Pro-cycling thread

I see.

Is there a fight for the unified title?

Yes, will somebody get Breggen rights?

Riis leaves NTT, reminding us that he’s actually been there all season. Did anyone notice?

What's NTT? Is that one of those PCT teams?

Bjarne? What did he actually achieve there? I’d say his presence is probably why they’ve struggled to find sponsorship. I actually like the guy and it was good to see him attempt the climbs before stages but he should maybe think about just retiring from the sport now.

Dylan Groenewegen banned until May 2021

Any sanctions against whoever signed off those barriers? All he’s responsible for is the fall, IMO. The organisers are responsible for all injuries sustained past the barriers. Anyway…

Nope

This paragraph is particularly frustrating. No mention of retraining, improved risk assessment or fines for the organisers who signed off the course and setup.
The UCI emphasises the importance of acting on any such incidents from a disciplinary point of view in a fair and consistent manner as well as continuously working on measures aimed at improving road safety.

Damn, they pretty much gave Groenewegen the chair.

Ridiculous penalty. No transparency in how it was arrived at, no mention of the appalling race organisation in Poland that continues to use that finish despite riders raising concerns previously and Groenwegen banned for the consequences of the action rather than the action itself.

It’s knee jerk justice.

That sums it up, yes. Not a single word either about their own responsibilities for race safety :(

It’s knee jerk justice.

So no change from the UCI then.

May next year basically so they're seen to have done something for everyone after blood, but at the same time not really doing much to his potential season?

It would be funny if they were taken to court for this.

Very. But Pat L. would rather have Groenewegen hanged than sue the parties responsible for the horrific consequences of the crash.

Tour de Yorkshire skipping another year

Will it ever come back? Visit Yorkshire are only eclipsed in scandal by British Cycling themselves

@andyp, @dubtap and other pro cycling luminaries, what’s the story with this Abner González kid who’s signed to Movistar? With Bananito firmly out of the World Tour I need a new rider to obsess over.

I got nothing

Nope, me neither.

A lot of punts being taken on young riders at the moment. Presumably based on test data at least as much as, if not more than, race performances.

He's 20, from Peurto Rico. Came 78th in the ITT at the Tour de Beauce. That's the performance that caught Movistar's eye. Second in the Caribbean Championships ITT later in the year led to contract talks.

Thought you where going to say he sat on for the week then effed off on the last climb which impressed them so much .

I am in!

Every race he did last season, his team won the team prize. That *really* caught Movistar’s eye.