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- This narrative of blaming the rider or the bicycle setup needs to stop.
The issue is that the UCI has done nothing to improve the safety of the courses or punish the race organisers for the poor setup of course routes. Instead, the UCI has encouraged this alternative narrative of blaming others - need proof? UCI did nothing to punish the race organisers after the devastating crash at Itzulia Basque Country. Need more proof? UCI did nothing to improve the safety of sprint finishes after the life-changing crash of Fabio Jakobsen in Poland.
- for all i know Merlier and Wout are besties and Tim just thought it would be really funny to needle his buddy — “OMG, he’s so much faster than Wout its crazy!” WTF do any of us ever know, really.
- But no-one is interested in slower, many would like safer so unless they can show that e.g. youth races are safer, it IS useless. It’d be more efficient to electronically limit everyone’s power output at steep gradients (down of course) or specified sections, am sure technically it isn’t that complicated or expensive but there’d be an outcry so forget it.
- Agreed, as said here and has been superficially discussed before, it is the whole peleton and race that has gotten faster, the very best like these three, are still only winning by the same margins as elsewhere in history, they haven’t discovered any new distinguishing product.
I mean, if an ageing Cavendish, Thomas and others can still deliver sometimes, nothing much can be going on.
- Yes, but then again, unlike some, they are not presented with a list of questions to prepare answers and journalists keep the prerogative to reassemble quotes in whatever order makes a story so in many cases we have no context of in which situation/relation he said it. I think, as I’ve implied before, people should revert to taking more time to try and get the feel of what or why someone is saying to get the broad view as opposed to focusing on a detail. I know people love the short and cool statements found on SM but they rarely lead to constructive discussion, reflection or understanding, just impulsive reactions which is great for revealing someone’s feelings but says little about the background that created them.
- I think in his case it might just be lack of mental coaching. He had a great run and it’s gone without visible reasons. 2023? 2024? Blaming others but achieving nothing when allowed to reorganise, somehow it’s not so surprising he’s looking for a team. Am sure he could still mix it occasionally but he needs someone to change his attitude. Going back to tattoos, another interesting and revealing characteristical observation, if you discount cultural and gang related markings, you’ll find more tattoos per person in sport when they are strength types as opposed to endurance. And as news is slow or predictable, here’s another to reflect on (not going to discuss it further here), when you look at types of drink rubbish strewn around in nature (and ignore alcohol induced behaviour), you’ll find a huge disproportion between discarded soft/energy drinks and milk/water/juice. A logical person might imagine that has to do with quantity yet ironically much more milk/water/juice based drinks are sold than energy/soft.
- Pure power, pure talent and a very good support has come to this day.
- sure, i totally get that he’s incredibly promising. that would be a great thing to say, “WOW, this kid has a great engine and massive potential, so much he makes me think of a young wout van aert!” i get it though, merlier isn’t a professional spokesman. it’s not his job to always say the right thing. someone shoved a microphone in his face and asked him about young guy he’s really excited to ride with. that’s cool. all good, tim. all i’m saying is in an ideal world he might have said something other than that the 20 year old is A LOT FASTER than one of the greatest racers of this generation.
- Can’t say for sure it would be safer, but we can say for sure it would be slower
- That a very plausible explanation why some of them have tattoos. I'm not aware of such behaviour because I don't follow other sports. Thanks for the explanation even though it may not apply to all scenarios.
James2631812-01-2025
KerisVroom12-01-2025