Bike Racing

[Marco]

The days of Cadel Evans winning as a Vet 50 are gone.

Graham, have you forgotten the epic 2013 Vuelta a España, when Chris Horner beat Nibali, (who we don't like), and Valverde, (who we do like), to become the oldest winner of a grand tour at almost 42!?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Vuelta_a_Espa%C3%B1a

If you think this year's Tour is great, (which it is), this was even better ...

[Witton Park]

The evidence points towards less specialism: Pogačar has won two Tour de Frances, two Tirreno-Adriaticos and one Paris-Nice. He has also won 7 classic races, and he is still only 24. Remco Evenpoel has won the Vuelta a España and 5 classic races, and is only 23. And then there is Wout van Aert, who despite doing a colossal amount of heavy-lifting for Jumbo-Visma has won the Tour of Britain and 5 classics.

I was surprised that Pogačar even started this Tour de France, after missing so much training and racing. I would not expect him to be at his best, but he's still 49 minutes ahead of Pidcock in the GC

Just goes to show, the same evidence and different opinions stemming from it. I'm on the back foot debating someone with far more knowledge of the sport - I'm just an armchair punter since the Lemond/Fignon TdF - the first one I watched and got hooked.

But I don't doubt recent grand tour winners can go out and win classics. But I think they have to make a choice and Pogacar might have been doing better this year had he skipped the Classics.

[Graham Breeze]

Bianchi are selling the 8 Oltre RC bikes that will be ridden on the last TdF stage tomorrow by Arkea Samsic riders complete with the individual rider's dossard (number) for each bike.

Cute idea. Each bike is 15,500 Euros.

I suppose it would be a nice thing to hang on one's dining room wall for dinner party conversation - but alas the bikes are equipped with Dura Ace 12 speed.

Sigh.

[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

So I thought I'd just update.
Only two players unfortunately, myself and PeteS

I scraped home with 8581 Points to Pete's 7889

My top 4 scorers were Pogacar, Simon Yates, Van Aert and Gall. I suffered a little with Cavs crash out.
Pete's top 4 were Vingegaard, Philipsen, Pidcock and Pinot

Overall 30501 teams took part and I was 7983 and Pete was 13679 which is quite a gap considering the small point difference, but both well in the top half.

They should have the Vuelta when it starts, but we only get about 48 hours notice by email, so anyone interested in having a go, set yourself up with an ID on Velogames and then link to the FRA Forum league and you should get an alert from them when the final team lineups are confirmed and we can have more of a contest next time.

[PeteS]

Well done WP. A good call on one of the Yates brothers.
I'll certainly be up for the Vuelta too

[Marco]

I'll certainly be up for the Vuelta too

Not for me; the Tour de France has left me with a bad feeling that sport-enhancing-chemicals (drugs) are influencing the results again

[Witton Park]

https://www.velogames.com/spain/2023/

Vuelta entries open now if anyone wants to join in.

[Marco]

La Vuelta a España

Roll up, roll up, for the greatest grand tour of the year (regardless of what Graham says ). Starts this Saturday, and features nine summit finishes, including the mighty L'Angliru. For those who don't pay for sport on TV, Quest appear to be showing an hour highlights show every night. Starts late this Saturday, but then fills the 19:00-20:00 slot.

To get you in the mood, here's a related quiz question - and use of the internet constitutes cheating!

In what year did the first British rider win La Vuelta a España?

[Llani Boy]

https://www.velogames.com/spain/2023/

Vuelta entries open now if anyone wants to join in.

I'm in

[Graham Breeze]

La Vuelta a España

Roll up, roll up, for the greatest grand tour of the year (regardless of what Graham says ). Starts this Saturday, and features nine summit finishes, including the mighty L'Angliru.

It is interesting, is it not, that the last 10 Giros have been won by 10 different riders.

For the Vuelta only Roglic has won more than once with three wins

The last 10 TdF include Vinegaard twice, Pogacar twice, and Froome thrice.

So one might conclude that to avoid "same old, same old" one watches the Giro!