There are threads for virtually any sport or sport event but I haven't been able to find one for the best sport of them all: cycling. It would be nice with a thread to discuss races, riders, favourites, wagers etc etc if there's any interest.
Is there anything more joyful when the sun is hot in the summer than being a fat PoS and spending 3 weeks in front of the television to watch sweaty skinny men ride bikes through France? I can't think of any. The simplicity and elegance paired with beautiful scenery and just pure suffering is what makes this sport the best of them all in my humble opinion.
The spring classics are soon done, the next huge race, and one of the biggest of the season, is Paris - Roubaix this Sunday. Who will prevail? Wout van Aert is looking very strong and I expect him to do well.
(If there is already a thread I can revive instead point me to it)
Fell down a cycling rabbit hole and watched the 86-05 TDFs. Curious what the pre race odds were when Lance and Indurain were at the peak of their "powers". I figure Lance was a dog to the field in 2000 (and 1999 obv), but was like -200 from 01-05. Once Indurain eviscerated the field in the 92 ITTs, he probably was there as well. 96 was a bit of a shock, but was one of the more enjoyable ones to sweat. Saw Lance was +400 in his 09 return (second best odds), so he essentially met expectations with 3rd place finish.
Fell down a cycling rabbit hole and watched the 86-05 TDFs. Curious what the pre race odds were when Lance and Indurain were at the peak of their "powers". I figure Lance was a dog to the field in 2000 (and 1999 obv), but was like -200 from 01-05. Once Indurain eviscerated the field in the 92 ITTs, he probably was there as well. 96 was a bit of a shock, but was one of the more enjoyable ones to sweat. Saw Lance was +400 in his 09 return (second best odds), so he essentially met expectations with 3rd place finish.
found part of the answer to my question...
(imagine being a 77% favorite to win a 200 person contest where one bad day can ruin you. fwiw he barely won this year)
The tour is less than 48 hours away and the hype is real. Bernal probably the strongest imo but I think he'll remain loyal assuming GT doesn't die on the climbs/loses time. Hoping fellow Dane Fuglsang will make this tour something special, even though winning is a tall order.
Can't wait for the start
What's your bold predictions?
I'll start:
2 Danish stage victories
Schachmann wins two stages
Mohoric wins a stage
Yates doesn't finish top 5
Porte finishes the race
Alaphilippe wins either the mountains jersey (most likely) or the combativity award but not both
Teunissen just joked he is going to focus on the leaderboard now Of course it's just a matter of days before he loses it, but first Dutchman in the yellow jersey in 30 years already makes this a successful TdF for us!
Was at both stages (today & yesterday) as they were 10min away from my house by car.
Great turnout etc. but have to say, it's frustrating as **** to have everybody extend their arms with their cameras to film the riders, completely ruins the experience when it's hard enough to see in the first place.
guess they get to brag about it on instagram though
What % this isn't a snoozefest domination by Ineos? I get invested every year and always end up disappointed
Not a great chance, unless the others up their PED game. Or develop asthma, of course, as we know having asthma is massively beneficial to dominating le Tour multiple times.
Movistar again with the ******o strats making the pace for everybody else for the entire stage. They did the very same thing last year. Whoever is making the decisions for them should be fired.