Pro Cycling Discussion 2021

[SoliD]

So 2021 is here, will it be better than 2020 with a proper season of classics, then some GTs in warm sunny weather followed by a grim World Champs in Flanders?

Key Dates for the year

Grand Tours

Giro D'Italia 8-30 May

Tour De France 26th June - 18th July

Vuelta A Espana 14th August -5th September

Monuments

Milan - San Remo 20th March

Tour of Flanders 4th April

Paris Roubaix 11th April

Amstel Gold 18th April

Liege - Bastogne - Liege 25th April

Olympics

Tokyo 23rd July - 8th August

World Championships

Flanders 19th September - 26th September

Other Notables

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 27th Feb

Kuurne - Brussels - Kuurne 1st March

Strade Bianche 6th March

Paris - Nice 7-14 March

Tirreno - Addriatico 10-16 March

E3 Classic 26th March

Ghent Wevelgem 28th March

Dwars Door Vlanderen 31st March

Fleche Wallone 21st April

Criterium Du Dauphine 30th May - 6th June

San Sebastien 31st July

Il Lombardia 9th October

 

[SoliD]

And first point for me is that it looks like Ineos sending Thomas, Geoghehan Hart and Carapaz to the Tour with Bernal heading to the Giro. PResume that Tour squad will be stacked with Porte, Yates as well to counter Jumbo who will no doubt be trying to make up for last years disappointment.

 

[SoliD]

Despite the media reports, it is good to see the UCI define standards for the finishing barriers etc, although they appear to have shot themselves in the foot by saying its from 2022 but that they want to make top tube descending illegal, which has caused 0 accidents that I can think of...

 

[SoliD]

Then following it up with a tt win.

Breaks will be even less effective/possible now riders can't rest on their forearms now it's been added to the list of banned positions.

 

[SoliD]

Tour De La Provence today, ridiculously good field for such a small race. Can't wait for Ventoux on Saturday.

Also Vuelta route has been released with no finish in Madrid! Wahey! It's always been awful! TT to finish, so an effort by organisers to run it right down to the wire on the last day!

 

[SoliD]

Squuezy bum sprint today. Well worth a watch, nice to see the French boxer having not changed his ways and having a whinge at the end.

How is sosa only 23. He had one very hard paper round.

 

[SoliD]

I think i may be the bearer of bad news @xdcx but I don't think omloop is going to be on eurosport/gcn and therfore not broadcast in the UK. Hope they can come up with a deal in time.

 

[SoliD]

Hoping they sort it, I seem to remember something similar a few years ago where they brokered a deal late, know a few of the CX races last year were the same too.

 

[SoliD]

Where are you guys watching? Haven't seen anything live on euro or even the on demand section.

Best I'm getting is LR on YouTube.

Gcn+. 20quid for the year.

 

[SoliD]

I'll get that bought for work then.

I thought they were pretty much the same last year ??

Think gcn have got a lot more of the smaller races. Not sure if eurosport player has them.

 

[SoliD]

Anyone any idea who the woman's commentator is on gcn? Don't think I've heard her before. Much better than kirbys shouting! Anyone have any issues with casting on yesterday's stage? Mine kept buffering, right up until the stage finished then it was fine annoyingly..0 issues with cx.

That finish was great yesterday. Looked horrible. Woods looked strong as did gva. Definitely going to win a monument yet again I reckon.

 

[SoliD]

Yeah she was really good today on the bits I caught.

 

[SoliD]

MvdP and Alpecin Fenix on way home from UAE after rona positive already.
And so it begins.....

Hopefully UAE gave them some vaccines before they left.

 

[SoliD]

Yeah that looked painful. Whod have thought ganna would win. Yet again. Almeida looking strong again too. Wonder if dqs will back him formally at a gt this year.

 

[SoliD]

I think poj is actually a very smart rider, knows exactly when to dig and reads races very well. Got caught out last year at tdf in the wind but attacked when he was strong and sat when he realised there was no point. Same at vuelta year before and same yesterday. Looked like he was riding within himself and smartly to win the stage.

That and he hasn't got a team who can be there for him means he has to be clever to win, he's not really doing much different than a sky or jumbo train just the guys in front of him aren't his teammates.

 

[SoliD]

Told you! Gotta have faith, probably came down to the sponsors telling the organisers stop messing around we need to get on TV and we've sponsored the event based upon you being on the biggest cycling broadcaster in europe.

 

[SoliD]

HAHA just looking at the Giro stages - stage 16 212km, 5700m of climbing...Absolute killer! Wonder how many sprinters will be left after that day.

 

[SoliD]

Nope, omloop is on Saturday at like 1 and kbk is 1.30 Sunday.

 

[SoliD]

All petered out to nothing in the end! With the crash seemingly knocking a number of the sprinters out of position and too far back. Good race up. Until 20k to go, alaphilippe is a monster. Hope the wind whips up a bit for kbk.

 

[SoliD]

Anyones GCN+ not working? oh just seen twitter, not working.