State of the Peloton 2025

[Rob5091]

It's only February, the rocket fuel is still en route.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I hope I am not writing prematurely but maybe there is something to this CO ban that was introduced. I initially thought there is no way that was "it" when it came to ridiculous performances but this year so far UAE have been pretty good but normal, Pog did not look superhuman today and the yellows are pretty bad, i.e., their non-Rog level.

I don't see UAE weaker... and Pogi just had a normal day in a sprint stage. Seriously? You should wait for Jebel Jais

 

[Divergence]

I don't see UAE weaker... and Pogi just had a normal day in a sprint stage. Seriously? You should wait for Jebel Jais

Pog wanted to win and he did not, so that is a promising start to the season. But, yes, we need to wait until there is a harder stage.

 

[Froome]

Pogacar probably forgot about sniffing CO from his car.

 

[zlev11]

Can we talk about the (relatively) massive decline of the huffers and puffers of the car exhaust? UAE has been rather disappointing thus far (Narvaez notwithstanding, who is new and thus never part of the carbon monoxide programme), while Israel haven't had one result worthy of noting.

Visma t.b.d., but Blobloblo just lost an uphill race to Damien Howson.

how they doing now?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I hope I am not writing prematurely but maybe there is something to this CO ban that was introduced. I initially thought there is no way that was "it" when it came to ridiculous performances but this year so far UAE have been pretty good but normal, Pog did not look superhuman today and the yellows are pretty bad, i.e., their non-Rog level.

This aged well...

 

[Tim Cahill]

This aged well...

Jury is out on the CO2 thing to be fair, Visma and Israel look useless and UAE aren't doing anything out of the ordinary, though Christen looks a lot better, will know more in the tt and on Hafeet I think.

And opening weekend, Visma do their blood doping at altitude usually, will have to wait to see with Jorgenson.

 

[YellowSocks]

I never thought this CO2 thing was their real trick. UAE announced they were stopping it without any apparent difficulty. Vingegaard himself claimed for its banishment. It served as a diversion for a while.

 

[zlev11]

it's normal for Visma to suck before opening weekend

 

[Coffeeplanter]

how they doing now?

You ask this on the day Visma reaches a new low, whilst Israel is still yet to produce a singular result worthy of noting?

 

[zlev11]

You ask this on the day Visma reaches a new low, whilst Israel is still yet to produce a singular result worthy of noting?

yeah and how is UAE doing?

 

[red_flanders]

I was wondering about the long term efects of stuffing 120g of carbs per hour into the body. I suppose no one knows yet for sure.

Good question, but if you're burning it, limited impact on blood sugar levels. And gotta assume they're burning it.

 

[red_flanders]

Love the "didn't got to altitude camp" this year. Amazing, those camps.

 

[noob]

Obviously he wouldn't hold a jar of anything illegal in his hand but I still got really surprised to see this pic. TUE? Coffeine? What do they take after the finish??

 

[Coffeeplanter]

yeah and how is UAE doing?

The team that has signed a multitude of super talents, consisting of multiple riders that would be clear leaders on other teams and therefore are likely to be less affected than the other two, whilst being run by two bald frauds with an insane doping history and thus capable of other methods?

This really ain’t the gotcha you think it is, lmao.

 

[Divergence]

This aged well...

UAE guys race every race as it is their last one (I guess they have to with the way the team is structured). Therefore, I still have hope for this season.

 

[Peyroteo94]

UAE guys race every race as it is their last one (I guess they have to with the way the team is structured). Therefore, I still have hope for this season.

No, they simply have better riders. Their depth is huge. They have something like 10-15 riders able to win races (TTs, hilly stages/classics, GC, etc) and don't fooled yourself if you think UAE riders are close to their peak. They aren't...
However hope is all we got, I just don't believe they aren't better than everyone else, because they are... in February, in March, in October. I hope to be wrong and have, at least good fights in the monuments and GTs.

 

[Divergence]

No, they simply have better riders. Their depth is huge. They have something like 10-15 riders able to win races (TTs, hilly stages/classics, GC, etc) and don't fooled yourself if you think UAE riders are close to their peak. They aren't...

I guess it remains to be seen

 

[pastronef]

I remember when SKY dared to lead Andalucia and Algarve. the screams coming from across the Channel and Irish sea were loud. and on here too. I miss those years and the haters on here. a shame they weren't leading DUBAI Tour too back then, sending, say, Thomas in the leaders jersey in the breakaway with 140 km to go

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893053094629351757

View: https://x.com/Arambu6/status/1893053094629351757

 

[Tim Cahill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893053094629351757

View: https://x.com/Arambu6/status/1893053094629351757

https://twitter.com/x/status/1893026149426417814

 

[Netserk]

Another person who doesn't know what hypocrisy is. There is nothing hypocritical about the mighty forcing the weak to act differently.

 

[noob]

Another person who doesn't know what hypocrisy is. There is nothing hypocritical about the mighty forcing the weak to act differently.

Yeah it's called "double standard".

 

[zlev11]

I remember when SKY dared to lead Andalucia and Algarve. the screams coming from across the Channel and Irish sea were loud. and on here too. I miss those years and the haters on here. a shame they weren't leading DUBAI Tour too back then, sending, say, Thomas in the leaders jersey in the breakaway with 140 km to go

this bit really sucks

 

[Rob5091]

We had guys like Uran talking about young guys getting burnt out, and now unless you're on the autism spectrum, it's getting tougher for the young uns -
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racin...re-young-riders-turning-pro-too-fast-too-soon

“There were two main reasons: one, the danger of the sport has massively increased. We’re racing alongside people who we know might go on to lose their life in a bike race later in the season,” he says, “and two, there’s a lack of mental stimulation when you’re a pro cyclist.”

“trapped in a routine – cycling, cycling, cycling all the time. Outside of cycling, I saw no one. I had no social life.

Interesting comment about agents and teams -

“It’s all about making sure you don’t miss out on the next big hope – what’s driving the change is the fear of missing out,” says John Herety, the manager of Great Britain’s U23 team. The hunt for emerging young riders has led to accusations that teams and agents are participating in a form of exploitation to ensure that they land the signature of the burgeoning superstars. “It might not be the right word to use, but for me it’s a form of grooming, especially the predatory instincts of some agents when targeting parents of the riders,” Herety adds.