2021 Season Thread

[Lowlandbrit]

First topic message reminder :

Racing calendar TBC, but enough news to get us started!

Alejandro Valverde has said this will be his last season, with the Olympics as his main focus.

Jumbo-Visma announced take two for their 'three-headed monster' Tour strategy after Kruijswijk's injury prevented it last year, only for Tom Dumoulin to announce he's taking an unspecified amount of time off the day after.

WorldTour team changes:
- If you thought AG2R La Mondiale had the ultimate marmite kit before, wait until you see what they've come up with now that they're AG2R Citroën
- McLaren are gone, now we have Bahrain Victorious
- Mitchelton-Scott is now Team BikeExchange
- The place of CCC has been taken in by Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert
- NTT are now Team Qhubeka Assos
- Sunweb are now Team DSM

[formerly known as Sam]

Yeah down in Cornwall it is entirely possible to get the same amount of metres of climbing as a European mountain stage but in all those nasty little climbs. Looked pretty tough at times yesterday.

Good to see some young Brits in amongst it. Definitely some big names in there which is nice and should keep things lively. Looking forward to that one developing. How long before an Alaphillipe long distance attack?

[dummy_half]

Britain has some great cycling country for races in the moulds of Tour of Flanders or Liege Bastogne Liege, just lacks the really long climbs - I struggle to think of anywhere that you'd get a climb of more than about 5 km, and in the main much less. 2 km at average 10+% is tough enough though, especially if you string a few of them together.

[formerly known as Sam]

If you can get some particularly savage rolling terrain to string together that's got be mentally draining as you are going from climbing to descending to climbing to descending. At least on a long mountain climb you know it'll hurt but you can just get the rhythm and stay on the wheel. Apart from keeping an eye out for attacks you can just zone out a little.

Rolling or mountain either way with those gradients you are going to sort out the men from the boys as it's going to hurt.

[Azabache]

A mention for Julian Alaphilippe's terrific win last Sunday to retain his UCI World Championship. A deceptively fiendish route that really took its toll (was the abandonment ratio a record for what were perfect weather conditions?!). And a mention for Pidcock who showed a clean pair of cleats to many "star" names.

The women's event the day before was also an engrossing watch.

As one who often is dubious of the BBC's commitment to the sport, their Red Button coverage was exemplary, with Chris Boardman and Pippa York leading very astute commentary.

[Lowlandbrit]

Conditions in Paris-Roubaix today don't look as bad as expected... until they cut to a front-on shot and you can't tell what team anyone is riding for.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Conditions in Paris-Roubaix today don't look as bad as expected... until they cut to a front-on shot and you can't tell what team anyone is riding for.

Two unbelievable races the last two days - Deignan with an 80km solo yesterday, and now Colbrelli beats MvDP/Veemersch
Brutal. Absolutely brutal

[dummy_half]

Roubaix as it ought to be - impossible to ride and just a brutal test of endurance. And finishing in a three up sprint decided by less than half a wheel between two superstars and a young pretender.

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