Pro-cycling thread

Sock height was suspiciously high too..

In theory UCI need to prove he was being supported by something other than the saddle.

The new rule clearly states that hands have to be on the bars and arse on the saddle. As soon as I saw him doing it I thought he'd be disqualified.

From a few pages back.

Article 1.3.008:

“The rider shall normally assume a sitting position on the bicycle. This position requires that the only points of support are the following: the feet on the pedals, the hands on the handlebars and the seat on the saddle.”

I thought he would be disqualified, too, because UCI. But what rule was he breaking?

If he had been pedalling, would he have been disqualified?

Not just that, he has his anal sphincter gripping the nose of the saddle. How much more safe could you get?

The few times I tried to race downhill that’s how I gripped the seat and I never crashed. Case closed

While Fignon was the last man to have won a Tour de France and a monument classic, you need to go back even further still to find a rider who has won both in the one season. The year was 1981 when Bernard Hinault secured the yellow jersey after winning Paris-Roubaix in the spring. In fact a Tour/Monument double in one season has only been achieved by four riders since World War I, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Louison Bobet and Fausto Coppi.

And Vincenzo Nibali and Andy Schleck.

And the Paris Roubaix aspirationals Sir Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas.

Nibali and Schleck didn't win a TDF and a monument in the same year though.
So weak...

Still struggling to understand how Valverde ("he's a wily old fox") got suckered into leading out the sprint yesterday. In his prime he'd have only appeared on the front with about 25 metres to go.

Have you seen old people drive cars? They never have any clue where they are going.

it was a running gag with the Flemish commentators as he sort of got his position wrong at the start of Mur de Huy last Wednesday as well, El Imbatido himself said: 'a beginner's mistake' ;-)

It was strange to see but I guess the king is just enjoying racing and being at the pointy end even at 41.

Enjoyed LBL, shame Pidcock didn't make it to the start line. The new parcours seems to make for more interesting riding, although Ineos looked a bit daft doing all the huffing and puffing then having no one with the legs to follow the decisive move. Would love to see Kwiato back to his best.

Here you go.

Whst seems to be really shit about this- aside from the shitness of the rule itself- is that they wait until he's finished the race and then say "oh! You're disqualified"
They should tell the team car to pull him immediately or just give a warning.

I wonder how Groenewegen will do in the Giro. Maybe testing the waters of racing again and leave the first few sprints to Dekker, or will he be in shape and on edge from the start?

4km Prolouge today for the Tour de Romandie. It does have a small hill at the end but will Ganna complete it in some ridiculous time?

Yes, Thomas should do pretty well also?

You'd think he might still be off the pace a little bit. Was intresting listening to his GTCC podcast is that he holds his peak form / weight for 8 weeks max.

4km Prolouge today for the Tour de Romandie.

Being held only a few kms from Cycliste's flat. She's in video conference meetings all afternoon.

Fake backgrounds on video calls are designed for this very situation. I actually have a 2 hour departmental meeting at the same time this afternoon but I know what I'm going to be paying attention too.

That’s exactly when I rely on my doppelgänger.

Cycliste can get quite excited watching races live. I think someone might notice.

Superman Lopez spotted in Movistar colours for the first time.