2024 Pro thread

[stevec1975]

Het Nieuwsblad is reporting "Evenepoel broke a rib and also suffered fractures in his right shoulder blade and right hand."

https://m.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20241203_93728824

[sheldonsmith]

The impact blew off the right brake lever. The gears look like he was in the 53x15 indicating that he wasn't going slow (downhill?).

[tymon_tm]

...or 54/15?

anyway, speeding in a city, what can possibly go wrong... especially since Bernal's or Froome's crash one would think pros should be extremely wary of where they train

[maquisard]

I'm surprised more riders don't get hurt by cars around Nice/Monaco. The traffic can be intense close to the centres.

[Karvalo]

...or 54/15?

anyway, speeding in a city, what can possibly go wrong... especially since Bernal's or Froome's crash one would think pros should be extremely wary of where they train

I think it's a bit different, Froome to an extent and certainly Bernal were authors of their own misfortune just taking silly complacent risks. Having a door opened into you is just one of those freak things, a risk you can mitigate but never entirely get rid of unless you never ride along a road that cars are parked on (which is probably not an entirely realistic option) and you don't need to be going fast to get seriously hurt by it.

[tymon_tm]

sure is, i'm reffering to his alleged speed. we all know in a town stuff may happen out of a blue. doing what, 45?50? on a busy road is just asking for trouble, no matter how you put it.

[EtoDemerzel]

Hey Froomie won a "race":
https://granfondodailynews.com/2024/12/ ... ake-fondo/

He sure has milked his career for all its $$$worth, and I say that as a complement because he is after all a good ambassador type.

I don't understand the hate for Froome. He's won 7 Grand Tours and 9 other stage races at the WT level.
His business contracts are just that.
He's an amazing cyclist that has come through much adversity and has been nothing but great with fans and done well for the sport.

I think the Froome "hate" is the byproduct of a couple of things....

1. I don't think his racing style is particularly fan-friendly... He wasn't the sort of rider that attacked or made the race (aside from that one Giro long range attack). He usually used his team to just grind down the competition and beat them inot submission. It was a successful strategy but it wasn't really exciting to watch.

2. I think that people will always have doubts about the fact that his performance was non-existent early in his career and then when he got to SKY he was a killer... that combined with a number of questionable activities surrounding SKY and TUE exemptions and special delivieries will always give people doubt.

Personally, I was never a big fan... It has been nice to see him come back from his huge injury and still race. I feel that his time has passed though, in terms of being a contender.

To add to point 2., after leaving SKY he is again "lanterne rouge", which adds to doubts in my opinion. Regardless of his injuries, were he such a talent he would come back competitive, wouldn't he? Bernal did for instance and he also sustained major injuries.

Because Froome didn't reach his peak, he was doping? Is that what you are saying?
Egan Bernal was 24 when he crashed and it took him two years to come back. In fact, he is still coming back and is not the same as he was.
But Egan has time to reach those heights, one hopes.
Froome is nearly a decade older when he had his crash.

The simple fact is after major injuries of the magnitude Froome had, not many pros reach the same level ever again.

[UpFromOne]

My point is simply that Froome makes a better ambassador for cycling than an actual racer. He was the best many years ago, and his crash really did end his racing status at that time.

Aside from his even more bad luck injuries, too bad to see Remco's gold bike shattered. Maybe Spesh can make another for him (assuming there was only one to begin with).

[Mr.Gib]

Remco getting doored is a bummer. Are we ever going to get a race season where the top guys make it to the main race season without broken bones or worse during the run up? Remco has lots of time but there is a long term price to pay for injuries like these. As for getting doored, isn't that a bit of an own goal? I don't think I have ever ridden past a vehicle close enough for that to happen. Maybe if I can see that no one is in the vehicle, but even then I give as much space as I can.

[mrlobber]

As for getting doored, isn't that a bit of an own goal? I don't think I have ever ridden past a vehicle close enough for that to happen. Maybe if I can see that no one is in the vehicle, but even then I give as much space as I can.

No, it isn't an "own goal". Sure, you could mitigate many (I won't say "most") of the risks, but in cities it still remains substantial. I once got doored while riding on pedestrian road, when a vehicle overtook me on the nearby lane, abruptly stopped and a passenger jumped out, I basically rode straight into him, and those were city speeds less than 20kph.

[MichaelK]

Ineos potentially announcing Pidcock's departure this afternoon.

[MrCurrieinahurry]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKMUM_N7FW ... hja3dkM21u

Cofidis and campagnolo confirmed!

[bobones]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKMUM_N7FW ... hja3dkM21u

Cofidis and campagnolo confirmed!

It may be heavy and slow but surely one of the hotest bikes in the peloton.

[BenSiskri]

Cofidis.......oh dear, says it all. The worst team around......so typically French.

[guyc]

That is one damn fine looking bike.