Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[yaco]

It's pretty clear, however, that the UAE funding is a sports-washing enterprise, coming as it does from a nation that has no interest in cycling. It's meant to provide a "clean" image to the royal house in markets that matter to the oil business. Capitalism has thus been put to the service or state propaganda and the sport, for which Pogi and Mauro won't be denied the cover they enjoy. Now the big question is what's being covered up?

The way life is going America will soon enter the realm of sportswashing if you are that way inclined.

 

[Extinction]

The way life is going America will soon enter the realm of sportswashing if you are that way inclined.

It's evident, unless you believe the state of UAE has a sincere interest in the sport. They don't, but money talks.

 

[yaco]

It's evident, unless you believe the state of UAE has a sincere interest in the sport. They don't, but money talks.

So now we have moved the goalposts, so that having a sincere interest in the sport means you are not sportswashing.

 

[Extinction]

So now we have moved the goalposts, so that having a sincere interest in the sport means you are not sportswashing.

This is a logical fallacy. Backing with a sincere interest in the sport can mean many things, whereas having zero interest can only mean one.

 

[Peyroteo94]

1 day to the first Pogenheimer. Someone said tomorrow they will have a headwind in Jebel Hafeet. A pity since I would want him to break the record by one minute.

 

[Unchained]

This is a logical fallacy. Backing with a sincere interest in the sport can mean many things, whereas having zero interest can only mean one.

Anyone who thinks, would find themselves absolutely ridiculous to use a broad brush and question and conclude they motivation, the intent, what's in someone's heart, doubt their sincerity.. Just because the internet allows it. Team owners, staff, riders, others in support do so for millions of reasons. UAE saw something in Pogacar in 2018, they thought he was a solid building block for the team foundation. Many race fans, regular people have fantasies, dreams of what they would do if having unlimited wealth, like from a lottery jackpot or intentions of world required essentials. UAE is a variation of that, many million and billionaires take up auto,air racing, sailing, horse racing, football, golf, other pro sports. UAE is in cycling tradition of someone with wealth or a group with substantial wealth getting involved with bike racing. All cycling fans are witnessing record breaking cycling accomplishments never seen before.. I feel appreciative, not angry about someone spending money on the sport I like. I certainly don't have the moral authority to question why someone starts a bike racing team, a bar, pizza place or car repair shop..their motivation is personal.

 

[Extinction]

Anyone who thinks, would find themselves absolutely ridiculous to use a broad brush and question and conclude they motivation, the intent, what's in someone's heart, doubt their sincerity.. Just because the internet allows it. Team owners, staff, riders, others in support do so for millions of reasons. UAE saw something in Pogacar in 2018, they thought he was a solid building block for the team foundation. Many race fans, regular people have fantasies, dreams of what they would do if having unlimited wealth, like from a lottery jackpot or intentions of world required essentials. UAE is a variation of that, many million and billionaires take up auto,air racing, sailing, horse racing, football, golf, other pro sports. UAE is in cycling tradition of someone with wealth or a group with substantial wealth getting involved with bike racing. All cycling fans are witnessing record breaking cycling accomplishments never seen before.. I feel appreciative, not angry about someone spending money on the sport I like. I certainly don't have the moral authority to question why someone starts a bike racing team, a bar, pizza place or car repair shop..their motivation is personal.

I'm not talking about management, which is a traditional euro affair, but the Arabic, petrol dollar money that's backing it, which has zero interest in cycling other than sports-washing.

 

[yaco]

I'm not talking about management, which is a traditional euro affair, but the Arabic, petrol dollar money that's backing it, which has zero interest in cycling other than sports-washing.

I suggest others use a broader brush to describe sportswashing and it's not just petro dollars. The more money the middle east pumps into sports, arts, culture etc can only benefit the world.

 

[Extinction]

I suggest others use a broader brush to describe sportswashing and it's not just petro dollars. The more money the middle east pumps into sports, arts, culture etc can only benefit the world.

Well, that's debatable. I'm not among those who think the world benefits just because money gets dumped into things. It's more important, above all today, how that money is generated and the colateral effects. It depends on who is painting in broad strokes and how it colors the world.

 

[ivanic]

It's almost April 2025 and we can officially and safely say that 2024 has passed, virgin. He got away with it, as in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, even if he hadn't shown such a level.

Saturday, Z2 training.

 

[pastronef]

Apparently, there is now talk about Teddy riding Roubaix this year. Would be hilarious if he rode and won it. Recall that it is supposed to be a classic flat race favoring "big guys" etc. etc. Would be fun to see another standard cycling wisdom go down the drain. Teddy will ride it on 40mm tires looking totally at ease the whole way and we will hear some more about how amazingly efficient motorcycle size tires are in spite of their weight and the cross section area facing the wind. Of course, they are efficient... for someone riding a motorcycle.

looking for similar weight and type of rider, VDB was 7th in 1999 in his first Roubaix. Bartoli 21st in 2004 in his only Roubaix and he said he should have raced it more often. Leukemans wasn't a big guy either.
we saw how Nibali, and Pog himself, did good at the TDF when cobbles where involved.
also, the last TDF winner racing Roubaix was my dear Wiggo

 

[Cookster15]

It's almost April 2025 and we can officially and safely say that 2024 has passed, virgin. He got away with it, as in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, even if he hadn't shown such a level.

Saturday, Z2 training.

Such a level? I've said it before but will repeat it again: The line is blurred because of his young age. Everyone improves at that age. How young are we supposed to be to show our potential level? In 2019 Pogacar was only 21 years old. I think he was 19 when he won the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir. Still only 20 when he won the 2019 ToC.

But to your point I suppose you just need to be patient. I expect more of the same for 2025 - starting tomorrow.

 

[Extinction]

Pogacar can win this, because he is entering his peak years and on his previous performances, which is daunting for the rest. The question remains, will the others only race for second or will they pull out the cogliones? If not, Gianetti-Matxin have won.

 

[pastronef]

Pogacar can win this, because he is entering his peak years and on his previous performances, which is daunting for the rest. The question remains, will the others only race for second or will they pull out the cogliones? If not, Gianetti-Matxin have won.

italian-spanish mix

 

[Extinction]

italian-spanish mix

Coglioni...in Siena today there were so many cyclists out for a trot. It's funny how outside the cycling family they just look silly, but from inside so intent.

 

[MartinGT]

*crack* 'Right Tadej engage the engine we've done enough now, over' *crack*

 

[noob]

Maybe rename the thread "the adult forum"

 

[E_F_]

*crack* 'Right Tadej engage the engine we've done enough now, over' *crack*

That was what it looked like (completely intuitively of course).

 

[Casual cyclist]

That was what it looked like (completely intuitively of course).

High-speed crash. Banged up and hurting. A real problem for someone having to rely solely on his biological engine for further propulsion. Thank god that's not the case for our guy.

 

[Amazinmets87]

High-speed crash. Banged up and hurting. A real problem for someone having to rely solely on his biological engine for further propulsion. Thank god that's not the case for our guy.

The combination of natural adrenaline and whatever cocktail he's on would do a phenomenal job of masking the pain.

 

[Casual cyclist]

The combination of natural adrenaline and whatever cocktail he's on would do a phenomenal job of masking the pain.

Yeah, it could and would and likely did to an extent. But still, some 30km after that spectacular tumble, the wonder kid -- yet again -- found "another gear", left his companion standing still and just sailed away, (slightly distorted) smile on the weaselly face.

 

[nayr497]

Yeah, it could and would and likely did to an extent. But still, some 30km after that spectacular tumble, the wonder kid -- yet again -- found "another gear", left his companion standing still and just sailed away, (slightly distorted) smile on the weaselly face.

Exactly. You get up and push on, all charged up, but that is going to fade. We've all watched cycling long enough to know you don't get up from crash that hard, at that speed, and then just cruise to victory. It's simply not believable.

Maybe you finish the stage in a GT because you're going for a leader jersey, but you don't casually pull out a one-day race win.

UAE and this guy are truly making a mockery of the sport, and even worse, the fans.

 

[Unchained]

Exactly. You get up and push on, all charged up, but that is going to fade. We've all watched cycling long enough to know you don't get up from crash that hard, at that speed, and then just cruise to victory. It's simply not believable.

Maybe you finish the stage in a GT because you're going for a leader jersey, but you don't casually pull out a one-day race win.

UAE and this guy are truly making a mockery of the sport, and even worse, the fans.

Not really sure what race or rider you were watching. Pogacar ate schit, got up with moderate road rub, as soon as he realized nothing was broken ( instantly) he ran to his crashed bike, didn't do any drama....didn't lay on the ground waiting for a referee or penalty or yellow card!!! Got up, rode at level didn't go too deep and Pidcock, didn't attack when he witnessed race favorite flying into the weeds!! Rode like a gentleman, a good sportsman.
If staying composed and in control is super human, Pogacar fits the description. UAE rode a great race..
Wellens and Del Toro popped almost everyone before Pogacar had to do much, Pidcock and Conner Swift broke bike racing rules 1,2,3..know your limits and know history!! If you find yourself alone with Pogacar you contribute nothing, zero, not even a small pull..your job is to get behind him, eat, drink, draft and rest.. If you are Conner or Tom, don't get caught up in the moment, there is a reason that Pog is in rainbow jersey, even if it's temporarily torn, muddy and bloody!!
And for reference.. Today at Adriatico Del Toro in top 10 in ITT, UAE with 2 riders in top 10!! UAE is showing mastery not mockery!! Quality, aggressive ,from the front positive racing as a team style and objective..!!!
Pidcock is racing great!! He is showing strong days on the bike, We won't know what would have happened if Pog didn't crash and he had decided that Pidcock was helpful for additional kilometers.. Pogacar got a little over a minute, he didn't cruise to a victory until the last couple of K ...Pidcock chased hard and intelligently, he made World Champion work hard for the win.

 

[GuntherL1]

Not really sure what race or rider you were watching. Pogacar ate schit, got up with moderate road rub, as soon as he realized nothing was broken ( instantly) he ran to his crashed bike, didn't do any drama....didn't lay on the ground waiting for a referee or penalty or yellow card!!! Got up, rode at level didn't go too deep and Pidcock, didn't attack when he witnessed race favorite flying into the weeds!! Rode like a gentleman, a good sportsman.
If staying composed and in control is super human, Pogacar fits the description. UAE rode a great race..
Wellens and Del Toro popped almost everyone before Pogacar had to do much, Pidcock and Conner Swift broke bike racing rules 1,2,3..know your limits and know history!! If you find yourself alone with Pogacar you contribute nothing, zero, not even a small pull..your job is to get behind him, eat, drink, draft and rest.. If you are Conner or Tom, don't get caught up in the moment, there is a reason that Pog is in rainbow jersey, even if it's temporarily torn, muddy and bloody!!
And for reference.. Today at Adriatico Del Toro in top 10 in ITT, UAE with 2 riders in top 10!! UAE is showing mastery not mockery!! Quality, aggressive ,from the front positive racing as a team style and objective..!!!
Pidcock is racing great!! He is showing strong days on the bike, We won't know what would have happened if Pog didn't crash and he had decided that Pidcock was helpful for additional kilometers.. Pogacar got a little over a minute, he didn't cruise to a victory until the last couple of K ...Pidcock chased hard and intelligently, he made World Champion work hard for the win.

I'm pretty sure nayr497 wasn't complaining about Pogacars attitude after the crash or UAE performances in general. It's about this one guy dominating everyone else all the time on all terrain with huge margins, including on Saturday after crashing. We've never seen this before and he's doing it with the former Saunier Duval management, arguably the dirtiest team at that time. Stéphane Heulot said the following about Gianetti: “Doping is so ingrained in certain managers, like Gianetti, that they can’t conceive of cycling any other way.” Please tell me why you think Gianetti has changed his ways.

 

[Cookster15]

We've all watched cycling long enough to know you don't get up from crash that hard, at that speed, and then just cruise to victory. It's simply not believable.

I don't think he cruised to victory, that is an exaggeration.

Cadel Evans got up from a worse crash in the 2008 Tour. Professionals are paid to keep riding when they crash. It is part of the job. And every crash is different. Plus, not sure how doping can help except to dull pain. But pain killing substances are easily detected.

Cadel Evans Crash - Stage 9 - 2008 Tour de France