The Vikings are HERE! Be afraid. *possible spoilers* *definite pillaging *

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  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Has Dan Roan gained wood yet?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Soz for derailing the thread.

    In more exciting news, Mads has resigned for Trek (on presumably on much more wedge).
    _
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    rick_chasey said:

    Soz for derailing the thread.

    In more exciting news, Mads has resigned for Trek (on presumably on much more wedge).

    Yeah, he seems happy there. I imagine there are large wodges of notes coming his way.
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  • coopster_the_1st
    coopster_the_1st Posts: 5,158
    The men's Team Pursuit squad :open_mouth:
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    coopster_the_1st said:

    The men's Team Pursuit squad :open_mouth:

    Beat me to it! 3 world records and the gold. They're flying!
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  • coopster_the_1st
    coopster_the_1st Posts: 5,158
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    coopster_the_1st said:

    The men's Team Pursuit squad :open_mouth:

    Beat me to it! 3 world records and the gold. They're flying!
    After that performance in the final the only way they can lose in Tokyo is if they tear themselves apart
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    coopster_the_1st said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    coopster_the_1st said:

    The men's Team Pursuit squad :open_mouth:

    Beat me to it! 3 world records and the gold. They're flying!
    After that performance in the final the only way they can lose in Tokyo is if they tear themselves apart
    Italy were only 3 tenths slower and closing rapidly, so it's not a complete cert.

    As a side note, the Berlin track is producing ridiculously fast times.
    The Dutch men's sprint took half a second off the old WR set at Aguascalientes, where so many records have been set.
    Indeed, my niece's UK record for the flying 200m was set there. That was broken today as 30 out of 33 women broke 11 seconds in sprint qualification.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.
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  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.

    I know, it's a head scratcher.
    Must be that everybody are using extra, extra round wheels. o:)
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.

    Air pressure?
    _
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.

    Air pressure?
    Three areas of low pressure spread over Europe, so it is definitely a factor.
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    andyp said:

    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.

    Air pressure?
    Three areas of low pressure spread over Europe, so it is definitely a factor.
    but got to be more than that surely ? team GB set a time in qualifying that was nearly their own 2016 OR/WR pace, I dont recall anyone in the past 4 years (though Ive not checked tbf but youd think if teams were it would be a thing) hitting near that to suggest the WR was significantly under threat, yet here we are.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    awavey said:

    andyp said:

    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    How come the Berlin track is so quick? It's not like it's a new track, it's got polyfilla all over it.

    Air pressure?
    Three areas of low pressure spread over Europe, so it is definitely a factor.
    but got to be more than that surely ? team GB set a time in qualifying that was nearly their own 2016 OR/WR pace, I dont recall anyone in the past 4 years (though Ive not checked tbf but youd think if teams were it would be a thing) hitting near that to suggest the WR was significantly under threat, yet here we are.
    The sprint team broke their 2016 OR/WR but were still over a second slower than the Dutch boys.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,601
    Everyone riding bikes seems to be doing it very fast this year (apart from Ineos and CCC)
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    Good read that, cheers. Telling comment that the DK head coach reckons 3:42 is required for a medal in Tokyo - another 2.5 seconds off just to get a bronze...
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    Essentially everyone does two turns. The kilo style rider leads off with a big turn (and drops out after his second), then two sprinter/lead out types do theirs followed by the Ganna style monster who does the last kilo on his own as the others hang on. It used to be just the four best pursuit riders. A team with both Wiggins and Thomas wouldn't make sense anymore.

    I reckon Italy could really push them.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,601
    edited February 2020
    RichN95. said:

    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    Essentially everyone does two turns. The kilo style rider leads off with a big turn (and drops out after his second), then two sprinter/lead out types do theirs followed by the Ganna style monster who does the last kilo on his own as the others hang on. It used to be just the four best pursuit riders. A team with both Wiggins and Thomas wouldn't make sense anymore.

    I reckon Italy could really push them.
    Its interesting how it changes. Mark Cavendish described it as something like doing sprint intervals only a few years ago.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • poppit
    poppit Posts: 926
    The Danes have changed their pacing and positioning. The frightening thing is that they reckon they are without their strongest rider as he’s injured, and they aren’t maxed out on kit as they’re using the old bikes, ss skinsuits and standard extensions.
    Eddy Merckx EMX-3
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    RichN95. said:

    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    Essentially everyone does two turns. The kilo style rider leads off with a big turn (and drops out after his second), then two sprinter/lead out types do theirs followed by the Ganna style monster who does the last kilo on his own as the others hang on. It used to be just the four best pursuit riders. A team with both Wiggins and Thomas wouldn't make sense anymore.

    I reckon Italy could really push them.
    When Italy lost to Denmark in the semi, they'd ridden what would have been a new world record, breaking the time Denmark had set in the previous round. The problem for them was that the record had just been broken again, 0.31 seconds before they crossed the line. Must sting a bit to know you just rode faster than anybody has ever ridden before, with the exception of the team across the track from you.

    New Zealand also beat the previous WR from the 2019 World Champs.
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  • coopster_the_1st
    coopster_the_1st Posts: 5,158
    RichN95. said:

    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    Essentially everyone does two turns. The kilo style rider leads off with a big turn (and drops out after his second), then two sprinter/lead out types do theirs followed by the Ganna style monster who does the last kilo on his own as the others hang on. It used to be just the four best pursuit riders. A team with both Wiggins and Thomas wouldn't make sense anymore.

    I reckon Italy could really push them.
    Denmark have a 2 second buffer over Italy based on times ridden this week. How hard did they ride in the semi to beat Italy if they had enough left in the tank to back it up in the final and go 1.6s faster? Despite trying, Italy did not go faster than their semi time.

    I do agree Italy are the Danes closes rivals though, especially when they have Ganna in the team but based on this week the Danes are going to be able to go relatively easier to get to the final as they have such a gap over the other teams they will come up against. Italy will also work harder in qualifying so that they qualify 2nd/3rd to avoid the Danes in the semis like this week.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    Asgreen Vikings the entire peloton to death in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne
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  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    What's up with Pedersen? Was over 9 minutes down yesterday, and then finishes over 6 minutes down today.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    I see Morkov still won the Madison despite having to spend time in the lurgy zone.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    RichN95. said:

    I see Morkov still won the Madison despite having to spend time in the lurgy zone.

    Yep. Lasse Norman Hansen apparently not worried about shaking hands with him.
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  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Asgreen Vikings the entire peloton to death in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne

    There's something about this race that lends itself to this. 3 of the last 5 have seen solo riders hold off the peloton.

    The peloton was breaking up quite often under not much impetus so I got the sense that although the group was big there wasn't actually much power in the bunch to chase a committed attacker.
    _
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Asgreen Vikings the entire peloton to death in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne

    There's something about this race that lends itself to this. 3 of the last 5 have seen solo riders hold off the peloton.

    The peloton was breaking up quite often under not much impetus so I got the sense that although the group was big there wasn't actually much power in the bunch to chase a committed attacker.
    I honestly haven't paid much attention to it until recently, used to be a bit "sprinty" for my tastes. Feels like they've maybe made it tough enough now that it's hard for the sprinters and their rouleurs can't chase as hard as they could. Seems like a decent balance. This early in the season there's probably quite a wide variation in form as well. The big names don't want to peak for another month yet.
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  • m.r.m.
    m.r.m. Posts: 3,475
    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Asgreen Vikings the entire peloton to death in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne

    There's something about this race that lends itself to this. 3 of the last 5 have seen solo riders hold off the peloton.

    The peloton was breaking up quite often under not much impetus so I got the sense that although the group was big there wasn't actually much power in the bunch to chase a committed attacker.
    Was that the case when Kittel/Cavendish were in their prime? Maybe there is a lack of a big dog sprinter currently. I'd have thought Groenewegen fits the bill, but maybe Jumbo's focus has shifted entirely to Roglic/Dumoulin.
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    andyp said:

    Some interesting background in the comments below this article over on cyclingtips from Danish cycling fans about how the team approach the team pursuit;

    https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/denmark-smashes-mens-team-pursuit-world-record-for-third-time-in-two-days/

    Essentially, the model now is to minimise changeovers and get ultra long stints from the lead off rider, who does 3 laps for the Danes, and the final rider, who does 4 laps.

    though tbf thats not a new idea different from what other teams have been doing previously Team GB, certainly Jo Rowsell was, doing multi lap long leadouts back at the last Olympics to go deep & long and then you pull off sooner vs a traditional shorter stint changeover ride if you like

    but I think its determined by what your riders strengths are, rather than a tactic in of itself that makes you go quicker.

    the problem is you never get to see the proper analysis of the UK rides in the media as its all tied up in knots about how many gold medals they will or wont win because of it.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    m.r.m. said:

    rick_chasey said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Asgreen Vikings the entire peloton to death in Kuurne Brussels Kuurne

    There's something about this race that lends itself to this. 3 of the last 5 have seen solo riders hold off the peloton.

    The peloton was breaking up quite often under not much impetus so I got the sense that although the group was big there wasn't actually much power in the bunch to chase a committed attacker.
    Was that the case when Kittel/Cavendish were in their prime? Maybe there is a lack of a big dog sprinter currently. I'd have thought Groenewegen fits the bill, but maybe Jumbo's focus has shifted entirely to Roglic/Dumoulin.
    No not really. Has often been one for the classics specialist rather than the sprinter.
    _

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