What has changed in Pro Cycling

ddraver
ddraver Posts: 26,695
edited February 2016 in Pro race
So I was watching this video off of GCN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJw_7swJ8nk - and some of the answers were quite interesting. I think Greg Henderson's point about the speed stages were ridden at is particularly interesting and Ross Tucker could do with listening to all the riders talking about how much more developed the training is now.

So I was wondering what we think from the nerdy fan point of view (nerdy enough to post about it on a forum at least) - What do you think has changed th emost in Pro Cycling over the last decade or however long you ve been watching

(Can we take Radios and Powermeters as hatched and dispatched please? Been there (too often), done that (to the point we re sick of it))
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver
«13

Comments

  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    The most obvious one for me is lead out trains - having followed since 2008. At least for a couple of years it was Highroad controlling it and a couple of other pods of 3 or 4 riders from different teams trying to get their sprinter to Cavendish's wheel.

    I absolutely love watching sprints from a long way out when you start to see how the teams now try to bury each others lead outs before it even becomes a battle of the sprinters. I find it fascinating, now it seems that the idea is to leave it late rather than control things from a long way out
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    Sprint trains would have been exactly what I went for too Jens...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Over what time period?
    _
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Even though you said 'no radios' I think we'll see a bit of a difference in .HC and .1 races this year with their use. A bit more controlled and less anarchic perhaps.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    ddraver wrote:
    Sprint trains would have been exactly what I went for too Jens...

    Sprint trains have been around since at least Freddy Maertens, surely? Saeco under Cipo had a pretty good one too.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    Yes, true, but they ve changed in "style" is what I meant
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Over what time period?

    whevs, it's only for fun...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Obligatory helmet use, the demise of genuine in-team strife, Dutch people no longer win anything, Italian cycling is now outsourced, Giancarlo Feretti isn't involved.

    I'll tell you what hasn't changed. The same moaning and whining year in year out about how the season needs "a narrative" and the "size of the cake"
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Ruinous ultra-specialisation for GT show-ponies, infiltration by management consultants, and the Road to Hell Olympic narrative wrecking BC rider's careers.

    Otherwise it's in fine fettle as the only authentic sport left on planet earth.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Macaloon wrote:
    Ruinous ultra-specialisation for GT show-ponies, infiltration by management consultants, and the Road to Hell Olympic narrative wrecking BC rider's careers.

    Otherwise it's in fine fettle as the only authentic sport left on planet earth.

    Before Olympic success the number of British riders having a career on the road at the top level could have been counted on one hand.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    Obligatory helmet use, the demise of genuine in-team strife, Dutch people no longer win anything, Italian cycling is now outsourced, Giancarlo Feretti isn't involved.

    I'll tell you what hasn't changed. The same moaning and whining year in year out about how the season needs "a narrative" and the "size of the cake"

    So much this.
    _
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Macaloon wrote:
    Infiltration by management consultants.
    If there is ever a serial killer who targets management consultants, I'll know where to look ;-)
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Macaloon wrote:
    Infiltration by management consultants.
    If there is ever a serial killer who targets management consultants, I'll know where to look ;-)


    Its niche for sure. And Management Consultant Killer doesnt have the same ring as the Zodiac Killer.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    I don't think I've ever met a management consultant.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Macaloon wrote:
    Infiltration by management consultants.
    If there is ever a serial killer who targets management consultants, I'll know where to look ;-)


    Its niche for sure. And Management Consultant Killer doesnt have the same ring as the Zodiac Killer.

    Furthermore I am a little concerned, being located not far from one of the country's biggest firms. I tunnel my way out of my building every night for fear of being caught in any Maca-generated crossfire
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    I don't think I've ever met a management consultant.


    Oh, they don't ADMIT to it
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Nah, Maca is all about the reduction of collateral damage. He'd use a 50 cal sniper rifle.
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    I don't think I've ever met a management consultant.


    Oh, they don't ADMIT to it

    Takes the heat off people in FS I guess...
    _
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    I don't think I've ever met a management consultant.


    Oh, they don't ADMIT to it

    Takes the heat off people in FS I guess...
    Ah, everyone is gunning for them ;-)
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    DSs controlling the tactics / calling the shots. Seems too much is done from the team car rather than the rider deciding to attack
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    sherer wrote:
    DSs controlling the tactics / calling the shots. Seems too much is done from the team car rather than the rider deciding to attack

    Defence calls Lomme Driessens, Cyrille Guimard and Peter Post yer honour.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    sherer wrote:
    DSs controlling the tactics / calling the shots. Seems too much is done from the team car rather than the rider deciding to attack

    Defence calls Lomme Driessens, Cyrille Guimard and Peter Post yer honour.



    THIS
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Training is the big one. Riders used to have to find their own coaches. A team might furnish them with a doctor's phone number at best. Now big teams have a team of coaches, DSs, nutritionists etc in contact daily. Also the old school autocratic DS is largely gone.

    Riders are fit all year round. Betancur is now the exception not the rule. And this is partly due to....

    ....Properly thought out race programmes. Sky announced their Giro team in January this year. They most likely know their Tour team too. In the past the star may have a set programme but form dictated other race selections.

    Things that haven't changed: The French. An isolationist bunch who haven't moved on since Cyrille Guimard.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Quick clarification for any law enforcement/intelligence agencies monitoring the open web. I have no beef with the girls and boys KPMG etc. in their corporate habitat. I only get the balaclava on when they masquerade as a high priests of games, despoiling the sacred temples of my sport.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    RichN95 wrote:

    Things that haven't changed: The French. An isolationist bunch who haven't moved on since Cyrille Guimard.

    That's not strictly true... They found an alternative model in the 1990s but it was legislated out of existence. Interfering government, always stepping on the entrepreneur!
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Attire has changed a lot.

    Look how baggy Armstrong's jersies were.
    _
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Macaloon wrote:
    Quick clarification for any law enforcement/intelligence agencies monitoring the open web. I have no beef with the girls and boys KPMG etc. in their corporate habitat. I only get the balaclava on when they masquerade as a high priests of games, despoiling the sacred temples of my sport.

    giphy.gif
    _
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    edited February 2016
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Macaloon wrote:
    Infiltration by management consultants.
    If there is ever a serial killer who targets management consultants, I'll know where to look ;-)
    It will be like Seven with Macaloon killing the consultants according to a management cliche. For example a body is found inside a locked box, exception the brain which is outside, literally thinking outside the box.
    Dave Brailsford will be fed rice over a series of days until he explodes - killed by marginal grains.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Attire has changed a lot.

    Look how baggy Armstrong's jersies were.

    lance-armstrong-wins-tour-de-france.jpg
    _
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    Macaloon wrote:
    Quick clarification for any law enforcement/intelligence agencies monitoring the open web. I have no beef with the girls and boys KPMG etc. in their corporate habitat. I only get the balaclava on when they masquerade as a high priests of games, despoiling the sacred temples of my sport.


    I got very messy with some balaclava once. Too sweet for my tooth

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