“Paris Nice overlapping with Tirreno Adriatico proves the cycling calendar is bad” It’s the best week of the year! Like how in 2020 the day we had Madonna di Campiglio Giro, Soler Vuelta win, and a 💨 three days of de panne the 🚜 almost won was totally box office.

Embarrassing (but not surprising) lack of preparation by Bob Roll on Peacock (NBC): His two calls for the stage wins S1: "Marine Van Den Berg!" S2: "The sprinter from the Astana squad. Likely Mike two-NEES-en." So many good announcers who need work, too.

Part of the reason I love this format is because it seems like the perfect distillation of the team time trial: How quickly could you get a message from Town A to Town B. Don't need 4 riders at the end to do that.

Daan Hoole

Hearing that Friebe is writing an essay/chapter for a book on this stage. Take my money.

Minor point but the rule needs to be clarified - seemed like the Visma guys took a long ride from their own team, while eg Pogacar had to ride behind just teammates

Looked to me like Pogačar did a smart job of getting Pidcock’s front wheel on the barrier side, and then also opening up his sprint just before those potholes. Pidcock had to clear the back wheel *and* go wider away from Pog to avoid the potholes, at the start of the sprint

Huh. Geraint Thomas’ “we should sign fast riders who win bike races” strategy seems to have worked kind of well, in terms of winning bike races.

Kind of always thought the Belgian guy who rode the Muur 50 times in one day during lockdown might one day ride the Ronde. I’m for it! Love the guy! Cycling!

The entire top 10 of RVV has been a World Champion, European Champion, or monument winner. (Vermeersches on gravel)

Time Trial Roglification

Not the first race where UAE team car has been allowed to take ridiculous liberties that no other team car would be allowed to do.

In fairness to Visma, one reason they’re the only team who screws up using numbers in the final by trying to pick a preferred winner is that few other teams are strong enough to get into that position to begin with.

In a world where the top guys are focusing on one GT, or *maybe* doubling up, only one great man has the courage to plan a season around old-fashioned bike racing. Maybe he was asking De Gendt for tips on doing this, during S5 of the 2020 Giro?

Very interesting to see the different recruiting strategies in action. Will be interesting to see who wins!