I should have seen before, but i only just noticed who is in the team car at QuickStep. Many things now make sense.
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I noticed it too. Quite confusing. He's the youngest in the race or at least among the youngest but he looked the oldest in his picBtw why does Cian's photo make him look like he is about 37 years old?
I didn't read too much criticism on Roglic today. It was Evenepoel/QuickStep who completely failed, and by that i mean tactically. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.I don't understand the criticism on Roglic. It's nothing new, that's what works for him, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Primoz roglic-ed Remco today big time: 6 seconds in less than 40 meters. The hammer...
Naturally, but that's not the point. Roglic doesn't take the initiative, but follows, at times won't pull through, to then capitalize on his mischief. It's the right tactic for him, but I can't root for such a racer. It's a matter of taste. There are those who love it, but not me.What was he supposed to do - spare Remco from paying for his stupid tactics and potentially lose the race to make Remco look better? If Rogla changed wheel in this situation where he is clearly the defending rider with a stronger sprint finish - well he would be knucklehead indeed.
Maybe not much today, but it keeps coming back though...the "Roglic is a wheel sucker" thing is so unfair...what was Valverde? If you can keep up with your opponents and out-kick them to the line, good for you!I didn't read too much criticism on Roglic today. It was Evenepoel/QuickStep who completely failed, and by that i mean tactically. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Sure - everyone’s free to prefer the style of their choosing. I would surely like if Rogla attacked more, like Remco and Pog for instance. It’s not so much in his nature, he really does lean more towards being efficient. But accusing him of being a wheelsucker (I don’t even remember now if it was you who claimed that) is I think recency bias. He took the initiative when he had to in the past - when the situation called for it. Last years Vuelta when he dropped Remco is one of these examples, 2021 Itzulia is another. But yeah, he does that way less often than the two gentlemen I mentioned and from shorter distance which is less attractive for spectators. Though I would argue he has another type of panache (stomp) which can be very entertaining for his fans.Naturally, but that's not the point. Roglic doesn't take the initiative, but follows, at times won't pull through, to then capitalize on his mischief. It's the right tactic for him, but I can't root for such a racer. It's a matter of taste. There are those who love it, but not me.
Oddly enough, I generally agree with you. In my youth, I loved LA’s swagger and big attacks, then I loved Contador for throwing away the earpiece and blowing everyone to bits on Verbier, I respected Andy’s efforts in 2010, warmed to Froome in 2012 (temporarily) for mixing up the boring Tour, etc. For some reason, though, despite not naturally being drawn to smart defensive riding, I ended up a Dumoulin fan, I think due to his poopgate efforts. I was cheering for him in the 2020 Tour until I switched to Pogacar. It was only when he lost it in the ITT that something changed for me. Inexplicable really. But there’s some sort of quiet determination coupled with zen that resonates.Naturally, but that's not the point. Roglic doesn't take the initiative, but follows, at times won't pull through, to then capitalize on his mischief. It's the right tactic for him, but I can't root for such a racer. It's a matter of taste. There are those who love it, but not me.
Maybe good for him but not necessarily for viewers. It's been discussed and i think that "wheelsucking" is ok in certain situations, but it is also a very unappealing and negative way of riding in other situations. Not riding because you have a teammate up the road, not riding because your leader is behind and is trying to come back, not riding because you simply are on the limit, not riding because you know the other rider is stronger/faster in the upcoming climb or sprint... that's all fine.Maybe not much today, but it keeps coming back though...the "Roglic is a wheel sucker" thing is so unfair...what was Valverde? If you can keep up with your opponents and out-kick them to the line, good for you!
His excessive smiling has made his face wrinkly.I noticed it too. Quite confusing. He's the youngest in the race or at least among the youngest but he looked the oldest in his pic![]()
For the record, I didn't start the wheelsucker thing, but can't deny it's his modus operandi, despite deviations from the norm. It's just one of those things, you know? There's no rational explanation as to why I can't stand the way he races, but for every guy you root for, there must be an arch-nemesis to boo.Sure - everyone’s free to prefer the style of their choosing. I would surely like if Rogla attacked more, like Remco and Pog for instance. It’s not so much in his nature, he really does lean more towards being efficient. But accusing him of being a wheelsucker (I don’t even remember now if it was you who claimed that) is I think recency bias. He took the initiative when he had to in the past - when the situation called for it. Last years Vuelta when he dropped Remco is one of these examples, 2021 Itzulia is another. But yeah, he does that way less often than the two gentlemen I mentioned and from shorter distance which is less attractive for spectators. Though I would argue he has another type of panache (stomp) which can be very entertaining for his fans.
That being said - today was an example when doing that would be a clear tactical error. He was brought the race to him by Remco on a silver platter and it’s hard accusing someone of not taking the initiative when his approach was clearly tactically correct.
Exactly, everyone has their strengths and know what the other riders strengths are.Maybe not much today, but it keeps coming back though...the "Roglic is a wheel sucker" thing is so unfair...what was Valverde? If you can keep up with your opponents and out-kick them to the line, good for you!
Oddly enough, I generally agree with you. In my youth, I loved LA’s swagger and big attacks, then I loved Contador for throwing away the earpiece and blowing everyone to bits on Verbier, I respected Andy’s efforts in 2010, warmed to Froome in 2012 (temporarily) for mixing up the boring Tour, etc. For some reason, though, despite not naturally being drawn to smart defensive riding, I ended up a Dumoulin fan, I think due to his poopgate efforts. I was cheering for him in the 2020 Tour until I switched to Pogacar. It was only when he lost it in the ITT that something changed for me. Inexplicable really. But there’s some sort of quiet determination coupled with zen that resonates.
Roglic is a wheelsucking negative rider. Remco was controlling when Soler came back, then totally misjudged the finish.
If I'm Primoz, I don't care what viewers think, I want to win. Winning and panache, only Pog can do it. Remco? Roglic is taking care of him, Roglic is fine, thank you very much.Maybe good for him but not necessarily for viewers. It's been discussed and i think that "wheelsucking" is ok in certain situations, but it is also a very unappealing and negative way of riding in other situations. Not riding because you have a teammate up the road, not riding because your leader is behind and is trying to come back, not riding because you simply are on the limit, not riding because you know the other rider is stronger/faster in the upcoming climb or sprint... that's all fine.
His excessive smiling has made his face wrinkly.
Naturally, but that's not the point. Roglic doesn't take the initiative, but follows, at times won't pull through, to then capitalize on his mischief. It's the right tactic for him, but I can't root for such a racer. It's a matter of taste. There are those who love it, but not me.
That may have been his only play. He hasn't shown acceleration past any of the other finishers when it's been tight. This was a straightforward run in and my guess is he thought he had the legs to hold the effort all the way. He didn't. He blew. It happens and he'll save energy earlier and finish that sprint next time.No he did not. Every race is different. It was evident, in hindsight, that Remco should not have opened up the sprint.
Most Evenepoel fans today have been critical of Evenepoel, but you keep playing the "excuses" card.The wheelsucking by roglic today didn't matter too much. The climb was very step, so he didn't benefited from the draft. The most stronger rider won. You don't need to find "excuses" for remco. He did a great performance even if he lost by some seconds to roglic.
Right, he blew before the line, which means he started the sprint too soon, like I wrote. Roglic was playing cat and mouse, had lured Remco into a false sense of confidence based on their previous duel, when Primoz got beaten. However, on that occasion Roglic smartly just tried to follow, limiting the damage to only a couple of seconds.That may have been his only play. He hasn't shown acceleration past any of the other finishers when it's been tight. This was a straightforward run in and my guess is he thought he had the legs to hold the effort all the way. He didn't. He blew. It happens and he'll save energy earlier and finish that sprint next time.
Actually, it's irrespective of that, as he simply is unappealing to me for the reasons explained.And then there is a minor detail involved. You being Evenepoel fan. That likely plays some role too. Nothing wrong with that.
How drole, how very, very drole...
I guess I'm just less generous towards those who rub me the wrong way with how they ride. But I realize there is no rational explanation for it, although fandom, and I'm talking about sport in general, implies a suspension of reason to some extent. There is no "reason," for example, why I should wish rider x to win and rider y to lose miserably, when personally I know neither. Perhaps rider y is a lovely chap, while rider x an unsupportable douchbag? Maybe they are both fine chaps, so why would I prefer one over the other?Kind of the same here* I think Contador might just be my favourite (GC) rider ever. Everybody loves an attacking rider. I mean, who doesn't love Pogacar?
However, that doesn't mean I can't be a fan of riders deploying other tactics. Because of their innate capacities, some of them have no other choice but to ride like that. Valverde and Roglic both qualify for that I believe. It's also that I just like Roglic, he comes across as a nice guy. And I have a huge respect for his base level: it's just ridiculous how strong he always comes back from an injury. Often without much (or any) training as we saw this year.
* I never could stand LA though, I thought he was a *** from day 1. Not even because of clinic stuff in the first place, because I always loved our Kazach friend for example. It's just... man, he always rubbed me the wrong way.
Why would you suggest wheelsucking, a derogatory term; played into Roglic's strategy? Sitting behind the 2nd place rival whose team is driving the finish with a minimal, points-based likely winning factor may be the only way to race. Thanks, DQS for the lead out.The wheelsucking by roglic today didn't matter too much. The climb was very step, so he didn't benefited from the draft. The most stronger rider won. You don't need to find "excuses" for remco. He did a great performance even if he lost by some seconds to roglic.
Right, nobody is making excuses. He messed up the finish royally. That's not an excuse. It's a fact. Roglic, rather prophetically in hindsight, said the strongest and the fastest would win the stage. Strength wise I'd say they were pretty evenly matched, but Roglic found his best sprint while Remco basically, and stupidly, gave him the perfect leadout.Most Evenepoel fans today have been critical of Evenepoel, but you keep playing the "excuses" card.