Pro-cycling thread

It's a real shame. It can't be considered a Grand Tour if it doesn't have a TT IMO

the Femmes

*avec Zwift

Haha It fucking shits me that so much emphasis is put on "avec zwift" rather than the fact that this is ground breaking territory for woman's racing. Kinds shows that zwift are in it for exposure for the company rather than the sport itself.

Rep!

this is ground breaking territory for woman's racing

What actually is the groundbreaking territory? The fact that they have to add that wanky Zwift suffix?

sociopath

What made me hate him was the way he treated other people. The doping was secondary. The sociopathy isn't his fault. He can't help it. So maybe I should sympathise with him? But I don't. I want sociopaths and psychopaths to be shunned and excluded so they can't damage others.

Oh I'm not trying to have a go at you! The fact that they have a Woman's Tour de France is pretty amazing to me. Them having to add the wanky suffix just feels like it takes away the importance about it.

Cav rumours are wild

The snaggletooth comments were amusing but he still comes across as an arsehole due to him mocking everyone around him.

She said she was trying to go through a gap. Stupid move by her.

Whenever I wear my Betsy Andreu Appreciation Society cap I get a boost of righteous hate

No worries, all good here, it was a genuine question!

I'm loving the race too, I'm just struggling with everyone talking about it being historic and groundbreaking as if they haven't already had 30 editions in one form or another. Is Zwift paying the journalists and presenters to create this illusion?

Yeah fair point I guess having an 8 day stage race actually called it is pretty cool. And great racing to boot.

I feel like it would have been in the contract from zwift that it must be called that each and every time.

From 1984-1989 it was called the Tour de France Feminine, was 12-18 stages and organized by the men's organiser.

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Don’t know how they are paying for sponsorship, but assuming it’s a lot, I really don’t begrudge them putting their name as title sponsor.

Other examples:
Amstel Gold
Binckbank tour (Benelux)
Amgen Tour of California
Aviva / OVO Tour of Britain

It’s possible that it could have been Zwift Tour de France Femmes, which would have been worse. Title sponsor name order makes a difference.

And it shouldn't have stopped back then.

Sorry maybe I'm getting unnecessarily wound up (recovery from surgery) but in the time I tied my shoelaces they said it three times haha

It would be better if zwift were putting money into womens teams/rider salaries, rather than the overfull pockets of aso, but if this is what it takes to get a womens tdf going again, so be it. Zwift are hardly a UAE, Astana or ineos level bad guy.

Tour de France, fam

avec Zwift innit

Was it possible to watch it live? Maybe the 'historic' bit is that the internet makes it watchable live worldwide.

Yeah, I’d agree with that.
Zwift isn’t doing it for charity, and neither should they. I hope it’s a sustainable sponsorship model for the future, because I’d hate for it to have to stop as they can’t find a sponsor.

Having a Women’s tour at all should improve income into teams and rider salaries, due to a huge uplift in visibility.

I think more so, the Lance era has completely destroyed American road cycling. I don't think another major sponsor will touch the sport for decades. I grew up in the Lance era states and was heavily into cycling when he was winning but saw interest within myself and my friend group plummet with the negativity associated with his doping/ character.

That on top of the fact that, according to all accounts, he is just a horrible person

AMGEN sponsoring Tour of California was the bleakest sponsorship of a race ever.

Much nicer jerseys in this race.
Had a rummage around AliX to see if there were any copies, but no luck. A Canyon Sram or Le Col in a men's fit would be awesome.

Canyon SRAM mens jerseys in the Rapha archive sale RN

I do think that's it.