Vuelta 2020

Stage 1 today and won by Roglic with already Froome and big French hope Pinot already 10 minutes down and effectively out of GC contention already.

For Froome it isn't quite so bad as the talk before the start was that he was really there to help Carapaz who finish second on the day just one second behind Roglic.

Again Jumdo is the team to beat with Roglic, Dumoulin and that vastly underrated Sepp Kuss in their team.

Ineos have a number of the south American contingent in their team to help Carapaz and I guess Frome is a bit of a wild card now, he may come good, he may be free to go in breakaways to be there fresh to help Carapaz, he may just not have it any more.

Hard to see past Roglic as the winner but as you know anything can happen in cycling - and usually does.

So far TdF and the Giro have mainly avoided coronavirus but things have got a lot worse since then and Spain/Madrid isn't the best place to be right now but fingers crossed that the race gets through it all.

I'm very pleased to see one of my personal favourites Dan Martin do well on the stage, great climber but can't TT. Hope he's able to win a stage or two.

Other names to look out for Dumoulin, Mas, Chavez, Carthy, Bennett and Woods who already has had a crash unfortunately!

Two Tours going on at the same time, how spoiled are we!

Wondered what was going on when i tuned in yesterday all the riders had changed lol, BOGOF seems a good deal enjoyong both, In some ways i hope Roglic wins to make up for his Tour De France.

I like Carapaz another exciting talent, a good win for Movistar today and two good races to watch pleased for O'Connor after a narrow defeat yesterday and massive for his team.

Found this today which shows that his dad was a former runner for my running club, seeing i was chairman for 14 years i can't seem to place him, maybe i knew him but don't recall.

Simon Yates was born in Bury, England in 1992. He and his twin brother Adam, who is also an international cyclist, were introduced to the sport by their parents at an early age. The cycling gene most likely came from his dad John who enjoyed success on the bike at club level and also ran competitively for local athletics team Horwich RMI Harriers. 


http://www.simon-yates.com/bio#:~:text=The%20cycling%20gene%20most%20likely,athletics%20team%20Horwich%20RMI%20Harriers.

I fixed your link for you Wessy.

Fantastic day of cycling at both the Giro and Vuelta.

Early days on the Vuelta but a fantastic stage win for Dan Martin today, I'm really pleased for him and hope he gets a few more before it is all over.

As for the Giro it now looks very promising for Tao Geoghegan Hart to be on the podium at the end of the week with a stage win already and a fantastic second place today on the Queen stage (a term used as to the stage considered to be the hardest in the race).

More mountains to come on Saturday and Kelderman cracked today with his wing man Kai Hindley out riding him - all makes it interesting with them both on the same team and Kelderman being the team leader if team orders will still apply, particularly if I understand correctly that Hindley isn't that good at TT's and the last competitive stage is a TT and Kelderman is decent at them.

Kelderman is a good rider but not in the top rank of them so this may be his only chance of winning a GC.

All makes for exciting viewing from now until Sunday!

Would be fantastic if Tao could get on that top step in Milan.

I've got my fingers crossed!

Sluffy, sorry about another possibly stupid question, but are chainless bikes the future in racing? Are they used now even? Never actually seen one in action.

Sorry I have no idea, I'm not into the technology.

I do know though that bikes have to conform to the cycling bodies specifications so I would imagine there would have to be a major rule change for them to be let in.

There's a bit of an argument been going on about disc brakes so I can't see chainless bikes happening anytime soon based on that.

Sluffy wrote:Sorry I have no idea, I'm not into the technology.

I do know though that bikes have to conform to the cycling bodies specifications so I would imagine there would have to be a major rule change for them to be let in.

There's a bit of an argument been going on about disc brakes so I can't see chainless bikes happening anytime soon based on that.

I'd seen bikes with a belt instead of a chain, but I suppose it might ruin the sport, much like golfing technology has ruined golf.

Not trying to be controversial but I prefer watching climbers/climbing stages as opposed to sprinters (apart from the finish) - different breed dedicated to victory or death IMO.

Sluffy, isn't taking the bus cheating?

Thanks for the fix Sluffy, fantastic stages in both races the Giro mountain stage was just breathtaking yesterday, with GC contenders smashing the hell out of each other.

 These races are the only thing getting me through this self isolation, this weekend its so facinating. I hope Hart takes his chance but it's finely balanced even down to the TT, i suppose looking at stage 1 you get a clear pecking order, but just maybe 20 stages will have some effect and leave it all to play for.

 I am a bit like Wanderlust i love the mountain stages probably because i can relate more to the endurance aspect, still enjoy a sprint but that went pear shaped today for Sagan.

So glad i have watched this spell of racing, when you look at the white jersey placings the top three are in the top 5 in the GC (Giro) so a new order coming through, Sluffy im hooked now, Its been an overload because of three tours coming one after the other, but that has helped my learning curve, i now understand much more in terms of team tactics, i can recognise many of the teams and colours and most of the leading riders in the different categories, this mainly due to your help so cheers.

wessy wrote:Thanks for the fix Sluffy, fantastic stages in both races the Giro mountain stage was just breathtaking yesterday, with GC contenders smashing the hell out of each other.

 These races are the only thing getting me through this self isolation, this weekend its so facinating. I hope Hart takes his chance but it's finely balanced even down to the TT, i suppose looking at stage 1 you get a clear pecking order, but just maybe 20 stages will have some effect and leave it all to play for.

 I am a bit like Wanderlust i love the mountain stages probably because i can relate more to the endurance aspect, still enjoy a sprint but that went pear shaped today for Sagan.

So glad i have watched this spell of racing, when you look at the white jersey placings the top three are in the top 5 in the GC (Giro) so a new order coming through, Sluffy im hooked now, Its been an overload because of three tours coming one after the other, but that has helped my learning curve, i now understand much more in terms of team tactics, i can recognise many of the teams and colours and most of the leading riders in the different categories, this mainly due to your help so cheers.

Delighted to help mate, seriously.

I've been telling people for years, both on the forums and in real life, what a fantastic sports event they are depriving themselves of, mainly it seems because they think it is all about drugs - aren't all sports to a degree?

Cycling is so unpredictable and anything can happen - and does!

I say it often but it is - pure theatre and extremely enjoyable once you begin to understand the multitude of layers of what is going on and why, within each day of the race, and builds as the stages get closer to the finishing line of the overall race itself.

I'm not really sure why Wanderlust posted what he did, everyone prefers the days in the mountains rather than days basically watching a dull procession for numerous hours with just 30 seconds of excitement of the cavalry charge to the line on sprint stages - although to be fair there are some spectacular crashes such as when the policeman decide to take a picture! (watch the next policeman jump the barrier!)



Tao and Ineos will attack in the mountains tomorrow and Rohan Dennis may be the key rider to sort out if the young lad can go into Sunday's stage in Pink.

Hope so!

Fingers crossed still.

boltonbonce wrote:Sluffy, isn't taking the bus cheating?

What a circus!

Let me set the scene.

Yesterday was possibly the hardest days racing of the Tour and tomorrow the next hardest.  Todays stage however was a long flat stage of over 250km's where nobody had any reasons to ride all day in the cold just so a breakaway group containing nobody of importance could fight amongst themselves for a stage win.

Not only that but the weather today was wet and miserable - so wouldn't it be a good idea just to shorten the stage in half?

What was said at the beginning by the riders union rep was that all teams agreed this and asked the organisers yesterday evening if they would agree.

However on the start line it was abundantly clear that only two or so of all the teams had come up with the idea and nearly everyone else didn't know about it?

Several teams with race interests wanted it to go on - or not - depending on their position.  For instance Ineos want to put extra miles into the legs of the race leader who did badly in yesterdays mountain stage, knowing he had to defend his lead in tomorrows mountain stage - but the race leaders team was more than happy to have a shorter race today and save his legs!

Many of the teams not knowing there was a 'strike' on had already sent their team busses on ahead to the finish line - with the result that whole teams of riders dressed in just their lycra had to sit in the rain for an hour or so waiting for their busses to return.

If that wasn't bad enough one team soaked to the skin waiting for their bus, finally got on it only for it to break down!

The tour organiser is furious, saying no one had spoken to them about shorten the race and that they now threatening to sue the people behind the strike and all those tweets from the riders saying why they had called the strike have all suddenly been deleted!

Only in cycling can this happen!

Here's a team bus from a few years back getting wedged under the finish line just as the riders are nearing the end of the race!

Pure theatre!



They got in moved in the end but it was touch and go for a while!

I was wondering what went on i heard the comment about going on strike so realised the stage was cut short and then the pelaton was like a sunday school ride lol. All makes sense now but surprised they have the power to change a stage at such short notice.

Those clips OMG the first one the police man was lucky not to be killed at that speed, he bounces out to be hit a second time. The second one i assume they moved the bus lol.

Tomorrow will be awesome, With Sunweb in first two places that in itself is interesting and the way Hart and Dennis have been climbing literally anything could happen, i would like to see Almeida have a big day taking the stage with Hart taking the Maglia Rosa. Hindley if allowed will be a huge danger on the climbs.

The course tomorrow has been revised due to Covid (France Border) resulting in a lot less climbing than the original course, so that may help Kelderman ? Was 5500m now 4000m

wessy wrote:The course tomorrow has been revised due to Covid (France Border) resulting in a lot less climbing than the original course, so that may help Kelderman ? Was 5500m now 4000m

Yes, it will help Kelderman, who is a good GC in his own right, just not one of the very best for his generation.

Tomorrow was going to be the queen stage but like you say changes had to be made - that's cycling for you - nothing is ever written in stone.

I knew before about Kelderman and Tao so they've taken their chances with Thomas, Kruijswijk and Yates pulling out and Nibali passed his 'best before' date and had wondered if Almeida could do it in the really big mountain stages, so the one that's impressed me is Horton, who is really a only here as a domestique for Kelderman.

I can't really complain in what order those three finish in, in Milan (maybe someone else might break into the top three even yet though - such is cycling - just takes a moment to crash out!) but I would like to see 'our' boy win if he can although the odds are probably against him now.

Sluffy wrote:

What a circus!

Let me set the scene.

Yesterday was possibly the hardest days racing of the Tour and tomorrow the next hardest.  Todays stage however was a long flat stage of over 250km's where nobody had any reasons to ride all day in the cold just so a breakaway group containing nobody of importance could fight amongst themselves for a stage win.

Not only that but the weather today was wet and miserable - so wouldn't it be a good idea just to shorten the stage in half?

What was said at the beginning by the riders union rep was that all teams agreed this and asked the organisers yesterday evening if they would agree.

However on the start line it was abundantly clear that only two or so of all the teams had come up with the idea and nearly everyone else didn't know about it?

Several teams with race interests wanted it to go on - or not - depending on their position.  For instance Ineos want to put extra miles into the legs of the race leader who did badly in yesterdays mountain stage, knowing he had to defend his lead in tomorrows mountain stage - but the race leaders team was more than happy to have a shorter race today and save his legs!

Many of the teams not knowing there was a 'strike' on had already sent their team busses on ahead to the finish line - with the result that whole teams of riders dressed in just their lycra had to sit in the rain for an hour or so waiting for their busses to return.

If that wasn't bad enough one team soaked to the skin waiting for their bus, finally got on it only for it to break down!

The tour organiser is furious, saying no one had spoken to them about shorten the race and that they now threatening to sue the people behind the strike and all those tweets from the riders saying why they had called the strike have all suddenly been deleted!

Only in cycling can this happen!

Here's a team bus from a few years back getting wedged under the finish line just as the riders are nearing the end of the race!

Pure theatre!



They got in moved in the end but it was touch and go for a while!

So if they halve the route, does that mean that there are loads of villages that have reserved their roadside seats, rented out rooms and sold tickets to tourists that have been just been told they are no longer part of the race? Looking at the height reduction it looks like it'll only be the bloke with the cafe at the summit who'll be gutted. Great celebrations for the last village to be included 

wanderlust wrote:So if they halve the route, does that mean that there are loads of villages that have reserved their roadside seats, rented out rooms and sold tickets to tourists that have been just been told they are no longer part of the race? Looking at the height reduction it looks like it'll only be the bloke with the cafe at the summit who'll be gutted. Great celebrations for the last village to be included 

???

Races are subject to change of route or even cancellation at anytime.

'Start' towns/city's are chosen to be able to 'host' the tour teams, TV teams, the press, the officials, guests of the officials, have parking facilities for all the busses and vehicles, 'grandstand' starting and finishing points, etc, etc, etc, so are not remotely village like at all.

Similarly stage 'finish' points the same, except the hotels etc may be a short drive away (often in mountain stages where ski resort hotels are used during the off season).

The stages are held on public roads so there's no such thing as reserving roadside seats and most serious tour followers usually have their own campervans and can often be seem parked at the side of the roads as the tour goes by.

What tickets have been sold, the race is free to watch if you are there in person???

Start and finish towns pay the organiser of the Tour to be in the Tour and that's why yesterday the 'roll out' was still held at the start even though the following 100kms were not ridden.

Height reduction, what height reduction? Yesterdays stage had no mountains in it?

I've no idea about the rest of the stuff you are wittering on about.

I suspect you don't either.

Sluffy wrote:

???

Races are subject to change of route or even cancellation at anytime.

'Start' towns/city's are chosen to be able to 'host' the tour teams, TV teams, the press, the officials, guests of the officials, have parking facilities for all the busses and vehicles, 'grandstand' starting and finishing points, etc, etc, etc, so are not remotely village like at all.

Similarly stage 'finish' points the same, except the hotels etc may be a short drive away (often in mountain stages where ski resort hotels are used during the off season).

The stages are held on public roads so there's no such thing as reserving roadside seats and most serious tour followers usually have their own campervans and can often be seem parked at the side of the roads as the tour goes by.

What tickets have been sold, the race is free to watch if you are there in person???

Start and finish towns pay the organiser of the Tour to be in the Tour and that's why yesterday the 'roll out' was still held at the start even though the following 100kms were not ridden.

Height reduction, what height reduction?  Yesterdays stage had no mountains in it?

I've no idea about the rest of the stuff you are wittering on about.

I suspect you don't either.

?????
...."but the chicken didn't cross the road. Why would the chicken even be on the road? you complete and utter nutjob etc etc"

Have you started your drinking early today or simply carried on from yesterday?

You need to get some professional help.

Seriously.

Sluffy wrote:Have you started your drinking early today or simply carried on from yesterday?

You need to get some professional help.

Seriously.

And you need to stop scrutinising everything I write looking for an opportunity to have a pop. When you write a diatribe about a jokey comment as you have above we know you've lost it. I don't mind that you fail to grasp things but you'd look a bit less of a twat if you didn't go on to write War and Peace about it.

wanderlust wrote:

Sluffy wrote:Have you started your drinking early today or simply carried on from yesterday?

You need to get some professional help.

Seriously.

And you need to stop scrutinising everything I write looking for an opportunity to have a pop. When you write a diatribe about a jokey comment as you have above we know you've lost it. I don't mind that you fail to grasp things but you'd look a bit less of a twat if you didn't go on to write War and Peace about it.

Jokey comment?

Might seem funny to you when you're pissed perhaps, not to anyone else.

We both know you're only posting on the cycling threads seeking a reaction from me as you're clearly adding nothing to it of value, clearly not been following the tours themselves and aren't even humorous in what you post.

Even knowing all this I still gave your post the curtesy of a decent explanation as to what happens in the races in such occasions as an answer.

You're clearly the one with the personal issues here mate, not me.

I do actually laugh at you as I've obviously got under your skin but I'm beginning to think I should really start to pity you instead as clearly you have some genuine behavioural issues that are manifesting themselves on how you act and conduct yourself on here and which have been going on for a long time now.