Tom! Pidcock!

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Alpinum
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Alpinum »

htrider wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:05 pm More cycling mayhem
Vid of what Alpinum was talking about - https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/jola ... e-incident
Just read it. The tech riding capabilities are definately required to be on a very high level. FP is very strong, but as soon as things get really difficult, she's tge rider steuggling most in the front part of the field. Years ago Schurter would always shine on tech sections, he still does, but he's not the only one anymore. Other have lifted their game and in my point of view made racing more fun to watch. Which is what that machinery (and riders) wants.
htrider wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:05 pm And looks like Tom Pidcock is doing the vuelta :-bd
Any info on what his plans are for the XCO world cups? I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in this field and he once said he's a mtb'er at heart. Also if it means that the Swiss riders see less gold. May the better rider win.
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Bearlegged
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Bearlegged »

All except for one did what they were meant to do to not crash - jump.
All except for two. MVDP crashed, pretty much all the rest of the field jumped it, but Schurter absolutely sent that drop, every lap.
mattpage
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by mattpage »

Alpinum wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:03 pm
Yeah... not a fan of FP.
I think that is a bit harsh. She is technically not as competent as Neff, or many of the others but physically she has the edge for the climbs and uses that to her advantage. She has every right to get in front on the climbs and take the descents at her pace, not the pace others might be able to tackle them at.

Assuming this was not done in a way to impede others, which I do not believe it was, and watching the footage she didn't completely stall at the top. This happened on the first lap and many will have been cautious.

It is frustrating as hell when it happens, but that is racing.
Lazarus
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Lazarus »

There was only one person who made a mess, it was van der Poel. Blaming others for his own mistake and with his leverage is poor show.
Bit harsh there as he has just had his olympic dream shattered by a ramp that was there in practice not being there for the race - which is agaunst UCI rules.

as for slow descenders annoying but its race so they are not going to just let you pass them.
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Richard G
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Richard G »

Seen a lot of riders at events get annoyed because a "slower" rider was in their way on the descents, and my feeling on it will always be the same... should have been quicker on the ups then.

I've lost count of the number of times some lardarse has been in my way on a singletrack climb. You either work out a safe way to get past, or you use it as a chance to recover a bit and spend the energy later.
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Alpinum
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Alpinum »

mattpage wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:46 pm
Alpinum wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:03 pm
Yeah... not a fan of FP.
I think that is a bit harsh. She is technically not as competent as Neff, or many of the others but physically she has the edge for the climbs and uses that to her advantage. She has every right to get in front on the climbs and take the descents at her pace, not the pace others might be able to tackle them at.

Assuming this was not done in a way to impede others, which I do not believe it was, and watching the footage she didn't completely stall at the top. This happened on the first lap and many will have been cautious.

It is frustrating as hell when it happens, but that is racing.
Please read my comments again. I agree, she is fun to watch when it's about breaking away on a climb or sprint to the finish. She has many well deserved wins. Where did I state FP braking on the drop was a shady move? I didn't write it nor did I mean it. FP has been pulling shady moves since... I can remember, she showed an elbow or two during the olympic race, nothing too special one might think. But then she really is the only rider (female and male field). Regarding the drop incident I believe it was Neff's own mistake. I too believe it to be fair game to power up the climbs, enter descends first and dictate the race like that. Neff should've kept some distance. In all those years chasing FP she must know how sketchy she rides and give some room.

If Neff isn't happy with racing like that, she has to break out, ride her own race (which is what she enjoys most apparently) in her own rhythm. This time round it came all together for her.

May the stronger rider win.
Lazarus wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 3:01 pm Bit harsh there as he has just had his olympic dream shattered by a ramp
Not really the ramps fault. I find it harsh how a famous person like him blames folks for a mistake he made. Again, he was the only to crash there in the whole field. Why do you think this is? Team members, coaches etc. apparently have told vdP about the changes. He simply forgot (easy to appreciate, given the pressure he put himself under).
Considering vdP won't be reading my comment in this forum he likely won't know nowt about, I believe he doesn't give much about how harsh my words are...
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fatbikephil
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by fatbikephil »

Alpinum wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:29 pm
htrider wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:05 pm And looks like Tom Pidcock is doing the vuelta :-bd
Any info on what his plans are for the XCO world cups? I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in this field and he once said he's a mtb'er at heart. Also if it means that the Swiss riders see less gold. May the better rider win.
No but my info source is Cycling weekly so not much use. Matt'll know!
I guess road racing (especially with ineos) will earn him big bucks so maybe do that for a bit and then do mtbing thereafter? Dunno just speculating. Ineos have never made much of the classics so maybe they'll filed him for those. Wonder if he'll take up bikepacking??
Richard G wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 5:06 pm Seen a lot of riders at events get annoyed because a "slower" rider was in their way on the descents, and my feeling on it will always be the same... should have been quicker on the ups then.

I've lost count of the number of times some lardarse has been in my way on a singletrack climb. You either work out a safe way to get past, or you use it as a chance to recover a bit and spend the energy later.
You need to do SSUK - overtaking procedure = "Excuse me can I possibly get past at a time and place that is convenient for you?". " why certainly, off you go". "cheers!"
Taylor
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Taylor »

I've seen comments about the ramp must be there in the race if it is during practice according to UCI rules, is it run by the UCI or is it run by the Olympic gravy train and has its own rules?
mattpage
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by mattpage »

Taylor wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 9:06 pm I've seen comments about the ramp must be there in the race if it is during practice according to UCI rules, is it run by the UCI or is it run by the Olympic gravy train and has its own rules?
UCI rules apply. The same goes for other sports, Swimming for example is FINA, triathlon run under ITF rules.
mattpage
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by mattpage »

htrider wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:49 pm
Alpinum wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:29 pm
htrider wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:05 pm And looks like Tom Pidcock is doing the vuelta :-bd
Any info on what his plans are for the XCO world cups? I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in this field and he once said he's a mtb'er at heart. Also if it means that the Swiss riders see less gold. May the better rider win.
No but my info source is Cycling weekly so not much use. Matt'll know!
I don't know for certain, but I doubt he will do another WC this year. I would suspect he will be down for the road, then a short break before doing the latter half of the World Cup and World Champs CX season.

Next year, who knows. I suspect he only tried to do enough to get a qualification to the Olympics, which almost didn't happen.
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by pistonbroke »

I think the road now beckons, reported elsewhere that he's been selected to ride the Vuelta supporting Adam Yates. Race starts in just over 2 weeks in Burgos and the first week runs through the area used by the Spanish Divide, just planning a few days watching. Busy dusting down the mankini.
Lazarus
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Lazarus »

Not really the ramps fault.
I think we can all agree on that . however, as stated under UCI rules if its there during practice it ought to be there during the race. Even if we acceptt he error is his alone its not unreasonable to suggest this helped confuse him and could and should have been avoided. Its also not hard to see why a rider, who hoped for a gold and crashed out with a silly errror, when questioned ,may blurt out an emotional answer.
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Alpinum
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Alpinum »

Alpinum wrote: Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:58 pm In interviews (I know... questionable how much can be told about a person from only seeing them talk in post race interviews) he always came across as a nice guy. He must have been very frustrated and not himself shortly after the race.
Lazarus wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:23 pm Its also not hard to see why a rider, who hoped for a gold and crashed out with a silly errror, when questioned ,may blurt out an emotional answer.
Absolutely.

Had a chat last yesterday with a former mechanic of a professional mtb team and two other mates, all are into mtb racing and follow it closely. What was interesting is that they all commented on Neff to always have been super fair and diplomatic when things got messy. Neff dropping that bomb despite her gold medal must mean there's more going on. The cameras don't show everything.
Pure speculation obviously. Biased too.

One suggested that the frustration could've fuelled the effort Neff took to gain such a gap.

Perhaps Neff and Ferran-Prévot are a bit like Batman and Joker. Or Yin and Yang. :lol:
Scud
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by Scud »

I think fault lies with MvdP or his team, the ramp was clearly stated in the race handbook to be removed for the race, so someone didn't read it correctly and strange that every other racer knew to jump and not roll it before and after him?

Shame though to go out like that..

Clear divide in the time trial between those that did not race the Tour (or went home early) and those that rode whole thing and had the 3 weeks in their legs?
mattpage
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Re: Tom! Pidcock!

Post by mattpage »

Scud wrote: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:45 am Clear divide in the time trial between those that did not race the Tour (or went home early) and those that rode whole thing and had the 3 weeks in their legs?
Personally, I don't think so. Look at Carapaz, winning the RR and 3rd at the Tour.
What is different is the top 3 are all TT specialists and this would have been their major goal for the year. For Roglic a bit different, due to his crash I think he would have adjusted his training and goals to then peak for the Olympics. For others, it would have been a secondary goal I suspect.

If Pogacar were racing, I think he would have been right in the mix, up in the top 5.
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