Pro-cycling thread

Anna van der Breggen was pulled off her TT bike by Olympic officials when riding the course today. The officials didn’t know the Dutch team were part of the ITT. Luckily she wasn’t hurt.

The Dutch team run of good luck is continuing.

What are the odds, riding as a world champ but not being recognized by the officials. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

That was some tight time trialling, for second place

Was tight at the first lap, smoked everyone in the 2nd. Paced it perfectly

Insane gap given how close second to fifth place ended. Was expeccting more from Ganna, could he be saving himself for the track or simply too much climbing for him in the course?

Yes.

I think it was just too long. But yeah not the most favorable terrain for big boys, as proved by Asgren catching up every time the road was going down only to get dropped again in every incline.

Sagan and Ackermann confirmed departing Bora-Hansgrohe

Fred Wright (WT), Tom Gloag & Finley Newmark (Conti), Jacob Vaughan (DN1) and Alec Briggs (gets paid more to ride his bike than just about any UK rider) all turned up at track league last night.

Felt more ASDA-approved Pro race than Chipper trying to hold the wheels...

Ha - sounds brutal. Who was strongest?

Lol

Sandbaggers.

They didn't race, just turned up with a few cases of Red Stripe and megaphone.

Fred, Jacob and Alec all got a win each. Tommy G is a monster but not got the speed of those guys.

My two 5th places felt like wins!

Surprised to hear Justin Williams hasn't turned up for a bit of pro-sandbagging yet TBH.

He got rolled by Alec a couple of years ago at Palace and I think that was him done!

humble brag

All I have left nowadays

He's already sandbagged a national title (not sure how I feel about that, quite conflicted) , he's done for the year.

The most important bike racer in the world?

https://www.bicycling.com/racing/a37069573/why-justin-williams-is-the-most-important-bike-racer-in-the-world/

The article makes a decent case for it and acknowledges the other names one might be considering. Point being, not many racers are changing the sport, they’re just winning at it; he is changing it. Easier to see and accept from a US perspective, though.

The longer article/interview goes further into this, with even more of a US perspective I think
https://www.bicycling.com/racing/a36949731/justin-williams-future-of-american-bike-racing/

How does Alex Briggs get paid so much? I don’t know his story.
This sounds like when a casual Tuesday night track league spin used to go downhill fast if someone like Ed Clancy had been told to do some extra efforts. Him, Tennant and a few others I now forget were ridiculously smooth

Social media, influencer, TV adverts, etc.

Shall we ask him? Oi, @Alec_pedaler , how do you get paid so much to ride your bike?

#bigplums