2024 Classics

[Vader]

Can't believe the race commissaires allowed the Van der Poul group to close the gap by drafting the team cars. They didn't look like catching the lead group at all, then they closed the last 45 seconds rapidly, by drafting behind a car.

The commissaires initially pulled the vehicles aside, before letting them draft their way back. Disgusting.

 

[largebus]

Can't believe the race commissaires allowed the Van der Poul group to close the gap by drafting the team cars. They didn't look like catching the lead group at all, then they closed the last 45 seconds rapidly, by drafting behind a car.

The commissaires initially pulled the vehicles aside, before letting them draft their way back. Disgusting.

They've always been lenient on people coming back from crashes or team cars

 

[eth-dog]

Nice second by Bardet. He'll be a good podium chance at the Giro I reckon.

 

[Vader]

They've always been lenient on people coming back from crashes or team cars

They couldn't make up their mind what they were doing. First they ordered the team cars to park on the side of the road, to prevent any drafting, then they allowed them back and let the riders blatantly draft their way back to the peloton.

On SM-X205 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Vader]

Nice second by Bardet. He'll be a good podium chance at the Giro I reckon.

Best race he's ridden in 5 years. Hasn't been a relevant factor in any major race since the days when he was chasing the tail of the doped donkey (Froome). It was nice to see him turning back the clock.

On SM-X205 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[eth-dog]

Best race he's ridden in 5 years. Hasn't been a relevant factor in any major race since the days when he was chasing the tail of the doped donkey (Froome). It was nice to see him turning back the clock.

On SM-X205 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Not a WT race but did win Tour of the Alps a couple of years ago with guys like Porte, Bilbao, Carthy in there as well.

 

[Vader]

It seems I'm not the only one who was pissed off with the LBL race commissaires over their decision to lift the barrage, allowing the MvdP group to draft their way back to the main peloton:
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...hat-group-got-20-seconds-for-free/?scope=anon

Tom Pidcock is particularly scathing. He worked damn hard to get himself back, effectively burning all his remaining matches... only to see the MvdP group given a free ride.

Sep Vanmarcke even went as far as suggesting that the group should have been sanctioned for spending so long drafting.

 

[eth-dog]

So, Il Lombardia Sunday week. Can anyone beat Tadej? It seems like Vingegaard isn't going, but Evenepoel and Roglic are. I'd expect Yates to line up for Jayco and maybe we see Haig for Bahrain as maybe co leader with Poels, but doubt we see O'Connor as Gall seemingly has Lombardia leadership and Hindley probably plays domestique for Roglic if he rides, same with Vine and Pogi.

It'll be interesting to see the rouler vs climber domestique situation for each team. I'd probably only have two flatland ones and four climbers to support.