The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Regarding the one-off sponsors: they want to squeeze out everything possible in this shortened season, look at Ineos Grenadier, EF education, now Elegance,... And rightly so.
Johan Museeuw named his sons Gianni and Stefano (after Bugno and Zanini). That's what riding for an Italian team can do to you.I guess the Gianni 'thing' came indeed with Bugno. I know some guys with a son named Fabian (born between 2010-2020). There were a lot of Eddy's in the early 70s.
Cavendish is riding, replaces Iván García Cortina
Pure domestique for first hours or breakaway? Would be a nicer final race than Scheldeprijs to finish, but it'd be hard I guess?
I doubt Gianni Meersman was named after Bugno though.I guess the Gianni 'thing' came indeed with Bugno. I know some guys with a son named Fabian (born between 2010-2020). There were a lot of Eddy's in the early 70s.
What do you think about Schachmann? He had a terrible day at LBL, but in shape, he could be really good. He is flying under the radar a bit.
maybe Gianni Motta?I doubt Gianni Meersman was named after Bugno though.
Post WWII, a lot of immigrants came from Italy to work in coalmines. This was mainly in the 50's and 60's iirc, the country was recovering and there was a shortage of workers still wanting to go mining. But the initial immigration was limited to those regions in Belgium (the mines were not scattered around the country). This is how i remember it being told in school.People of Italian extraction are the biggest immigrant group in Belgium and have been for decades. Lots of Belgians have an Italian parent or grandparent. Common migrant names also get normalised and adopted by the general population. You don’t have to link every cycling Gianni in Belgium to a particular ex pro!
Van Aert and MvdP are individually the strongest, but now they might both be isolated in the final. The lack of a teammate can be a problem in the tactical part 35-20 km before the finish, especially when EQSt riders start attacking in turns.Van Aert's team just went from bad to sh!t. Teunissen out due to illness.
Or his parent(s) may have been fashionistas and into Versace...People of Italian extraction are the biggest immigrant group in Belgium and have been for decades. Lots of Belgians have an Italian parent or grandparent. Common migrant names also get normalised and adopted by the general population. You don’t have to link every cycling Gianni in Belgium to a particular ex pro!
If Porte finished TdF on the podium, everything is possible this year.More on topic, in a world where Kelderman can win the Giro, Sep Vanmarcke will win RvV. But in both cases, I expect something will conspire to prevent that from happening...
I'm convinced Alpecin Fenix is now stronger than Jumbo. Vermeersch can stay with Mathieu far longer than anyone at Jumbo Visma can support Wout.In the women's race Bastianelli and Vos will be missing. B's team is still not starting because of a corona case last week. Vos isn't feeling fit.
Van Aert and MvdP are individually the strongest, but now they might both be isolated in the final. The lack of a teammate can be a problem in the tactical part 35-20 km before the finish, especially when EQSt riders start attacking in turns.