Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

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Unbelievable finish to a stage that should have had the contenders in the break, but did not. Shortly after they were caught, with 28km to go, Remco decides he wants to go. He gets clear, and the only rider who was able to bridge was Jonas, who was clearly gassed from the effort and did not pull at first. Once he recovered, the two took it to a roundabout right before the line, Remco leading. They were most likely not going to get caught. Then the unthinkable happens. Remco crashes, no reason given at the time of this post. Jonas finishes at the front of the group. Remco gets same time, plus an extra bonus second for the intermediate sprint over Jonas. Godon wins by a length. Mark Stewart from MAP gets 10th after being in the break all day.

I was going to head out but I'm going to stay and hear what they both have to say. Remco was leading. It's possible that Remco went one way and Jonas the other around the roundabout, but Remco was leading. Jonas' front wheel was much more vulnerable than Remco's rear.

GC, Godon, Remco +:11, Pidock +:16, Jonas +:18. Anybody's race.

Jay Vine crashed out early and abandoned.
 
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From Cycling Weekly:

"To be honest I don't know, he just went over the handlebars and I just hope he's ok," Vingegaard said when asked what happened post-race on TNT Sports. "It looked really crazy, and I hope he's ok.

"I didn't want to take advantage of a situation like that so I decided at that moment to just wait for the bunch. I hope he's ok, and he can continue tomorrow."

Jonas was clearly shaken up by it.
 
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stompandgo said:
From Cycling Weekly:

"To be honest I don't know, he just went over the handlebars and I just hope he's ok," Vingegaard said when asked what happened post-race on TNT Sports. "It looked really crazy, and I hope he's ok.

"I didn't want to take advantage of a situation like that so I decided at that moment to just wait for the bunch. I hope he's ok, and he can continue tomorrow."

Jonas was clearly shaken up by it.
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Remco is an enigma. That attack was pure Belgian/Dutch Classics rider. Growing up with the colossal headwinds they deal with daily and acting instantly he saw the chaos after they caught the breakaway. It was exhilarating and apart from Jonas, caught them all out. Jonas's effort to hook his wheel was outstanding. He couldn't take his turn, I'm pretty sure he'd gone big time into the red.

Then that moment where it looked like it was all over. Remco attacked on a bend having just sat up in full view of peloton. Either brilliantly crafty or coincidence would love to know, if it was a move he timed it perfectly, Id say radios were telling the chasers "Its all over, you've got them"...

That crash then was just so bad luck. Really feel for him. Love he's unpredictable and such a fighter.

But the enigma - watching that Classics style attack, I wonder yet again why he's driven to the Grand Tours while there are Monuments left to conquer? Yes he's won the Vuelta and the heavy shadow of Merckx hangs heavy on him. Ambition I guess. And with that unbelievable power he has, why not go for it, answering my own question.
 
Remco said that he hit an unmarked pothole while switching to the drops. I wish some intrepid cycling fan would search for it.

Jonas admitted that he was using tactics, he just didn't say when. I could see with my own eyes that he was smoked after chasing onto Remco's wheel. It looked to me that he did some work when he could, but he wasn't going 100% after he recovered. He had a chance to win and take the jersey a day or two before he planned to, so he played his cards. Sitting up after the crash was the kind of classy move that I expect from him.

Tomorrow's stage:

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Don't miss this one.
 
Well, the 2026 Catalunya Stage 3 replay has yet to drop, and I'm stuck on the couch after a hard (for me) 35 mi group road ride this morning.

So watching the 2025 Stage 3 instead. Nothing exciting yet as of 50 km out, but what stunning mountain scenery at the east end of the Pyrenees!
 
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stompandgo said:
Remco said that he hit an unmarked pothole while switching to the drops. I wish some intrepid cycling fan would search for it.

Jonas admitted that he was using tactics, he just didn't say when. I could see with my own eyes that he was smoked after chasing onto Remco's wheel. It looked to me that he did some work when he could, but he wasn't going 100% after he recovered. He had a chance to win and take the jersey a day or two before he planned to, so he played his cards. Sitting up after the crash was the kind of classy move that I expect from him.

Tomorrow's stage:

View attachment 207672

Don't miss this one.
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They just mentioned this. The course map has been updated. I'm bummed as this is probably the toughest climbing stage in the race.

1774538579009.png
 
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Stage 3 replay still hasn't dropped! Just a place holder saying that the event has concluded, and the replay will be available shortly. Grrrrr.

Now watching the last 30 km of Stage 4 live. Wonder how many riders — besides the fast men — are secretly happy to get out of that brute of a final climb?
 
stompandgo said:
I think everybody needs a break.

Congrats to Vernon, nice positioning. Pidcock was there as well, picking up more time. MAP led the whole group out and then got swallowed up. They've got to work on that.
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Why was Visma so far back in the peloton at the S4 finish? Didn't even try for a stage win.
 
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Jeremy McCreary said:
Why was Visma so far back in the peloton at the S4 finish? Didn't even try for a stage win.
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It went from a mountaintop finish to a hilly city sprint finish. Who would you suggest that Visma set up for the win against Godon? Jonas would have no chance. Piganzoli? Maybe, but he's not strategic. Visma is not there for stage wins. They were past 3km to go, so they just had to finish with the peloton. Jonas was right up front before Pidcock took off, guaranteeing same time for him.
 
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