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2024 Pro Cycling Season


G650

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4 hours ago, G650 said:

Good call @Horn Under a Bad Sign

 

I was skeptical but Jorgenson crushed.


Well, I have a bit of an "in" with Visma. I knew that Matteo was in fantastic early-season shape and that Visma was going to go hard on supporting him. Of course, there are a million things that can happen that prevent somebody from winning a bike race but I was pretty sure that Matteo would do well if he could stay upright.  He might be too tall to ever win the TDF or the Vuelta or the Giro, but his riding style and position on the bike remind me of a young Indurain, so who knows?  He's only 24. And Bradley Wiggins is just as tall and he won the Tour, so all things are possible. 

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24 minutes ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:


Well, I have a bit of an "in" with Visma. I knew that Matteo was in fantastic early-season shape and that Visma was going to go hard on supporting him. Of course, there are a million things that can happen that prevent somebody from winning a bike race but I was pretty sure that Matteo would do well if he could stay upright.  He might be too tall to ever win the TDF or the Vuelta or the Giro, but his riding style and position on the bike remind me of a young Indurain, so who knows?  He's only 24. And Bradley Wiggins is just as tall and he won the Tour, so all things are possible. 

He looked great, there's no question. I think he caught a break with Remcos tactical ineptitude, but at no point did it seem like he was struggling, in an even up race it probably would gave come down to bonus seconds in my view. Very hyped to see how he does over 3 weeks.

 

Biggest letdown was Roglic. He looked turrible.

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Milan San Remon is just a few days away, and despite once again not starting in Milan proper, it looks to be a fun one. The starting field has 7 winners from the last 10 years, as well as numerous runners up and podium finishers. The past winners starting on Saturday are VdP, Pogacar, Alaphilippe, Demare, Morohic, Kwiatkowski, and Kristoff. 
 

I think most people are expecting a Pog\VdP duel. Who ya got? 

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Damn Bettiol, somehow held on! G2 did some serious G2 ing.

1 hour ago, Whitewater Horn said:

I think most people are expecting a Pog\VdP duel. Who ya got? 

 

I fell like we are due a group sprint, but after Strade how does anyone chase down Pog?

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1 hour ago, G650 said:

Damn Bettiol, somehow held on! G2 did some serious G2 ing.

 

I fell like we are due a group sprint, but after Strade how does anyone chase down Pog?

That’s the big question for sure. With MSR, it could be sprinters day or a breakaway depending on the day. It’s always interesting to see the start list and how each team is approaching it.  Plenty of great sprinters and their lead outs, breakaway and one-day race specialists, agitators & tv attackers, and then complete lunatic on two wheels competitors like Pogacar. How can you bet against that guy? So many riders capable of winning this race that I didn’t name. Hell, even before todays performance, Bettiol’s name showed me that EF was serious about MSR when I looked at the start list to see who they were sending. 

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1 hour ago, Captain Ron said:

I gotta ask, how much did HBO(max) pick up this year? I see a ton of cycling on there these days.

Flipped on MSR this morning. 

Max picked up a handful of early season races. The Giro will be the last race available for 2024. 

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1 hour ago, G650 said:

So UAE couldn't even manage to drop the sprinters

Tadej said they didn’t go hard enough on the Cipressa and left too many strong riders leading up to the Poggio. 
 

That was a diverse group in the last few km. Mohoric’s move looked good for a moment, but didn’t hold. Pidcock’s blow up was something to see. Seemed like he had flown the coop with a few hundred meters to go, then got swept up and dropped by the winning group. Finished outside the top 10. Lol.  Nice sprint for Jasper to pip Mathews with the throw at the line. 

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So I rewatched the last 60k yesterday while I was on the trainer. On Saturday, I kinda had to catch little bits as it was a crazy day here, my son ran the final mile of the Shamrock Marathon, then we had his soccer meet and greet for the spring. Couple thoughts after looking closer, one, MvDP was ridiculously strong. He closed Tadej on the Poggio while breathing out of his nose lol. He probably could have won the race. Secondly, hats off to Phillipsen for being there in the end. Amazed he survived to sprint. Gutted for Matthews as he was so close again. I felt we were due for a sprint but I didn't see it panning out exactly this way.

 

Catalunya this week, climbs all around.

 

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Low key good week of racing this week. Catalunya, Brugge De Panne today, COppi e Bartali (unfortunately not on TV, but  I think on Youtube?), E3 Harelbeke or Saxo or, whatever the fuck it's called now, Friday and Gent Wevelgem on Sunday.

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What spectacular views on the descent of the Col de Pradell in Catalunya today! Also many sightings of GC KUSS clothing and signage.  Unfortunately, the gestation period of his form must not mature until grand tour season. Poor Tadej must be bored at this point. 

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On 3/22/2024 at 10:46 AM, G650 said:

MvdP is in ridiculous form


Man, no kidding. He's on a different level than anybody else at the moment. 

Glad to see Sepp getting some support. 

What an awesome sport.  The premise ("you go from point x to point y in the fastest time) is so readily understood, but the tactics and strategy and luck are nuanced enough that it takes a lifetime to understand. 

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On 3/20/2024 at 12:48 PM, G650 said:

Low key good week of racing this week. Catalunya, Brugge De Panne today, COppi e Bartali (unfortunately not on TV, but  I think on Youtube?), E3 Harelbeke or Saxo or, whatever the fuck it's called now, Friday and Gent Wevelgem on Sunday.

Eurosport on YouTube has been great. 

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8 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

Pogo has been on fire in the early part of the season, too.

Yeah, Catalunya was basically his personal spring training camp.

 

He switched coaches this offseason, I'm curious to see how the season unfolds. I'm slightly nervous he is too good to soon.

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17 minutes ago, Whitewater Horn said:

Soon, indeed. Also a little cobble appetizer today. 

Yes, the imaginatively name Across Flanders. To be followed this weekend by Around Flanders.

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Man this race is so ridiculous, apparently now a team car and a commissaire car wrecked and blocked the road. The women's race has been neutralized behind.

 

But on the plus side go Matteo!

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44 minutes ago, G650 said:

Man this race is so ridiculous, apparently now a team car and a commissaire car wrecked and blocked the road. The women's race has been neutralized behind.

 

But on the plus side go Matteo!

Someone had to be the beneficiary of that mess. Good for Matteo. ‘Merica!

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10 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

Collarbone breaks are often incredibly painful

 

Mine certainly was

 

 

10 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

And ribs only hurt when you breathe

Laughing is the worst

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2 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

I was just thinking about this: I don't know anybody who is a serious cyclist who hasn't broken his collarbone at some point or another. It's the weak link when you fall and extend your arms

Funny story, well not so funny actually, but I broke my collarbone in a car wreck and not on my bike, along with my nose and my back for the second time. The collarbone was by far the most painful part.

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