Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

[stompandgo]

Over here Flanders is the big Monument, the toughest of all, Milan San Remo the first each year, Roubaix the wildest and most popular among general public (so many crashes I guess, equivalent to the Grand National Horse Race I think for similar reasons.) Leige, for me, gets forgotten a bit, I think races like Strade Bianchi are stealing its thunder and finally Il Lombardia in the autumn the last big hurrah of the year.

Flanders traditionally is so hard to win, or used to be, Sean Kelly never won, despite winning all the other monuments multiple times. Came 2nd twice top 5 a few more times but never got there. Recently MVDP winning 3 in a row was remarkable, then Pog so this year is interesting as another head to head and after San Remo MVDP will be rearing to go. Been caught by the peloton last week almost on the line will grate with him, even with Philippson taking the sprint - and is Van Aert finally back looking good? Hope so, love his riding style.

Stomp if you have a vpn try SBS. Great coverage.

That's why I liken it more to the Daytona 500 than the Super Bowl. Dale Earnhardt won over 100 races and 7 championships, but it took 19 tries to win his only Daytona 500.

No VPN. I'm looking for post race videos.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

That's why I liken it more to the Daytona 500 than the Super Bowl. Dale Earnhardt won over 100 races and 7 championships, but it took 19 tries to win his only Daytona 500.

No VPN. I'm looking for post race videos.

Unfortunately we have zero clue about Nascar over here- probably as much knowledge as you have about the Grand National!

I always loved that old story of two touring cyclists meeting on a Himalayan pass, one Chinese the other English, neither speaking each others language then the Chinese cyclist grinned and scrawled 531 in the snow and both got on famously after that!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Dwars door Vlaanderen finale! Heartbreak again for Van Aert. Only consolation as I said above, is he is clearly on form. But this will hurt. Twice in a week caught just before the line.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Dwars door Vlaanderen finale! Heartbreak again for Van Aert. Only consolation as I said above, is he is clearly on form. But this will hurt. Twice in a week caught just before the line.

Just watched the last 10 km or so. Was really hoping he'd pull it off.

I know these guys have a feel for how much energy they'll lose to the wind going solo vs. how much they'll need to win, but there are so many unknownables — including how good a guy like Ganna's feeling that day. Van Aert's miscalculated twice now this season, but not by much.

The interviewers at today's finish kept pestering him about how disappointed he must be — and he had to have been deep down, at least a little. But he kept insisting that he's happy with his riding so far this season, and I think he has every right to be given his last injury.

Can't wait to see how he does on the Tour of Flanders this Sunday!

 

[BlackHand]

Haven't seen highlights but I'm happy to see Ganna notch a win. I was a little surprised to learn this is his first pro win in a one day race.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Don't tell my wife, but I've become a big fan of Dutch sprinter and European Road Champion Lorena Wiebes, who just grabbed her 100th win at Gent–Wevelgem 2026.

She's a total animal on the bike but all sweetness and smiles and totally relaxed in front of the camera. Confident in her abilities but doesn't take herself too seriously. Intriguing combo in a 27 year-old woman.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Before the fireworks tomorrow caught the last 5Km of the GP Big Mig over in Navarre near the Basque Country and won for his third time by Basque rider Ion Izagirre at the ripe old age of 37, good on him! The last insanely steep climb was a three way battle between him, Quinn Simmons and a 20 year old French EF rider called Alex Baudin and Izagirre left both for dead on the climb. A real test for the puncheurs this race.

I'm out all day tomorrow so will try and catch a full replay of Flanders tomorrow night - great thing about living in UK is there is little chance I'll hear the result on the BBC news!! Just have to stay away from YouTube and this site.

I think it's fascinating that Remco decided in the end to race. Maybe listening to his old boss?!

Remco, Pog MVDP and Van Aert, all hungry, all, with the exception of Pog, with something to prove perhaps. Exciting line up.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Before the fireworks tomorrow caught the last 5Km of the GP Big Mig over in Navarre near the Basque Country and won for his third time by Basque rider Ion Izagirre at the ripe old age of 37, good on him! The last insanely steep climb was a three way battle between him, Quinn Simmons and a 20 year old French EF rider called Alex Baudin and Izagirre left both for dead on the climb. A real test for the puncheurs this race.

It was fun to watch Igazirre drop the other 2 on the last climb and then slalom through the descent and city streets to the finish for his 3 or 4th victory in this race.

I was 37 exactly 40 years ago. Can't say that I remember much about it, but the idea of doing what he did at age 37 is mind-boggling.

I think it's fascinating that Remco decided in the end to race. Maybe listening to his old boss?!

Could be a PR component to this decision. Watched a slick official video of his last-minute prep for it yesterday. They could be trying to pump up his image after a less than stellar start to the season.

If so, he'd better win. And if his old boss is right about where his real strength lies, maybe he will.

Remco, Pog MVDP and Van Aert, all hungry, all, with the exception of Pog, with something to prove perhaps. Exciting line up.

I think Pogi would quite enjoy beating all 3 at their own one-day game in one fell swoop.