State of the Peloton 2024

[Ripper]

Milan - San Remo is on then?! 200 km out and ... whoosh!

Full gas, maximum warp speed, from 288 km to go. Winning by 5 minutes

Edited for correct distance!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Full gas, maximum warp speed, from 288 km to go. Winning by 5 minutes

Edited for correct distance!

MSR will be the battle of two Frankenstein monsters. Unfortunately much shorter than this.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Full gas, maximum warp speed, from 288 km to go. Winning by 5 minutes

Edited for correct distance!

I wish that the statistical probability of your pemonition was 0%, but it isn't.

 

[Rob5091]

Coffee, ketones and nootropics - the next big buzz.
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-training/has-pro-cycling-maxed-out-on-caffeine/
Cycling knows how to get its kicks out of caffeine. The peloton is now scratching around at 'smart drugs' and different dosing methods for a new buzz.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't know what's going on but I can tell you one thing:
1) Pogacar is the best cyclist I've seen
2) Vingegaard is the best stage racer I've seen
3) MVP is on his way to becoming the best one-day racer I've seen
Three monsters.

 

[Rackham]

I don't know what's going on but I can tell you one thing:
1) Pogacar is the best cyclist I've seen
2) Vingegaard is the best stage racer I've seen
3) MVP is on his way to becoming the best one-day racer I've seen
Three monsters.

I might have an unromantic view here but IMO it's all about peaking via illicit methods for the right moment, then coming down from the 'high' before peaking again. Some riders have extremely high ceilings & the ability to repeat peak at regular intervals. Others, not so much.

For example I've seen both Van der Poel & Pog ride what appeared to me like paniagua on numerous occasions. This is usually followed by one insane performance either a few days or a week later which makes everyone forget the previous result.

It's why drawing conclusions from any race or performance is becoming increasingly difficult in this pro-peloton. Once we're talking about the upper stratosphere of top, top performers, then on their day I believe any single one of them when prepared properly can demolish the other if he's slightly off his peak (either coming up or down from the peak, to be precise).

I mean don't you think it's sort of funky how every team is hunting for the next 20 year old 'superstar' who they absolutely believe will win the TdF? Because taken at face value we should conclude a 27 year old Vingegaard is unbeatable & everyone else should pack their bags & go home. It's almost like... every team knows what it really takes to win & every team wants to hit that narrow performance margin with the right performer at the exact right time.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I might have an unromantic view here but IMO it's all about peaking via illicit methods for the right moment, then coming down from the 'high' before peaking again. Some riders have extremely high ceilings & the ability to repeat peak at regular intervals. Others, not so much.

For example I've seen both Van der Poel & Pog ride what appeared to me like paniagua on numerous occasions. This is usually followed by one insane performance either a few days or a week later which makes everyone forget the previous result.

It's why drawing conclusions from any race or performance is becoming increasingly difficult in this pro-peloton. Once we're talking about the upper stratosphere of top, top performers, then on their day I believe any single one of them when prepared properly can demolish the other if he's slightly off his peak (either coming up or down from the peak, to be precise).

I mean don't you think it's sort of funky how every team is hunting for the next 20 year old 'superstar' who they absolutely believe will win the TdF? Because taken at face value we should conclude a 27 year old Vingegaard is unbeatable & everyone else should pack their bags & go home. It's almost like... every team knows what it really takes to win & every team wants to hit that narrow performance margin with the right performer at the exact right time.

I never said my statement wasn't associated with doping. Just saying what I see. As for youngsters, they are clearly way closer to a "finished product" at the age of 20-22 than before. It was discussed here a few times and it must be associated with better training in teenage years plus earlier use of "juices".

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

These guys are not f**king around. Mutant sh!t happening, and none of them appear to be losing one drop of sweat about being caught. Either we are witnessing the evolution of mankind at an exponential pace, or they're doing something that cannot be detected now...and all I can think is gene doping, or alien propulsion technology.

 

[Sciatic]

These guys are not f**king around. Mutant sh!t happening, and none of them appear to be losing one drop of sweat about being caught. Either we are witnessing the evolution of mankind at an exponential pace, or they're doing something that cannot be detected now...and all I can think is gene doping, or alien propulsion technology.

Don’t forget them lugworms!

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

The Gewiss guys would struggle to make the time cut in this new clean era of cycling.

 

[pastronef]

The Gewiss guys would struggle to make the time cut in this new clean era of cycling.

no need to go back to the Gewiss years. the best Froome would struggle to hold their wheels for a few hundred meters

 

[Netserk]

While there can no longer be any doubt that the best today are the fastest this century (though I'd like to see someone break the Ventoux record and Armstrong's times on Alpe d'Huez), the jelly-blooded mutants still hold the all-time crown for now.

 

[pastronef]

Pantani's Joux Plane record was at risk last year, but they played games just before the top

 

[Netserk]

Pantani set records wherever he went, some will fall before others. He also wasn't launched by a train.

 

[Netserk]

They just wheelsucked the 591 motors riding 2cm in front of them.

They didn't master that skill to the degree Pogi does.

 

[Ripper]

The J and T show have this far demonstrated that they are from another dimension compared to the others.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The J and T show have this far demonstrated that they are from another dimension compared to the others.

So will the arms race between Teddy and Skeletor reach new heights this year?

 

[Ripper]

So will the arms race between Teddy and Skeletor reach new heights this year?

Odds are yes?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Odds are yes?

I feel that Giro will be decided in the first week (or even first weekend ).

 

[Ripper]

I feel that Giro will be decided in the first week (or even first weekend ).

You don't fancy Cian?

 

[Sciatic]

Hmm, wonder if they included pro cycling in their investigation:
“Pentagon report finds no evidence of alien visits, hidden spacecraft”

https://wapo.st/4aohVZ1

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Hmm, wonder if they included pro cycling in their investigation:
“Pentagon report finds no evidence of alien visits, hidden spacecraft”

https://wapo.st/4aohVZ1

"The report is likely to be scrutinized and rejected by independent investigators..."

 

[Sciatic]

"The report is likely to be scrutinized and rejected by independent investigators..."

 

[Rackham]

I never said my statement wasn't associated with doping. Just saying what I see. As for youngsters, they are clearly way closer to a "finished product" at the age of 20-22 than before. It was discussed here a few times and it must be associated with better training in teenage years plus earlier use of "juices".

I prefer what we're seeing in Paris-Nice tbh. I mean sure there will be some shenanigans in the preparation there as well but at least there's a real fight with riders who're in the same ballpark form wise. I'll always have more respect for a race with a tight fight for the win than one way demolition jobs with people gawking at a phony guy riding around minutes ahead of everyone.

I've been watching sport since the 1990's & there's never ever been an athlete in any sport who dominates without it being industrialized & totally cynical, whether legal (like in f1, although even then there's often cheating like Schumacher with his hidden driving aids in 1994), or illegal (athletics, cycling etc.). Even Messi & Ronaldo were doped up to their eyeballs & used to run around like rabbits without ever getting tired.

This is just me but I basically don't watch sport for supermen performances. They suck the joy out of it. Especially when I see the bean counters behind the scenes clapping & applauding. It's too obvious.

 

[Ripper]

I prefer what we're seeing in Paris-Nice tbh. I mean sure there will be some shenanigans in the preparation there as well but at least there's a real fight with riders who're in the same ballpark form wise. I'll always have more respect for a race with a tight fight for the win than one way demolition jobs with people gawking at a phony guy riding around minutes ahead of everyone.

I've been watching sport since the 1990's & there's never ever been an athlete in any sport who dominates without it being industrialized & totally cynical, whether legal (like in f1, although even then there's often cheating like Schumacher with his hidden driving aids in 1994), or illegal (athletics, cycling etc.). Even Messi & Ronaldo were doped up to their eyeballs & used to run around like rabbits without ever getting tired.

This is just me but I basically don't watch sport for supermen performances. They suck the joy out of it. Especially when I see the bean counters behind the scenes clapping & applauding. It's too obvious.

So long story short, you are not a fan of the Joni J or Teddy T fun park exhibitions (with occasional cameos by a couple of others)