The Pro Road Cycling Thread

chesterbells said:
Well, I love the sport to bits, and always will, no matter what. But it’s got a side that can’t be ignored and is always there in the back of your mind - you just keep it buried most of the time so you can enjoy the racing.

I guess no surprise to see this kind of output when the Tour is almost upon us. Still useful reading though I think.

www.sportschau.de

"Doping Top Secret: In the Slipstream" - Aicar and "extraterrestrials": ARD documentary reignites doping discussion

Cycling insiders have spent years insisting that professional cycling has learned the lessons of its dark past. New research from the ARD doping editorial team concludes differently.
www.sportschau.de www.sportschau.de
Click to expand...
Related article from the mighty Paul Kimmage this weekend:
www.independent.ie

Paul Kimmage: Revealing the links between the Team Sky masseur and a convicted doping doctor at the Tour de France

It was late last Sunday evening when Sebastian Krause arrived in Lille. He had taken a flight from Munich, and a train from Paris and left first thing the next morning in a car to Dunkirk.
www.independent.ie www.independent.ie
 
chesterbells said:
Yeah, I mean back then we had the synergy with multiple Olympic track successes, Team Sky on the road, the Cavendish phenomenon, and the Tour de Yorkshire off the back of the 2014 Tour here, which to me always felt bigger than the ToB, even though it was a short-lived event.

Now? A diminished Ineos (Ratcliffe’s reverse Midas touch coming to the fore), and less prominent track riders. We do have Pidcock doing a brilliant job off road though, and some young talent coming through on the womens side with the Backstedt sisters and Cat Ferguson.

But it’s hard to disagree with you. I guess I could say smaller profile doesnt always mean worse, certainly not for me. There are people in the sport obsessed with “growing it”, and as in other sports it just seems to mean in reality more popularity meaning more money. But having more money in cycling, for the riders or the teams, doesn’t do anything for me. I can see it as a downside of higher costs to view on tv, or big climbs on big races becoming ticketed events. I’ll admit that’s a worse case scenario, but I do recall it being trialled on the Tour a while back.
Click to expand...
Flanders introduced ticketed sections at top of Kwaremont and Paterberg couple years ago.
 
johnnytapia said:
Flanders introduced ticketed sections at top of Kwaremont and Paterberg couple years ago.
Click to expand...
I was on the Kwaremont for the 2024 edition and we saw them all walking across the field to enter the back door of the huge white marquees they had set up for that ticketed section along one side, which was mostly on the flat section near the top.

The other side was free, and 95% up the climb was free on both sides, including sections in a cutting where the view and noise was fabulous.

I suppose what I’m saying is, perhaps the food and drink might’ve been nicer in that area but the view definitely wasn’t better and the atmosphere certainly wasn’t either. I’ve never understood the appeal of those VIP sections near the finish lines on other races too.

But yep, they do do it in Flanders.
 
chesterbells said:
I was on the Kwaremont for the 2024 edition and we saw them all walking across the field to enter the back door of the huge white marquees they had set up for that ticketed section along one side, which was mostly on the flat section near the top.

The other side was free, and 95% up the climb was free on both sides, including sections in a cutting where the view and noise was fabulous.

I suppose what I’m saying is, perhaps the food and drink might’ve been nicer in that area but the view definitely wasn’t better and the atmosphere certainly wasn’t either. I’ve never understood the appeal of those VIP sections near the finish lines on other races too.

But yep, they do do it in Flanders.
Click to expand...
I went VIP at Lombardia. Treated my brother for his 50th. Loved it but wouldn’t do it normally as, like you say, similar views can be had gratis.
 
chesterbells said:
Related article from the mighty Paul Kimmage this weekend:
www.independent.ie

Paul Kimmage: Revealing the links between the Team Sky masseur and a convicted doping doctor at the Tour de France

It was late last Sunday evening when Sebastian Krause arrived in Lille. He had taken a flight from Munich, and a train from Paris and left first thing the next morning in a car to Dunkirk.
www.independent.ie www.independent.ie
Click to expand...

Wonder how the press/media would report if both the male and female winners of the tour had been banned for doping.

I ask because I only just seen this. It seems both male and female winners at Wimbledon are drug cheats. Wonder how wide spread it is in tennis ?

www.independent.co.uk

The uncomfortable truth behind this year’s Wimbledon champions

Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek claimed the singles titles at SW19, but both tested positive for banned substances last year
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk
 
chesterbells said:
Well, I love the sport to bits, and always will, no matter what. But it’s got a side that can’t be ignored and is always there in the back of your mind - you just keep it buried most of the time so you can enjoy the racing.

I guess no surprise to see this kind of output when the Tour is almost upon us. Still useful reading though I think.

www.sportschau.de

"Doping Top Secret: In the Slipstream" - Aicar and "extraterrestrials": ARD documentary reignites doping discussion

Cycling insiders have spent years insisting that professional cycling has learned the lessons of its dark past. New research from the ARD doping editorial team concludes differently.
www.sportschau.de www.sportschau.de
Click to expand...
I’m like you (and quite few other lads that follow the pro scene); kind of accept it might / probably is going on but still love the brutality / history / panache/ records / parcours etc etc.
unless you’ve tried to ride at “evens” for a 100 mile ITT can you come close to understanding just how fucking hard this sport is and just how ridiculously fit these riders are.
I once did a 100 mile sportive around Sheffield / Barnsley then back into Manchester in the absolute howling rain sleet snow wind and hail. Climbed off several times as my whole body legs arms hands head were becoming numb. Cried as I crossed finish line TEN HOURS after I started. Relief , pain, joy. Then I remembered that Hinault lost and never regained the use of his thumb and little fingers after winning the apocalyptic 1980 LBL. Only 21 riders finished. That’s why I can turn a blind eye to what might / is going on in the peloton
 
Been playing catch-up watching the ITV highlights.

What a superb 1st week for Oscar Onley and currently in the GC top 10.

A few brutal crashes and fortunate the impact was not worse than it was.

I keep checking the Tour of Britain for details but information is limited.
 
simmo said:
Been playing catch-up watching the ITV highlights.

What a superb 1st week for Oscar Onley and currently in the GC top 10.

A few brutal crashes and fortunate the impact was not worse than it was.

I keep checking the Tour of Britain for details but information is limited.
Click to expand...
Yeah, so far we only know Stage 1 and 2 in Suffolk and rumours of the last Sunday stage in Cardiff. It’s all a crock of shite communication and promotion wise tbh.
 
chesterbells said:
Yeah, so far we only know Stage 1 and 2 in Suffolk and rumours of the last Sunday stage in Cardiff. It’s all a crock of shite communication and promotion wise tbh.
Click to expand...
I’ve still got Joey McLaughlin’s water bottle from the Kellogg’s city-centre crit series. And Hennie Kuiper’s. Loved the Kellogg’s. Phil Thomas, Elliot, Bayton etc with the odd “star” thrown in. Robert Millar in Manchester
 
johnnytapia said:
I’ve still got Joey McLaughlin’s water bottle from the Kellogg’s city-centre crit series. And Hennie Kuiper’s. Loved the Kellogg’s. Phil Thomas, Elliot, Bayton etc with the odd “star” thrown in. Robert Millar in Manchester
Click to expand...
Brilliant stuff, great memories too no doubt.
 
johnnytapia said:
I’ve still got Joey McLaughlin’s water bottle from the Kellogg’s city-centre crit series. And Hennie Kuiper’s. Loved the Kellogg’s. Phil Thomas, Elliot, Bayton etc with the odd “star” thrown in. Robert Millar in Manchester
Click to expand...
Great memories. In my teens I nipped in the rider marque for city centre Manchester and got Sean Kelly autograph.
 
chesterbells said:
Or Sean “well, er” Kelly as he’s become known in his commentary box days ;-)
Click to expand...
“This will be an interesting one.” I love him - that Carrick brogue. A man of few words in the peloton; and even fewer on the TV. What a rider though. Check out his descent to win MSR. Unreal handling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top