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General Race Thread 2024 **spoilers**

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Comments

  • #782
    MangleBadger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 553 ✭✭✭MangleBadger


    Every year I have a different rider I would like to win. Last couple of years it was JV as I was a bit tired of Pog's dominance. Now I'm a bit tired of the Jonas dominance and Pog is just such a likeable personality.

    I like Remco. Don't think he can win.

    Not sure if he can win, but I would love to see Roglic do it. If not Rog, Pog.

    Wonder if he would then change his Worlds/Olympics plans to target the Vuelta for the triple crown.



  • #783
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,466 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    The Worlds would be the triple crown if he won the Tour as well!

    I don't Remco or Rog will win the tour unless something happens to Jonas and Pog. I suppose it already has happened with Jonas. I do like Rog, but seeing him put in trouble by never before GC men at the Dauphine has to be some cause for concern.



  • #784
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,036 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122244966#Comment_122244966
    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122245096#Comment_122245096

    There is always a disagreement on this but my understanding is that the Triple crown is the Tour, Giro and Worlds. Not sure the worlds suit him but what doesn't suit him still has him as better than everyone else in many scenarios. He could well do the Vuelta as well if the tour doesn't throw up an immense challenger to him.



  • #785
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122249337#Comment_122249337

    The Triple Crown is definitely Giro, Tour and Worlds.

    The Vuelta's current prestige is a new thing. Didn't switch to Autumn til the 90's and didn't even have a distinctive leaders jersey til 2010.



  • #786
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,036 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122249444#Comment_122249444

    I think it could be a language thing from a younger generation, maybe referring to them as the three grand tours, then someone hears triple or says triple and that's where the confusion comes from. Last man to do the triple crown was Roche. Pog probably deserves it but its nice to have Roche on such a short list of achievers.



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  • #787
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,984 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    Surely winning the 3 Grand Tours should be called the Grand Slam. Doesn't happen often enough to have garnered a proper label.

    *edit the Grand Slam refers to winning all of the tennis "Slams" if I recall correctly so of course in cycling it should be the Slam Grand.



  • #788
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252074#Comment_122252074

    We'll make it a thing. Before long everyone will be saying it.



  • #789
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,984 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252091#Comment_122252091

    Step one ask on the Lanterne Rouge podcast is Slam Grand the correct term. They'll automatically embrace it.

    By the by Bahrain get a stage win today for Gino. Hard to believe it's been a year. Yates looking pretty strong.



  • #790
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,036 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252130#Comment_122252130

    Ha, just seen the podcast on the train home where Benji had the same issue about the treble. 100%, a bit Trump like but if you say it with conviction, enough people will copy it, that by the time anyone fact checks, it will be the truth.



  • #791
    MangleBadger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 553 ✭✭✭MangleBadger


    I 100% guessed the triple crown would be the 3 GTs. But then I have only been following bike racing for 5ish years. But with my recency bias glasses on I would think it would be a much more impressive feat to win the 3 grand tours in a year than to win Giro, Tour, Worlds



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  • #792
    Paddigol
    Registered Users Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭Paddigol


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122253300#Comment_122253300

    This week really is the week for cans of worms isn't it?! 😂

    The Worlds is usually a pretty stacked field, whereas one of the Vuelta or Giro is usually missing a good few big names. The Giro is traditionally the bigger race of the two, so it gets the nod. But these days I think the Tour, Vuelta, Worlds is on a par with the Giro, Tour, Worlds.

    Only thing to do really is go Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Worlds. Over to you Pog.



  • #793
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122253300#Comment_122253300

    It's just because it used to be almost impossible to do the Giro and Vuelta. Of course Merckx had to come along and prove you could. In 73 he won the Vuelta and lined out a week later to win the Giro (4th in TdF that year)

    Some good info below. For instance I never knew only 8 riders have done a career Triple Crown.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Cycling

    Another reason the classic triple crown is more prestigious is it sort of shows you are multidisciplinary.

    I think in modern times with specialist riders what Pog is attempting with monument and GT doubles is far more impressive than GT doubles/triples.



  • #794
    Paddigol
    Registered Users Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭Paddigol


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122253357#Comment_122253357

    Yeah, that's a fair point on the modern overlap between Monuments and GTs. Wouldn't like to see the sport becoming too homogenous, where the main men are equally capable of winning on any terrain… I just kind of love the art of each separate discipline. But it's impressive as hell what some of the current generation are capable of doing.



  • #795
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,466 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252091#Comment_122252091

    Like "The Monuments". As we're going for cans of worms…



  • #796
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    Healy & Ryan still in the main group, 7k to go on the final climb on the 'Queen' stage in Slovenia



  • #797
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,494 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122249337#Comment_122249337

    yep. Until about 15 years ago the Vuelta was very much the ginger step child of the Grand Tours. Low budgets, poor fields and very much a consolation prize.

    Moving it to later in the year was a great idea. It’s made it a genuine event.

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




  • #798
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122262738#Comment_122262738

    Its own timeslot and the adopting of a distinct colour gave it an identity it was lacking.



  • #799
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    Yates and Almeida 1&2 again in Suisse, the 3rd stage in a row. Not bad super-doms/backups to have for Pog for the TDF.



  • #800
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Ben Healy won the final stage in the Tour of Slovenia. Ryan was 9th. Healy finished 7th overall.

    In a 2.2 race in Poland (Tour de Kurpie) Leo Doyle won the 5th stage today



  • #801
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,494 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    great win by Healy. Was by far the most aggressive rider today.

    Watched it in a Belgian frituur. Happy Father’s Day

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




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  • #802
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    they’ve been wrong in the past of course but for the first time Sam Bennett is listed in the provisional Decathlon squad for the Tour by PCS

    Ben Healy there for EF (and it seems he’s 100% going too)



  • #803
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Dunbar, Rafferty and Mullen the 3 senior pros doing the national TT championship.

    Healy the missing one, which points to his TDF inclusion of course



  • #804
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,494 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122269486#Comment_122269486

    Dunbar missing the tour as well so.

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




  • #805
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,494 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    Weird tour route. I actually don’t think there are enough high mountains to break Pogacar. There are plenty of hilly stages where Pogacar will take time


    https://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




  • #806
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    to be fair Eddie was never a contender for the Tour. Giro injury might have changed his team plans but he was down for that and the Vuelta



  • #807
    Ceepo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,683 ✭✭✭Ceepo


    I know it's a thing for riders doing the TdF not to ride the national champs. But why is a thing.? I have seen many other countries national champs riding in the TdF



  • #808
    dahat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,812 ✭✭✭✭dahat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122271758#Comment_122271758

    Team instructions I’d say.



  • #809
    Ceepo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,683 ✭✭✭Ceepo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122271767#Comment_122271767

    I do kinda understand the reason, but still you would see other national champs racing



  • #810
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Most teams just don't care about having the Irish champion and none of our riders are powerful enough to pull rank over it.

    Not every jersey is worth the same at the end of the day.



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  • #811
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Logistics too. Some of the teams have decent sized squads at some races so have support staff etc. When it finishes they’re likely on a train and back at their HQ that night.

    Bit different for us.

    First championship Healy has missed since 2018 (when he was 17?).

    2019 - 8th

    2020 - winner

    2021 - 7th

    2022 - 3rd

    2023 - winner



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