Competitive Cycling

[dom]

Watched the Junior Downhill Mountain biking this afternoon. The women's race was a 1-2-3 for the Kiwis, I'll accept that, they were a part of Empire.

Thankfully a Kraut and a Canuck prevented a Froggo 1-2-3 in the men's. That would have stuck in the craw, they all belong in the FFL

FFL?

[Nickslikk2112]

Watched the Junior Downhill Mountain biking this afternoon. The women's race was a 1-2-3 for the Kiwis, I'll accept that, they were a part of Empire.

Thankfully a Kraut and a Canuck prevented a Froggo 1-2-3 in the men's. That would have stuck in the craw, they all belong in the FFL

FFL?

French Federation of Lose

[dom]

Watched the Junior Downhill Mountain biking this afternoon. The women's race was a 1-2-3 for the Kiwis, I'll accept that, they were a part of Empire.

Thankfully a Kraut and a Canuck prevented a Froggo 1-2-3 in the men's. That would have stuck in the craw, they all belong in the FFL

FFL?

French Federation of Lose

[Nickslikk2112]

Caught the Junior Men's road race today, 16 year old Albert Philipsen stormed it.
Crowds were great for it, might struggle to find a viewing spot tomorrow.

[Thenop]

Race starts in 30, enjoy!

[Thenop]

What an unbelievable end of a fantastic race, and what a deserved winner. MvdP, a true champion.
Proud he is Dutch, it's been 38 years since the last one, Zoetemelk.

And fuck those protestors: no one will remember who you are because no one saw you on TV.

[Nickslikk2112]

Yes,well done MvdP. Couldn't believe his margin of victory.
Maybe more to follow tomorrow.

[Nickslikk2112]

What a great day!

After seeing the finish of the Men's junior race on Saturday - and once we'd been fed and watered - we did a course recce to see where a good viewing point would be. We decided that Montrose Street would be good and maybe wander down to the finish area later.

We got to Montrose Street about 10:20 and both sides were already full. There was a Belgian base camp at the summit and further down a good couple of longships worth of Danes, who had set up a full on Euro Techno Disco. I was prepared to put up with it for the sake of learning foreign cycle fans customs, but Mrs S was dead set against it. So, we set up over the brow of the hill before a corner so the riders wouldn't be going too quickly, we could also see them going by the feed zone before the course got round to Montrose Street.

Whilst were waiting we were entertained by people who'd just ridden up Montrose Street: People on Bromptons; kids on mountain bikes; tandems; hire bikes, the full panoply of ridden things and ages of people. Various National team riders were doing course recces for later races. When they started to clear people off as the race was coming Shirin van Anrooij and Lorena Wiebes stopped about 10 yards from us.

Of course we didn't know what was going on in the race even though there was a big screen in front of us, but it was facing the other way, but we did hear the commentary go off because of the protesting pillocks.

The wait didn't dampen the party atmosphere, I think the locals were well outnumbered by incomers and the roar which greeted the breakaway riders was something to behold (behear?) Mrs S thought the Pleton when it came through was too far down already. I told her she was stupid. Of course the break was soon reeled in.

It's hard to pick people out when they come by, but I spotted Victor Campanaerts pulling the Peleton along, he then dropped further and further back each lap, but he always got a hearty "COME ON VICTOR" from me. He gave me a resigned look on his last pass through.

It was always good seeing those near the back of the race not far ahead of the broom wagon and wondering if you'd see them again, I think Jasper Philipsen managed a couple of laps before being swept up.

Matteo Trentin got off near us. I pointed out to Mrs S a lone Alaphilippe going by, she didn't believe  me, but did when he got off at the feed zone the next lap.

Not knowing fully what was going on meant it was a surprise when a lone Bettiol came by, of course he didn't last and soon it was down to Pog, WvA, MvdP and Pedersen. We heard that MvdP attacked and then heard the chorus of dismay when he came off, followed by a cheer after his remount from those watching the big screen, we thought that would be it, but couldn't believe the increased lead he had coming by again before his victory.

A good result, who could complain about that 1-2-3 just about the cream of the cycling crop. We stayed on the hill until the last of the finishers came by, each of them got just as big a cheer as the front guys, a cycling crowd is a fair crowd. Very partisan - a Belgian couple near us knew each of their riders - but fair.

Fantastic day again, and I even enjoyed seeing the mechanics wheel away the bikes of the non-finishers. Complete and utter bike porn 

Before we left today we saw some U14 and U16 races for boys and girls on a short section of the city circuit, that must have been a great experience for them with the proper finish line and a commentator announcing their progress. They got a decent crowd too.

Yes, so good I'm thinking about going back for the women's race, but wallet doesn't like the look of train ticket prices.

[Thenop]

Sounds like a grand day, glad you enjoyed it!
And yes MvdP's lead was unreal, and then to think he fell in the first to last round, my heart sank, I was in front of the telly, hands covering my face in disbelief. But I should have known, the way he accelerated when he finally got free of the others was otherwordly. 

[Nickslikk2112]

Sounds like a grand day, glad you enjoyed it!
And yes MvdP's lead was unreal, and then to think he fell in the first to last round, my heart sank, I was in front of the telly, hands covering my face in disbelief. But I should have known, the way he accelerated when he finally got free of the others was otherwordly. 

Thanks.

We enjoyed it so much that we've booked to go back up to Glasgow for the Women's race on Sunday. The Dutch team, is rather good! But so was the Belgian men's team and it was a Netherland's victory. So Lotte Kopecky will win on Sunday...

Only six laps of the circuit for the women, but I lost track after seven laps for the men, so six will be about right. We should also catch the end of the men's U23 race on Saturday - trains permitting.

Watched a good chunk of the men's race now on catch-up and have spotted myself and the good wife in the crowd a couple of times

[Nickslikk2112]

Enjoyed the short course XC mountain biking today. Pity Puck Pieterse didn't win, but she's still young. Good couple of Bronze medals for GB, Pidcock did well from starting 30th, must be a bit funny coming off a three week road race to do a 20 minute MTB race!

[Nickslikk2112]

Remco's lost one set of rainbow stripes and gained another! That was some TT, youngest ever winner at 23 yet GB's Josh Tarling got Bronze aged just 19 after winning the Junior's last year, missed out the U23 level!

And young Ben Wiggins got Silver in the men's junior TT

[Thenop]

Yes, Tarling is one to watch for sure, enjoyed that. Still, as much as I like the battle with the clock, it's never as exciting as normal race, is it?

[Nickslikk2112]

Still, as much as I like the battle with the clock, it's never as exciting as normal race, is it?

No 

Mrs S likes Time Trials though, I think if she cycled she'd be a heads down thrash it round sort of rider.

[Nickslikk2112]

Got to Glasgow in time for the last 3 laps of the men's U23 Road Race. Good win for Axel Laurence and nice to see a British man in fourth.

Then to the hotel where we caught the last three laps of the XCO mountain biking. Well done Tom Pidcock, would have loved it if he'd crashed though with Yorkshire flag round his face 😀