After a spring and summer that felt empty with cycling being canceled, finally we are back and the following months will be packed with top tier cycling.

Today spring officially began with Milano-Sanremo and the race favorite lived Wout van Aert lived up to the expectations by winning in style after outsprinting Alaphilippe in the final after Alaphilippe had attacked on Poggio and gotten away, but WvA caught him on the descent. WvA has had a great start to the restarted season, also winning Strade Blanche, which means for the second year running, one rider won both those races (Alaphillipe last year).

While van Aert has been incredible, it is another Belgian who has stolen the show. Remco Evenepoel. This 20-year old prodigal rider doesn't seem to care if he's racing juniors or the best in the world, he destroys them all the same. After winning Volta a Burgos ahead of Landa a week ago, tomorrow he will almost certainly win Tour de Pologne, by a wide margin down to quality riders like Fuglsang and Yates (the good one, even).
And the fashion he's doing it in is even more impressive, he won the stage today by nearly 2 minutes to number two after launching an attack 50 km from the finish line. And unbelievable effort, crowned by a beautiful gesture when Evenepoel pulled the rider number 75 from his pocket and held it up as he crossed the line, to show support for his teammate Fabio Jakobsen who had a brutal crash that nearly ended his life on the first stage of the race. The horrible situation was even more eerie due to the fact that it happened one year to the day since the the talented young rider Bjorg Lambrecht died after a crash in the same race. Luckily Jakobsen's condition is stable and he seems to not have suffered permanent brain damage and has begun communicating with the doctors, but he has allegedly broken every bone in his skull and lost all his teeth, so it is still uncertain what will happen and how his recovery will go. This horrible situation has raised the question about whether UCI do too little to protect the riders in these high intensity sprints, where elbows and pushing and general recklessness aren't uncommon topics.

The strange calendar means that the two monuments that are usually furthest apart in a regular season, MSR and Il Lombardia, will be raced just a week apart, with Il Lombardia happening next Saturday (the 15th). Other than that, the shortened (5 stages) Criterium de Dauphine begins on Wednesday, when Gran Piemonte is also happening. And, of course, today we are just 3 weeks away from the Tour de France happening. It is a great time for cycling fans, now we must pray the COVID situation doesn't spin out of control, forcing the races to be canceled, which would be devastating to a lot of teams as well.

Brilliant post. Nothing to add, but do please keep posting to the thread.

That Jakobsen - Groenewegen crash was horrible.

Obviously Jakobsen is the victim here, but also felt bad for Groenewegen for all the stick he got. Saw a 3 minute (Dutch) video from him apologizing yesterday. It was so sincere and you could see how devastated he is.

Hopefully Jakobsen can recover from this and they can race again in the future.

Evenepoel's wattage data is unbelievable

Thanks

I agree. People are quick to get riled up and hurl abuse at riders, especially when a bad crash happens, but I think Groenewegen's behavior is by no means unheard-of in sprint finishes. It was reckless, but it often is in those situations. They should hit down harder on reckless riding in general, rather than measure the crime based on the consequences.
There were even some from the cycling world suggesting he should go to jail, I also read people suggesting he should be trialed with murder or manslaughter if Jakobsen had died. Just obscene.

Thankfully he's doing better now. I read that he still can't talk, but he can communicate through text messenges. The team doctor said that he thought he would be able to to race professionally sometime in the future, which is uplifting news. It's still impossible to know how his recovery will go, though, and whether he will ever be truly back. There can be a mental block preventing him from going all in in another sprint when he nearly lost his life in one. His face is also allegedly completely ****ed up which can also have a big psychological impact on his life off the bike.

I haven't seen it, but I believe it. It's mind-boggling how good of a TT rider he is considering his size. I know he weighed more when he placed second at the world championship, but typically 1.7m tall riders aren't exactly known for having so much power in their legs.

It's crazy how he has pushed the boundaries of expectations practically every time he races. At first many expected he would struggle to make the step up from junior racing, like so many others have. Then he begins to win races. Next some say "he won't stand up to the best of the best in the big races", he wins San Sebastian. Then it's "he climbs well, but he won't win stage races" and he wins Burgos and Pologne. And now many bookies have him as the favorite to win Il Lombardia and the Giro. Of course, riding for the GC in a Grand Tour is a different kind of beast entirely, but at this point the only thing that would surprise me is if he falls through.



Dauphine tomorrow will be a treat. 5 uphill finishes over 5 days, a HC climb on each of the final 4 stages.
INEOS and TJV with disgustingly strong teams and with virtually everyone who hopes to be a factor in the TdF GC present, this race will surely answer some questions - and form new ones.

We'll see how deep they'll dig and how hard they'll go for it, but I'll say I consider Roglic the favorite. He's in formidable form and the lack of high altitude climbs is a disadvantage for Bernal, who is on par with the best under normal circumstances, but in a tier of his own when the air gets very thin.

One thing that will be key is whether Roglic will manage to peak at the right time this year. Last year, I believe he won every stage race he showed up in during spring, and he looked unbeatable the first week in the Giro, but then he began to struggle.
I hope the short period between the restart and the Tour will mean he will be at his best.

Speaking of the Tour and peaking at the right time, the "structure" of the route is very interesting this year (as long as you're not a sprinter). There will be 3-4 mountain stages (or near-mountain stages) within the first 8 stages. For comparison, last year there was only one mountain stage in the first 11. This means adhering to the old saying of using the first week and a half of a Grand Tour to get into shape can be very costly. You have to be peaking or near peaking for nearly 3 weeks, and that takes skill to manage.


It will be great to have a team that can (hopefully) match INEOS in TJV. This has been said about Movistar numerous times and each year they failed miserably, but I do think this TJV team looks better than Movistar have.
For what felt like the first time in forever, someone looked stronger than INEOS last year, and often TJV would have a couple of domestiques left while GT and Bernal were isolated.

However, when I say they looked stronger, I am talking about the supporting cast, because I don't think at any point it seemed like Kruijswijk could seriously threaten GT or Bernal. He was very strong and not far behind them, but I don't think he seemed strong enough to attack the INEOS duo, best of the rest was all he could hope for. I think peak Roglic and Dumoulin (if he's in form) have better chances of challenging.

(Part of) what made Movistar struggle has been their inability to cooperate, and I don't see that being as much of an issue for TJV. There don't seem to be the same internal power struggles, and a duo of Kruijswijk and Roglic have already worked well together in 2018.

I love watching these stacked teams - when they're evenly matched and don't just smother the competition. Alternatively, when the real competition is inside the team. I recall Astana in 2009 which is probably the most stacked team I can remember. Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Klöden, Zubeldia and Popovych... Every one of those guys could've been captain on some of the biggest teams (and had been during other seasons), but there was little to no cooperation. Not like peak Contador needed much help to win, anyway.

Groenewegen was definitely at fault but putting the sole blame on him is obviously wrong.
Organizers need to be more harsh on people deviating from their line in a sprint so these situations don't happen, feels like most of the time it happens the guy coming up slows down to avoid a crash and the deviating guy gets maybe a fine. It shouldn't need a life threatening crash to have real consequence.
I also don't think there's much of a point in downhill mass sprints. I don't know if it would have changed anything in this situation but does going 80 km/h instead of 60 km/h add anything interesting or different to the finish?

I'm definitely looking forward to the Dauphine, really feels like anyone who will be relevant at the Tour GC is starting and having 5 mountain finishes with that lineup should be fun.

Once again proving The Verve wrong

Jumbo Visma resembling peak Team Sky atm.

Exceptional van Aert won the first Dauphine stage convincingly. Alaphilippe was a big favorite but has not looked anywhere near his MSR form from less than a week ago.

Shortly after WvA won the third consecutive race he participated in, George Bennett won Gran Piemonte, adding yet another win to Jumbo Visma's resume for a season shaping up to be theirs.

Second stage in Dauphine looked like something we have seen many times. INEOS train, several Jumbo Visma domestiques struggling, everything seemingly under control with Castroviejo and Kwiatkowski both working hard leading the peloton. But suddenly Froome was done before taking his turn, and the team fell apart quickly and Bernal was soon after alone, albeit not a long way from finish. Roglic's helper Sepp Kuss looked extremely strong and shut down the only attack Bernal could muster, and Roglic simply rode away in overwhelming fashion. He looked untouchable and barely seemed exhausted after the stage. It looks like a no-brainer that he's going to win this race if he doesn't crash or get sick. He must probably also be considered the favorite to the Tour, but of course a lot can happen between now and the finish line on Champs Elysees in more than five weeks.

Formolo with an incredible win on the third stage after riding solo for 50+ km after sitting in the break all day. He looked dead at the start of the final climb, but luckily for him Jumbo Visma were focused on controlling the race more so than winning the stage and he got to reap the fruits of his hard work. Jumbo Visma kept race too tough for anyone to attack in pure team Sky fashion, and at the end Roglic sprinted to 2nd for 6 bonus seconds ahead of Pinot who got 4 bonus seconds himself and is second overall.

It looks like Pinot is in great shape, he is potentially setting France up for another heartbreak if he doesn't manage to have a great Tour. It was soulcrushing seeing him forced to abandon last year when he had looked like the strongest rider on several occasions. Buchmann who finished 4th last year also looks very strong. Nairoman seems to continue his good form from spring where he was really good, and other of "the usual suspects", Porte, Landa and Guillaume Martin also look good.


There's no doubt that Roglic is the strongest right now, and Bernal is probably not even second. But there's still two weeks to the start of the Tour and he's by no means in bad shape, so he might be ready.
Froome does not look like he will stand a chance of winning the Tour. Maybe he's saving himself but he should be able to sit in the peloton for much longer even in mediocre form. If this is his true level there's a chance he won't even be picked for the Tour, and that would be a shame. As much as I never liked him, he is THE Grand Tour rider of the past decade, and he adds something to the race.
Either way, INEOS certainly have their work cut out for them, they do not look like a team that are at the level they need to be if they want to win the Tour for the 6th time in a row, and 8th time in the last 9 years.

The hierarchy on Jumbo Visma doesn't look like it will be much of a question. Roglic is untouchable, Dumoulin is strong and could potentially reach his peak at the Tour, but right now Roglic is just better. I think Kruijswijk knows he isn't as good as the other two and will settle for being a helper, especially after getting his chance last year I think he knows he can't do better than he did there.


Tomorrow another huge mountain stage awaits in the Alps and I imagine it will look similar to today with Jumbo Visma in total control.

Tomorrow is also the day of Giro Il Lombardia. If Evenepoel manages to live up to his position as favorite the hype about him will go beyond the stratosphere. I thought he could become the youngest rider to win it if he did, but that is incorrect. Tomorrow he will be 20 years and 203 days old, 55 days older than Fausto Coppi when he won it for the first time out of five in 1946. Not exactly a lightweight to be comparable to.

In spite of what it may seem like based on the content of my posts on the matter, Evenepoel will not be the only rider participating in the race. Other riders who have a good chance of winning could be last year's LBL winner Fuglsang who also finished 4th in Lombardia and who has seemed to be in good form with a 5th place at Strade Bianche and 2nd overall behind Evenepoel in Pologne. George Bennett who is clearly in form could have a good race and give Jumbo Visma a monument 2 for 2. Two time Il Lombardia winner Vincenzo Nibali will also be present, although it's hard to say what kind of form he is in. He's not someone to write off, though, as we saw last year when he looked completely besides himself in the Tour, he still managed to pull out a big win on the final mountain stage in Val Thorens. Last year's winner Bauke Mollema will also be present and will have a chance of becoming the 6th rider to win back to back Il Lombardias in the 21st century after Michele Bartoli, Paolo Bettini, Damiano Cunego, Philippe Gilbert and Joaquim Rodriguez.

Viggo >> VeloNews

(I pretty much never pay attention outside of TdF time, tho)

Bernal not starting today due to back problems, I hope it's nothing serious.

Sad news, hope he will be ready for the Tour.

Buchmann, Kruijswijk and Muhlberger crashed and are out as well, hope it's not too serious, a real shame for Buchmann who looked like he was in great form.
TJV twitter are reporting a dislocated shoulder for Kruijswijk.

Buchmann First update is deep abrasions.

Not good. A quick Google search says deep abrasions sometimes heal in 1-3 weeks, so it's not impossible that he can ride in the Tour. But would still be a blow. Training won't be optimal, and he could still be in pain during the TDF. A sad day for him.

Jesus Christ, Evenepoel just hit the railing on a bridge and tumbled over it.
Rai are reporting that he's conscious and in contact with medical staff, thankfully. I feared it could have been much, much worse, I think he hit a tree which might have softened his fall.

They just put him into an ambulance, it sounds extreme but I'm glad he's alive after that fall.

I feel the same way.

**** me that looks rough.

From DECEUNINCK-QUICKSTEP:

"Unfortunately, the X-rays showed a fractured pelvis and a right lung contusion, which will keep Evenepoel – a winner of four stage races this season – on the sidelines for the upcoming period. Our rider will remain in the hospital overnight under observation, before flying on Sunday to Belgium. More information about his condition and time of recovery will be released Sunday."

Yeah pretty bad injuries and his season is obviously over but it honestly could have been worse.
Schachmann broke his collarbone because their was a freaking car on the road, might be the year done for him too since the season is so short?
Buchmann has a large hematoma, I'm guessing he should be able to ride the Tour but this will affect his preparation.
Kruijswijk dislocated shoulder, doubt he'll ride the Tour.
Roglic has some abrasions from the crash that sent out Buchmann and Kruijswijk (and Mühlberger), don't know how bad. Pinot went down too I think but seems like no injuries.

What a day of great racing and horrific crashing.

In Dauphine the young and talented Lennard Kämna showed great form and won his first professional victory after riding solo after being in the breakaway all day. A breakaway group of nothing but quality riders, among them Thomas De Gendt, Alaphillippe and Kwiatkowski, to name a few, but Kämna proved to be the strongest.

In the peloton it was a(nother) day of total control by Jumbo Visma. Dumoulin is getting better every day, and van Aert somehow came back and lead the group up the first part of the final climb, he is in formidable form. Up the toughest climb of the day, Bahrain McLaren put the pressure on for Landa, who showed that even if he's no longer a Movistar rider, he can still pull a move from their playbook. After setting a rough tempo, burning through all his helpers and reducing the peloton to just a few guys, Landa himself was too tired to attack and had to just hold on, while Roglic still had Dumoulin and Kuss. Vintage Movistar tactics. Other than that the theme of the day was crashes to a number of prominent riders.


In Lombardia we also had a terrible crash with Evenepoel. It looked like it could have potentially fatal but thankfully it wasn't that bad, but his season is still over. Hope he can come back as good or better next year.

But in the brutal and beautiful sport of cycling, the show must go on, and a group of several favorites rode together for a while after the peloton had been decimated on Sormano. Fuglsang attacked early on the penultimate climb Civiglo, and only his own teammate Vlasov and George Bennett from Jumbo Visma could follow him. The trio rode together over the top and worked together on the flat section before the final climb. Behind them were two Trek riders, Ciccone and Mollema together, at one point close but a mistake from Mollema cost them crucial seconds when they were about 8 seconds behind the front trio, and they never came close to catching them again. Behind them another trek rider, Nibali, was riding on his own.
On the final climb, Fuglsang turned up the pace which immediately broke Vlasov. Bennett made an attack that Fuglsang easily nullified, and when he immediately counter attacked Bennett broke down in seconds and Fuglsang rode away and won a great victory in convincing style. A great day for Danish cycling and therefore the world.

As a "fitting" end to a day of crazy crashes, arguably the wildest one happened when Schachmann, riding alone a minute behind Nibali, hit inta car that was driving on the race course. A massive failure likely by the organizers, but I'm not sure exactly what happened.
Here's a video of the incident: https://streamable.com/kd615x

Tomorrow the final stage awaits the Dauphine peloton. Another hard day in the alps, quite possibly another day for a breakaway to win and probably another day of Jumbo Visma dominance. The race could still get interesting as the top 10 is close and riders could fight for the secondary GC positions even if they can't break down Jumbo Visma.

Roglic is out after his injuries yesterday. Damn.

Another choke for Pinot

Appreciate the updates here. I have really missed cycling this summer.

Welp porte

Sunday was a great finish to Dauphine.

The stage was won by Sepp Kuss in dominant fashion when he rode away from Pogacar, Daniel Martinez and Sivakov. Both Kuss and Dumoulin looked very strong and could make up an an unstoppable trio with Roglic at the Tour. Pinot showing off Tour form by dropping the ball on the final stage and ending 2nd which gave us an unexpected winner in Daniel Martinez, a(nother) talented Colombian climber.

In Belgium they held the first stage of Tour de Wallonie Sunday, which ended in a bunch sprint won by Caleb Ewan ahead of Sam Bennett.

Monday on the second stage we had another bunch sprint after a some mild chaos towards the end with attacks by Philippe Gilbert, Stybar and two others, and some crashes (among them Nizzolo who somehow still got 7th). The stage was won by Arnaud Demare after a beautiful short sprint where he overtook Caleb Ewan for the win.

Today brought us another sprint finish, with Sam Bennett winning ahead of Demare and John Degenkolb. With this result, the trio Demare, Ewan and Bennett have shared top 2 on all 3 stages, each with one win and one second plavew. Demare is leading the race before the final stage tomorrow.

In Italy, Astana's Vlasov followed up his impressive third place in Lombardia with a win in Giro dell'Emilia, a race with a strong group of riders present. The talented Russian is having a breakthrough season.

Great content Viggo. I no longer need cycling websites.