Pro-cycling thread

I can't get my head around pro riders having refuelling issues, maybe I'm totally naive but in my mind it just shouldn't happen at that level. I get it if he was sick and couldn't get food down, but just simply not eating enough seems way too basic a fail to me within a pro team, even more so Ineos. Is that harsh? Maybe way more to it than I know...

I’ve forgotten to eat lunch while busy at work, I expect it’s not that hard to forget to have a gel or two while you’re racing.

What I find impressive is that with a hunger flat, they only lose a minute. I get a hunger flat, I need to get the train.

Easy enough to forget to eat in a chipper RR which are short enough to carry everything you need in your back pocket. On a roasting 5hr stage which requires dropping back to the car for feeding it's easy to do.

I think they also try to ensure riders eat just enough, so they maintain their weight over the course of a GT.

It's getting enough Terry's All Gold down him that is Carapaz's problem.

I'm not sure Carapaz would support a French brand using African chocolate.
Arriba Gold might be more in keeping for an Ecuadorian Olympian.

They're pros though, it's their job to do everything they can to give themselves the chance to perform and they have a team to support them. Not having the legs, not feeling it on the day, heat got to me, etc. that's part and parcel, but losing time because you forgot to eat/drink enough? Nah, not having that. Maybe I'm being harsh. Fair point about giving them just enough to maintain weight, you'd think they'd err on the side of caution though.

you've never made a mistake at work?

That response is peak ASDA/football fan.

Too many gels/food can turn you into Poomoulin.

Setting some kind of timer to remind people to have food or drink every 15 minutes sounds like a no brainer, but not straightforward in practice, when you're attacking, climbing out the saddle, trying not to get dropped.
Also could have been a missed food bag, domestique took one less bottle, all sorts of things.

Froome famously had a hunger flat and got penalized 20 seconds for an illegal feed when he sent Porte to get him a gel, so can happen to the very best.

The average amateur triathlete/marathon runner is probably better at fueling than a world tour pro.

you've never made a mistake at work?

many mistakes. i'm not exactly world class in my profession though and if I were, I'm sure i'd be held to a much higher standard.

I'll drop it, clearly it's more nuanced than "it's unacceptable for a rider to forget to eat/drink", was just thinking out loud.

not straightforward in practice

yeah that pretty much sums it up I guess.

Why’s everyone talking about Billy going hungry? Is this a hunch or is there a reliable source?

He clearly peaked a few weeks ago with TDF and Olympic podiums. It’d be mightily impressive for him to ride through the Vuelta to a top ten IMO.

Edit: here’s a VN article on the feeding penalty..

clearly it's more nuanced than "it's unacceptable for a rider to forget to eat/drink", was just thinking out loud.

ASDA does not allow nuance ;-)

I like the discussion tbh. Genuinely intersting but suprisingly common for riders to bonk

Are Ethan* 1st at L'Avenir with Lewis Askey in 3rd!

*No not that one, the other one.

As opposed to Roglic peaking for TDF, then gold in the TT, and looking to win the Vuelta again?
Froome bossing TDF and then getting 2nds and 1sts at the Vuelta the same year?

I would have expected Billy to do well at the start and then suffer in the final week.
Which is probably what Ineos are hoping will happen to Roglic.

Roglic only did half the Tour?

Carapaz and Pidcock have clearly been on the piss for two weeks

1. Not opposed.
   
2. Not sure.
   
3. OK.
   
4. Agreed.
   

Meanwhile UCI WorldTour Pro Cyclist Alex Howes has been off winning “sportives” in America.

https://www.velonews.com/events/monuments-gravel/sbt-grvl-howes-takes-the-victory-in-downtown-steamboat-springs/

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Re carapaz and his fuelling, I also find it super weird. I don’t place any blame on the rider because, of course, they are racing in a high pressure situation where mistakes are inevitable. However I would say it is the job of the team to develop strategies that help minimise the likelihood of those errors… surely at the very least the DS could send regular reminders out over race radio reminding everyone to concentrate on their nutrition strategy. I have a 15 and 30 minute reminders set on my watch for long races.

Do people never ride bikes? It's too easy not to eat enough. I struggle to eat when riding at a decent pace, only remember about it when a big effort is coming and by then it may be too late.

It didn't seem like the stage was ridden that hard. The 150km before Picon Blanco were essentially downhill or flat, and even the final climb had everyone bunched together for most of it.

Current pro and two former WT pros turn up and beat a load of amateurs? They must be really proud.

Given Carapaz was fined for an illegal feed, I think it caught him by surprise too.

I have to say, it is very easy to criticise someone's feeding strategy from the comfort of an armchair.

#armchairds