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wobert said:
And on arriving at my hotel this morning, Soudal, UAE and EF were staying there, had a good chat with Marijn Van Den Berg of EF.
He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Just spotted that poor chap in the background with what appears to be a very poorly leg! He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Edited by wobert on Sunday 7th July 21:53
He looks happy enough - did you happen to have a chat with him?
Digger said:
wobert said:
And on arriving at my hotel this morning, Soudal, UAE and EF were staying there, had a good chat with Marijn Van Den Berg of EF.
He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Just spotted that poor chap in the background with what appears to be a very poorly leg! He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Edited by wobert on Sunday 7th July 21:53
He looks happy enough - did you happen to have a chat with him?
df76 said:
Crazy Tour stage today on the gravel tracks around Troyes, well worth a watch.
Not been able to watch the stage, so only seen the pictures in this thread and read summaries. Edited by df76 on Sunday 7th July 14:22
I have to confess I hate stages like this and the pave because they seem so randomly risky. Racing bikes on gravel/pave is a little like having a rally section in an F1 race, wrong thing in the wrong place.
I am sure there must be a tradition argument for it, but the relevance escapes me, I am also sure that the vast majority of the riders just want to survive the day.
wobert said:
Digger said:
wobert said:
And on arriving at my hotel this morning, Soudal, UAE and EF were staying there, had a good chat with Marijn Van Den Berg of EF.
He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Just spotted that poor chap in the background with what appears to be a very poorly leg! He said he was looking forward to the gravel but was feeling very tired after a hard first week. He came home 23rd today!
Edited by wobert on Sunday 7th July 21:53
He looks happy enough - did you happen to have a chat with him?
llewop said:
Not been able to watch the stage, so only seen the pictures in this thread and read summaries.
I have to confess I hate stages like this and the pave because they seem so randomly risky. Racing bikes on gravel/pave is a little like having a rally section in an F1 race, wrong thing in the wrong place.
I am sure there must be a tradition argument for it, but the relevance escapes me, I am also sure that the vast majority of the riders just want to survive the day.
A GT is supposed to be an 'all round' test of a rider. Not just who can ride uphill quickly......Why should GT's favour just lightweight climbers, and decent TT-ers? I have to confess I hate stages like this and the pave because they seem so randomly risky. Racing bikes on gravel/pave is a little like having a rally section in an F1 race, wrong thing in the wrong place.
I am sure there must be a tradition argument for it, but the relevance escapes me, I am also sure that the vast majority of the riders just want to survive the day.
If people can't handle pave, or gravel, then they're not very good cyclists. There's more to being a top cyclist than watts, VO2, w/kg, etc Having some skills should also carry importance....
And don't forget, the early races were ridden on these rough, gravel roads....
ArnageWRC said:
A GT is supposed to be an 'all round' test of a rider. Not just who can ride uphill quickly......Why should GT's favour just lightweight climbers, and decent TT-ers?
If people can't handle pave, or gravel, then they're not very good cyclists. There's more to being a top cyclist than watts, VO2, w/kg, etc Having some skills should also carry importance....
And don't forget, the early races were ridden on these rough, gravel roads....
I see where you're coming from, but I'd not like to be robed of a great GT race due to a badly timed puncture. Putt these stages in, and the "lottery effect" goes up a big notch...If people can't handle pave, or gravel, then they're not very good cyclists. There's more to being a top cyclist than watts, VO2, w/kg, etc Having some skills should also carry importance....
And don't forget, the early races were ridden on these rough, gravel roads....
ArnageWRC said:
A GT is supposed to be an 'all round' test of a rider. Not just who can ride uphill quickly......Why should GT's favour just lightweight climbers, and decent TT-ers?
If people can't handle pave, or gravel, then they're not very good cyclists. There's more to being a top cyclist than watts, VO2, w/kg, etc Having some skills should also carry importance....
And don't forget, the early races were ridden on these rough, gravel roads....
Would you add in some berms or some 10ft jumps to test BMX and MTB skills? Or ask them to do a five minute track stand at the start line or ride their bike off the top of a building like Danny Mc ?If people can't handle pave, or gravel, then they're not very good cyclists. There's more to being a top cyclist than watts, VO2, w/kg, etc Having some skills should also carry importance....
And don't forget, the early races were ridden on these rough, gravel roads....
How all round do you go? Bearing in mind this is a road race.
Given the TT was quite early and Saturday and tomorrow are both sprint finishes, ASO decided to use the Chemin Blancs to mix things up a little and make it more interesting for the spectators.
Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
Digger said:
I was watching JB on a big screen in the centre of the TT course.The locales thought is was ace, I’ve never seen anything like it, but as for bring the sport into disrepute….wtf are the UCI thinking….i think this is the very best way of engaging with the public who don’t cycle.
Alickadoo said:
wobert said:
I was on the last sector, by the penultimate corner. It was truly epic watching them round the corner at full pelt. The road surface had a hard base but the surface was incredibly loose. I’m amazed no one came a cropper.
Well done.Next time, hold the camera in landscape mode.
I go portrait to enable me to frame the rider without getting the crowd dominating the shot.
I’d say I’ve achieved that, but that’s imho.
I don’t profess to be a pro shooter, just an amateur doing what suits.
Edited by wobert on Monday 8th July 20:44
wobert said:
Given the TT was quite early and Saturday and tomorrow are both sprint finishes, ASO decided to use the Chemin Blancs to mix things up a little and make it more interesting for the spectators.
Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
You managed it in this one!Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
Yeah - tough crowd
Digger said:
wobert said:
Given the TT was quite early and Saturday and tomorrow are both sprint finishes, ASO decided to use the Chemin Blancs to mix things up a little and make it more interesting for the spectators.
Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
You managed it in this one!Having seen it in-person, it was certainly a spectacle that lived up to expectations.
From a technical aspect, it’s wasn’t “gravel” in the US sense, more Strade Bianca…..hard pack base with a loose semi top dressing.
Given how few punctures there were, I think it was a well judged decision to mix things up a little and making it more interesting but without huge risk.
Yeah - tough crowd
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