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Latest comments

• Mistermaumau09-02-2026
  Yes, races should be as varied as possible. We have the same problem in amateur racing where I am, despite mountains all around, nobody integrates them in races like used to be the case. At best now you can get a a 5-10min climb or a less if a circuit. You need to mingle with unlicensed riders in gran fondos or cyclotourist “races” if you want to climb now. That (as well as dozens of other things) further reduces the number or riders willing to pay a licence because in the end races only cater for half the different type of riders and so the downward spiral continues. Ironically, the opposite happens at the same time, multiplication of the types of cycling (gravel, e-bike, downhill) but the net result is still dilution for each individual event.
• Mistermaumau09-02-2026
  Outside Belgium and to a lesser degree The NL, nobody gets aggro for supporting both Wout and Mathieu but that might be because both are appreciated not only for their performances but also for almost everything else, neither can be labelled the bad guy or weakling or frustrated or moaner, etc. We choose our favourites according to many criteria, sometimes even contradictory or hypothetically. Going back to the wrist, will someone who considered it a big handicap then please explain to me how it prevents a well-paid pro with motivation from continuing effective adapted training? The moment he crashed he’d already been in top shape quite a while. According to himself he was indoor training (and running, core, etc.) a week later so couldn’t have lost much fitness. Maybe he raced a bit less but he was also worried he’d raced too much early on and was kind of relieved to have to take a “break”. Again, the injury alone didn’t justify the resulting time gap, something else was probably also below par but it’s unlikely we’ll ever know what.
• Mistermaumau09-02-2026
  Not going to read in detail, particularly because I’m involved with amateur clubs in similar situations and don’t want to mix up differing precise rules and definitions but it seems to me this situation would vastly improve if the UCI would impose a registration date ahead of the transfer period. That way, riders (and (other) teams) would know where they stand in time. Can anyone provide reasons why this would be counterproductive?
• Mistermaumau09-02-2026
  Timing is a bummer. When it rains it pours. That said, you have to admit bike team coaches stick around relatively long, often longer than riders themselves. I don’t know how many e.g. Raducanu has gone through in the half the time but it must be pretty close to the amount of underwear.
• Hills3309-02-2026
  Yes, the pundits do like to talk up injuries, and rivalries. I wish they would let fans support both Wout and Tadej, for instance, without making it seem one has to choose between the two.
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  Rafionain-Glas09-02-2026
  It's a different sort of excitement now. Back in Roger de Vlaeminck's time it was engaging to see riders race crazy distances even if very little actually happened. Now that's not interesting because everyone knows that the cyclists can do that. Milano-Sanremo has always been interesting because it's about who's got the legs after almost 300 km (unlike Sam Welsford who struggles when it goes past 180). That is why races are being adapted to that. The crazy long stages in Grand Tours are extremely rare, and the Blockhaus stage in the 2026 Giro is an exception. Personally I blame La Vuelta. There has to be a limit, or road cycling will turn into criteriums
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  Rafionain-Glas09-02-2026
  Tadej has not made a fuss about any of his injuries, and he's always persevered. What I was referring to is when pundits and fans overstate the effect. After the Tour, Tadej never said anything like 'I persevered despite all the pressure you put on me' (although that would be unsportsmanly so he wouldn't say it anyway) but it was the pundits who said 'Look at Visma - they couldn't even beat an injured Tadej', Personally I'm not a Pogačar fan, but that's because I find supporting the best rider boring (just like supporting Mathieu in CX or Pidcock in MTB). Which is why Pedersen's crash is so disappointing.
• Hills3309-02-2026
  For sure you are not a Tadej fan, but this post is unfair. Pog has made little fuss about his few injuries. Winning Strade Bianche with fresh rashes full of thorns? He never used his knee as an excuse in the 2025 Tour (and why would he, he won). The look on his face in the last metres was joy and relief, not disappointment. But I was interested to read up on the Flemish name for LBL that you used, so thanks for that.
• paule09-02-2026
  What Mathews is complaining about is actually making cycling better, not worse. Racing just for sprint wins is boring to the average fan. Mathews seems to be complaining about having to race hard throughout the stage and having a good team in order to be a player in the finale - I don't get his argument.
• Hills3309-02-2026
  It was pretty well documented that year, as UAE were not looking for excuses, but to make the best of a worst-scenario wrist-injury situation and deliver something for their sponsors after the previous year's defeat. So Gianetti announced an in-form Adam Yates as co-leader on the eve of the Tour, as 'there are no miracles in cycling' - if you can't put in the training, you can't win. Sean Kelly basically agreed, based on his own experience.