UCI Road Cycling - More than just Le Tour

[::: :::]

What a cool thing for Sepp

Jonas & Primoz look to have embraced their team positions for this race earnestly — might have redeemed them a bit. Vingo looked over at Sepp at 1k to go & offered congratulations

Remco was straight outfoxed by Poels on that rise to the finish
But he should get the overall race’s most aggressive anyway


(And sleeper selection Pelio Sanchez getting me points as part of the break was a nice bonus)

[TBS]

Never expected that many riders would go on the break - I think every team was represented. Thought Soler and Poels would stay back to protect Ayuso and Landa, but when Kelderman joined up as well I figured they all had some alley-oop strategy in mind. Maybe they did, but that doesn’t work with a 10 min advantage

Tomorrow will be a drag race at the end. Final km is straight.
Will Evenepoel contest even though he said he wasn’t interested in the green jersey? Eddie Merckx would…

[EWG]

FKNA Sepp.

[TBS]

Now we get to wonder what’s gonna happen with TJV next season.

Kuss’ contract will be up and end of 2024. Does he want to be a GC guy? Sounds like his wife doesn’t, and I don’t think he’s anywhere near the same league as Vingagaard, Roglic, Pogacar, or Evenepoel. Maybe he stays as mountain domestique for the grand tours and they have him lead some shorter stage races like Tour de Suisse

Roglic contract is up at end of 2025. He’s not too happy about missing out on a record four Vuelta wins. He has zero chance of winning the tour on TJV so long as Vingo is healthy. Does he attempt a buyout in the off-season to join, say Ineos? And that’s complicated by a possible merger between Quickstep and Ineos…

Oh yeah, and Matteo Jorgensen joins TJV in 2024

[::: :::]

Congrats, TBS, you lead from bell to bell!

[TBS]

Heh - first time I’ve won in 10 years and there’s no money on the line.
The extra 20 purchase credits made it a lot easier to field a super team. Soler and Poels were quite productive for me. Amazing considering their efforts in le tour.

[::: :::]

Bit of a drama with the jumbo/soudal merger & now rumors of an amazon sponsor deal. Seemingly inevitable Roglic move now linked to ineos, Movistar & lidl/trek, etc

[kinkilla]

I'm here for it. Well the Roglic leaving, not Quickstep/TJV merging. I don't want cycling to be a two horse race between UAE and TJV and the merger is dangerously threatening that. Hopefully next year is more competitive with Lidl Trek having Tao, EF with Richie Carapaz, Movistar and Mas somehow getting better, Bora and Hindley being healthy, and Ineos with Roglic and a mountain train. As it is, TJV/Quickstep and UAE could probably field A&B teams that would compete with every other team right now for GC.

[Skistack]

What happens to Evenepoel if the merger happens then? Can't see him being happy with being just their Giro and Vuelta guy or schlepping bottles for Vingegaard in the Tour. Or sharing the Classics with Wout for that matter.

[kinkilla]

I mean, he becomes the Roglic role for TJV-Amazon in the grand tours. Number one option for any GC that Jonas isn't at, the undisputed leader for the hilly classics, and a potential weapon for a long range attack in the cobbles a la Dylan van Baarle. If TJV doesn't win basically every classic next year if the merge happens, its a failure.

[::: :::]

that's a lot of talent ego to manage on one team -- that DS is going to be pulling his hair out






(for those who like fancy custom bike stuff, speedwagen/vanilla is having a sale of all things...hard to believe, but there you go... https://www.instagram.com/p/CxmKzHxp5lW/ )

[kinkilla]

Or just yelling F*** at everything that doesn't go their way. Was a real highlight for me in the Netflix series.

[Skistack]

Supposedly Evenepoel is going Ineos. Roglic to Bora?


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[joetron]

UCI Gravel Worlds! Riders reporting that this year’s course is way better than last year. More climbing, more rough gravel.
Sounds like most of the USA Men’s team will be working for Keegan, which is fucking rad. Should be a fun one.


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[EWG]

2024 UCI Cyclocross Worlds just a day away. Classic Tabor Course. Missing a couple of big names so more open than in the past.

Live feed starting in 16 hours for the relay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF_1rj-R45w

Will be quite the party.