Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[ivanic]

I did not watch the live race for the simple reason of being 99% sure it would end up in a circus. Just took a look at the replay a few minutes ago paying attention to the way the leaders of the race rode the decisive section -- the last Kwaremont-Paterberg combo. What can I say (as if anybody expected different): same story as in 2023 that was one the clearest cases of an external assist usage. Just look at the speed of the initial separation from Matt PdV who is supposed to be an explosive big (but not too big) guy -- and a sort of nature freak to boot -- taylor-made for races just like this one. Poor Matt, with all his explosive power, could not do a thing to try not even to close this gap, but to slow down its growth. Then the body language --on both Kwaremont and Paterberg, especially the steep section. Same story as in 2023, if not even more blatant. Just look at the contrast of the smooth effortless propulsion of Pogi the weasel and the chasers thereof, shaking, doing full body motions and visibly trying to stay upright. If anybody lives nearby, he could try a simple experiment. First, climb the Paterberg on your normal bike. Then do same on a e-bike with some good (300W +) assist. Do your best in both runs and make sure to film them. Then watch them back to back. I bet you will see the same contrast that was on display in today's race, or, rather, "race".

P.S. Was funny that the commentators just kept saying just that: how easily and effortlessly he glided up those 16% cobbled inclines. So easily that the only way to see how hard this climb is was to look at the weaklings like Matt PdV and his hapless chase group buddies.

P.P.S. Also noticed that some folks on these pages seem to believe that all this circus could be just a result of something as simple as oxygen deprivation training, a self-suffocating, if not self-poisoning, of sorts, and the weasel Pogi is just so different from other self-suffocaters because of his miraculous "blood composition". Sure sounds like it.

Ok but this problem could have existed for almost twenty years.

Has anyone ever put themselves in the main stages or races with an infrared camera? How is that possible?
Are we still stuck with that joke about Roglic's bike on the strade bianche?

 

[Fos]

I did not watch the live race for the simple reason of being 99% sure it would end up in a circus. Just took a look at the replay a few minutes ago paying attention to the way the leaders of the race rode the decisive section -- the last Kwaremont-Paterberg combo. What can I say (as if anybody expected different): same story as in 2023 that was one the clearest cases of an external assist usage. Just look at the speed of the initial separation from Matt PdV who is supposed to be an explosive big (but not too big) guy -- and a sort of nature freak to boot -- taylor-made for races just like this one. Poor Matt, with all his explosive power, could not do a thing to try not even to close this gap, but to slow down its growth. Then the body language --on both Kwaremont and Paterberg, especially the steep section. Same story as in 2023, if not even more blatant. Just look at the contrast of the smooth effortless propulsion of Pogi the weasel and the chasers thereof, shaking, doing full body motions and visibly trying to stay upright. If anybody lives nearby, he could try a simple experiment. First, climb the Paterberg on your normal bike. Then do same on a e-bike with some good (300W +) assist. Do your best in both runs and make sure to film them. Then watch them back to back. I bet you will see the same contrast that was on display in today's race, or, rather, "race".

P.S. Was funny that the commentators just kept saying just that: how easily and effortlessly he glided up those 16% cobbled inclines. So easily that the only way to see how hard this climb is was to look at the weaklings like Matt PdV and his hapless chase group buddies.

P.P.S. Also noticed that some folks on these pages seem to believe that all this circus could be just a result of something as simple as oxygen deprivation training, a self-suffocating, if not self-poisoning, of sorts, and the weasel Pogi is just so different from other self-suffocaters because of his miraculous "blood composition". Sure sounds like it.

No way!, the bike with the motor is the brand new Y1RS.

The V4RS only has a simple stone-smoothing system. According to lab data, it's less effective, but they wanted to test its effectiveness before Roubaix.

 

[E_F_]

No way!, the bike with the motor is the brand new Y1RS.

The V4RS only has a simple stone-smoothing system. According to lab data, it's less effective, but they wanted to test its effectiveness before Roubaix.

Are you claiming to have insider knowledge? Or is there a joke I am missing?

 

[Gratemans]

Actually even in hindsight it was worth typing that last night because that's the crux of the matter, i.e. we're watching absolutely ruthless athletic specimens pushing the envelope of what's humanely possible with extreme scientific precision. They're risking their neck in more ways than one, literally. Cycling is a dangerous sport. The riders who do this sport take health risks on the road and in their prep. And they do it for all the usual reasons: money, glory, influence, fame, standing etc. It's been that way ever since I started watching as a kid in the 90's and remains so today. Different cast, same mentalities and behaviors.

So when the 'marketing people' come along and start portraying these athletes as "just riding his bike for fun" (aka Pogi) or as a model father who puts his family before everything (Vinge), I can only roll my eyes and call a spade a spade.

Didn't Vinge once claim he wouldn't take anything he wouldn't give his daughter? Which begs the question: did he put the carbon monoxide rebreather on her too?

That's what I'm talking about here. Aka the bigger picture when you step outside the cycling bubble and compare these riders with everyday normal law abiding (read not cheating) citizens. Oh and I've heard all the usual defense force spiel before from the likes of durianrider on youtube, i.e. "whaa you're addicted to coffee so you can't judge what Lance or Froome did and what Pogi does now". I mean come on... i.e. just enjoy the science-fiction spectacle and call them what they are right? Druggies who're risking their necks out there. And in a way we enable them because guess what? I'm subscribed to Max just for the cycling coverage.

That's just my opinion. I'm only typing this because even here in the clinic there seem to be people who actually buy the whole presentation aspect (aka their media profile) even when admitting these riders are on drugs. Nah, Pogi for example is ruthless as hell and his team UAE are total bullies in the peloton on the same level as US Postal once-upon-a-time. Ditto Visma (this accusation has been levelled against them by many smaller voices in the peloton for years).

I actually agree with everything you said in that long epistle, which didn't really adress my point in the first place: I just thought the word 'user' is more applicable here than 'addict'. But it's not really that important.
Again, I agree with you. With the slight caveat that when it comes to ruthlessness, these guys have a loooong way to go untill they can match Armstrong levels.
He actually destroyed peoples lives trying to cover up his bs. I don't believe the current aliens have gotten to that level yet. Then again, there's no need for them to do so, as current reporting just seem to be a bunch of cheerleaders.

 

[Cookster15]

In the UK with the price increase for discovery+ I could see the viewing figures dropping.

Of course if they have increased the subscription cost for Discovery that would reduce viewing numbers. But I am not just talking about Discovery (I don't even use that except inadvertently). I am talking about the total popularity (reach) of the sport - all mediums and channels. This is what drives the business model for advertisers - not just subscriptions to Netflix or Discovery.