Lesser known races thread 2022

[postmanhat]

And Ponomar 10th after being in the breakaway.

I've missed being hyped about Ponomar.

 

[postmanhat]

Hirschi informed in his post-race interview that he had a patella injury during the TDF, hence why he is not riding the World's.

And also, for anyone who missed it, that his schedule is the Italian races, leading to Lombardia.

 

[RedheadDane]

QS bossing that lead-out. Vernon ahead of Syritsa. (At least the commentators said Syritsa.)

 

[Mayomaniac]

I've missed being hyped about Ponomar.

He's had it rough. His motherr and his little sister managed to get to Italy, but his father got conscriped and is fighting in the war.

 

[Samamba]

It's time to make those "Wallonie" races a bit harder (GP de wallonie and Circuit de Wallonie), both just end in an uphill bunchsprint because they just try to avoid harder climbs for some reason.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

A few years ago I would have been really impressed to see a teenager hold on this long from the early break, but Costiou gets overshadowed here by the recency of Ayuso's Vuelta podium.

 

[RedheadDane]

I definitely had to look an extra time to verify what that red stuff on Kanter's knee was.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It's time to make those "Wallonie" races a bit harder (GP de wallonie and Circuit de Wallonie), both just end in an uphill bunchsprint because they just try to avoid harder climbs for some reason.

It's amazing how easy many of the races in the Ardennes are. Tour of Belgium queen stages are another frequent offender and the Tour de Wallonie could also be a lot harder.

 

[Samamba]

It's amazing how easy many of the races in the Ardennes are. Tour of Belgium queen stages are another frequent offender and the Tour de Wallonie could also be a lot harder.

Tour de Wallonie and Belgium were a bit better this year atleast. But yes I don't get it. u23 races in Wallonie are way harder every time. Do a Fleche Ardennaise type of race.

 

[RedheadDane]

Van der Poel takes it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Vintage Van der Poel. Good to see Girmay recovered quickly from his illness too.

 

[Berniece]

Looked like Mathieu had to go deep to get the win in GP de Wallonie

 

[Ricco']

He's back! The jump when he went for the sprint opened already the decisive gap to Girmay. After closing the gap to the duo in front before the turn.

 

[Bolder]

MvdP and Ghirmay bossing the GP Wallonie finish

 

[Didinho]

Mathieu was looking at Philipsen but had to sprint himself in the end, after bridging to Teuns.
Looked like a hard race because off the rain and hard tempo on the Citadel, not the fastest sprint but still impressive.

 

[DNP-Old]

Corbin!

 

[Samamba]

This is what you get when you let Van Den Berg ride Belgian races EF... He has talent, he just doesn't get the chance to show it.

Relegation battle is basically over as expected. Israel is too far back (like 350 of their 450 points they got the past 2 weeks didn't even count) and Lotto will not be able to get the big points in those .1 and .Pro races anymore with the spectacular field they have now. I mean just look at the top 10. It's better than Plouay probably. Impossible to make up 700 points with Cofidis taking points everywhere (will get 200 points out of Luxembourg probably) and EF scoring now too in the one day races. Only small chance is BEX if Matthews crashes out of Worlds or something.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

After yesterday's sprint finish in Luxembourg, today looks a lot more selective with two really steep hills in the final 20 kilometres.

Manertchen (the early uncategorised climb):

Côte de Michielsberg (first 2.1k only):

Um Knupp:

Héndelbierg:

Huelwee:

In Italy, we have the Coppa Sabatini, always a good hilly race. Same route as last year, when they introduced the Montefoscoli wall.

Muro di Peccioli:

Montefoscoli:

Terricciola:

Finish climb:

In Slovakia, it's time for the queen stage, also known as the only stage without a flat finale. It's a really aggravating route, look at how shortly after the hardest climb they pass through the finish line for the first time - such a waste. Instead, they go on a long circuit, although the final short circuit is pretty interesting.

Penhybel:

Cervena Studna:

Stiavnicke Bane (first 4.7k are the same as the final KOM):

This is the final climb of the day. Once over it, they descend back to the bottom and finish part way up it, in the centre of town. The section from the finish line to the end of the steep section is technical and at times extremely narrow. The stage would have been a lot better had they gone from Cervena Studna directly onto this short final circuit (or, even better, looped back from Stiavnicke Bane to the bottom of Cervena Studna), but it is what it is.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Who is this 'Riccardo Ricci' guy racing and why is he wearing a fake moustache and top hat. I think i saw him eating an ice cream in a mcdonalds car park this morning, looks promising!

 

[Bolder]

Always impressed that the Tour of Luxembourg is a multi-stage race.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Coppa Sabatini
about to go live on RaiSport (geo-restricted to italy)
Update: Also on Tiz!

 

[BR2]

I love the composition of the Sabatini group... please show me images!!

 

[BR2]

Coppa Sabatini
about to go live on RaiSport (geo-restricted to italy)

It's also on ES player... in theory...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

About 20 riders have survived the hills in Luxembourg and Skjelmose has attacked right after the summit.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Another group of 20-30 riders joins the chase.