THEN GET OFF HIS FUCKING WHEEL.
Some have tried to excuse this, but it is selfish, irresponsible behavior.
Jonas should have just stopped, made the guy go on w/out him. It’s how I deal with tailgating in my car, and it works.
But then I’m not a pro doing my job. The blame here is on the rider who seems to have been well aware that Jonas did not want him around.
x.com/bikeblz/stat...
BikeBlz on X: "Dá para ver claramente aqui que o Jonas está irritado com um influenciador de ciclismo em Calpe... ele está pedalando meia roda à frente, claramente tentando evitar qq conversa com estranhos. Esses caras precisam parar. https://t.co/1jGQ288pQj" / X
Dá para ver claramente aqui que o Jonas está irritado com um influenciador de ciclismo em Calpe... ele está pedalando meia roda à frente, claramente tentando evitar qq conversa com estranhos. Esses caras precisam parar. https://t.co/1jGQ288pQj
They’re doing a job. They’re not there for shits and giggles, like you, so you should probably leave them alone. At the very least, ask. I’ve been side eyeing this behavior since seeing an uptick in these types of videos on instagram. Not wholesome! 👎🏻
The worst of them are like amateur paparazzi, lurking around popular training areas and stalking the pros for social media content. Obnoxious at best, dangerous at worst.
What has happened to Matthew Brennan? Horribly out of position and not able to contest twice in a row.
Is he sick? If so, why are his teammates at the front so late in the race? Last year his timing and instincts looked elite.
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Not a great team for sure, but he won things last year with no lead out, and nearly won stage 1 here. Yesterday he was 3rd wheel inside 1km, but for whatever reason didn’t go when the time came.
Could be the heat, but Morkov made no mention of that. Hard to figure.
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I am still optimistic. His burst in that first sprint was impressive, just came from too far back. I will be keen to see him work with Wout at Omloop and other races, and I think he can compete at a race like KBK. Sprinting is a precarious business, but he I am confident he will learn and improve.
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Interesting point. No word of illness or injury from Morkov, just disappointment. After the near-savant performances we saw from him last year, this is a strange development indeed.
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He was blazing fast stage 1, just came from too far back.
But the last two sprints he has gotten washed out and basically sat up. Can’t figure out why.
TVL had similar problems to start last year as well. Puzzling
Wout, Matty B, and Pidcock already on board. MVDP considering.
AND I WILL BE THERE. Always been on my top shelf of favorite races, and this could be one of the greatest fields in its history. Wow.
You there, Visma?
This airbag for pro cyclists is the safety tech we’ve been waiting for – and a WorldTour team is already using it | BikeRadar
Aerobag in talks with the UCI, with WorldTour teams set to use the tech in 2026
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My take as an American:
Trump is more Putin than Hitler. He is a bigot, but that is secondary to pure megalomania.He isn’t even ideological, although he uses nationalism, religion, etc, to manipulate.
Permanent authoritarian rule, in tandem w/ultra-wealthy oligarchs,is the goal.It’s within sight.
LETS FUCKING GO
From a mailing list. Awkward.
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“Gemini, what do we do with our Yates inventory?”🤔
MSR is a curious choice for him. Even Flanders would make more sense.
Tom Pidcock unveils spring schedule targeting Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège
www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/...
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Once a Visma, always a Visma. 🫠
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This has "Brennan to TDF 2027" all over it. With monuments, a major one-week race, and a GT under his belt, he will be ready. Even if Wout is still on the squad - heck, maybe *especially* if Wout is on the squad...he could challenge for stages.
TRUTH
Sorry, not feeling it. Whatever his reasons, this did not spring on him like a jack-in-the-box. He got something huge out of his time at TVL, needed to to better than this.
More coming out:
Q: "You said he thought about it for a long time, but you didn’t really have discussions over the year. Is it a pity he didn’t involve the team earlier...?"
Plugge: "Of course it would have been better if he had called us in September..."
Unprofessional and uncool.
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I’m not yet familiar with Piganzoli - glad to hear he is legit!
Campy, Kuss, and Jonas are not enough by themselves to fully control Giro, but don’t necessarily have to. UAE and Bora will send big teams, maybe Lidl-Trek as well. Just gotta have the power to protect Jonas and ride him back on if he needs it. They’ll miss Yates, but should be good nonetheless.
I am a shameless stan, but the reflexive shit takes on TVL's 2026 program are boggling.
- Jonas is "dodging"
- Wout is washed
- Matteo's schedule is wrong. Brennan's too.
- Departures/retirements = "something is wrong"
No one is above criticism, but come on.
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Mostly just social media noise. I guess the reason I noted it is because of the relentless criticism TVL got last year from more official media voices. They won 3 GTs and finished 2nd in men’s team standings, but criticizing their tactics is like a sport unto itself.
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Yes, but there is little chance he came to that decision so late and all at once. I just went through this in my career - teaching, which also operates on annual contracts - and imo it is incumbent on retirees to take that step responsibly.Short of a health issue, he should have told them sooner.
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Exactly. As one who has just retired from teaching, a profession that, like cycling, operates on annual contracts, I know what it means to make that choice so that your employer isn’t left with a hole in the roster. It’s a matter of both professionalism and courtesy.
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Yates did them wrong, imo. Maybe I’ll learn more someday and re-think if, but for now I view the whole thing as pretty shitty.
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Not sure why it has to be qualified. TDF is the biggest prize, but:
- Jonas has won it twice, and just by being there as Pog's main rival he is getting huge coverage for the sponsors
- Completing the career slam of GTs is a big deal for Jonas and the team
It makes sense on its own merits, imo.
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What I'd add to #4: will the "experts" mock anyone who does try? Last year TVL was relentlessly panned for attacking Pog. "Foolish and futile," ex-pros and others exclaimed, but of course they would have been even more critical had TVL *not* attacked.
Keen to see how they go this year.
“Dutch rider opens up about losing faith in Visma-Lease a Bike’s training methods…”(dnlbenson on Dylan Van Baarle)
Ineos and TVL have been 2 of the most dominant teams of the last 15 years. Even last year Visma finished 2nd in UCI.
If they aren’t good enough for you, the problem is you.
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Indeed. He will turn 34 this spring, and has been injured over the last couple of years. Nobody’s fault, just life as a pro athlete. Not sure what he thinks Soudal or anyone else can do about it.
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It’s worth remembering that DVB left Ineos specifically *because* of their progressive training and culture. But like many riders, age and injuries have taken a toll on him and he isn’t what he was 3 or 4 years ago. That’s just life, not TVL.
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Well, Cian left because he wants top GC billing.
TD retired because he lost the passion.
Meanwhile, youngsters like Jonas, Olav, Brennan, and NVH, plus vets like MJ, CL, and Campy have thrived.
I just don’t think this is about the team.
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The sudden exits of Yates and now Eli have combined to impact me. I got into cycling in 2019, which was the start of a new era in the sport: new superstars, new tech, etc. But time goes on, and some of the key figures of "my" era are starting to move on.
Not so bad yet, but when Wout goes....
Wow. The era of cycling that I came into as a fan is coming to its end. Lots of big names out or soon to be, obviously a new wave coming on.
Iserbyt was not my rooting interest, but I do feel for him. Spent his whole career behind two giants, now this. Pro sports are glorious, but unforgiving.
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All true. Lots of veteran riders have noted how intense and year-round the sport has become; evidently he has had enough.
The timing is awkward, though. It leaves Visma with a hole in its roster that won't be easy to fill. I mean, wouldn't they have liked a shot at, say, Derek Gee?
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From the other site:
x.com/vismaleaseab...https://x.com/vismaleaseabike/status/2008886508975964342?s=46&t=JeDVN5fG-9YAfHXoeeo1nw
Did not see that coming.
🇬🇧 Simon Yates announces shock retirement from cycling
The reigning 🇮🇹 Giro d'Italia champion will retire from cycling with immediate effect, announcing the news via social media on Wednesday. He leaves the sport at 33 years of age.
📰
www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/simo...
📸 Cor Vos
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He is good for one major blunder per race. Glad he wasn’t hurt this time.
FUCKING FUCK.
At least he is in good spirits about it.
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Below is a screenshot of my WhatsApp with a Belgian friend during the climactic moments. He is also a Wout fan, and we were both quite nervous!
Van der Poel will eventually pull away, but Verstrynge is well clear of the rest of the field. Huge ride if he can hold it.
"LOOK AT WOUT VAN AERT! LOOK AT WOUT VAN AERT!"
Best moment of the year for me, captured perfectly by the great Rob Hatch.
Unforgettable moments in Montmartre 👀
YouTube video by TNT Sports Cycling
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Del Toro, Brennan, Del Grosso. Every year has its promising newcomers, but good lord.
Re-upping after watching Diegem.
Not quite the epic we got in 2022 when Wout, Pidcock, and MVDP put on one of the best cx races ever, but more sign of what is to come. TDG won by shredding the sand section and (mostly) the nasty ramps coming out of hairpins. Makes hard things look easy.
Vandeputte has an athletic physique and a riding style to match.
A different style is Del Grosso, who has a little - please don't hear me overstating it - of MVDP's almost magical ease on the bike. Generates power without looking strained, and just glides through technical sections.
Wout is a legend for all the right reasons.
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He just...gets there. A phenomenal rider, clearly one of those who will take over the sport. MVDP, Wout, Iserbyt,and others who have dominated the last decade are near the end of their run. Nys, Verstrynge, Haverdings, and others are emerging, and I suspect TDG will be at the top of that group.
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Vandeputte has an athletic physique and a riding style to match.
A different style is Del Grosso, who has a little - please don't hear me overstating it - of MVDP's almost magical ease on the bike. Generates power without looking strained, and just glides through technical sections.
Wout has neither the technical polish nor the diesel power of old to win (for now). He doesn’t seem too troubled about it, so I won’t be either.
Today was a great race, lots more to come.
