Pro-cycling thread

These processional final stages are always a bit dull but it is nice to see the riders relaxed and chatting to each other

I just don’t get this, it should be a fight for the title to the line.

Pisses me off how the last stage of any GT is a load of processional bollocks.

Pisses me off almost as much as how, despite the last stage being processional, people like Froome then go and ask the race director to neutralise the GC standings aswell!

What the fuck is the point of it?

Does anyone actualy enjoy watching it other than the last lap for the sprint?!

Waste of time.

^
Grand tour rider

Everyone is knackered and on their knees, and the last stage is invariably flat and usually on urban roads. It would take a monumental effort for anyone to get away and maintain a gap when you have both the race leader’s team and a selection of sprinters teams chasing you down. So it’s pointless.

There is also the convention that the GC race is concluded on the penultimate stage, so if you haven’t done enough to win, no matter how close you might be on GC, then you are expected to suck it up.

The lack of the encouragement to attempt such monumental efforts, and the defeatist attitude which you describe is the exact reason why sporting events, particularly cycling GTs are becoming increasingly dull.

People thought it was selfish of Froome to get involved in the sprint last Vuelta, when he won the points jersey over Trentin, when he should have been commended for his attacking.

Because 20 days of riding over thousands of miles over Europe’s biggest mountains is just too relaxed... everyone watches GTs knowing stage 20 is the final stage.

If you want to watch a crit on the Sunday you can do. Up to the viewers.

I thought it was to keep the points Jersey which he would have lost.

You are right, I think I’m remembering people being annoyed that a non sprinter who didn’t win the most stages won the classification.
Of course the points jersey isn’t a sprinting jersey

When was the last day ever contested?
Have they become increasingly dull since then because of that?
Or something else?
What do you want?

Don’t be a Dick

I don’t know what I want, I never do, the grass is always greener isn’t it....

The last stage thing just doesn’t make sense to me:
It’s like having the last lap of a Grand Prix a neutralised parade because you crossed the line first on the previous lap; what’s the point in it?!

Are you comparing the whole of the GP to the whole of a GT? Because then each lap of the GP would have to count to the final result. Or are you comparing the whole of a GP to one stage of a GT? Perhaps you're comparing the final set of a tennis match to the shadow of a bird on water?
I think you need to go away and think about your analogies.

It’s ok, Sunday night and the thought of Monday morning riles the best of us.

I think you need to go away think about not thinking about things too much.

I think only one stage of a GT should count - but the riders aren't told which one it was until the race is over. No going slow on the last day with that system.

In the future, we're going to have a Kwiato / Poels / Bernal etc led Sky competing to stop a British winner (Yates) of a grand tour.

While i'm not at all nationalistic, I wonder how this will play out with the press and some sections of their fans ?

While i'm not at all nationalistic, I wonder how this will play out with the press and some sections of their fans ?

I'd wager that any Sky fan who would get angry about this is expressly of a gammonly complexion and played golf before taking up cycling. I also hope you're not implying that Kwiatkowski has any chance of winning a GT.

Would like to see Sky win it with a French rider. Fans by the side of the road wouldn't know if they should throw piss or kisses.

Who keeps reminding me nationalities don't matter in cycling... ?

#lifebans

Seems JLT Condor are folding this year, no luck findind a replacement sponsor.

That would actually be quite interesting to see what happens.

Will for UCI president!

throw piss or kisses

In some circles they're both wonderful.

It’s confirmed. I don’t think they are alone, other U.K. teams will fold from what I understand.

Seems Adam Blythe has got a ride at Lotto Soudal

Good move for both, Ewen gets someone he knows as a support rider, Blythe gets to race at the highest level again.