Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

[stompandgo]

O'Brien will be at the race I'm working this weekend. I won't be with him, though. I'll be in another field.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Essentially, it's selective tactical apathy.

Great phrase! Sounds like they've been taking lessons from my dog.

This thread could be a book on how to watch pro bike racing. Really appreciate all the insights, guys. Such a subtle sport under the hood.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Happy to see WVA get his well-deserved stage at the Vuelta today. Ditto for Skjelmose getting back into the top 10 after such a bad day yesterday.

Great admiration for Mas rising to the opportunity after Tadej's crash-out, but still pulling for underdog Roglic overall.

Tadej's home now after a successful collar bone repair.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Happy to see WVA get his well-deserved stage at the Vuelta today. Ditto for Skjelmose getting back into the top 10 after such a bad day yesterday.

Great admiration for Mas rising to the opportunity after Tadej's crash-out, but still pulling for underdog Roglic overall.

Tadej's home now after a successful collar bone repair.

Mas doing what is needed. Every second on these mountains is vital, and not enough yet to be safe. Yesterday got 25 seconds with enormous effort. Psychologically it was bigger, Gall and Roglic again had no answer. But watch Roglic he is still conserving energy most of the day, only expending in that last 10km to try and limit the time and even then using Gall and Decathlon as a shield, not much taking a turn, keep sheltered to gamble everything on next Thursday. Mas has 3 big mountain top finishes left; tomorrow and next Friday and Sat. That means he can try and gain max time on Roglic tomorrow and have 3 days to recover before TT. Sunday is mountains as well but not the finish, then after the rest day 2 flatish days. The gamble will be not to go too deep on the TT because with 2 big mountains after it, if he can limit the damage even if he loses Red, he still gets 2 shots to claw it back. All things considered of course. I bet Movistar will see how he fares tomorrow. If Roglic cracks on the final climb tomorrow, then it might be in the bag. If not then it's going to be very tight.

Lovely for Van Aert & Brennan. That young Belgian Widar is popping up everywhere, 4th yesterday. He's definitely someone to watch. As is that 20 yaer old Slovenian who took the big mountain stage yesterday in his first grand tour, Omrzel, winner of the under 23 Giro last year. The next Pog?

Carapaz, jeez he never gives up. If cyclists had rear view mirrors he'd be permanently in it, rocking back and forth, constantly gaining on you!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Another impressive win for WVA in today's Stage 14 of the 2026 Vuelta — this time from a breakaway. Go Wout! GC top 10 unchanged.

Vuelta rest day tomorrow (Monday), TT with potential GC impact on Thursday.

Worlds in Montreal coming up, with mens elite road race on the final day, August 27, exactly 3 weeks away. Unfortunately, live in the US only via FloBikes.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

The last week of this Vuelta will be brutal. On today's rest day the chess head scratching within Bora and Movistar will be intense.

Roglic is 2.10 behind. On a flat 36km TT course he could snatch the red. He is an impressive vastly experienced time trialer and bluntly Mas is not great. Estimates are he can win or come close.

But that's not the end of the race. Friday and Sat are enormous mountain stages. This makes the head scratching for Roglic complicated. He might take Red on Thursday but he might have to empty the tank to do it, the TT is dead flat and the raw power needed could drain him. The next morning he's back in the saddle and having to defend the race lead from Mas attacks at altitude. And the same the following day. So he needs a measured approach in the TT not kill himself, but will that be enough?

Conversely, Roglic has carefully protected his strength, no attacks, rode within himself all tour only responding and going above the limit for the final 10km each mountain day. Mas has had to attack and attack day after exhausting day to extend the buffer and he's been magnificent. But how tired is he heading into the final crucial stages? And if he empties the tank on the TT just to keep Roglic back or within sight, can he then attack him in the mountains?

Another deadly factor. Yesterday Brennan complained to organisers of riding in the 44c heat, even though the stage was curtailed. This week's forecast is for the heat to continue, a bit lower but still the same heat wave. The TT faces 33/34c - while riding in a tucked & still aero position, giving it max power - dangerous for core temperatures. Then Friday and Sat climb to 37c . At the end of an exhausting competitive Grand Tour how both riders (and organisers) deal with the heat throws another element into the mix.

I think Mas has pole position, but so many variables.

 

[Nomadmax]

They could partially solve the heat problem by starting stages before one in the afternoon. That's one of the reasons the Vuelta is third in a three in three horse grand tour race. I get it, it's all about having the stages to finish during prime TV time in Spain. But what's it gonna take? Somebody to die of heatstroke or have a fatal crash because they were in a state heat delirium?

 

[Rás Cnoic]

They could partially solve the heat problem by starting stages before one in the afternoon. That's one of the reasons the Vuelta is third in a three in three horse grand tour race.

Yeah though same issues came up in this year's Tour with even Pog publicly suggesting early morning starts, like 5am. Prudhomme immediately dismissed this. They need their live TV rights and stage finish towns spend a fortune to host the tour, they want people on the streets.

I don't think they can ignore rider safety much longer. The Tour & Vuelta are slapbang in the hottest 2 months and climate change is not going away. Something has to give.

I find it hard to ride up a hill on a still hot day of say 26c so god knows how they climb a mountain - while racing - at 44c. Bonkers.

Perhaps they need hydration breaks like at the World Cup! A bonanza for advertisers... Prudhomme might suddenly see the light.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

But what's it gonna take? Somebody to die of heatstroke or have a fatal crash because they were in a state heat delirium?

I'm also very worried about the heat. Maybe Pog could use his immense stature and half-season off to lobby for a reasonable accommodation.

Crazy idea: They build gantries over the route for km and sprint markers all the time. How about adding more with water misters at key points where the water on the road wouldn't be a hazard.

The riders would go through like a car wash but at speed. Supply the water from a tank truck and trigger the mist with a sensor across the road meters before.

 

[BlackHand]

Moviestar has done a decent job supporting Mas. If they can get riders up the road to give him a boost on the final climbs that could be the difference.

I haven't seen Red Bull show any real ability to support Roglic once the road starts pointing up.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Moviestar has done a decent job supporting Mas. If they can get riders up the road to give him a boost on the final climbs that could be the difference.

I haven't seen Red Bull show any real ability to support Roglic once the road starts pointing up.

Yeah bit odd that, or just not capable of helping at pointy end anymore. The team make up wasn't exactly stuffed with mountain domestiques.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

I'm also very worried about the heat. Maybe Pog could use his immense stature and half-season off to lobby for a reasonable accommodation.

Crazy idea: They build gantries over the route for km and sprint markers all the time. How about adding more with water misters at key points where the water on the road wouldn't be a hazard.

The riders would go through like a car wash but at speed. Supply the water from a tank truck and trigger the mist with a sensor across the road meters before.

O'Briens pub in Philadelphia did just that on the circuit of the Classic last weekend! A big mister hanging over the street outside the pub soaking all the riders as they came through!

 

[Rás Cnoic]

 

[Nomadmax]

Moviestar has done a decent job supporting Mas. If they can get riders up the road to give him a boost on the final climbs that could be the difference.

I haven't seen Red Bull show any real ability to support Roglic once the road starts pointing up.

Word on the street is Roglic is getting bounced from Red Bull/Bora.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Ha, I'm famous! Dan Lloyd's weekly GCN Racing Show is my favorite source of racing news and analysis, and he just read my comment on Tadej's departure from the Vuelta on air at 8:50 below:

We've been discussing Tadej's impact on the excitement for some time here on EBR. And no surprise, the same debate came up (again) in Dan's last episode. He said that "witnessing greatness" was enough for him personally, and I agreed.

Which just goes to show that sucking up still pays.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

We interrupt your scheduled Vuelta viewing...

...to bring you some rather nice road bike/gravel bling from the Italian Bike Festival introduced by the ever irrepressible Shoddy Dave:

PS another great Brennan win, Stage 4 for him, 6 for Visma in total, and chapeau to his relatively unknown leadout man - this Van Aert youngster should go far.