Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
But this one operates perfectly well! No need.
Minor Races 2023 / 2024 Spoilers !
- Thread starter Adam4868
- Start date
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But this one operates perfectly well! No need.
bitsandbobs
Ăśber Member
First proper test in Vuelta Femenina. Vollering takes the win from AVV. Good to see AVV at the pointy end. She really looked out of sorts in the classics. Pleased for Vollering though. Really seems to have pushed on from last season when she sometimes seemed to lack the confidence to attack. She's the rider to beat right now.
Lots to look forward to though - bring on the climb up to Lagos de Covadonga!
Lots to look forward to though - bring on the climb up to Lagos de Covadonga!
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Today’s finish was incredible! Realini’s first WWT win! Than the victory given to van Vlueten! Then back to Realini! Bonkers!
bitsandbobs
Ăśber Member
Sdworkx not happy with other teams taking advantage of Vollerings stop for a pee break!
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
That did feel a little shady but also…it’s a race!!
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Fabulous end to the Vuelta! Fireworks! Incredible racing!
matticus
Guru
Is 7 stages a Grand Tour?
(Paris-Nice is 8)
🤷‍♀️
(Paris-Nice is 8)
🤷‍♀️
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Alas it is if you’re a woman! However they’re adding days every year at the moment so I’m hopeful it will increase in the future! If it’s any comfort, most women’s cycling fans feel a little odd calling it a grand tour for that reason but as it’s the women’s version of a men’s grand tour, so be it!
matticus
Guru
yeah, that's what I think. I guess I'm never comfortable Calling Things Something They're Not, even when there are good reasons.
If we have 20stage womens races at some point in the future, there will be endless debate about who has ACTUALLY won - say - "5 Grand Tours". Or "first Turkish Grand Tour winner" ... etc ..
Oh well.
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
I feel that at the moment, they are the grand tours within the women’s peloton so I’m fairly comfy calling them that due to the context. It’s only when you compare them to the men’s that it feels uncomfortable. I think this discomfort is inevitable whilst women’s cycling becomes more professional.
I’d also argue that women’s cycling (and even men’s cycling) doesn’t need a three week tour. Two weeks feels grand enough…I’ve always felt that three week tours are a little unnecessary. I don’t think women’s cycling has to mirror itself on the men’s sport….it’s new enough to take what works well for the men but reject what is inappropriate.
OP
OP
Adam4868
Guru
Three weeks because we want suffering ! It's all about endurance.Personally speaking im not for shortening any races.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
100% agree. The men's sport is burdened down by tradition and the opportunity is there to cherry pick the most useful bits. For example maybe over-long flat stages, with a pointless breakaway and sprint finish aren't the best entertainment, maybe a day poncing around drinking champagne and taking it easy isn't ideal sport who knows?
If they end up with their major multi stage races not being exactly 21 stages, or not being in Italy, Spain and France, (and not raced by men) ... who cares as long as they put on a good show?
That said, 7 stages isn't ideal, but it is what it is.
As to whether they are called Grand Tours* or not ... well, it'll give us something to talk about when there's nothing else happening and we have got bored with talking about chain lube I suppose.
* Edit: Grands Tours. Sorry, French pedants.
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Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Watching Demi and Annemiek yesterday, there was plenty of suffering but I take your point about the exhaustion that comes from three weeks of hard work. I'd agree you don't need to shorten the men's races, but there's no need to recreate a dinosaur in a new sport.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
A grand tour should be about endurance plus time trials and climbing various sized mountains. Add other disciplines if you wish, however, it must be hard, really hard.
Women are just as capable as men at endurance. Winner of TCR #7 was a German lass, Fiona Kolbinger. She only finished 4th last year in TCR #8. Three weeks racing seems reasonable to me for both sexes. Difficulty at the moment is that the women's peloton has a large quality gap, but this will close in time.
[For those who do not know, TCR is a self-supported across Europe race, over 4,500 km. This year it starts in Belgium, with checkpoints in Italy, Slovenia, Albania and Greece, finishing further away in Greece. No doubt there will be a thread in the TT, LD & E Forum.]
Women are just as capable as men at endurance. Winner of TCR #7 was a German lass, Fiona Kolbinger. She only finished 4th last year in TCR #8. Three weeks racing seems reasonable to me for both sexes. Difficulty at the moment is that the women's peloton has a large quality gap, but this will close in time.
[For those who do not know, TCR is a self-supported across Europe race, over 4,500 km. This year it starts in Belgium, with checkpoints in Italy, Slovenia, Albania and Greece, finishing further away in Greece. No doubt there will be a thread in the TT, LD & E Forum.]
matticus
Guru
Or as the Aussie pundits call them, Two-ers.
