Pro-cycling thread

I think he's just focussing on the track (assuming ahead of Paris), but I'll miss him in the breakaways on the small Belgie classics.

Just read the interview, thanks for the pointer @fredtc.

JW the Great. Bless his unique mind and character, sadly it's not so easy to fit into the pro road peloton when you're 'different'.

The UCI track league started a few minutes ago for anyone interested

11 down before the first elimination messy.

Cavagna and Formolo to Movistar

Colombian riders having to share front wheel almost worth the wait too.

Thanks for that. Already read the extensive NOS interview, but this one's better. Much love for Willy ❤️ and don't forget Haviky, a dreamteam.

https://olympics.com/en/news/jonas-vingegaard-and-demi-vollering-win-velo-d-or-awards-2023-complete-list-winners

Vingo ahead of Pog? The UCI points and 2023 season wins tell different story....

Hennie Kuiper, Fausto Coppi or Alfredo Binda never made that either.

How could they if only started in 1992?

https://www.letour.fr/en/

Tom Pidcock in yellow.

Easy now Carlton

The news that it is Saudi money behind the new cycling league is depressing and predictable. Pro cycling has certainly been stuck in the mud for too long and vulnerable to this sort of take over but it's miserable all the same.

omfg its happening !!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy7pynKCl9Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Yesss!!!

Lol. A grown-up needs to help Movistar SoMe team buy a lav mic.

Well they where very accommodating for the other guy who got busted and paid off his fine with a donation but continued to ride with the team during his suspension.

the other guy who got busted

Wait, Simon Yates is also joining Movistar!?!?

Failed to get Carlos Rodriguez, so left rummaging around in the bargain bucket.

Lol at Movistar resigning "Nairoman" and becoming a spoof of themselves.

Also, thoughts on this?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/oct/28/elite-cycling-the-target-of-saudi-backed-champions-league-style-calendar

Sharing the ASO wealth and organisation seems a positive thing, but via sportswashing being the vehicle and making a Champions League style setup less so

if the saudis want to do it, they will do it, MBS openly said he is pro-sports washing.

They did that with Liv golf successfully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrmqY9hyCCw

where/what is the line?

We already have Ineos, UAE and plenty other ethically questionable brands sponsoring. Although sadder and much more evil wouldnt pro cycling as a whole benefit from injection of money? The sort of questionable money they are already taking.

Yeah I was about to take the sanctimonious line about the wholesale investment in cycling but that ship has already sailed and I didnt speak up, so personally I'd be a hypocrite.

If it is deployed well, the sport would benefit from more cash: less shenanigans over team sponsorship year on year, better organised races, higher profile for non-TDF races to the general public. Saudi PIF are about the only source willing to give such a cash injection. The days of captains of industry/people done good having significant sums are gone, and as Jumbo showed even conventional sources of money aren't without mucky association. In summary: powerless to do anything if it does go ahead so hoping it's for the benefit of the sport.

Risk getting bleeding heart about it in a thread about cycling, but this conundrum highlights a wider point of what can you do to oppose a decision in broader life you disagree with? In this case I guess its to stop watching and complain to teams/UCI? Genuinely interested to know people's thoughts