). Her team mates Julie De Wilde 1st and Yara Kastelijn 3th.

Wet roads, but the little cobblestones were no problem. Mathieu could have a field day if he's near his top.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Godon attacked on the final hill but got caught at 1.3k to go. Reduced bunch sprint incoming.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Long sprint and Trentin wins it.

 

[RedheadDane]

I don't recall giving the guys in Luxembourg permision to finish this early...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Over in Tuscany, Ponomar is the last man standing from a pretty strong breakaway. Intermarché pulling behind, about 20 riders left on the final ascent of Monte Serra. A bit over 4k left to climb.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Ponomar caught, Battistella dropping. 11 riders left, I think.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Chaves attacks. Rota, Martinez, Zana and Tesfatsion following. Rubio also hangs on and Hirschi eventually makes it back as well.

 

[Samamba]

Hirschi pretty good

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Martinez needs a big gap for this descent...

 

[Samamba]

So Hirschi not going to worlds? Cause he looks damn good.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Martinez taking time on a group containing Hirschi on the descent was not on my bingo card for today. Well, that or the GPS is showing its Italianness.

 

[Samamba]

Martinez taking time on a group containing Hirschi on the descent was not on my bingo card for today. Well, that or the GPS is showing its Italianness.

His descending looks good for some reason.
Untill he got cramps

 

[Samamba]

So Martinez knows this descent right? Like wth are those risks. Cant see anything between those buildings and he takes every corner without touching his breaks.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Martinez was also descending well at the Tour. He‘s gotten a lot better at it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So Martinez knows this descent right? Like wth are those risks. Cant see anything between those buildings and he takes every corner without touching his breaks.

Didn't an angry driver knock him out on these roads a couple of years back?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Einer Rubio is probably the slowest guy in the chasing group, so I kinda understand where he's coming from. Still, he could do a bit of work

 

[Samamba]

Einer Rubio is probably the slowest guy in the chasing group, so I kinda understand where he's coming from. Still, he could do a bit of work

He has Aranburu behind so

 

[Mayomaniac]

Didn't an angry driver knock him out on these roads a couple of years back?

That one was scrarier than you'd think, he didn't remember a thing afterwards and didn't know that he was now riding for EF and no longer for Scinto...

 

[saunaking]

Einer Rubio is probably the slowest guy in the chasing group, so I kinda understand where he's coming from. Still, he could do a bit of work

the nose breathing noises on GCN are killing me lol