General cycling news and discussion

[Over The Post]

'Born entertainer' Julian Alaphilippe to race Tour Down Under

French showman Julian Alaphilippe will bring some flair to the 2024 Tour Down Under, with the two-time World Champion taking to the Australian start line for the first time since 2014.

www.abc.net.au

 

[eth-dog]

'Born entertainer' Julian Alaphilippe to race Tour Down Under

French showman Julian Alaphilippe will bring some flair to the 2024 Tour Down Under, with the two-time World Champion taking to the Australian start line for the first time since 2014.

www.abc.net.au

Huge get. Will do another Aussie summer of cycling thread once we start seeing more names filter through.

Wonder if he has GC ambitions?

 

[Over The Post]

Stayed in Willunga a couple of days ago, lovely place and will definitely be back.

Rode up the hill, well rode as in drove, and up as in we went down it, but it was enough to absorb the vibe of the ascent. These clowns ride up in 40 degree heat??? Wow.

Having breakfast at a cafe at the foot of the climb, watching the MAMILs puffing away, had to resist calling out "6:39! 6:39!" as they went past. Which was a good call as a couple of them only went up 200m or so and rolled back down to the cafe for a post-hill coffee.

 

[eth-dog]

Arkéa Start a Comeback as Cofidis Run into Trouble | March UCI Ranking Analysis - Lanterne Rouge

After the first three months of the season, UAE Team Emirates still dominate the UCI ranking with an incredible Tadej Pogacar, but the trend has changed in the relegation battle. While Astana is still in a deep results crisis, Arkéa is seeing the light by scoring points with its multiple fast...

lanternerouge.com

Interesting article on how the relegation battle is going. Hard to see Astana surviving for 2024. Cofidus, DSM and Arkea fighting for the bottom 2 spots outside of it seemingly.

 

[Over The Post]

In 1978, French professional cyclist Jean-Claude Rude embarked on an ambitious endeavor to set a new world speed record for cycling, targeting a speed of 240 km/h. To accomplish this, Rude utilized the slipstream of a Porsche 935 Turbo. This unique setup included an 800-hp Porsche 935 Turbo equipped with a specially designed roof structure and a trapezoidal screen to maximize slipstream benefits. Rude's bicycle was modified to have an unusually large gear ratio, enabling him to travel up to 27 meters with each rotation of the chain ring.
However, due to the bicycle's inability to generate enough power independently, Rude required assistance from a motorcycle, which used a lance to push him into motion. This collaborative effort between the modified car and the cyclist aimed to achieve a record-breaking speed, demonstrating the potential for bicycles to reach unprecedented velocities under the right conditions.
He blew a rear tyre at 170km/h and managed to keep it upright until stopped.

 

[Sleezy]

Any recommendations on the best cycling podcasts out there?

 

[yaco55]

The Cycling Podcast and Lanterne Rouge.

 

[Vader]

There are some big sponsors coming into the peleton now, giving massive budget lifts to the teams they're sponsoring.

Red Bull have bought a majority share in the team formerly known as Bora Hansgrohe. Buying the majority share indicates that it's a long-term plan, not just a short-term naming rights sponsorship deal.

Chinese company MDS have bought a stake in Astana, which will now be registered in China (rather than Kazakhstan).

Gone are the days of UK Postal having 2-3 times the budget of the next biggest team in the peleton. From 2025 there will be 5 genuine "super teams", based on their financial resources - UK Postal, UAE, Visma, Red Bull, and MDS.

This has the potential to impact cycling in both good & bad ways. It should make for great racing between the top teams, with multiple teams now able to afford those top domestiques. On the flip side, it leaves fewer crumbs for the teams which don't have these super-budget backers, so it has the potential to create a real "haves and have nots" situation.

 

[eth-dog]

There are some big sponsors coming into the peleton now, giving massive budget lifts to the teams they're sponsoring.

Red Bull have bought a majority share in the team formerly known as Bora Hansgrohe. Buying the majority share indicates that it's a long-term plan, not just a short-term naming rights sponsorship deal.

Chinese company MDS have bought a stake in Astana, which will now be registered in China (rather than Kazakhstan).

Gone are the days of UK Postal having 2-3 times the budget of the next biggest team in the peleton. From 2025 there will be 5 genuine "super teams", based on their financial resources - UK Postal, UAE, Visma, Red Bull, and MDS.

This has the potential to impact cycling in both good & bad ways. It should make for great racing between the top teams, with multiple teams now able to afford those top domestiques. On the flip side, it leaves fewer crumbs for the teams which don't have these super-budget backers, so it has the potential to create a real "haves and have nots" situation.

Soudal are pretty big budget too fwiw

 

[Vader]

Soudal are pretty big budget too fwiw

Probably not quite on the same level as the 5 teams I listed - but well ahead of the likes of Jayco, and the rest of the peleton.

I'd suggest that the big 5 (based on 2025 finances) would be in Band 1, Soudal in Band 2, then a bunch of teams in Bands 4 & 5. There's a pretty big gap between Soudal and the rest, hence the lack of a Band 3.

 

[eth-dog]

Probably not quite on the same level as the 5 teams I listed - but well ahead of the likes of Jayco, and the rest of the peleton.

I'd suggest that the big 5 (based on 2025 finances) would be in Band 1, Soudal in Band 2, then a bunch of teams in Bands 4 & 5. There's a pretty big gap between Soudal and the rest, hence the lack of a Band 3.

They were the second biggest budget team heading into this year behind UAE according to a few different commentators haha (not just SBS, but the former GCN guys too).

Band 1 would have those 6 I agree.
Band 2 would be Lidl Trek, Bahrain, Alpecin, Jayco, Decathlon AG2R and Israel PT.
Band 3 would have EF, Lotto, FDJ, Movistar and DSM.
Band 4 Intermarche, Cofidis, Arkea, Uno-X, Tudor and Q36.5

 

[99 Problems]

Outstanding ride from Grace Brown

 

[eth-dog]

This is hilarious

 

[eth-dog]

So a few GT rumours floating around before their presentations.

Giro: Grande Partenza is almost certain to be in Albania for three days, starting Friday May 6th with three rest days (Monday the 10th, 17th and 24th). Looks like an ITT start as they usually do but only one other expected of the route. We likely see a visit to Corsica and then the final week will be almost entirely in the north with the Stelvio on the agenda it seems. Presentation is in three weeks on the 12th. Presentation is on 12th of November

Tour: Grand Depart in Lille in the North of France. Stages one and three set to be flat with stage 2 looking like a puncheur course for the likes of MvdP and WVA with three short but steep climbs in the last 25 km and an uphill finish. There's speculation that stage 5 could be a TTT. Likely to have Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux, with La Plagne the likely last mountain stage on 19, with 20 and 21 likely to be one flat, 1 ITT. Presentation next Tuesday (29th Oct).

Vuelta: Gran Salida is looking likely to be in Piemonte, Italy, with three days there, then traveling through the south of France before entering Spain in stage five. Not as many rumours being leaked now as the presentation is in December.

 

[largebus]

 

[eth-dog]

How can you not love this man? He is the undisputed GOAT of sprinting.