Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

[Rás Cnoic]

... watched the whole thing and yes there was definite excitement as the teams came and went until we had a standing ovation for the arrival of Visma and Jonas and that was spine tingling!

Hadn't really considered who would be GC leader for UAE minus Pog. Leaves the intriguing prospect that Adam Yates might (for once) be leader and try and follow in his twin's footsteps from last year. Unlikely but as a reward for being Pog's loyal lieutenant for the last few years.

 

[Yako]

Leaves the intriguing prospect that Adam Yates might (for once) be leader and try and follow in his twin's footsteps from last year.

I suspect Jonas won’t be making Del Toro’s mistake! For those wanting to watch live but unprepared to remortgage their house to do so, if it’s working:

LIVE STREAM 2 - Cycling Today

Live stream of all cycling races all year long: road cycling live stream, cyclocross live stream, women cycling live stream

cycling.today

or

HOME - Cycling Stream

Cycling Stream brings you the best live streams of cycling races from around the world. Giro, Tour, Vuelta and all the classics live for FREE

cyclingstream.com

offer live coverage of the entire race - and just about every other road/cyclocross race that is on TV.
You will need to ‘refresh’ from time to time, and occasionally the feed disappears for a few seconds, but you can see so much more than a highlights reel. You may need a vpn. I don’t use one, however. There is an associated chat feed of aficionados that can help the hours of a sprint stage whizz by too. There may be drinking games at the weekends, for example when Carlton Kirby says something daft, so come prepared. It is the official Eurosport feed, in English.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Thanks for that! I did try it a year or so back then frustratingly couldn't remember the name. So this year I vpned and get the Aussie feed. No Alan carlton Kirby Partridge unfortunately just some pretty dull Aussie ex pros talking endlessly about nutrition and watts. What was the name of that suave fella on Eurosport that is an encyclopaedia on local castles monestarys and wine & food in France they drag on to break the tedium of flat stages? He's ace.

 

[stompandgo]

I suppose one nice thing is to get to see all the actual riders on stage, team by team, to see faces for once in a calm manner not with oakleys on flying past. It is adding an excitement.

The music choice is... fascinating!

It is also a UCI requirement to sign in to every stage. They make it a presentation for the fans.

 

[Yako]

Leaves the intriguing prospect that Adam Yates might (for once) be leader and try and follow in his twin's footsteps from last year.

I suspect Jonas wouldn’t make Del Toro’s mistake! For those wanting to watch live but unprepared to remortgage their house to do so, if it’s working,

LIVE STREAM 2 - Cycling Today

Live stream of all cycling races all year long: road cycling live stream, cyclocross live stream, women cycling live stream

cycling.today

or

What was the name of that suave fella on Eurosport that is an encyclopaedia on local castles

That’s JHB, Jonathan Harries-Bass I think. The foodie cyclist. Can’t bear him!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

It is also a UCI requirement to sign in to every stage. They make it a presentation for the fans.

Granted. Though in fairness signing on doesn't usually involve a pack of fully costumed Bulgarian folk dancers or 3 middle-aged men singing a cappello doing Elton John numbers.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I suspect Jonas wouldn’t make Del Toro’s mistake! For those wanting to watch live but unprepared to remortgage their house to do so, if it’s working,

LIVE STREAM 2 - Cycling Today

Live stream of all cycling races all year long: road cycling live stream, cyclocross live stream, women cycling live stream

cycling.today

or


That’s JHB, Jonathan Harries-Bass I think. The foodie cyclist. Can’t bear him!

He always made me hungry and come on anything to liven up those long dull flat stages! Re Jonas I really hope he doesn't just canter away with it for sake of the race, but I'm not seeing anyone looking ready to step up. I'd love to see Bernal challenging again.

But lots of narrow twisty roads to negotiate, anything can unfold. I like the idea of a drink every time Carlton says something daft, though that would mean getting drunk super fast! Sometimes the Sean Kelly awkward bewildered silence after a Carlton going off on a tangent speech is also gold!

 

[Yako]

He always made me hungry and come on anything to liven up those long dull flat stages! Re Jonas I really hope he doesn't just canter away with it for sake of the race, but I'm not seeing anyone looking ready to step up. I'd love to see Bernal challenging again.

But lots of narrow twisty roads to negotiate, anything can unfold. I like the idea of a drink every time Carlton says something daft, though that would mean getting drunk super fast! Sometimes the Sean Kelly awkward bewildered silence after a Carlton going off on a tangent speech is also gold!

You are going to be a perfect fit for the chat team! I’ll be on today if I can, but there’s a lot going on at the moment in Casa Yako…

 

[stompandgo]

I'm working today, but I will put the race on in the shop.

What everyone that is crowning the win to Jonas is forgetting is that the Giro has a long standing reputation for challenging courses (not just climbs) and dangerous stage elements. The weather, while it looks good for now, can change at any moment at elevation. A lot more than mishaps can take him out of the win.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

That last ten km on the wide roads (before it got narrow) was a heart in mouth masterclass of the work the sprint trains have to do, the jockeying for position on that long straight was incredible. Then the road narrows, narrows again and hey presto a massive crash 1km from the line - horrible one at sprint speeds. Not sure if any riders have had to abandon - just checked all seem ok so far, main two were Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech) both bloodied but ok. we'll see if any broken bones later on or by the morning I guess.

This flat seaside area of Bulgaria looks very nice. Not a place I've ever thought of going to, I know it's popular for cheap sun holidays and now as of January 1st Bulgaria is in the Eurozone. Could be a fascinating holiday.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Then the road narrows, narrows again and hey presto a massive crash 1km from the line - horrible one at sprint speeds.

A little before the crash, the front of the peloton was clocked at 71 km/h. A little ramp just before slowed them to 60+ km/h.

Can you imagine crashing at those speeds? Watch closely how some of the bikes fly up into the air and tumble and spin in the crash. That gives you a good idea of the kinetic energies involved.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

A little before the crash, the front of the peloton was clocked at 71 km/h. A little ramp just before slowed them to 60+ km/h.

Can you imagine crashing at those speeds? Watch closely how some of the bikes fly up into the air and tumble and spin in the crash. That gives you a good idea of the kinetic energies involved.

Yeah I'm not into watching a crash like that in slo mo! Freaky enough to watch once at live speeds. When watching the jostling earlier on the wide road those four and five man sprint trains were lethal looking fighting for best position.

Have to say the Wolfpack are the consummate masters of the sprint train. After the loss of Remco great to see them back doing what they do best, winning sprints.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yeah I'm not into watching a crash like that in slo mo! Freaky enough to watch once at live speeds.

You don't need zoom or slow-mo to appreciate the energies the flying bikes are still carrying after they go down. And the riders are carrying ~10 times that when they hit the tarmac — or the cobbles, or the barrier, or the culvert, or the tree, or the rocky ravine below the road.

Takes a lot of nerve to race road bikes at those speeds with only a helmet and flimsy gloves for protection.

And yet they usually walk away. Mind-boggling.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I crashed a few times when I raced. And many more times mountain biking. Much more blood on the roads. But I never raced over the age of 18 and never a fast sprint crash like that. also when you race you see them and hear them happen around you all the time. First thing you learn, drummed into you, never touch the brakes in a group, as youngsters tend to slam the brakes and riders following a wheel will crash into the back of them immediately, nowhere to go. After a while being super careful about not braking in a group becomes second nature.

I remember lining along the side of the road as a junior (under 18) waiting for the under 16s to finish so we could start our race, it was a short fast loop, not quite a crit, but fast. Massive crash as the 16s sprinted home, somebody's handlebars hooked together and down they all went. One rider slid under a parked car and lost his front teeth. And we were all ten feet away, watching in the front row seats so to speak, feeling numb as f*ck as parents and race marshalls and first aid dealt with the carnage. Then we were all told to "line up lads quickly now, race about to start". Gulp!

That memory always sticks with me.

 

[stompandgo]

I've crashed at 45mph and ended up in a CAT scan machine. Just a broken collarbone. I was back racing in 6 weeks, no surgery.

The Giro is well known for dangerous courses. Expect more carnage as the race progresses.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I've crashed at 45mph and ended up in a CAT scan machine. Just a broken collarbone. I was back racing in 6 weeks, no surgery.

The Giro is well known for dangerous courses. Expect more carnage as the race progresses.

Also some riders are just prone to crashing whether through bike skills or out of position or whatever. Eddie Dunbar who finished 7th in the Giro in 2023 was lined up to lead Pinarello Q36.5 but didn't start yesterday - hasn't recovered from a crash in Paris Nice. His whole career has been blighted by crashes. It's such a shame, the Giro would have been his main aim this year and when he rides in good form he can climb with the best. Hopefully he'll be ok for the Vuelta or maybe even the Tour.

 

[stompandgo]

There are racers that have crashed, and racers that are going to crash. That's it. Anyone that has never crashed in their career was never up front enough to make a difference in the race.

 

[stompandgo]

Jonas looks miserable. No outside bibs today.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Jonas looks miserable. No outside bibs today.

Jesus just turned it on to catch this crash.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Adam Yates hurt, bad one.