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News in March
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-03-2017 11:25
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Tour de France Champion
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Velon release some more details on their new 3-day race series thing.... giving it a pretty stupid name, Hammer Series...
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/velon...ries-race/
They've tried to make the "team" aspect sound new and innovative, we'll overlook the fact it's a system Crit series have used for a number of years.
You can read more yourselves for more specific details.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 01-03-2017 11:41
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World Champion
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Pfff. starting a thread with proper cycling news, what a herecy. 
I have bit old tabloid news instead, this is a property Sagan bought few months ago. 
*the photo is totally not from my Sagan-spying drones*
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 01-03-2017 12:22
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Classics Specialist
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I thought you were taking a break Avin 
Nice house. How long before he buys the forest behind it to build his own MTB track?
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 01-03-2017 12:24
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In other "proper" cycling news, the doctor at the centre of the Sky "PackageGate" scandal has pulled out of the inquiry du to health reasons.
https://www.bbc.co...g/39119301
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 01-03-2017 17:23
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Why not an individual pursuit instead? |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 02-03-2017 14:09
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Anyways, goes without saying that the conservatism in me absolutely despises this new format. Its enough that stages get shorter and shorter, this will push cycling further in the direction of the youtube-generation, the fast fix and further away from the one aspect which makes cycling great: the endurance and the suffering.
There's a reason why great editions of Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders are so fondly remembered, a reason why the 6-7 hours mountain slogs such as Gardeccia 2011 and Galibier 2011 are cherished by real fans of the sport. Don't try to reduce the sport even more. |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 02-03-2017 14:23
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Wout Poels will miss Paris-Nice as he has a little injury in his knee
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| deek12345 |
Posted on 03-03-2017 14:14
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Valverde out of Paris- nice got the flu |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 18:56
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Bot Agent
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 13-03-2017 12:10
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Velon release some more details on their new 3-day race series thing.... giving it a pretty stupid name, Hammer Series...
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/velon...ries-race/
They've tried to make the "team" aspect sound new and innovative, we'll overlook the fact it's a system Crit series have used for a number of years.
You can read more yourselves for more specific details.
After the Belgian opening week, Strade Bianche and now Paris-Nice, its pretty obvious that traditional cycling is too boring and that cycling's format needs to changed drastically. Ain't nobody can seriously enjoy that weak racing. 
Seriously, just **** off, Velon |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 14-03-2017 15:57
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Cool innovative idea, Forza Horizon anyone?
I love the intensity of crit racing since I was a child and I watched those races in the small village of my dad with local guys. There's a special risk to taking the turns, the speed of the race and obviously an unforgiving fight for positions. I'm not sure what Riis is talking about, since crit racing is very common and elementary to most (amateur) riders.
The idea to make a local event for people and family is also good. It takes a bit the local and beer aspect of Cyclo-Cross, where you enjoy the crowd and see the riders multiple times, and mixes it with road racing. Love the idea.
Froome says it correctly btw, good to award it to the team and not single riders. That makes it even more stand out.
I bet Riis will change his opinion 180° and love the Hammer Series within two years.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 14-03-2017 16:21
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Riis doesn't think sprinters are proper cyclists so probably doesn't think crit racing is proper cycling
I think the sport needs to modernise and this is one way it can do it. It's similar to the implementation of 20/20 cricket which has regenerated a flagging sport. A short, sharp version of the sport for people who don't want to sit through a 5 day test match/6 hour stage of a race.
Many of us on here are cycling purists and we all prefer the "real"cycling throughout the year. But cycling is not a rich sport and it needs to attract new supporters in order to keep it going. I think it' a decent initiative. At least someone is doing something to try to shake the sport up a bit. Whether or not it will be a success is another thing, but it should at least be given a chance.
"Ringo is exactly right", Shonak - 8 September 2016
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 16-03-2017 11:49
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Some (estimated) insight into the mountain performances in P-N and T-A:
https://www.chrono.../news/113/
Both Quintana and Porte going very well then, especially for March! And let's not forget about Contador too:
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 16-03-2017 18:28
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Tour de France Champion
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You may well be sick to death of Sky and doping. And then something comes along that raises it to another level. Josh Edmondson being really quite open, and how Sky respond will be interesting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39...g/39293763
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| Shonak |
Posted on 16-03-2017 18:42
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Tour de France Champion
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Wow covering up his violations, yet another highlight of their incredible "marginal gain" practice and clean hypocrisy.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 16-03-2017 18:47
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Am I the only seeing similarities to the US postal case? Each month gives us new evidence until the bubble bursts..
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| deek12345 |
Posted on 16-03-2017 19:59
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Classics Specialist
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Ollfardh wrote:
Am I the only seeing similarities to the US postal case? Each month gives us new evidence until the bubble bursts..
nope your not the only one . its Us postal all over again and most people dont believe there BS, apart from the people who wear sky tinted sunglasses. |
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 16-03-2017 20:05
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World Champion
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The difference is Sky are using TUEs and substances that are legal but on verge of doping, I would bet my house you won' find actual doping product used by any of the team that is on WADA list
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| Thatguyeveryonehates |
Posted on 16-03-2017 20:07
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Domestique
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skys dr peters response to this is that they didnt do anything about it because they didnt want him to be pushed over the edge from an already frail state and didnt even report it to team management
off the top of my head 3 things are fishy about that
you had a guy in a bad mental state that you think is close to the edge and you hush it up instead of getting him treatment? what the hell is wrong with you?
am i supposed to believe that management didnt have a clue about this yet they didnt select him for any races the rest of the season? surely they selected him for other races if they didnt know about it
and if what peters says is true he was dying for chances to prove himself
the other rider who reported edmondson
peters decided to not tell management and the other rider didnt say a word either? unlikely |
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 16-03-2017 20:28
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World Champion
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Thatguyeveryonehates wrote:
skys dr peters response to this is that they didnt do anything about it because they didnt want him to be pushed over the edge from an already frail state and didnt even report it to team management
off the top of my head 3 things are fishy about that
you had a guy in a bad mental state that you think is close to the edge and you hush it up instead of getting him treatment? what the hell is wrong with you?
am i supposed to believe that management didnt have a clue about this yet they didnt select him for any races the rest of the season? surely they selected him for other races if they didnt know about it
and if what peters says is true he was dying for chances to prove himself
the other rider who reported edmondson
peters decided to not tell management and the other rider didnt say a word either? unlikely
You got it slightly wrong.
The management knew, as Peters said in the interview they apparently debated what to do, let it be internal or report it to authorities etc.
Plus the teammate reported it to management first as well, not to Peters.
'' secret was exposed when a team-mate took photographs of the vitamins and equipment he had bought, and reported it to team management. ''
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 16-03-2017 22:20
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5075
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Shonak wrote:
Cool innovative idea, Forza Horizon anyone?
I love the intensity of crit racing since I was a child and I watched those races in the small village of my dad with local guys. There's a special risk to taking the turns, the speed of the race and obviously an unforgiving fight for positions. I'm not sure what Riis is talking about, since crit racing is very common and elementary to most (amateur) riders.
The idea to make a local event for people and family is also good. It takes a bit the local and beer aspect of Cyclo-Cross, where you enjoy the crowd and see the riders multiple times, and mixes it with road racing. Love the idea.
Froome says it correctly btw, good to award it to the team and not single riders. That makes it even more stand out.
I bet Riis will change his opinion 180° and love the Hammer Series within two years.
I see where you are coming from, but Im sick and tired of the likes of Velon, Vaughters and smart asses, fancy corporative American suits to tell me that traditional racing is a thing of the past and needs to be innovated. If you wanna innovate at least give me something else than lame ass Hammer Series; probably sounded good in the board room, the Jonathan Vaughters of this world would pad each other on the back and go to a Boulder wine bar to celebrate the birth THE HAMMER SERIES while the rest of us would wonder how much more retarded the name possibly could be. Says nothing about the race.
Its not the problem of 1 of these races, not the problem of 2, but the problem of it spreading like a plague throughout the historic European calendar. I don't want to watch some 2 hours crit, not on a flat circuit nor a hilly one as I've been told it the plans, eat popcorn, watch clowns perform and sing songs. I wan't to watch a proper bike race, 5-6 hours, watch people suffer, watch the various tactical plays play out, wan't to watch what I find most fascinating about road racing: the endurance aspect. To me this belongs on the track and there's a reason why I don't watch track cycling.
Edit: Yes, I know Im sounding old fashioned and grumpy, but making cycling easier and easier while the equipment and 'preparations' etc. get better and better is not the way to go.
Edit2: While it would be funny if I actually liked it, I highly doubt I would be able to live with myself. Honestly, its probably not bad, but I have a very conservative approach to what professional cycling should be and that shouldn't include gimmicky crit races, 100 km mountain stages, 14 km time trial throughout a GT, meaningless and stupid opening team time trials of 10 km length, 10 hilltop finishes without anything meaningful preceding etc. etc. etc. More Strade Bianche, Schaal Sels and Gardeccia '11, less of Hammer Series and other circus stunts to make money.
Edit3: Anyone who watched the Gardeccia-stage knows what Im talking about. Also, bring back Zomegnan!
Edited by Riis123 on 16-03-2017 22:32
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
