Pro cycling 2024, the year of the asterisk.

[ChewbaccaDefense]

The last 2 weeks and a day, have been horrible in terms of there being closely contested races, in the biggest races, this year. We are left with 2 riders who should be able to win anything they enter, if that weren't already the case. However, I don't see how winning this year, will become anything but an exercise in "What if?" I am gutted at what has happened. This has, for me, gone from a year of real anticipation, to wondering if I will even bother watching most of it...sure, I may do the highlights, but waking up on the west coast of the US to watch races at 3am is not likely to happen for me anymore.

I write this after the reports that everyone involved in the crash today, is moving, and apparently not in a life-threatening situation. If there is a rider in danger of losing their life, I apologize, as this thread would be a thread too soon, in that instance.

 

[zlev11]

yeah, we'll get 'em next year. this season is toast.

 

[Lequack]

There is still 3 months until the TDF, and there is still the Vuelta. Hopefully everyone can recover by then, the season is not over for the big contenders.

But what can be done about the crashes? There is a big thread where people discuss it, not sure a solution has yet been reached, but there are certainly thing that should be done.

Crashes, what can be done?

I feel like cycling is in the dark ages on this. Every one keeps saying 'this can't keep going on like this' but it always does. My sense is that one of the core issues is the riders are basically exploited labour - they're treated like pack fodder so that the show can keep going on...

forum.cyclingnews.com

 

[zlev11]

There is still 3 months until the TDF, and there is still the Vuelta. Hopefully everyone can recover by them, the season is not over for the big contenders.

yeah but we have to wait 3 months for a good race and that's if Vingegaard can even make a half decent recovery. the Adrennes are in serious jeopardy of being any good if Remco and Roglic are too injured to race them now too.

 

[ashhutch1997]

A very simular thing happend 10 years ago, when Contador and Froome crashed out the TDF. Unfortunately these things are part of the sport.

 

[velaso montador]

The last 2 weeks and a day, have been horrible in terms of there being closely contested races, in the biggest races, this year. We are left with 2 riders who should be able to win anything they enter,

Excuse me but thats just the same as we saw last year without the crashes on your might beloved rider i dont know? But noone one was close to contest with Vdp or Pog in any big races before any crash of Pog, so its basicly just the same in that regard. Wva was never close im sorry but facts are also facts.

Tho if your favorite rider whoever it is crashes out ofcourse its a bummer not denying it that, it sucks. But that sentence alone isnt different from last year im sorry.

Chrashes however suck Pogacar had em too last year and ruined his second part of season unfortunately its part of the sport tho it do suck. Lets wait and see what it is evenpoel if its a collarbone at this stage of the year is nothing crazy so hopefully thats good hopefully everyone is okei.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Giro and Tour will still have a full field of riders maybe without Vingegaard, though hopefully his injuries aren't as bad as they looked. Evenepoel (Collarbone?) and Roglic looked ok and should theoretically be in top form come July.

Liege it's a bit crap for, even Piddler is probably out.

I'd still watch and look forward to the races even without any of the top riders, I like watching the scenery go past, though can understand it's different if you get up at 3am.

 

[velaso montador]

Giro and Tour will still have a full field of riders maybe without Vingegaard, though hopefully his injuries aren't as bad as they looked. Evenepoel (Collarbone?) and Roglic looked ok and should theoretically be in top form come July.

Liege it's a bit crap for, even Piddler is probably out.

I'd still watch and look forward to the races even without any of the top riders, I like watching the scenery go past, though can understand it's different if you get up at 3am.

Yeah agree. The most toprider in fact seems to be okey maby even more so than last year.(im sure more will crash its just happens sometimes) Crashes is not something new unfortunately its part of the sport and that sucks.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Pog vs Rog will be good, the grudge match we were robbed of in 2021

 

[KZD]

While I understand the feeling behind the title of the post, there are no asterisks in cycling, unfortunately crashes are part of the sport and avoiding injuries is one of the most important things in cycling and we don't even know if Pogačar and Van der Poel won't get injured too.

Having said that, obviously its not normal that so many top riders are currently injured and teams and other stakeholders should be able to find ways of a) reducing the number of crashes, b) reducing the impact of those crashes.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Even my laptop has crashed twice today.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Calm down guys. We will have Remco and Vingegaard in the Tour. Fingers crossed for no more serious crashes.

 

[Kwaremonster]

Liege is gonna be ***, but then, when is Liege not ***? For the tour it will probably okay, and otherwise rince repeat the above, because for the victory the tour is never very exciting.

 

[jaylew]

Way too early to start writing the season off. As KSD said, there are no asterisks in cycling (except for maybe those victories given after the fact) and there are "what ifs" after most races.

 

[Gratemans]

but then, when is Liege not ***

It's definitely my least favourite monument. By quite a bit.