Bike Racing

[PeteS]

After today's Spring classic, it seems most of the peleton will be racing for the lower podium places....
A fine performance by Pidcock to hang for 3rd after the recent injury layoff.

[Graham Breeze]

After today's Spring classic, it seems most of the peleton will be racing for the lower podium places....
A fine performance by Pidcock to hang for 3rd after the recent injury layoff.

Not too bad for a local lad but there was a low level TV shot from the right side where Pogacar just smoothly wound it up and left Pidcock going backwards that said it all.

[PeteS]

The funniest moment was the discussion prompted by Adam about tyre widths and doing the race on 23mmm until his chum said "I think we've just lost our audience!"

Just listened to G and Luke Rowe discussing tubeless on the 'Watts occurring' podcast. Seem to be of the opinion that all teams at Paris Roubaix were tubeless this year compared to about 50% last time around and the majority of the crashes (particularly the pile up in the Trouée d'Arenberg) were caused because of a total tyre failure rather than a more gradual puncture. What you possibly gain in speed (though I'm sceptical over mixed terrain) you lose in reliability and on ruthless cobbles, I think it's just a step too far as yet.

[PeteS]

Not too bad for a local lad but there was a low level TV shot from the right side where Pogacar just smoothly wound it up and left Pidcock going backwards that said it all.

Unfortunately I was out running and didn't get back until late so had to put up with the Eurosport 'highlights'. One of those where some trainee editor takes 5 minutes to basically chop up the live coverage into nice chunks to fit between the ad breaks with no thought to the content. So, Pog and Pidcock were working together well before the one break and when we return, we are 10k further down the road and Pog has a 20 second lead.
Regardless of that, I agree Pog looks to be in a class of his own this year. Amazing what effect losing the tour looks to have had.

[Marco]

Regardless of that, I agree Pog looks to be in a class of his own this year. Amazing what effect losing the tour looks to have had.

I don't think that losing the tour had anything to do with it.

Back in 2021 he was in a class of his own, winning by 5:20 - a huge margin for recent times. He didn't have a particuarly strong team, either.

In 2022 he was in a class of two, finishing 4:39 ahead of third. The problem for him was that the other member of the 'elite', Vingegaard, had van Aert and a much stronger team; I'm not sure that he was second best at all, I think if the teams had been equal that he'd have won it (but not by 5:20)

[Witton Park]

The stage in the Alps were Pogacar was joking to the camera bike and soon after was dropped. HIs team had been setting the pace. It sticks in my mind and I wondered if there'd been a tad over-confidence from Pogacar in the Tour last year especially once Roglic had crashed.
I certainly thought it had killed thee race once Roglic was effectively out.

[PeteS]

Tomorrow sees the 107th edition of La Doyenne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Hopefully another great day of racing but hard to see past you know who for the win. Hopefully the Yorkshire lad can recover his form but otherwise I guess the names to look out for are Ben Healy, Remco Evenepoel and Tiesj Benoot.

[Graham Breeze]

Tomorrow sees the 107th edition of La Doyenne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Hopefully another great day of racing but hard to see past you know who for the win. Hopefully the Yorkshire lad can recover his form but otherwise I guess the names to look out for are Ben Healy, Remco Evenepoel and Tiesj Benoot.

Just been to the team presentations. Got my freebie Cofidis hat, bidon and buff, an AG buff and other stuff. A team is staying in my hotel so as long as YKW wins I'll be a happy bunny (oh and my son is content with his L-B-L sportive performance.

[PeteS]

Well of course, I presumed YKW would at least stay on his bike. Not seen the crash but broken wrist and surgery so won't be on a bike for a while but he is superhuman so who knows.
I think the Yorkshire lad did good but Remco was in a league of his own. Just a shame we didn't see him and Pog trading punches on those last couple of climbs. Anyway a fine win and this season looks like it may be another great one given what we have seen so far.

[Graham Breeze]

Well of course, I presumed YKW would at least stay on his bike. Not seen the crash but broken wrist and surgery so won't be on a bike for a while but he is superhuman so who knows.
I think the Yorkshire lad did good but Remco was in a league of his own. Just a shame we didn't see him and Pog trading punches on those last couple of climbs. Anyway a fine win and this season looks like it may be another great one given what we have seen so far.

Poor YKW. Ah well.

I went to the start and my son and I gave Tom a cheer during the second presentation of the teams. Him being from Leeds an' all. Which the announcer mentioned to an obviously predominant (and possibly bemused) Belgian crowd.

That cheer probably kept Tom going for second place after Remco left him for dead I watched it live and there was never any doubt who would win, and with style, after YKW had his little problem. A display of real class.