Tour de Pologne, 30 July - 5 August, 2.UWT

[Valv.Piti]

What an absolutely abysmal race.

 

[PeterB]

Actually, just watched the replay and don't understand, why so much outrage? The crash was relatively mild and riders sliding in a turn happens many times every year. One of the riders who was the first to fall even slid while still in the middle of the road.

The organizer might have considered moving the barriers after the turn further up the road as there were two more lanes left, but the riders still had two lanes available to make it. I just don't see this as a dangerous design as such, not any more dangerous than any other sprint finish with turns or roundabouts...

 

[search]

Actually, just watched the replay and don't understand, why so much outrage? The crash was relatively mild and riders sliding in a turn happens many times every year.

I tend to agree. The finish wasn't really dangerouse, but technical, and on a circuit, so everyone had a chance to have a look of it before. Some still took the corner at too much speed and consequently crashed.

Sure, it's unfortunate that others were affected who didn't do anything wrong, and maybe more corners to slow it down before would have been better. But I definitely also don't want to see one-dimensional straight sprint-runins only.

 

[Escarabajo]

Shouldn't the UCI have some minimum requirements for Worldtour races. How can this be a WT race with this parcours?

 

[search]

not many corners today, but Meeus still managed to crash pretty hard. Not looking good. Still down, although it happened a couple of minutes ago

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Sheffield a minute plus ahead of everybody except Craddock.

 

[tobydawq]

Completely shambolic graphics...

 

[Tim Cahill]

Padun seems to have got over whatever has been plaguing him. Only 28s down on Sheffield at the end.

 

[dick the quick]

Higuita wears no bib number -is it allowed?

 

[dick the quick]

Arensman wins, Hayter new leader

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Higuita wears no number bib - is it allowed?

He'll probably receive a fine for it afterwards.

 

[RedheadDane]

Higuita wears no bib number -is it allowed?

I keep thinking Higuita is in Burgos!

 

[SafeBet]

First professional win for Arensman. It was due after a very solid season.

 

[AlfaLum]

Shouldn't the UCI have some minimum requirements for Worldtour races. How can this be a WT race with this parcours?

It would even have been batter if the final stage was just the first 46km of tomorrows stage.

 

[JosefK]

So, Hayter will win this stage race, yes?

 

[yaco]

My guess is that if Arensmen can improve his climbing then he has GC possibilities at GT's.

 

[Berflamand]

If we leave Cavagna out just for the sake of the argument, that is a very young top 7.

Good to see signs of life from Brenner.

 

[Arked]

This is what happens when the route of the race is decided by sponsorship deals instead of wish to make the race interesting. The race potentially could be a lot more fun to watch Poland doesn't lack roads which could allow for much more selective and competitive GC racing.

As of crashes. The main reason for them is World Tour status, large peloton and sheer number of sprint stages. Many sprinters are desperate for WT win here. GC riders must be in the mix too, because time differences are very small. It's very crowdy. I personally hate when the course in mass sprint stage is too technical but it happens in other races too including the greatest (TdF, Giro, Vuelta). Roundabouts, sharp turns, dangerous road furniture is not exclusive for Poland.

 

[RedheadDane]

If we leave Cavagna out just for the sake of the argument, that is a very young top 7.

It's a very young top-7 even without leaving Cavagna out.
In fact, it's a quite young top-23.

 

[search]

so, in the end, Hayter will win this with a kinda invisible performance. No factor at all in any of the road stages, and only 3rd in the ITT.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

My guess is that if Arensmen can improve his climbing then he has GC possibilities at GT's.

He's a very good climber, but he has yet to show consistency. That's the biggest question mark. I'm convinced he can get his climbing to at least top 10 GT level.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1555225283610951681

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/jenskeukeleire/status/1555225283610951681

Keukeleire also raises the point of the lengthy transfers in this race, another knock on Poland.

 

[KZD]

What a rider Sheffield is, looking forward to see how he will develop himself in the next years

 

[SafeBet]

I was looking for Tiberi in the results: 102th. Too bad to be true. Turns out he had a nasty crash.

 

[tobydawq]

I was looking for Tiberi in the results: 102th. Too bad to be true. Turns out he had a nasty crash.

I hope crashing on TTs will not become a specialty of his.