Jeremy McCreary
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NBC's Beyond the Podium series has been hit and miss for me. But this is a good one. If Roll's right, we could be in for one heck of a TdF.
Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026
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Both links are not working, US only I'm guessing. But I was also thinking that today, if Jonas is looking good and Pog is... well Pog as brilliant as ever, then all the new boys will have something to prove and find it v tough. It does mean TdF could be fascinating.
The only bad news long term I've heard is that Seixas's agent is looking around for a big deal outside of Decathlon as his contract is up next year and the rumour is UAE are planning to swoop. Disappointing if true. I'd hoped as a young French starlet he might stay with a French squad built around him. Bring back the glory days. But petrodollars are all that count today.
Maybe all the Shaheds flying around will take their mind off new deals. And anyway would Seixas want to be in same team as Pog and play second fiddle?
The only bad news long term I've heard is that Seixas's agent is looking around for a big deal outside of Decathlon as his contract is up next year and the rumour is UAE are planning to swoop. Disappointing if true. I'd hoped as a young French starlet he might stay with a French squad built around him. Bring back the glory days. But petrodollars are all that count today.
Maybe all the Shaheds flying around will take their mind off new deals. And anyway would Seixas want to be in same team as Pog and play second fiddle?
Jeremy McCreary
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Sure hope he doesn't end up on the same team with either Pogi or Jonas. Want to see all 3 go at it.
stompandgo
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Del Toro is going to be El-Gono next year. No way he's the next Campanaerts. I still say that as of now, the biggest question mark for next season (this one barely started!!!) is the replacement sponsor for Visma.
Seixas to NSN. You heard it here first.
Seixas to NSN. You heard it here first.
Do NSN have deep pockets? Since the paint job over Israel Premier-tech I'm not sure how big their budget is. The other suspect is INEOS. I got my figures wrong, the actual deal with the Danish Tech co (called Netcompany - what a boring name!) is for €100m over 5 years, giving them a total €50m budget per year (Netcompany #20m,, Total Engerise €20m and Ineos €10m) So they have a war chest and eager to be back on top.
Agreed about Visma or whatever they will be called next, survival focus there is on snagging their own Netcompany-type big sponsor or they are in big trouble.
Was just watching the new season of Drive To Survive on Netflix. Can't comprehend the billions F1 teams have to play with in comparison to poor old cycling.
Agreed about Visma or whatever they will be called next, survival focus there is on snagging their own Netcompany-type big sponsor or they are in big trouble.
Was just watching the new season of Drive To Survive on Netflix. Can't comprehend the billions F1 teams have to play with in comparison to poor old cycling.
stompandgo
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INEOS was my second choice, but they have talent and a budget buster already in Onley. NSN has no real GC contender, and a 34M Euro budget.
True, true. That's a healthy budget. Sean Kelly said yesterday that Seixas shouldn't ride the Tour this year, too young & he hopes Decathlon has patience. 19 is so young.
stompandgo
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I agree 1000%. I feel the same way about Juniors racing Elites as the dominant part of their schedule.
Sean Kelly is a treasure, isn't he?
When he first started commentating he was always tongue-tied, he'd always been shy, guarded, not a great conversationalist, from a tiny farm and kept his thoughts to himself, known in Ireland as the man who "would nod on Radio". But over the years with Eurosport he's loosened up. And actually recently when the young GCN Youtube guys started on Eurosport he responded very well to their banter. He tends to speak his mind. And yes 19 is too young, give him some time.
Interesting question I'm hearing- because Seixas is pretty tall, so by age 23 will he fill out, get more bulky (I don't mean fat!)?
stompandgo
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You can be tall, fill out, and still be lean. Look at Tarling. The guy is a beast. He can do everything except win a sprint.
Jeremy McCreary
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Very impressed that the Paris Nice Stage 6 winner Harold Tejada managed to do so after a bike change only 15 12 km out.
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stompandgo
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That's a testament to his mechanic and team car driver.
I'm watching a touch of Tirreno-Adriatico now and that crash by Vermaerke was NASTY. He got treatment on the road and is continuing. Heal up quick.
I'm watching a touch of Tirreno-Adriatico now and that crash by Vermaerke was NASTY. He got treatment on the road and is continuing. Heal up quick.
stompandgo
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Absolutely crazy Stage 7 at Paris-Nice today. The race was shortened from 120km to 47km due to trees down in the road, flooding, ice and snow. Lots of crashes, mostly at the back, but a major one near the front with 1km to go that held up Jonas and the GC leaders. Godon wins the sprint over Lamperti and Grimay.
No change to GC. Jonas over Martinez at +3:22. Look who is carrying the umbrella for who? Nice rain booties, too. Visma obviously doesn't give a crap about fashion.
Jeremy McCreary
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Really liking the winter kit colors I'm seeing in Paris Nice 2026, starting with Visma yellow.
I happen to be partial to yellow. That deep cape honeysuckle orange behind the bike is another fave.
So naturally, I'm liking those deep orange Ineos rain jackets. (But don't like their pale orange skin suits.) Also like the light teal on the helmet at right center. What team is that?
I happen to be partial to yellow. That deep cape honeysuckle orange behind the bike is another fave.
So naturally, I'm liking those deep orange Ineos rain jackets. (But don't like their pale orange skin suits.) Also like the light teal on the helmet at right center. What team is that?
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BlackHand
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Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
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- Carlsbad, CA
Jonas after final Stage 8 of Paris Nice:
Very classy. So happy for him after a rough 2 years.
Struck by how often I hear big-name pro cyclists say that some competitor was stronger that day and deserved to win. Don't follow other sports. Is that as common outside cycling?
Very classy. So happy for him after a rough 2 years.
Struck by how often I hear big-name pro cyclists say that some competitor was stronger that day and deserved to win. Don't follow other sports. Is that as common outside cycling?
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stompandgo
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It's a very tight club in a niche sport. There's egos and jerks and nice guys. Respect rules everything. The rules and regulations rein things in, but there are times when riders have to take disrespect into their own hands. I'm thinking Phillipsen. He was taught a very painful lesson. If you don't respect riders who have been there longer than you, you FAFO.
I think this general principle is present in other sports, but look at the NBA for example. Too many "big stars" get away with murder with no calls. You can't do that when they respect each other. There's letting them play, and there's lack of respect.
The last km was a screaming at the screen moment. He has a road sprint, not a track sprint. He needed about another 50m to finish Martinez off (he lost by 1/2 a wheel), but it wasn't to be. I loved the fight. He did not need the stage. He was making a statement. He took all the hard pulls after they got away at the end, and still had enough to make it close.
The part of the quote above that is missing was when he was asked if he was making a statement to Tadej. Jonas would not bite. Why? Respect.
Remember that he won by 4:23 and did not have his top two roulers, WVA and Mateo, who raced Tirreno.
Congrats, Jonas. I cannot wait for Catalunya. Roasters are being assembled now. Modern Adventure is confirmed at this point.
I think this general principle is present in other sports, but look at the NBA for example. Too many "big stars" get away with murder with no calls. You can't do that when they respect each other. There's letting them play, and there's lack of respect.
The last km was a screaming at the screen moment. He has a road sprint, not a track sprint. He needed about another 50m to finish Martinez off (he lost by 1/2 a wheel), but it wasn't to be. I loved the fight. He did not need the stage. He was making a statement. He took all the hard pulls after they got away at the end, and still had enough to make it close.
The part of the quote above that is missing was when he was asked if he was making a statement to Tadej. Jonas would not bite. Why? Respect.
Remember that he won by 4:23 and did not have his top two roulers, WVA and Mateo, who raced Tirreno.
Congrats, Jonas. I cannot wait for Catalunya. Roasters are being assembled now. Modern Adventure is confirmed at this point.
Jeremy McCreary
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Please elaborate. Not familiar with that episode.
Respect is something we could use a lot more of in every part of life these days.
stompandgo
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Phillipsen was very cocky when he first made the World Tour. He would chop (quick deviation from your racing line), pinch (slowly closing the gap of the rider next to you to cut them off), and taunt riders on the way to a win. Clean sprinting can include all of these things, but subtly. Phillipsen was anything but subtle. Other teams warned him, and he scoffed at them. So they took control, and 3 or so seasons ago, started doing the same to him. He crashed multiple times due to it. Now he is a much cleaner sprinter overall.