2021 PRO thread

[Kjetil]

That’s a really good prank, the MvdP Overrated post.

[maquisard]

In other news, is Remco one of the most over-rated riders out there...

It depends on what made you rate this rider:

In some medias he is being labelled as the next big rider, a world beater who will win GT's in future. He is completely unproven. Tom Pidcock is a greater talent and has achieved more but does not have these labels applied to him. Pidcock is outperforming expectations, Evenepoel is underperforming, crash considered. Both Evenepoel and Pidcock need to prove themselves in a three week GT first before they can be mentioned alongside Bernal and Pogacar in the next wave of champions.

[Dan Gerous]

OK let's not talk about anyone but actual Grand Tour winners then.

[maquisard]

My point was neither Evenepoel or Pidcock have even finished a GT, let alone achieved a high GC placing yet...

[Dan Gerous]

We all know that, but what's the point of this thread and general pro racing discussions if you can't wonder or extrapolate based on past results and glimpses of potential what rider X or rider Y or new young talents could do in the near future?

[BenSiskri]

Comparing Pidcock to those riders is slightly unfair - they're out and out road riders. He isn't - he's a multi discipline rider with Junior/U23 World titles in 3 disciplines, and now an Elite record that includes Olympic MTB champion.

[jasjas]

Also MvdP leaves an over-rated impression more and more, I'd say... not to take away from the achievement to wear the Maillot Jaune at Le Tour, esp. not from me typing this out sitting in my sofa, but his stint in yellow smells more like a marketing stunt, even riding a yellow Canyon Aeroad early in the race. I found it cringey.

Have you not seen MvDP in any other races?

[BenSiskri]

That’s a really good prank, the MvdP Overrated post.

Has to be a wind up.

There was a time early last year when in the UCI rankings he was Top 10 in CX, XCO & Road. In 2019, from Jan - May he won an Elite CX World Cup, Elite CX World Championship, a couple of UCI Road World Tour wins, then two UCI XCC races, and an XCO World Cup. Most riders would be happy with one of them in a career - he won all that in less than 6 months.

He's the only current male rider with Elite wins in the World Tour, Elite World Cup CX, and Elite World Cup XCO MTB. Some have two, but not all three.

He's the current CX World Champion; and looks to be aiming at adding the XCC & XCO MTB World titles in Val di Sole, then the Road World title in Leuven. He's among the favourites for all 3.

[EdWiser]

MVdP in CX is a beast Pitcock could not keep up with him or WvA.
Wish there was a CX race in the Olympic’s. Don’t understand why since it is such a classic form of bike racing. An many of those riders don’t anything but CX.

[smartyiak]

MVdP in CX is a beast Pitcock could not keep up with him or WvA.
Wish there was a CX race in the Olympic’s. Don’t understand why since it is such a classic form of bike racing. An many of those riders don’t anything but CX.

Would it be in summer or Winter Olympics?

[woodyvalentine]

Olympics should have CX in summer and winter. Best of both worlds.

[TobinHatesYou]

350km gravel race at Brisbane 2032. Half of the competitors will DNF after being killed by venomous spiders/frogs/snakes/plants.

[Cycomanic]

In other news, the BDR (German cycling federation) sports direktor shouts racists remarks during the TT and the reaction by both the German Olympic committee and the BDR is "he is sorry about his behaviour in the heat of the moment and apologises" and we will have a talk with him when he gets back.

Seriously, how is it possible that he was not immediately sent home and removed from his position?!

For context he cheered for Niki Arndt during the TT with the words "catch those camel drivers" (directed at the Algerian and Eritrean riders in front of Arndt), with lots of microphones near by .

To Arndts credit he immediately distanced himself from that guy after. Also Rick Zabel called out the disappointing reaction by the BDR.

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[BenSiskri]

MVdP in CX is a beast Pitcock could not keep up with him or WvA.
Wish there was a CX race in the Olympic’s. Don’t understand why since it is such a classic form of bike racing. An many of those riders don’t anything but CX.

Would it be in summer or Winter Olympics?

Winter!
There are some issues; it's a very niche sport - massively popular in one region in Belgium; it has keen followers in Netherlands, Czech Rep, USA, GB, etc but have a look at the top 10 of most recent Elite men's races; approx 7 Belgians, 2 Dutch & a Brit. That's not really 'international', is it? The women's is slightly better, and is dominated by a plethora of Dutch women, with Belgians, Brits, Italians, and maybe a Hungarian/ Swiss/ US rider.

Secondly, sports in the winter Olympics are supposed to take place on snow/ice; cyclocross doesn't need it to go ahead. However, I believe it's possible to convince the IOC if you demonstrate it can take place on snow/ice. So, this season I think there are two World Cups taking place at ski/MTB venues, including Val di Sole in mid December. Hopefully it's a success, and we see more wintersport venues, as one muddy Belgian field after another is pretty monotonous.

[sychen]

In other news, the BDR (German cycling federation) sports direktor shouts racists remarks during the TT and the reaction by both the German Olympic committee and the BDR is "he is sorry about his behaviour in the heat of the moment and apologises" and we will have a talk with him when he gets back.

Seriously, how is it possible that he was not immediately sent home and removed from his position?!

For context he cheered for Niki Arndt during the TT with the words "catch those camel drivers" (directed at the Algerian and Eritrean riders in front of Arndt), with lots of microphones near by .

To Arndts credit he immediately distanced himself from that guy after. Also Rick Zabel called out the disappointing reaction by the BDR.

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Absolutely disgusting racist trash... Even his apology was pathetic and weak.

Unfortunately we have seen this type of person often get reemployed as he's part of the ol boys club.

Let's see if there are lasting consequences for trash like this.

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