Pro-cycling thread

Maybe he’s doing it for the socials. If Rapha sell a few Belizean (?) nat champs jerseys and he pockets a few quid, who can blame him.

JW was only ever the amateur champ (which he rarely clarifies!), and he’s been called out recently for wearing the stars and stripes in pro races. Not a good look.

I’m surprised he switched to Belize as he’s beaten the US pro crit champ multiple times, proving that he could get that jersey if he wanted to. Olympics is a good shout, but I don’t think he’d perform very well in a road race in his current build.

He’s already punting the jersey on insta https://www.instagram.com/p/CQWvigDheWJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

One for the hypebeasts no doubt.

Well both his parents are from Belize.

Dan Martin rides for Ireland. Born in Birmingham, mum is Irish.
Froome rode for Kenya at the commonwealth games.

I'm sure Korea would be happy to allow Caleb Ewan to race for them if he decided to change.

Christ thats badly designed. Someone call Marc Maidot.

Olympics is a good shout, but I don’t think he’d perform very well in a road race in his current build.

Nah he'd never get a result, but to get a ride and be able to put #olympian in his socials is worth it for the clout.

I've noticed that Legion also make a show of Amber Joseph's Barbadian nat champ status, as well as Eder Frayre's newly won Mexican title. They are clearly proud of their individual heritage(s?) and want to show off the quality and achievements of their riders. Fair play, I say.

Legion have the Mexican national champ too now, (Eder Frayre is actually Mexican)

Fair play, I say.

Indeed. What would be cool if Corey Williams takes the US pro crit nats jersey, which he certainly could if JW rides for him. Two brothers showing American history through their nats jerseys. Bingo.

You’d imagine they’d shift a few national jerseys.

There is also a benefit to the tactics/mind games as well. Their dominance and capability is really hammered home when the call up announcer has to say 'national champion' for half the bloody squad.

who can blame him

Oscar Quiros Jr probably

I hope Bennett goes to Belgium and shoves the silly old bastard up against a wall.

He’ll have to get past the heavies first.

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Williams said in an interview he didn’t feel comfortable wearing the Stars and Stripes after George floyd. Take from that what you will. He’s also gone to race in Belize every year for at least 6 years for a specific race.

He does have a clear connection to Belize. Also isn’t the main ethos of Legion to increase inclusion and diversity in cycling? Possibly one of their ways of trying to do this?

I don’t think it’s inclusive for a US national champion to travel to a smaller nation of his or her heritage and take a championship away from domestic contenders.

That’s the ‘possibly’ and ‘trying’ part of my comment. I think if that’s the aim they’ve set out for it’s definitely questionable to have done so.

A email received from aso says you can subscribe and get the radio tour broadcast that all the cars here . Froome watch just got alot easier.

What does taking away from contenders mean? Particularly in this context.
I think he’s bringing more than he is taking in this situation.

For Belize as a nation, that’s good exposure.

I knew barely anything about Belize, now I very much want to go there and scuba dive.

Great place i stayed on a island off the coast . Hot on environmental issues ten years ago particularly their manatees which are very hard to find apart from somewhere of florida.

Reeling from the news Fabio Aru is signed to Qhubeka-Assos

Also used to be real big on bike racing as a lot of small nations in that part of the world did. Less so now but still, being national champ of anywhere is good, there must be someone in Belize a bit genetically gifted who’s been training a bit for this race

It does bring to mind the current situation in rugby with dual nation players qualifying for their birth or parents birth nation by playing Olympic 7s qualifiers and thus being able to switch permanently after a 3 year gap. I’d be more ok with this if he took 3 years off racing us nationals first but I’m still ok ish!
One argument in rugby is it allows weaker nations to do better eg Tonga, and allows old pros to play for longer in internationals. On both levels I’d say that’s ok

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Is there anywhere to watch the Dutch national champs?

That's pretty cool. Any cost? Hope the commentators have it on too