Bike Racing

[Llani Boy]

MVDP was wearing nothing!

[Graham Breeze]

MVDP was wearing nothing!

He's 'ard.

Neither was Pidcock and, wimpy Yorkshire Leeds' lad that he is, he was complaining that with all the blisters he had he couldn't hold onto his bars near the finish.

There was some discussion during the Eurosport coverage about all this and, of course, many riders wear "mitts", ie gloves without finger ends.

And at Roubaix sometimes thicker or even double bar tape. I am having my bar tape replaced during my current Bianchi service and this can be surprisingly expensive. My tape in celeste can be around £80 - so, since I am not doing Roubaix next year - I will settle for just a single thickness.

[PeteS]

Graham, you are being done - I'll do it for £50.

I saw Pidcock's post along with graphic pics and just thought why weren't you wearing mitts?
I do if only to give my old arthritic finger joints some protection and in warmer weather it affords a better grip. In fact I can't think of a time when I would ride a bike without some kind of hand protection.
Maybe it's the same to professional riders as elite fell runners who turn up to races in midwinter in nothing but a vest and the scimpiest of shorts.

[Witton Park]

If anyone fancies I've set up a Mini-League for us on Velogames.

League Name: FRA Forum
League Code: 11375659

It's with the TdF in mind, but can also use it for other events as they come along.

https://www.velogames.com/

entry deadline of 12:30 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on Saturday 1st July 2023. That is 11:30 in the UK

OK everyone, if you fancy it Fantasy Giro is open.

I'm going to put my team in now. Entries close Saturday lunchtime.

[Witton Park]

OK everyone, if you fancy it Fantasy Giro is open.

I'm going to put my team in now. Entries close Saturday lunchtime.

Had to set up a new league code.
46671609

[Llani Boy]

I'm in.

Come on Marco, Graham, Pete S, Mr B and anyone else who does or doesn't ride a bike!

[PeteS]

I'm in but I think I have made a fatal error in not selecting Pog. I had to pick G of course but then have gone for a team of experience and attacking potential instead.

[Witton Park]

OK guys the end of week 1 review.

First though a brief mention for Cav. A good win in a Tour of Hungary Stage this week with Groenewegan in 2nd and looked fairly comfortable.
I'm not sure he's up to taking on the current top rank yet, but with 6 weeks to go, he's not looking too shabby.

OK to the Giro.

One can argue it's looking a tad (no pun intended) one sided, but when we saw the roster that looked likely. But the racing has been good to watch.

Only 3 of us put teams in to Velogames.

Mine are Tadej Pogačar, Thymen Arensman, Esteban Chaves, Filippo Zana, Tim Merlier, Filippo Ganna, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Michael Valgren, Maximilian Schachmann

PeteS has Luke Plapp, Geraint Thomas, Ben O'Connor, Michael Woods, Olav Kooij, Edward Theuns, Lilian Calmejane, Alessandro De Marchi, Daniel Martínez.

Llani has Geraint Thomas, Eddie Dunbar, Rafał Majka, Ben O'Connor, Caleb Ewan, Simon Clarke, Jasper Stuyven, Luka Mezgec, Madis Mihkels

Points so far are
Witton 3309
PeteS 3161
Llani 1922

So far picking Pogacar has worked, but he cost so many points to buy, that it might affect me elsewhere and PeteS is close by having two potential podium riders.

Pete is hampered a touch by the loss of Michael Woods following a crash, and the loss of Dunbar is costing Llani.

Looking forward to two lumpy days now.

Will Pogacar burn his team by going for too many stages? I suspect that even if he does, he's too far ahead for anything other than crash or illness to get in the way of a win by a huge time gap.

EDIT - Kooij out! Tough for Pete as he looked to be a decent overall points scorer.

[PeteS]

OK guys the end of week 1 review.

First though a brief mention for Cav. A good win in a Tour of Hungary Stage this week with Groenewegan in 2nd and looked fairly comfortable.
I'm not sure he's up to taking on the current top rank yet, but with 6 weeks to go, he's not looking too shabby.

OK to the Giro.

One can argue it's looking a tad (no pun intended) one sided, but when we saw the roster that looked likely. But the racing has been good to watch.

Only 3 of us put teams in to Velogames.

Mine are Tadej Pogačar, Thymen Arensman, Esteban Chaves, Filippo Zana, Tim Merlier, Filippo Ganna, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Michael Valgren, Maximilian Schachmann

PeteS has Luke Plapp, Geraint Thomas, Ben O'Connor, Michael Woods, Olav Kooij, Edward Theuns, Lilian Calmejane, Alessandro De Marchi, Daniel Martínez.

Llani has Geraint Thomas, Eddie Dunbar, Rafał Majka, Ben O'Connor, Caleb Ewan, Simon Clarke, Jasper Stuyven, Luka Mezgec, Madis Mihkels

Points so far are
Witton 3309
PeteS 3161
Llani 1922

So far picking Pogacar has worked, but he cost so many points to buy, that it might affect me elsewhere and PeteS is close by having two potential podium riders.

Pete is hampered a touch by the loss of Michael Woods following a crash, and the loss of Dunbar is costing Llani.

Looking forward to two lumpy days now.

Will Pogacar burn his team by going for too many stages? I suspect that even if he does, he's too far ahead for anything other than crash or illness to get in the way of a win by a huge time gap.

EDIT - Kooij out! Tough for Pete as he looked to be a decent overall points scorer.

Damn. Already lost Michael Woods so losing Kooij is going to hurt my final tally.

Should have gone for more Ineos with hindsight but Aurélien Paret-Peintre was a good punt

[PeteS]

Although Valentin would also have been a good bet!