2021 PRO thread

[Dan Gerous]

As for the photofinish, it's clear that the black line is not the actual photo finish. They need to have contrast on the photo, so the photo is always taken somewhere over the white lines. There are two of them, before and after the black line, but over which one do they take the photo finish "picture" is a question.

In fact the black line, what we think is the finish line, is only there for "show".

For racers pedaling at 60km/h they are not aiming for the thin black line anyway, but perhaps it would be better if TV productions would not place ordinary cameras on the line, but show us the real photofinish much faster. It takes zero time to be able to see the result, it should be possible to share the image with the TV crew too.

Because of the tv images some now feel Pidcock was cheaten out of the win. Should do everything to avoid similar situations!

The photo finish is taken somewhere along the white line that is before the black line, you can tell by the colors of the advertisement on the barriers, it's the Radler ad, taken where the leaves of the lemon are. The black line was pretty much centered between the two ads.

When Tissot handles timing, they publish it quickly. For some reason the company that handled it today seems to have only sent it to the UCI man holding his phone to the camera.

[garbageman]

Great finish in the women's race. What was ELB thinking attacking Niewiadoma on the false flat and then refusing to work afterward. She would have easily outsprinted her.

That was strange, even if she didn't think she could take KN, ELB may have traded 2nd for 8th, IIRC?

Didn't understand that one either. She's not a good sprinter at all, but Kasia is even worst. Maybe she wrongly thought she had teammates in the chase?

I thought the same thing, but was very confused by the commentator was saying Niewiadoma was "definitely the better sprinter" and "[Elisa] knows if they come to the finish together Kasia will have the sprint"

[flying]

I *think* ELB was actually blown jumping onto KN & really had nothing left to contribute but..... She should have tried because as said 2nd beats 8th

Then again she did go ahead & jump at 300m which really made no sense either

[sychen]

Great finish in the women's race. What was ELB thinking attacking Niewiadoma on the false flat and then refusing to work afterward. She would have easily outsprinted her.

That was strange, even if she didn't think she could take KN, ELB may have traded 2nd for 8th, IIRC?

Didn't understand that one either. She's not a good sprinter at all, but Kasia is even worst. Maybe she wrongly thought she had teammates in the chase?

I thought the same thing, but was very confused by the commentator was saying Niewiadoma was "definitely the better sprinter" and "[Elisa] knows if they come to the finish together Kasia will have the sprint"

To be fair it's like comparing the sprint between Froome and Quintana.. Who is better is hard to tell as they are both ordinary at it.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[TheRich]

Thoughts fo Amstel? WVA looks a bit tired.

Why is he so often "Good guy Wout" and keeping the lead during the runup to the sprint?

[iheartbianchi]

After watching De Brabantse Pijl, I'm convinced they also need to practice taking bottles form the side of the road as well.... there was one point on camera, they were following the back of the peloton and nearly everyone within view of the camera dropped every bottle, with most making two attempts. I know it is not easy, I've had to do it just a few times in races and it has been nerve racking each time, but it was definitely embarassing to watch. I do love to watch the women's races though. Generally, I find the racing to be mroe exciting, because strong solo efforts are rewarded with wins mroe often.

I have nearly zero knowledge of how women world tour "pros" train, but I did hear that a lot of them barely make enough money to support themselves so have other full time jobs.

Outside of the top of the top, do the women pros, even within the same teams, actually live and train together? Or are they all scattered training separately, and only gather for the races? If this is the case, then lack of experience in this regard may be unfortunate but understandable.

[Kjetil]

Outside the 9 WWT where there is a minimum salary and social security benefits it's as murky as the men's conti teams. Some even don't get stipendiums to live by*. That said there is this odd rule yhat you cannot apply for a WWT licence in the team's first year (there is no such rule for men's WT). Jumbo-Visma can be said to be a 10th WWT; at least they run the team and pay properly even if the're classified like any team where the riders have to buy their own TT bikes.

*Training and recovery becomes less effective when you have to hold half a day job to get by.

[TobinHatesYou]

Also lol at Schachmann's line not even being straight but then oddly enough it does go straight when the road is levelled out.

I don't care who won but either way it is amateur hour.

Schachmann's line isn't straight because someone literally took an off angle photograph of a screen.

[TobinHatesYou]

I *think* ELB was actually blown jumping onto KN & really had nothing left to contribute but..... She should have tried because as said 2nd beats 8th

Then again she did go ahead & jump at 300m which really made no sense either

She attacked Niewiadoma and forced her to chase back on...

[TobinHatesYou]

Here's a closer look at the official photo. The leading edge of WVA's tire is beyond the red line while there is visible background between Pidcock's tire and the same red line. At least with respect to the high-speed camera, WVA was ahead. That's not to say the high-speed camera's projected line exactly corresponds to the physical finish line...

[robbosmans]

Purely hypothetical, but Pidcock was using Lightweights which are not exactly known for being aero, WVA on the other hand was using the unreleased Dura-Aces. Would be interesting to see the gains of an aero wheels in a sprint.

[TobinHatesYou]

Purely hypothetical, but Pidcock was using Lightweights which are not exactly known for being aero, WVA on the other hand was using the unreleased Dura-Aces. Would be interesting to see the gains of an aero wheels in a sprint.

Oh Pidcock absolutely lost that sprint because of his LW Meilensteins.

[TobinHatesYou]

After watching De Brabantse Pijl, I'm convinced they also need to practice taking bottles form the side of the road as well.... there was one point on camera, they were following the back of the peloton and nearly everyone within view of the camera dropped every bottle, with most making two attempts. I know it is not easy, I've had to do it just a few times in races and it has been nerve racking each time, but it was definitely embarassing to watch.

Fun fact: women generally have smaller hands than men.

Re: ELB's race tactics... This sums up my thoughts.

[spud]

^ I assume the ladies have a DS in their ear giving them some guidance, inexplicable as ELB's tactics are. Is there something personal between ELB and Niewiadoma? Cause it seemed a little like a "FU" situation. Or was ELB so deep in the pain cave that she couldn't think straight?
WVA got very lucky with Pidcock yesterday. Maybe long sprint favors him. But NOT when he leads it out. Was pretty surprised he came through off Schachman with 800 meters to go. Pidcock has shown he has some pop at the end of the race, taking him to the line that way is a high risk proposition.

[handler]

Purely hypothetical, but Pidcock was using Lightweights which are not exactly known for being aero, WVA on the other hand was using the unreleased Dura-Aces. Would be interesting to see the gains of an aero wheels in a sprint.

I'm surprised that they use Lightweights so often.