stompandgo
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A 428w FTP would be low for a world tour rider. But that effort wasn't an FTP test, it was a climb after a long day of work in the saddle. That's what makes it notable.
2025 Criterium du Dauphine
- Thread starter Jeremy McCreary
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Love it! A Scouser saying to Americans you need subtitles for Irish accents! Pot. Kettle.
And the Dauphine is on ITV 4 everyday...
Confused - I'm not sure exactly who the line up is on Eurosport/TNT for the Dauphine. Orla, not a man(!) is Northern Irish and can get a bit melodramatic but she's the anchor in the studio, not generally commentating. The only Irish commentator generally is legend Sean Kelly (King Kelly) who has never been melodramatic in his life and has been commentating on Eurosport for 20+ years with his Waterford/Tipp border Carrick On Suir accent & occasionally in French. The other commentators are English like Rob Hatch and Matt Stephens and a Scouser fella who's name escapes me- ex cyclist? and Aussie legend Robbie McEwan - I can understand all the accents and the variety echoes the sport itself with all these ex pros. Maybe this is a problem at your end and with world accents outside the states Jeremy?!
Though if you are mistaking ex cyclist Brian Smith's Scottish accent for Irish- then although it's easily understood I still want to kill myself when he is commentating as he is the most boring commentator on there. Seriously dull. Rather watch paint dry. When I used watch Eurosport/GCN last year and before if I turned it on and he was commentating I'd go "ah s*it..." Long term commentator Charlton Kirby regularly comes in for some stick from fans as he can wander off piste in passages of complete nonsense Alan Partridge style! But given he had years of live (up to 5 hours) coverage on Eurosport back in the day, sometimes watching the peloton on a flat stage where nothing and I mean nothing happens for hours but had to keep commentating (and often with Kelly as co commentator who in the early years said sweet FA), I tend to forgive him!
I couldn't listen to Liggett, he disgusted me when for years he publicly defended that psychopath Armstrong, even when David Walsh, Kimmage and Lemond had proved his guilt Ligett still blindly defended him even after Lance admitted it. The damage it did to cycling. What was funny was years later after Paul Shewen's early death Liggett got talking to Armstrong at the funeral and was shocked that after all the years doing charity gigs for Armstrong and publicly defending him - Armstrong didn't even recognise him! Said to Ligett "I thought the old man would die first (meaning him Liggett) then calling him Paul (Sherwen's first name). Armstrong only ever had time for Armstrong.
Jeremy McCreary
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It's Robbie. Not that good at identifying UK-related accents, but I would never have pegged his as Australian.
But it's not his accent that bothers me. It's the excessive drama, repetition, and unduly confident rider mind-reading that drive me nuts.
I know that Stage 20 of the 2025 Giro was historic. Robbie must have said so 200 times. He irritated me on all the other stages I've watched, too. Maybe it's just me.
We watch a lot of UK TV. We both have trouble understanding thick Scottish accents and a few others I can't name. But we do OK with the rest. After many Brokenwood episodes, we even understand Kiwi!
Too bad about Liggett. I like his style.
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Because of my TNT/Discovery boycott(!) I am reduced to seeing what live pirate options are available on YT. Normally I'm against piracy but Discovery are so greedy I'm glad to seek the races elsewhere. One random aspect is the feed if not the UK English speaking version might be in Spanish (the south Americans go crazy if a Carapaz or Del Toro are in the running) or Italian French whatever. I guess it saves me from melodramatic commentators. Ex Pros like McEwan or the Scottish Brian Smith can be useful with their in-depth knowledge but they often are not brilliant commentators so it's mixed bag. I didn't notice McEwan on that climb so I was either too excited or possibly I was watching in Spanish which I don't speak but somehow it just washes over me and I can watch the riders without distraction. Back when YT channel GCN did a deal with Eurosport and I subscribed, you could switch between languages or have it without any commentator, which was handy, just the sound of the free hubs and crowds, beautiful. I Don't know if they have that anymore.
One presenter worth listening out for on TNT and formerly Eurosport during the TdeF is Felix Lowe. Especially the quiet, not much happening, stages. Lowe is such an eccentric English author on all things historical, French (or Italian) and cycling. Like from another age fresh from Cambridge or Oxford. He pops up to explain the history of a castle the race is passing, a 1930s epic story from the tour back then or to recommend a nice local vino to have with your lunch in this region. He's very entertaining, very knowledgeable & funny and I don't know of any other sport who would employ someone so cultured in the middle of a major race!
Felix Lowe
www.felixlowe.com
Jeremy McCreary
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Exactly. Unfathomable from my perspective.
When he finally dropped off the lead, you could tell he'd given everything he had — to help Yates win the GC. He deserves much more recognition for that heroic act.
You can probably imagine how much he suffered for that, but I can't.
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stompandgo
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American criterium racing is completely different than UCI criterium racing, but it's what I did at the Elite level. The races are short, under 90 minutes, and pretty much flat out until the break is established. When I raced on a team, my role was to get our designated rider of the day into a well represented break, then chase down any attacks that would threaten the win. If that didn't happen, or the break came back, then my role was the last leadout rider before the sprinter. I'd have to do 3-4 1-2km laps at FTP+50% and then 2xFTP for the last half lap. It just crushes you, but 20 minutes later, you're ready for a beer.
JRA
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I have been following bike racing in most forms for years and have always existed pretty much on the non subscribed coverage that has been available. I did subscribe to Peacock last two years in order to view the Tour, and two years ago it had a "world" version sans ads that disappeared last year. Also it had two Brit chaps doing the talking head thing which wasn't too bad but now with Boob and Kristian on PCock I mostly watch with sound off and catch up with the tactics in the evening via the Chris Horner "Beyond the Coverage" on YT.
For other races I have come to just watching some on Tiz (YT), as well as some other pirated content that usually is without commentary. I don't really mind as I know enough about the sport and the players to follow along and frankly I use playback 2 til the last 10k. For XCC,DH stuff RedBull used to be good but now I just watch whatever I can find on YT. DH especially is way harder to watch anymore so I just satisfy myself with some athlete channel course previews and highlights. Most WC XCC and XCO events are pirated and once again sans commentary, which is no big deal for me as I mostly just enjoy the races au natural.
The first 9 stages of the Tour this year should provide some good racing until they hit the mtns. and it TP is there it will be hard to match him and I'm afraid will make those stages boring somewhat. I just wonder if Primoz will be able to keep the rubber side down this year and if my main man MVDP can do some notable leadouts and come out with enough form to take the XCC Champ jersey? That is if he can make it around the start lap.....
For other races I have come to just watching some on Tiz (YT), as well as some other pirated content that usually is without commentary. I don't really mind as I know enough about the sport and the players to follow along and frankly I use playback 2 til the last 10k. For XCC,DH stuff RedBull used to be good but now I just watch whatever I can find on YT. DH especially is way harder to watch anymore so I just satisfy myself with some athlete channel course previews and highlights. Most WC XCC and XCO events are pirated and once again sans commentary, which is no big deal for me as I mostly just enjoy the races au natural.
The first 9 stages of the Tour this year should provide some good racing until they hit the mtns. and it TP is there it will be hard to match him and I'm afraid will make those stages boring somewhat. I just wonder if Primoz will be able to keep the rubber side down this year and if my main man MVDP can do some notable leadouts and come out with enough form to take the XCC Champ jersey? That is if he can make it around the start lap.....
Jeremy McCreary
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Well, another Grand Tour win for Pogi. And he makes it look so easy!
For whatever reason, Jonas is simply not riding at that level. Hate to ask, but is he still the best CG contender Visma could put forward in the coming TdF?
For whatever reason, Jonas is simply not riding at that level. Hate to ask, but is he still the best CG contender Visma could put forward in the coming TdF?
He hasn't raced as much as Pog and although it may well be that Pog is untouchable this year, Jonas seems to be happy with his numbers, perhaps feeling on track to hit peak mid July. Only time will tell. Although the Dauphine is a great & prestigious week long tour, there are only three Grand Tours, France Italy & Spain, each three weeks long.
The problem for every single other team is, as ever, who can beat Pog?! Seems to be a number of riders young and older, who on a good day can compete, but not over a succession of days. Only Jonas has been there and done that. UAE has strengthened the team around Pog so he is less at risk of being isolated by the always strong Visma. For Jonas having a perhaps slightly tired but ecstatic Simon Yates as mountain domestique is a good help, versus Pog with an equally tired but eager to prove himself Adam Yates! Love this little family drama. But over 21 days it just takes one puncture, one bout of food poisoning, virus, crash or missing a move and the race becomes wide open. It's Remco, who given his muscular physique has always seemed to struggle at the high altitudes & now after a disappointing Dauphine, looks to be out of the running, though he always pulls a surprise somehow. Also which of the young guns can make a mark this year and get the label of Pog's heir apparent, if any of them? Used to be the perfect age to win the Tour was 27, needing a combination of experience plus still peak fitness with added stamina to win. Since earpieces with direct comms back to the DS the ages have got younger, sub 25. One of the big changes in racing I think.
For the first time Primoz looked like yesterday's man in the Giro, not helped by his poor technical skills and far too many crashes, forced to drop out on stage 16. With young gun Lipowitz staying with Pog & Jonas on the climbs of the Dauphine & getting third podium slot, I wonder who will be leader? And if Primoz is tasked with mountain lieutenant but is feeling it good in his legs, will he obey team orders? He had massive issues with Sepp Kuss at the Vuelta couple years back really lead to him going to Bora I think. He's a winner and I can't see him being happy in a subservient role, Bora might have their hands full! Makes for another entertaining subplot.
By the way I would highly recommend a cycling blog for Tour de France stage by stage discussion. It's a one man show called The Inner Ring:
He's quietly spoken, no fuss, extremely knowledgeable and he discusses other topics like riders pay, the promotion/relegation in the World Tour, UCI politics and any other interesting racing news or interesting books published. He does a day by day blog discussing the next day's stage and looking back on the previous and what happened. His writing, hands down is the most piercing and elegant of any bike journo (In English) I have come across. Plus the comment section is always entertaining.
He's quietly spoken, no fuss, extremely knowledgeable and he discusses other topics like riders pay, the promotion/relegation in the World Tour, UCI politics and any other interesting racing news or interesting books published. He does a day by day blog discussing the next day's stage and looking back on the previous and what happened. His writing, hands down is the most piercing and elegant of any bike journo (In English) I have come across. Plus the comment section is always entertaining.
stompandgo
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I watched an interview with Pogacar after he won this race. He feels that he is in the peak of his career. He is certainly riding like he is. I do agree with Ras, that one major factor is that UAE was stronger for this race than Visma. That was readily apparent. Sepp is usually the last guy to work for Jonas when the road tilts up, and he couldn't hang. If they are peaking for the Tour, then that's expected, and I hope it pays off. The way to beat Pogacar is to beat him up on the climbs. It will take multiple Visma riders to do this, and it has worked in the past. What I really enjoy watching is the mutual respect that they have for each other. If you've ever raced, you know that there are riders that you don't respect, riders that you don't like but respect, and riders that you both like and respect. I think these two are in the last category.
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