Competitive Cycling

Nickslikk2112 · September 01, 2023, 05:13:10 PM

No,not a great day and more crashes.
Souper day for beardless...

Thenop · September 02, 2023, 04:41:29 PM

Fantastic last climb! Super impressed by TJV, which team can beat that?
Remco a bit grumpy after losing, it is becoming his demeanor, doesn't suit him. He's a great rider,Tuesday he'll get his chance in the TT.
And an American in red! That's been a while I suppose... If ever.
Edit: of course Chris Horner won the Vuelta 10 years ago. Thank you Sepp Kuss.

Nickslikk2112 · September 02, 2023, 05:24:37 PM

Yes, great last climb, one that I'd avoid! Got back from my Gourmet Break in time to see it. Thought Hugh Carthy was going to come good today at one point, but he's still way off the HC who once got a second in the Vuelta.

I seem to be the only person who doesn't like Sepp Kuss, I see him and can see him dressed as a young SS Officer. Mrs S thinks I have an overactive imagination.

According to Remco he didn't realise the break had been caught and so didn't bother sprinting too hard. Yes Remco, we understand...

Nickslikk2112 · September 03, 2023, 03:52:14 PM

Switched to the Tour of Britain today. Drove home along a lot of the roads used today yesterday and they went by my brother's old house!

JV pulverised it in the end. WvA led out Olav Kooij, easy as you like.

Thenop · September 03, 2023, 05:49:47 PM

Not seen that, seen the Vuelta which had a bit of a strange ending. Finish was brought back to 2K before the actual finish due to weather conditions. Which actually meant they forgot somehow the last 500 mtrs was actually a dirt road. Anyway, Kamna took the victory and no real changes in the GC.
TT on Tuesday should be interesting.

dom · September 03, 2023, 08:27:06 PM

Rest day tomorrow then? Richly deserved ! They'll probably spend it on their bikes 😂

Nickslikk2112 · September 03, 2023, 09:47:10 PM

Quote from: dom on September 03, 2023, 08:27:06 PMRest day tomorrow then? Richly deserved ! They'll probably spend it on their bikes 😂

They WILL spend it on their bikes. A gentle recovery ride out to a coffee shop or local beauty spot. Can't let the legs seize up.

Caught the last 7km of the Vuelta after the ToB, so the organisers have gone from throwing caution to the wind to being ultra cautious. Better late than never I suppose.

Nickslikk2112 · September 04, 2023, 02:57:31 PM

After a surfeit of cycling yesterday, just the Tour of Britain today. A short stage from Wrecsam to Wrexham, 110km in 2 hours 20 minutes. Easy life.

Another Olav Kooij victory, led out again by WvA.

Thenop · September 04, 2023, 03:16:18 PM

TJV seems to grab up everything right now. Not healthy, there's quite some grumpy riders in other teams that feel the dominance is too much.
Anyone remember Team Sky...?

Happy to see Olav Kooij develop this fast though.

Nickslikk2112 · September 05, 2023, 03:17:16 PM

And Olav Kooij gets three from three in the tour of Britain. The last 30km made for exciting racing with teams trying to break JV, but they've just got too much firepower. I should be riding out to see it tomorrow as it passes within 20 miles of my house, but if it's this warm again it might be Telly Time.

Thenop · September 05, 2023, 05:12:50 PM

TT was surprising. Kuss did so well he remains in Red. No big changes in the GC. Was an OK view, under 30 mins, so I expect some fireworks still this week.

Nickslikk2112 · September 05, 2023, 05:18:05 PM

GO, GO, GANNA! Avenged his defeat in the World Championships.

Kuss still in red, can he take it all the way?

Nickslikk2112 · September 06, 2023, 04:52:39 PM

So, Olav Kooij wins again. Didn't get back home in time to watch it, could have ridden to the finish, but I wouldn't have made it back in this heat. Not enough onboard water capacity. Bit of a pathetic KoM they chose, the peloton just rode up as if it wasn't there. I tried making an effort, but what I thought was the finish was 500m to go. I blew up. Fastest Pro time today was 1'48" mine was 2'26", if only I'd paced myself better.

Got back in time to see the end of the Vuelta. Could Ganna be a future GC contender? Answer: No. He put in a good pull though today, pity G didn't have it in his legs. Stalemate for the GC riders.

Thenop · September 06, 2023, 06:45:24 PM

Ganna is waaaay too heavy to get over the mountains properly. He sort of reminds me of Dumoulin when he was 'just' a TT specialtst. Next thing he lost weight and won the Giro, so who knows?
Interesting last climb today, nice for the breakaway to finally make it.
Tomorrow is just a bridge day for Friday: Tourmalet day!

dom · September 06, 2023, 08:08:16 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on September 06, 2023, 04:52:39 PMSo, Olav Kooij wins again. Didn't get back home in time to watch it, could have ridden to the finish, but I wouldn't have made it back in this heat. Not enough onboard water capacity. Bit of a pathetic KoM they chose, the peloton just rode up as if it wasn't there. I tried making an effort, but what I thought was the finish was 500m to go. I blew up. Fastest Pro time today was 1'48" mine was 2'26", if only I'd paced myself better.

Got back in time to see the end of the Vuelta. Could Ganna be a future GC contender? Answer: No. He put in a good pull though today, pity G didn't have it in his legs. Stalemate for the GC riders.

You should be delighted. A retired leisure cyclist only 30 seconds behind people in peak physical condition dedicating their lives to cycling. Chapeau and kudos!