The Pro Road Cycling Thread

[chesterbells]

If you’re gonna allocate bonus seconds that way put some barriers there too.

 

[blueinsa]

Magnificent stage yet again, shame on those bikes and come on, you can’t finish second ahead of your main rival and lose time, that needs looking at.

What a tour this is though, don’t think I’ve ever seen better.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Absolute disgrace that, wtf with the motorbikes

 

[big gaz]

Hope its Toms day to have some fun up the road:-)

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

I thought Pog looked tired today, the TT is going to be interesting.

 

[Gray]

I thought Pog looked tired today, the TT is going to be interesting.

Who is the better TT of the two?

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

Who is the better TT of the two?

I found this on google:

Vingegaard may have the edge in time trials, having secured first place at Paris-Nice and second place at the Critérium du Dauphiné. On the other hand, while Pogačar is the Slovenia national time trial champion, he finished fifth against Vingegaard at Paris-Nice.

 

[Gray]

I found this on google:

Vingegaard may have the edge in time trials, having secured first place at Paris-Nice and second place at the Critérium du Dauphiné. On the other hand, while Pogačar is the Slovenia national time trial champion, he finished fifth against Vingegaard at Paris-Nice.

TT is 22.4k or a tad under 14 miles just about 25 minutes of racing. After that there are just two more tough stages on Wednesday and Saturday. Going to be exiting up to the 20th stage.

 

[Gray]

Brilliant time trial by the top two in the tour, bring on tomorrows stage a real tester.

 

[chesterbells]

Suspicious as fuck.
Have a look at the numbers being touted online…

 

[Bob Hope]

Suspicious as fuck.
Have a look at the numbers being touted online…

Just the stronger rider , proved it all through this tour.

 

[chesterbells]

Just the stronger rider , proved it all through this tour.

Lol, oh he’s the strongest rider alright. By far. Remind you of anyone?

 

[Bob Hope]

Lol, oh he’s the strongest rider alright. By far. Remind you of anyone?

So are you saying the whole Visma team are in on it? Can't see it mate.

 

[supercity88]

That was a sensational ride by Vingegaard. Pog was flying but for Vin to still take so much time shows how supreme he is.

Not sure what UAE can do now to change things. Pog has to attack and attack early, even if he blows up. Just try and get ahead of Vingegaard as much as possible. I'm not sure he'll have the legs to do it though. Would be nice to see a Brit up there, hopefully Yates can keep onto his 3rd spot. Pidcock looks absolutely blown now. Since a lack of food/hydration saw him drop back on Saturday he's followed it up with a poor showing on Sunday and then a mediocre TT as well. Would be good if he could get in the breakaway, he's far enough back not to be too much of a concern.

 

[blueinsa]

Suspicious as fuck.
Have a look at the numbers being touted online…

Hate to say this but it is suspicious as fuck.

Pogacer time was incredible and for Vingegaard to do that is simply not quite believable to be honest.

 

[give it to gordon]

Suspicious as fuck.
Have a look at the numbers being touted online…

Sadly it does seem suspicious. To take that much time on a short tt. That's not forget that Pogacar did a good ride. To be that much better is mind boggling

 

[Gray]

Tour over after todays stage.

 

[Gray]

Sadly it does seem suspicious. To take that much time on a short tt. That's not forget that Pogacar did a good ride. To be that much better is mind boggling

A lot of it uphill, only two riders were going to go for it.

 

[give it to gordon]

All over now Pogacar has blown

 

[chesterbells]

So are you saying the whole Visma team are in on it? Can't see it mate.

I don’t know pal tbf. All I’m saying is, having listened to the Lance Armstrong podcast last night and read some bits & pieces, the size of the gap, not just to Pogacar but to Wout van Aert, who was definitely going full gas to try and win a stage for himself too, just doesn’t add up.
Peter Kennaugh pointed out Jumbo must’ve known he was in such good form to post those numbers for some time; you don’t just turn that form on overnight (or surely you don’t!), so he’s likely been toying with Pog the last couple of weeks.
In terms of freakish winning margins, the worlds greatest ever 100m sprinter Bolt had a 3% gap over his nearest rivals when at his peak, when he looked like he was jogging his sprint and the rest of the field were toiling.

Yesterday he was 5% quicker than Pog.

That kind of margin just doesn’t really happen, not that I’m aware anyway. I think they said in TT terms in cycling 1961 was the last time a bigger winning margin.

His watts per kilo for that 13 min period was apparently “at” the limits of what’s possible. Even Lance and his panel were staggered.

I’ve been watching pro cycling long enough and read enough books from Kimmage, to Walsh, to Hamilton, to know that when it feels and looks as wrong that did yesterday, one ought to be highly sceptical.