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Bang a ‘gong: Pro Cycling 2022

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    That's interesting. I didn't realise that in the World Cup, even though riders race in trade team kit, they are selected by national federations, and the number of slots is by federation based on UCI points.

    That's what the commentary team at Hulst suggested at least.

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      Life Is just not fair

      https://twitter.com/faustocoppi60/status/1597973114175901696?t=0f-f9qX-RJYtC_W182q5sA&s=19]

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        Oh no. His career longevity has been a regular topic on various podcasts as has his recent retirement. That's terrible.

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          Ostensibly he retired last month but there was still the suspicion he'd rescind that and rock up somewhere in the new year. Turned pro following the Barcelona Olympics and quickly established himself as one of Italy's new generation of riders, after a brief flirtation with attempting to become a GC contender he turned to specialising in one day races. Won all the Ardennes races in 2004 and plenty of other substantial races too, he was easily good enough to have won a rainbow jersey at some point and started as race favourite on home soil in 99 but crashed out when in a good position. It has to be acknowledged that the main body of his career coincided with the sport's Wild West years, he certainly had some very high peaks and low troughs, and he got caught himself when testing positive after winning the silver medal in the road race at the Beijing Olympics. He was 37 by then and pretty much everybody else would have called it a day at that point, instead he returned and spent a dozen years having a second career riding for all sorts of weird and wacky teams at minor races, after a while everybody forgot about his past and his career path simply became a thing of wonder.

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            2024 men's Tour gonna end with an ITT in Nice.

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              The Nice finish had been widely expected for some months as a consequence of the Olympics. The time trial bit was a surprise, although we don't know yet what the distance or terrain might be - go on, go up the Col d'Eze - and the day before is going to be a stage on those ambush roads they regularly use in Paris - Nice. The final time trial usually reinforces what we already know rather than turns the race on its head, but this is important as they've finally slaughtered the sacred cow of having a procession and sprint on the last day.

              UAE have become the first team to launch their new season jersey.

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                Oh, is the Olympics in Paris in 2024? I had no idea. So they'll be having a Champs finish for the Olympic RR, I guess.

                That's so shit about Rebellin. I'm of the 'as long as you don't do it TOO much' school of thought regarding performance enhancement, I regard someone racing professionally at 50 as fantastic and worthwhile even if he has a little assistance. Guy obviously just loved loved loved to ride and race his bike.

                Heh heh, 'PISSEI'
                Last edited by delicatemoth; 01-12-2022, 13:09.

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                  @jens_dekker@mstdn.social has a blog where he rates and reviews CX courses through the season. I'm finding it a really good read. It's nice to have an ex pro's views and he talks about how much these courses fail to adhere to the rulebook.

                  I assumed that G42 was a Group 4 Security spin off, but it's an UAE AI company

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                    Where should former World's bands go if you're wearing a long sleeve Jersey? I've got used to them being on the arm where a short sleeved jersey would finish. But MvdP has his at the wrist, which now I think about it, is the correct place.

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                      Groupama - FDJ's new kit should be enough to bring even the most rabid ABE'er to cheer England tomorrow. Making Pinot wear this, FFS.



                      They also announced some details of the team's objectives as part of the launch. Pinot is doing the Giro, Gaudu the Tour with the aim of podiumming, Demare is getting fobbed off with targetting his 100th win with the team. Nice to see them promoting Romain Gregoire as he looks to find his level.

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                        Awful shirt. If you're going to have strips of colour running either side of the zip then it needs to be the full length. The bib shorts need a wash too!

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                          I don’t mind it but they’re going to look the Alpecin and Quick Step in the peloton.

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                            Dublin provided two really good races, although I think the sub zero weather really helped. Without some areas being frozen and others muddy it would have been a bit one note.

                            Snow this weekend. Val di Sole. It's a gimmick but one the UCI are going to keep plugging away with as winter olympics events need to be on snow or ice.

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                              Two things.

                              I really like these Etxeondo kits

                              https://twitter.com/LABORALkTeam/status/1603335383961718786

                              then, here's Puck Pieterse doing a lap of Val di Sole.

                              Last edited by Levin; 17-12-2022, 11:02.

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                                That’s a mightily impressive lap by Puck Pieterse, and it appears staying on the bike in impossible circumstances is her biggest strength.

                                I wish I could feel the love for cross.

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                                  I think Val di Sole is too much. I like the idea of snow being a matter of circumstance rather than the reason for the race.

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                                    Astana news:

                                    1. They sack Miguel-Angel Lopez for a drug related conviction;
                                    2. Look set to sign Cav.

                                    Strange days.

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                                      Astana is pretty much the only show in town for Cav since the B&B project fell through and all of Start Up, Arkea and Uno-X said they wouldn't take him. Beyond that the only other major option was Bahrain and it would take a lot of pride swallowing on both sides for that to happen after their miserable season in the Covid year. Or he would have to bite the bullet, accept he wouldn't get a ride in the Tour (which is the only reason he's continuing) and take a slot somewhere else and hope an option opened up for 2024. All a bit unbecoming really.

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                                        ASO have confirmed that the 2024 Tour de France will begin in Florence which isn't a surprise as it's been rumoured for months and they've wanted it for absolutely ever. They've also released some details of the Italian stages which look exciting, a load of climbs on the first day to a finish by the sea in Rimini, then the second day goes from Pantani's hometown Cesenatico to Bologna. It took me a while to realise that the "Cote de San Luca" is what's more commonly known as the Colle di San Luca, a climb outside Bologna that sees a lot of racing use - they went up it in the Giro prologue the other year - and that Roglic always likes, they go up that twice on a finish circuit. Then there's a sprint stage to Turin. No details on what comes next save for the finish in Nice, but one thing that can be deduced is that the race begins on a Saturday so they might be visiting the Alps the following day as there isn't a rest day for a big transfer as happened post-Denmark this year.





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                                          Damn. More sportswashing. Reading between the lines the vibe has changed of late at what used to be GreenEdge.

                                          GreenEDGE Cycling to be known as Team Jayco AlUla in the latest in a string of global sporting deals linked to kingdom

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                                            They've always been looking out for anybody with some money to reduce the reliance on Gerry Ryan. From the Saudis perspective a relatively trivial investment by their standards can go a long way in the sport.

                                            I'd now quite like the Qataris to get involved with team sponsorship, just to see what happened if one of their riders ended up with a rainbow jersey.

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                                              "Le Boxing Day de Cyclocross" lasts forever r more than two weeks

                                              https://twitter.com/jeremysahakian/status/1606277741367529472?s=61&t=YLqzjpf9RsvRpsLPvrNprQ

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                                                Fem van Empel was so bruised at Val di Soli that she's not going to ride for Pauwels ever again as her jumbo contract starts 1st Jan. Which is a bit sad she's not going to get a farewell race.

                                                I'm not keen on sand cross.

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                                                  It sounds like there has been some good racing in the past couple of days. I'm looking forward to catching up when I'm back home.

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