The Pro Road Cycling Thread

[johnnytapia]

Just reading up on the history of the UAE team manager. Wasn’t aware of any of this. It was linked via the wiki page and then used the translate option. Some of the risks taken in the sport back then …

Dopage, pressions sur les témoins : révélations sur le passé de Mauro Gianetti, le manager de Pogacar

C’est l’un des hommes les plus puissants du cyclisme. Mauro Gianetti est le manager de l’équipe UAE, où évolue Pogacar. C’est aussi un ancien coureur dont la carrière a été entachée par le dopage. Radio France révèle comment il a fait pression sur des témoins à l’époque pour qu’ils ne parlent pas.

www.radiofrance.fr

Great article. Just finished first half, reading rest later. Injecting yourself with spurious substances never ends well. Redolent of so many riders - no results then suddenly boom!

French journalists in this domain are superb - they cover it with so much fine detail.

 

[lefty goldblatt]

I wasn't aware ITV wasn't showing Le Tour anymore. It's hugely disappointing it's no longer on free to air television and will undoubtedly have a significant negative impact on British cycling. I watched all the stages live this year, whilst working but didn't hang around for the chat afterwards so missed this.

Personally, the Tour de France has been a major part of my life. My Dad loved all sports, but cycling was his passion. I have extremely fond memories of him getting back from work and sticking the highlights on - Channel 4 initially and have watched myself on ITV over the years. The iconic voice of Phil Liggett and the wonderful coverage over the years.

Cycling simply doesn't get enough attention in this country as it is. It's a sport we've had so much success in. Boardman winning the opening TT and getting the yellow jersey was as good as it got once upon a time. But then we had Cavendish and Wiggins, Froome and Thomas. We had all the success in the Olympics on the road and in the velodrome. Then with Pidcock also on the MTB.

There was a token gesture update on La Vuelta. But not enough considering Pidcock's podium. Behind a paywall this is only going to make things worse. Unless you're into cycling you'll never find any news about it, despite it being such a hugely successful sport for this nation over the past 12-15 years.

That's quite sad.
I have little interest in cycling, but find the last 5 or 6 miles of each stage strangely compulsive viewing.

I find Imlach's slightly sardonic analysis and Boardman's insight, some of sports' best broadcasting. I've seen TNT's cycling output, and I find it VERY irritating. The presenter is paid by the word, and the rest of them are either dire,or too jokey.

A sad day that it's been lost free to air.

 

[chesterbells]

TDF 26 Route release today.
Alp D’Huez B2B stages 19 and 20 is one notable feature along with return of the TTT stage one in Barca

 

[discopop]

You’d have to be very cold hearted not to enjoy Viviani getting gold in his last ever worlds track meet, proper rider.