2023 Pro thread

[maquisard]

Did he race cross this season, he has previously but I don't recall seeing him this year.

[Dan Gerous]

Did he race cross this season, he has previously but I don't recall seeing him this year.

He didn't this year no.

[OnTheRivet]

If Pogacar had intelligence he would be unbeatable.

It's a really hard route for Pogacar to win these races - he has to drop the other two somewhere and get to the line on his own. If you can figure out a way for that to happen without him attacking then kudos to your incredible tactical brain.

Actually lol at the idea of a 65kg Pogacar getting the jump on, then staying away from these particular two ~75kg riders working in tandem…in a flat finish.

Pogacar was quite self critical after the race about his positioning - the energy wasted coming from behind on the Taaienberg was one of the reasons that contributed to him being cooked later in the race. On the Taaienberg he started 25th and came over the top in 8th, a lot of ground to make up when MdvP and WvA are driving the front of the race.

https://escapecollective.cc/no-such-mis ... xt-sunday/

Honestly positioning is 50% of the race on these Belgian Classics. Ganna should be a no-brainer for the podium in these races but I think he lacks the knowledge/tactical savy to position himself and gets caught out chasin too much.

[maquisard]

Flanders will be interesting. Pogacar looks incredibly strong on the climbs, but the dynamics and the sheer length of the race will probably be the deciding factors and perhaps give MvdP and WvA the edge.

I cannot wait.

[ave]

This today was more or less a 50km solo, wasn't it?
Was quite surpised that no one could follow them.
Next week promises a good spectacle.

[LouisN]

I liked the Evenepoel/Roglic spectacle the last two stages at Catalunya.

P.S. I tried to listen to French commentary on GCN, or other networks (French version) for some races. Just unbearable. Please, please, shut these people down forever ... .

Louis

[1sanglier]

You just don't like , or don't understand french humour

[robeambro]

I liked the Evenepoel/Roglic spectacle the last two stages at Catalunya.

P.S. I tried to listen to French commentary on GCN, or other networks (French version) for some races. Just unbearable. Please, please, shut these people down forever ... .

Louis

I never dared to listen to Italian commentary but plenty of folks I know complain about it too. Whilst English commentary isn't the best (looking at you, Sean Kelly), it's definitely not unbearable, and some of them even make an effort (not Kelly) to pronounce rider names correctly, which is something that for some reason I highly respect.

[maquisard]

I don't listen to French commentary as it is incredibly partisan, even more so than the British!

[TobinHatesYou]

van Schip continues to test the UCI's boundaries.

[robeambro]

van Schip continues to test the UCI's boundaries.

His triceps and core must be insane - how does he even manage such a bend in his arms, they're more than flat. Is he resting his forearms in some ways that I can't see?

Also, what the heck is that seatpost. And, the helmet might be taped and gain a few watts, but it looks very mushroomy, sitting very high up on his head. Hmm..

Chapeau for managing a time trial breakaway position, I'd like to see what he looks like when not in that position though..

[MichaelK]

Isn't the general consensus that you lose around 1W per 10cm of exposed cable?

[eins4eins]

Basically running his track set up. Also strange to see a PCT running mech shifting.

[ultimobici]

Also strange to see a PCT running mech shifting.

How so? He rides for a 3rd division team where budgets are small and riders very often pay to play.

[wooger]

Isn't the general consensus that you lose around 1W per 10cm of exposed cable?

That is a hilariously messy cable run, incongruious with the ultra narrow aero handlebars - but even so that 1w is for being on the front on your own at 55kph or something, less significant for road racing in a peloton.