Cycle racing : 2021, we're back in the road world again. Spoilers a plenty

[rusty]

Jumbo Visma controlled it well yesterday, I’m not sure WvA would have won it if Van der Poel was riding though, he’s been on fire lately. It’ll be interesting to see them head to head with Alaphillipe in the mix next weekend in Flanders.

If you get a chance to ride there this year then go for it, we’ve been across and rode Paris Roubaix a couple of times along with Tour of Flanders, they’re hard going but an amazing experience!

[Bigyin]

Yeah, they did say they'd concentrate on other things than just Tour racing this year and they have tried with Piddcock and Kwia in the Milan San Remo for example, along with a few other races, but even watching Gent Wevelgem today they only had Dylan Van Barle who looked anything like trying really. The rest, were anonymous.

Ineos have always been the "big ticket" team and always focus their attention on the big 3, Vuelta, Giro and Le Tour. They will send teams and riders to other events as warm up or trial/selection, such as the Catalunya but the only smaller races i can think of them "really" going for were the traditional classics such as Paris Roubaix and such like that get the big PR attention

[rusty]

Yeah, they did say they'd concentrate on other things than just Tour racing this year and they have tried with Piddcock and Kwia in the Milan San Remo for example, along with a few other races, but even watching Gent Wevelgem today they only had Dylan Van Barle who looked anything like trying really. The rest, were anonymous.

Ineos have always been the "big ticket" team and always focus their attention on the big 3, Vuelta, Giro and Le Tour. They will send teams and riders to other events as warm up or trial/selection, such as the Catalunya but the only smaller races i can think of them "really" going for were the traditional classics such as Paris Roubaix and such like that get the big PR attention

I think they'd said they were giving riders a bit af a free reign for the classics and one dayers. I've got to say though that I'm glad it's not really working for them. The last thing I'd like to see is Ineos dominating the early season as well as the big three.
It seems that a few teams have stepped up a bit recently so with any luck they'll give Ineos a bit of competition this year.

It'll be interesting to see how Pidcock goes with Ineos this season, he's a great rider but he just doesn't seem to be able to step up to the level of Van der Poel or Van Aert for the longer races. I reckon the nex couple of weeks is going to have some interesting racing!

[weeksy]

Hold on, INEOS are attacking in a 1 dayer.

[weeksy]

Hold on, INEOS are attacking in a 1 dayer.

Not only did Van Barle attack, but he stayed out and won the Belgian 1 dayer... Not often we see that from INEOS but a great win for him.

[weeksy]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cyclin ... 495303/amp

Paris Roubaix off till October

[weeksy]

Big one today then in Flanders, last year was split by 20cm between Wout Van Aert and M Van der Poel, are we going to see the same today between the main 2 contenders, i can't even imagine but with Paris Roubaix now cancelled, you'd expect it'll be a proper battle !

[weeksy]

Cavendish with an awesome 3rd over in Belgium, was shocked to see both him and Bennett going for the line together, even more shocked to see them beaten.

Pogacar and Roglic showing dominance over in the Basque tour with amazing surges in power, just WHAM and a gap pulled out, then back, then again... the rest as you may expect were struggling.

[weeksy]

Pidcock beating WvA today along with everyone else to win the unpronounceable Belgian spring race.

[hawker]

How's the training going for you up to now?

Sorry Weeksy was this aimed at me? Ijust spotted it.
This winter has been difficult for everyoneand like many I guess I have relied heavily on the dratted turbo.It is good hard exercise if ou want it but never the same really as riding on the road. I think you use less of your body on the turbo, effectively just sitting there mostly, pedalling hard but not really movingmuch above the waist? So Ihave done what I can. But my days of being able to train hard on the turbo for two hours or more seem to be gone. When Iwas working the turbo was invaluable allowing me to do say, one hard hou'r's turbo even while on call at home waiting for the phone to ring. I don't have that pressure nowbut am suscrptible to coming off more than before when it is very windy [ always round here??] and or sliding on patches of ice. One bad accident is enough thanks so any iffy weather = the turbo for whatever I can manage!

Cheers. Thanks for asking!

[chutzpah]

Pidcock beating WvA today along with everyone else to win the unpronounceable Belgian spring race.

I always think is sounds like something you'd try ordering from a bar but muck the pronunciation of up

[weeksy]

One of the main warm-up events started yesterday, good field. Tour of Romandy

INEOS started the time-trial with a 1-2-3 overall. They're looking strong !

[formula400]

One of the main warm-up events started yesterday, good field. Tour of Romandy

INEOS started the time-trial with a 1-2-3 overall. They're looking strong !

just watching this on catch up, just quite sure what's going on, these time trail boys don't look like they are going that quick, but I bet there are.

[weeksy]

They certainly crack on with it usually. The speeds are bonkers.

Stage 2 yesterday and a bunch sprint win for Sagan... proper sprint battle it was too.

[weeksy]

watching the Tour De Suisse today, Van Der Poel is just an incredible rider and a complete and utter beast ! But the great thing is, he's exciting with it, not just in a sprint context, but in every context. He'll attack when others don't expect it, and just say "come on then boys, lets bring the pain"... Then see who can follow him.... Which often, is no-one lol.

What a beast.