Haven't seen the highlights of the E3 yet. But in Catalonia Jonas sure stamped his authority on the race. Pidcock (off camera) crashed into a ravine on a descent. He managed to finish and said he's just used up one of his lives!
Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026
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stompandgo
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The announcer kept saying over and over, "where is Pidcock", but no camera angle would reveal him. He called back to his team car, who also did not know. You guys may not realize this, but team cars don't have free reign to move about the road. The movement of race vehicles is controlled by the commissaire in the race director's car. They normally don't put a team car near the leaders until there is at least a 2 minute gap, but on climbs, where they are all strung out, that's often impossible. Pidcock's team car was in the caravan and most likely had no idea where he was. I hope that he is OK. What a finish it would have been between him and Jonas if that were to come to pass.
Jonas did exactly what I thought that he would do, attack on a steeper section and go it alone. Remco at least has an excuse with his crash, but from what I saw, he didn't even try. Where was Almeida? Where was Ben O'Connor? Lenny Martinez and Felix Gall gave it a go, over and over again, until they couldn't. Sepp Kuss looked very good getting the climb started. Visma needs him back for the Giro.
More climbing today, not as dramatic but still a lotta up. I expect Visma to go into full negative racing mode, but depending on what Remco and Pidcock want to do, we could see a race here. I'll be in the car (passenger) and trying my best to watch it.
Jonas did exactly what I thought that he would do, attack on a steeper section and go it alone. Remco at least has an excuse with his crash, but from what I saw, he didn't even try. Where was Almeida? Where was Ben O'Connor? Lenny Martinez and Felix Gall gave it a go, over and over again, until they couldn't. Sepp Kuss looked very good getting the climb started. Visma needs him back for the Giro.
More climbing today, not as dramatic but still a lotta up. I expect Visma to go into full negative racing mode, but depending on what Remco and Pidcock want to do, we could see a race here. I'll be in the car (passenger) and trying my best to watch it.
Jeremy McCreary
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Announcer just said that Pidcock injured his knee yesterday (S5) and is out of Catalunya. Pity, he was doing so well. Quick recovery.
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stompandgo
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I was able to watch this in the car while traveling. Once more teams other than Visma got on the front, that break was toast, and the race was on. All the remaining contenders were right there, and Jonas rides away again. Remco is starting to remind me of Ayuso, and not in a good way. I hope that he proves himself otherwise. I did hear that Pidcock bruised his knee in the tumble down the ravine. He said that they gave him a choice, race or recover, and he chose the latter. I think that turned out to be a wise decision.
I won't be able to watch the next three Belgian races, because, FloBikes.
I won't be able to watch the next three Belgian races, because, FloBikes.
Jeremy McCreary
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Sounds like he got off lucky. Tumbling down a ravine on a descent is a good way to get dead or quadrupelegic. Pidcock reportedly said that he used up one of his lives in this one. Wonder if it'll dampen his daredevil descent style going forward?
Today, the Catalunya commentator mentioned a new UCI initiative to put trackers on riders so they can't just vanish off the course, as Pidcock may have done.
stompandgo
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I don't think Pidcock descends any more dangerously than any other highly skilled descender. It goes with the territory. However, I found it interesting that it was a lapse in judgement, much like Remco's crash, that caused the issue. Remco was switching hand positions right before a hard turn, and Pidcock was taking a drink on a 65mph descent. Both were very lucky to have minimal injuries.
I have not yet heard about this UCI initiative, but the UCI is a complex organization. Things like this get discussed in the Management Committee before preliminary regulations are released to the general public. There is a lot to consider for something like this. We shall see. My take is that if they are going to add a radio, or use an existing radio like in the rider's computer, then that radio should do more than just track the rider. It should be a conduit for data that would help the sport for more than just rider safety.
I have not yet heard about this UCI initiative, but the UCI is a complex organization. Things like this get discussed in the Management Committee before preliminary regulations are released to the general public. There is a lot to consider for something like this. We shall see. My take is that if they are going to add a radio, or use an existing radio like in the rider's computer, then that radio should do more than just track the rider. It should be a conduit for data that would help the sport for more than just rider safety.
Watching via the Aussie SBS (Australian BBC) they have coverage of most races I'ver discovered, currently watching the WW1 In Flanders Fields memorial race.
Re yesterday stage- Remco looks impressive climbing, using that compact power to drive upwards - until a Jonas or Pog accelerates and then he just doesn't have that extra gear. And I think, never will. Mind you at the moment outside those 2 nobody else seems to either.
Volta Catalonia has exposed the young pretenders Lipowitz, Onley, Ujitbroeks et all. But it's early in season still. Of those only Lipowitz was there at the finish, and good to see Remco pulling for him. If he hadn't crashed would he have played team orders or tried himself?
I kinda feel July will be Pog v Jonas again, if Jonas has something left after the Giro. Both looking incredible right now, end of March.
Chapeau to Carapaz as well, that wily old warrior, the only survivor from the break, clung on until 5Km from the end and finished 6th on the day, moves up 16 spots on GC now top ten. Great ride.
stompandgo
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Remco following team orders? I would like to see that actually happening. Carapaz is a smart, crafty rider who I believe is still able to win a stage in a Grand Tour, but not the whole thing. He is a joy to watch. Old school. I don't remember him ever staring at his computer. Pog vs. Jonas, I still feel that it will come down to the supporting cast, and Tadej's supporting cast is better, assuming that they all stay healthy. If Mateo can launch Kuss who launches Jonas, they have a shot against anyone. If not, I think it's going to be another Tadej show.
stompandgo
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If you missed the circuit race portion of Stage 7 of Catalunya, find a way to watch it. It was outstanding, exciting racing for every loop of the circuit. Brady Gilmore breaks his losing streak and wins by a wheel over Godon, but the best action was between Remco and Jonas. Red Bull was on a mission to get Remco up the road without Jonas, and beat the living crap out of him over and over and over. Jonas had little to no help. Red Bull was brilliant in isolating him. It was 3:1, 2:1, and mano y mano, and Jonas answered every attempt. I have never seen him race that way on a course like this. A beautiful display of race tactics by everyone. Congrats to Jonas for his second UWT stage race of the year, and to Remco and Red Bull for fighting as hard as they could until the end.
If you were ever curious about the kind of racing that I used to do well at, take that circuit, cut the circuit length to 2.5km, take the climb and cut it to 100m-200m, but keep the circuit total length to almost the same, 50km-70km. It's attack after attack after attack with tons of teamwork and tactics. There's nothing else like it.
If you were ever curious about the kind of racing that I used to do well at, take that circuit, cut the circuit length to 2.5km, take the climb and cut it to 100m-200m, but keep the circuit total length to almost the same, 50km-70km. It's attack after attack after attack with tons of teamwork and tactics. There's nothing else like it.
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BlackHand
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It's been in the works for a while. There was a big flap about it last year in a poorly implemented test by the UCI. Pro cycling sure is adept at infighting.
Chaos at women’s Tour de Romandie as five teams disqualified after tracking device row – as UCI condemns “deplorable undermining of safety efforts”
The Tour de Romandie Féminin has descended into chaos before the start of the first stage, with the news that several teams have been disqualified following a row with the UCI over the governing body’s decision to introduce a new safety tracking system without consultation. A spokesperson for...
road.cc
stompandgo
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You have no idea.
Jeremy McCreary
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Finally got a chance to watch the 2026 Catalunya S7 replay, and did so with these comments in mind. And I see now what Remco was up to.
Still a long ways to go, but thanks especially to you and @Rás Cnoic , I'm becoming a much more sophisticated race watcher.
I can see how the teamwork and tactics could be fun. Also a distraction from the suffering.
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stompandgo
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Teamwork and tactics causes more suffering, not less.
Jeremy McCreary
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Just rewatched the last 30 km of Catalunya 2026 S7 through @stompandgo's lens. What fun! At one point, with many of the big guns up front, the commentator said something like, "With all due respect, it's like watching a juniors race, attack after attack!"
Between the fabulous scenery of the eastern Pyrenees and the exciting racing, stage after stage, this Tour of Catalunya 2026 is now on my short list of favorite stage races I've ever watched.
Between the fabulous scenery of the eastern Pyrenees and the exciting racing, stage after stage, this Tour of Catalunya 2026 is now on my short list of favorite stage races I've ever watched.