Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

[Rás Cnoic]

At least for the start of Paris Nice roads are dry. No hailstones.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

All caught up now on Paris Nice. Interesting interview with Ayuso after the latest stage (TT, Stage 3) — articulate, likeable, grateful to team and staff, quite mature.

Made me wonder if his transfer out of UAE put him into a calmer state of mind. Who really knows what he went through at UAE?

 

[stompandgo]

He is the GC leader of the team. He wasn't at UAE. Simple as that.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

He is the GC leader of the team. He wasn't at UAE. Simple as that.

I can see that. My stress hormone levels would be a lot lower if I were the undisputed big cheese at home.
;^}

 

[stompandgo]

It's trading aggravation for stress.

I enjoy watching team time trials. I know it's weird. ITT's bore me. There's so much more going on in a TTT. Strategy, Timing. The train wreck factor. Plus, they are rare in bike racing. I've only done one three times. Congrats to Lidl/Trek for an unexpectedly good result. Ineos looked crazy fast out there, but not every team has a monster like Tarling. Ayuso is now in yellow, Vauquelin +0:02, Jonas +0:17, McNulty +0:39. Next comes the mountains.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

It's trading aggravation for stress.

I enjoy watching team time trials. I know it's weird. ITT's bore me. There's so much more going on in a TTT. Strategy, Timing. The train wreck factor. Plus, they are rare in bike racing. I've only done one three times. Congrats to Lidl/Trek for an unexpectedly good result. Ineos looked crazy fast out there, but not every team has a monster like Tarling. Ayuso is now in yellow, Vauquelin +0:02, Jonas +0:17, McNulty +0:39. Next comes the mountains.

With Onley 4th and Kevin Vauqelin 3rd, looks like the first test for INEOS in rider expectations management is coming up. 4th & 7th 2025 TdF. Surprised both are in PN, thought they might have built 2 teams around them with one at TA. Has Vauqelin accepted mountain Dom status in the team? Be curious to watch. Always interesting to see the signing promises made to riders fall apart on the road.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

So the Tirreno-A has Magnus Sheffield as GC, I presume and with Arensmann as back up. He's 23, Onley also 23 and Vauquelin 24. Interesting.

INEOS just announced a second £20M sponsor (to add to total energies £20M) Total Energies will take prominence on the strip end of season when they finish sponsoring the other Total Energies current team. This new sponsor is a Danish IT company, all of which means INEOS Grenadier ceases to be main sponsor although still remaining part of team. Brailsford, back from cancer and his pretty crappy spell at Man Utd for Jim Radcliffe, now has a war chest to compete with the top teams again. Interesting.

With all these young climbers will we see the reemergence of the Sky-train? Hope not, it's so dull.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Now that's the Paris Nice we all know and love; tough wet and brrrr- cold!

Also who the hell are the Van Dijke brothers?!!

Dick's sons?

And why was Vinegaard wearing his bibs like dungarees?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

And why was Vinegaard wearing his bibs like dungarees?

Jonas!!!

Early in the highlights below, the announcer makes passing reference to Vingegaard's "makeshift" bib. What, Visma can't afford shorts that last a whole race?
;^}

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Jonas!!!

Early in the highlights below, the announcer makes passing reference to Vingegaard's "makeshift" bib. What, Visma can't afford shorts that last a whole race?
;^}

Here's an another good breakdown of stage. Lots and lots of odd team decisions! What the f were INEOS doing? V's on bike fashion show was hilarious. So far this year Pidcocks battle with rain jackets has been entertaining but Vinegaard just upped the stakes! He's looking good though.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Here's an another good breakdown of stage. Lots and lots of odd team decisions! What the f were INEOS doing? V's on bike fashion show was hilarious. So far this year Pidcocks battle with rain jackets has been entertaining but Vinegaard just upped the stakes! He's looking good though.

Here's another good highlight reel:

I'm sure the media moguls are running the numbers right now to see if there's an audience for strip cycling.
;^}

 

[stompandgo]

I just finished watching the last 30km Stage 4. One question. Why the hell didn't Bora try and shake Jonas? It was 3 on 1. They had a multitude of chances. I guess that their strategy was to pit DMartinez against him in the final 5km. Sorry, didn't work. DMartinez faded and Jonas jumped at the perfect time. DMartinez +0:52 back at the finish with the bonus.

As for the strip club, Jonas was wearing bibs on top of his skinsuit. You know why? Because in that kind of cold and rain in such a long stage, important parts of your body go numb. Two layers helps down there. Managing the upper body is normally easy, but with these narrow, wet roads, you can't call the team cars up to safely do clothing changes every few km. You have to manage the balance between freezing and riding inside a sauna suit yourself. You also want to manage your fluid intake when your body is so on the edge. Too much, and your stomach cramps. Too little, and your legs cramp. I've raced in these conditions, and if a tutu was the best clothing option, I'd wear it.

Congrats to my man Jonas. Kissing his wedding ring when he crosses the line. Now fight for this win.

Too bad about Ayuso and Pedersen. Heal up quick.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

As for the strip club, Jonas was wearing bibs on top of his skinsuit. You know why? Because in that kind of cold and rain in such a long stage, important parts of your body go numb. Two layers helps down there. Managing the upper body is normally easy, but with these narrow, wet roads, you can't call the team cars up to safely do clothing changes every few km. You have to manage the balance between freezing and riding inside a sauna suit yourself.

Sounds like pro cycling needs to catch up with strip club technology. I hear they have tear-away panties.

Congrats to my man Jonas. Kissing his wedding ring when he crosses the line. Now fight for this win.

Go Jonas!! Good to see him back.

Too bad about Ayuso and Pedersen. Heal up quick

Tragic. McNulty, too.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I just finished watching the last 30km Stage 4. One question. Why the hell didn't Bora try and shake Jonas? It was 3 on 1. They had a multitude of chances. I guess that their strategy was to pit DMartinez against him in the final 5km. Sorry, didn't work. DMartinez faded and Jonas jumped at the perfect time. DMartinez +0:52 back at the finish with the bonus.

Following on from less then perfect team tactics with Remco at UAE, Bora are not looking like a well organised outfit. They have a good budget and good riders so better get the DS situ sorted before bigger races.

Just saw last 6km of Stage 5. Yep somebody's looking very fit and hungry. Good to see, last year he definitely had demons to deal with.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Good ending to the TA stage. Healy up to 5th on GC with a bumpy route tomorrow that would suit him.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I'd also like to callout the complete lack of response to my Dick Van Dyke (Van Dijke!) twin sons comment yesterday! Classic Dad joke yet tumbleweed. You lot are worse than my eye rolling kids.

 

[stompandgo]

Back to back, chicken shack.

Awesome leadout by Campanaerts to launch Jonas out of the field so that he didn't have to go flat out for as long in order to open the gap on some great climbers. His descending and TT skills were readily apparent as he opened the gap up. I was concerned earlier in this race as to what Visma was thinking, but they put it all together today with multiple plans in play, working together for the win and to open up the GC lead. This is the last year for Visma, so the team is looking for a major sponsor. This is the kind of performance that they need to show in order to grab a good one. They don't have to win everything. They have to show that they work well as a team, and have the skills and talent to dominate at any given race.

It looks like the weather for the remainder of the race is going to be like Stage 4. Lots of hazards ahead.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

It looks like the weather for the remainder of the race is going to be like Stage 4. Lots of hazards ahead.

Atlantic storm passing over South West England right now and battered Ireland this morning, I'm sure France will be in line for some as well by tomorrow.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I'd also like to callout the complete lack of response to my Dick Van Dyke (Van Dijke!) twin sons comment yesterday! Classic Dad joke yet tumbleweed. You lot are worse than my eye rolling kids.

Sorry. We've all had the eye-rolls from kids and wives, too. Didn't realize you were looking for more.

Once the eye-rolling started with my kids — and not just over dad jokes — embarrassing them as much as possible was added to my parental mission statement. Dad jokes are an important tool but by no means the only one.

Now I count embarrassing all of them as one of my centers of excellence — right up there with losing hats.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Have really enjoyed all 5 raced stages in Paris Nice 2026 with 3 more to go. Especially through the extended highlights from this @LeTourDeFrance YouTube channel:

They claim to be the official TdF channel. An ASO outlet?