Tour de Romandie neither one-day nor monument, 28/04-03/05 2026

[KoopaCycling]

I didn't bring Remco lol... I brought VPP because he made the claim.

But people bring him, because he also benefits from motos, but his fans rarely complain when that happens.

okay, cause other people mentioned Remco,i just assumed he was reffering to remco as well.
The few times it happened this year, the moto draft was mentioned. In Spain and elsewhere.

 

[Salvarani]

So much defence. Just cause Pogacar was mentioned.
But the motards were visible to all.

Is it surprising when VPP and others made it a Pog-thing? Instead of making it a too many motos in races thing?

Of course, people and others will "defend".

Why would anyone sit quiet about being targeted in something that the whole peloton participates in?

It comes off awful and instead of working together on the matter, they make such comments.

There are riders who represent the peloton in different forums regarding stuff like this, but why would anyone care to help or show support in taking a stand when they pull stunts like this among each other.

Their point loses meaning quickly and just looks bitter, when they did it this way.

 

[canina82]

I don't need to answer. The fact that you want to nitpick what is clearly meant as statement quote shows the problem is real.

It's true or false what he said? Can you answer to this or not?
If someone wants to be heard, firstly he needs to argument with real facts.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Is it surprising when VPP and others made it a Pog-thing? Instead of making it a too many motos in races thing?

Of course, people and others will "defend".

Why would anyone sit quiet about being targeted in something that the whole peloton participates in?

It comes off awful and instead of working together on the matter, they make such comments.

There are riders who represent the peloton in different forums regarding stuff like this, but why would anyone care to help or show support in making a stand when they pull stunts like this among each other.

Their point loses meaning quickly and just looks bitter, when they did it this way.

The point remains real, and perhaps there is also a not-mentioned point that UAE as one of the top dogs benefit the most. Clearly top dogs tend to be favoured in any sport. Does not mean we should overlook the complaints, especially when something can be done to at least raise more awareness/bring caution to helping unnecessarily.

 

[Heston]

Nothing to see here. Certainly no draft that benefits a bike rider in any possible way.

 

[Salvarani]

The point remains real, and perhaps the point that UAE as one of the top dogs benefit the most.

No, it is disingenuous.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don't feel that most of the times Pogi gets that much moto drafting help to make a big difference in terms of the outcome. As for UAE as a team yesterday, they where on a limit, Rogla was drilling them, so any amount of moto drafting help UAE got is inherently unfair. Stronger side in such position getting any help is against sportsmanship.

 

[canina82]

Nothing to see here. Certainly no draft that benefits a bike rider in any possible way.

Here, it's true. It wouldn't change the outcome but this was a disgrace.
Does it happen with Pogacar because organizers want him to happen? No. What happened in Kigali was also a disgrace and no one talks about that.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Cause people been mentioning it, i started to pay extra attention to it this year, and started looking for moto draft that's giving out a helping hand.

It's very much real. I don't see how people want to pretend it ain't a problem. and I would not be surprised if it's a problem that is getting bigger with the sport getting bigger.

This needs adressing.

 

[canina82]

Cause people been mentioning it, i started to paying extra attention to it this year, and started looking for moto draft that's giving out a helping hand.

It's very much real. I don't see how people want to pretend it ain't a problem. and I would not be surprised if it's not a problem that is getting bigger with the sport getting bigger.

This needs adressing.

Interesting you never mention when Remco benefit from that. How can anyone take you serious when you are no impartial at all?
Were you vocal when your favorite rider got drafted by his team car and then got a moto in front while Pogacar had behind him?

 

[search]

the race has been neutralized, due to the peloton going the wrong way, as far as I understand. Probably trying to find a shortcut

 

[KoopaCycling]

Interesting you never mention when Remco benefit from that. How can anyone take you serious when you are no impartial at all?

Yes cause i have not said Remco benefitted from it in Spain this year...
Don't try and shoehorn this into a poagcar vs remco camp. it's just not.
Problem is widespread and yes UAE and Pogacar probably benefit more than most simply cause they are in the thick of it. I would say all the bigger teams with the most talent benefit most.

 

[canina82]

Yes cause i have not said Remco benefitted from it in Spain this year...
Don't try and shoehporn this into a poagcar vs remco camp. it's just not.
Problem is widespread and yes UAE and Pogacar probably benefit more than most simply cause they are in the thick of it. I would say all the bigger teams with the most talent benefit most.

Yes, he didn't benefit at all. Like I said, if you don't even try to be impartial, no one will take you serious.

I will help you, see from 2:51-3:21 (when Remco is attacking).

View: https://youtu.be/-noCgbnEL5A?is=v7iWipXP4qvEivTZ

 

[YavorD]

the race has been neutralized, due to the peloton going the wrong way, as far as I understand. Probably trying to find a shortcut

Probably someone heard VPP's complaining and purposely made the peloton go the wrong way so to prevent Pogacar from winning.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Nothing to see here. Certainly no draft that benefits a bike rider in any possible way.

It's a neutral Shimano car, believed to be a painted Trabant 600, so it was actually slowing him down.

 

[armchairclimber]

"Of course it has to change. Modern cameras have high quality zoom, so they can picture from a far most of the time".

The moto camera operator is instructed by the live television director. They will be acting under that instruction.
Yes, the zoom lenses are of excellent quality... they have been for a long time. And they will have image stabilisation. Even with that though, operating at the tight end of the zoom from a distance is going to give inferior images ... less stable. It also foreshortens background distance, so will make the pursuers appear to be considerably closer than they actually are.

The UCI/Race Directors need to be more strict about moto-pacing, but they also have to balance the needs of the broadcasters, advertisers, sponsors etc etc.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Yes, he didn't benefit at all. Like I said, if you don't even try to be impartial, no one will take you serious.

I will help you, see from 2:51-3:21 (when Remco is attacking).

View: https://youtu.be/-noCgbnEL5A?is=v7iWipXP4qvEivTZ

English is probably not your first language. So i'll just accept you not understanding what i wrote as a result of that.
I basically said Remco benefitted from moto draft in Spain. Hope that helps.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Ronde a couple of weeks ago. Remco was about to catch Pogacar and MVdP when motos went in front of Pogacar and made sure he wouldn't get caught.

There are tons of examples. You are free to believe Earth is flat and Pogacar never received help from motos, but expect to be ridiculed for it.

There is a huge difference between saying that examples of Pogacar benefitting from motos exist, and saying

Pogacar has received a huge amount of help from motos and cars in the past few years. More than any other rider in history

Is that because he spends more time out front alone, more significantly to the race result, than any other rider?

You would need to demonstrate that he is getting such assistance because of who he is, not just because he is riding at the front, on his own. More than, for example, van der Poel in E3 or Pedersen in Gent-Wevelgem (both 2025)

I do not believe that that is demonstrable.

 

[canina82]

English is probably not your first language. So i'll just accept you not understanding what i wrote as a result of that.
I basically said Remco benefitted from moto draft in Spain. Hope that helps.

It helps, thanks for admitting. I still think you are just vocal because they are talking about Pogacar (a rider you dislike).

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Moderator:
Some good discussion (even if it should probably be in one of the existing threads about moto interference), but some are beginning to stray into talking about posters. Careful now.

 

[Red Rick]

I do not believe that that is demonstrable.

Nothing to see here. Certainly no draft that benefits a bike rider in any possible way.

 

[KoopaCycling]

"Of course it has to change. Modern cameras have high quality zoom, so they can picture from a far most of the time".

The moto camera operator is instructed by the live television director. They will be acting under that instruction.
Yes, the zoom lenses are of excellent quality... they have been for a long time. And they will have image stabilisation. Even with that though, operating at the tight end of the zoom from a distance is going to give inferior images ... less stable. It also foreshortens background distance, so will make the pursuers appear to be considerably closer than they actually are.

The UCI/Race Directors need to be more strict about moto-pacing, but they also have to balance the needs of the broadcasters, advertisers, sponsors etc etc.

Exactly.

Cause it's always been that way, or everyone benefits at one point is not much of an argument to maintain the status quo. They should actively try and reduce things that can affect a race outcome. (main point the rest is just rambling)


Personally i also would not mind if they removed the same time rule, bonus second rule, rule that you can come back behind the cars after a nature break, mechanical. Would rather all of these 'rules' were thrown out the window. and we get closer to racing without interference as much as possible. I would love it if they stopped giving away time gaps. And they no longer knew how much time ahead/behind they are from each other. I would love it if the directors could not tell who is where. Who is in the breakaway, who is getting dropped, .. . If all this info and the tactical advice was no longer allowed.

Mind you i'm aware of some bias as well, as i would not want to go back to riders having to repair their own bikes and not having extra bikes available. I definitely want those mechanics.

I guess I would need to think more on the directors, .. . At heart i would like the riders and peloton needing to think more for themselves. so the no ears thingie during olympics at face value i kinda like. But safety concers do come into play. If they can find a way to keep things safe, i would be all for less tactical input from the cars. I also understand people who enjoy the tactical car work. Maybe if it were to come to reality, i would want to go back to cars.

But all that underneath the first paragraph is just my own sentiments. I don't think eliminating moto draft as much as possible is something people can argue against.

 

[CyclistAbi]

the race has been neutralized, due to the peloton going the wrong way, as far as I understand. Probably trying to find a shortcut

Two RBH riders in the breakaway too close to winning the stage, something had to be done.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

@Red Rick : way to selectively quote to make it look like I said something that I did not.

Please explain how that proves that Pogacar was "getting such assistance because of who he is, not just because he is riding at the front."

 

[HashRouge]

There is a huge difference between saying that examples of Pogacar benefitting from motos exist, and saying

Is that because he spends more time out front alone, more significantly to the race result, than any other rider?

You would need to demonstrate that he is getting such assistance because of who he is, not just because he is riding at the front, on his own. More than, for example, van der Poel in E3 or Pedersen in Gent-Wevelgem (both 2025)

I do not believe that that is demonstrable.

I actually think that sometimes he does receive more help from the motos because of who he is, but not for the reasons that some people here are suggesting. I think it often comes down to the fact that he's Tadej Pogacar, and the TV directors, race directors and photographers want to best shots of him, especially when he's doing some sort of crazy attack. I think that's why we got that ridiculous convoy of motos in from of him and Pidcock on the Poggio, because everybody wanted the best shots of him attacking MdvP.

Escape Collective had a really interesting article about moto draft a few weeks ago. I know it's subscription but I think you can make a free account and still access some articles. They made some really interesting points about moto draft. They talked about lot about just how much benefit it can offer (a lot!), but also explained why it can be so hard to stop motos influencing the race completely. The most interesting bit for me was how hard it can be finding good moto pilots - often they're police officers taking time off from their regular jobs - and how hard it can be for them to make in-race judgements about whether they are too close. Obviously it needs to come from the race directors, but it's got to be applied to the photographer motos too, as it's not just the camera motos that are an issue.