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Unpopular Pro Race Opinions

rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,653 Lives Here
edited August 2020 in Pro race
As requested by BB.

A couple to kick off with:
rick_chasey said:

My unpopular opinion here is that the much ridiculed sock rule is a good rule as it stops riders looking ridiculous, and I would even be in favour of making it shorter.

TheBigBean said:

Here's an unpopular opinion:

Strong teams in GTs are overrated. It's nearly always the guy with the best legs that wins.

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Posts

  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 19,917
    Sep Vanmarcke is the best cobbles rider since the retirement of Cancellara

    TTTs have no place no place GTs

    The vuelta has been, on average, the best GT of the year over last ten years or so. Froome has really helped with this.

    It would have been much better if Froome hadn't joined Sky

    Cavendish is not finished

    Movistar managed multiple team leaders reasonably well.

    Oh, and national jerseys...




  • ddraverddraver Posts: 26,242
    Totally with you on TTTs!

    Being a ski jumper has a negligible impact on your ability to descend on a road bike
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 25,854
    Agree on the TTTs and national jerseys. (I assume only worn if it is the jersey of the country(ies) where the race is taking place.)
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    edited August 2020
    kingstongraham said:

    Agree on the TTTs and national jerseys. (I assume only worn if it is the jersey of the country(ies) where the race is taking place.)


    I've banged the anti-national jerseys drum for a long time. I don't think it's that unpopular an opinion

    Another unpopular opinion: If he rode today Eddy Merckx would basically be a Belgian Vincenzo Nibali
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,653 Lives Here
    RichN95. said:

    kingstongraham said:

    Agree on the TTTs and national jerseys. (I assume only worn if it is the jersey of the country(ies) where the race is taking place.)


    I've banged the anti-national jerseys drum for a long time. I don't think it's that unpopular an opinion
    Is with me.
    _
  • Lanterne_RogueLanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    I suspect at this point it's probably a more unpopular opinion to suggest that some of the modern takes on the national jerseys look all right, actually.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,653 Lives Here
    Love a good national jersey.
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    When Marc De Maar turned up in the jersey for the champion of Curacao, they should have called a halt to the whole thing. It's not even a country it's a liqueur


    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,653 Lives Here
    I’d go even further and say there should be stricter rules on what National jersey is required like they do with the worlds champ.
    _
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 11,177
    I like a national Jersey too.

    I do think Curaçao is taking the mick a bit, but, well, he earned it.
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 25,854
    I can't imagine something similar in other team sports. The Barbarians wear different socks, but I can't think of any others.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,653 Lives Here
    TheBigBean said:

    Here's an unpopular opinion:

    Strong teams in GTs are overrated. It's nearly always the guy with the best legs that wins.

    2008 Tour de France says different.
    _
  • webboowebboo Posts: 6,057
    It is very easy to regulate a bunch sprint.
  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 19,917
    rick_chasey said:

    TheBigBean said:

    Here's an unpopular opinion:

    Strong teams in GTs are overrated. It's nearly always the guy with the best legs that wins.

    2008 Tour de France says different.
    Evans was better?
  • jam1ejam1e Posts: 1,065
    There are only 3 real monuments - Roubaix, Flanders & Strada Bianche.
  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 19,917
    jam1e said:

    There are only 3 real monuments - Roubaix, Flanders & Strada Bianche.

    That's an excellent contribution. There are some on here who regard strade bianche as a chipper.
  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 19,917
    RichN95. said:

    kingstongraham said:

    Agree on the TTTs and national jerseys. (I assume only worn if it is the jersey of the country(ies) where the race is taking place.)


    I've banged the anti-national jerseys drum for a long time. I don't think it's that unpopular an opinion

    Another unpopular opinion: If he rode today Eddy Merckx would basically be a Belgian Vincenzo Nibali
    His hour record stood the test of time though.
  • DeadCalmDeadCalm Posts: 4,099
    Are we talking unpopular on this site or unpopular with the cycling world in general?
    Team My Man 2022:

    Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
  • 50x1150x11 Posts: 408
    National jerseys should be controlled like WC is. Eg the pathetic efforts Movistar and Astana do should be banned.

    Contador is one of the least stylish (in terms of riding style) riders to have existed.

    Sep Vanmarke is vastly over rated.

    As cool as EF are in their alternative racing etc they're a waste of a WT license and it should be given to a team who want to race like Alpecin Fenix.

    Sagan is done in terms of dominance, and he's ruined the Green Jersey.

    Flanders, Roubaix, World Championship. Are the biggest races in cycling.
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    If Blood doping had disappeared after Festina, Armstrong would still have won the Tour (not 7 times)

    Peter Sagan is not a particularly interesting personality
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • m.r.m.m.r.m. Posts: 3,258
    TheBigBean said:

    Sep Vanmarcke is the best cobbles rider since the retirement of Cancellara

    Untrue. Gilbert won both Flanders and Roubaix since then.
    TheBigBean said:

    Cavendish is not finished

    I hope you're right, but it has been over 2 years since he has won on the road. He actually finally seems finished.
    TheBigBean said:

    Movistar managed multiple team leaders reasonably well.

    They won the team classification after all! :wink:
    The GT they actually won, they didn't really have that multiple leader thing as much. I think it was just Landa and Carapaz.

    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 11,177
    jam1e said:

    There are only 3 real monuments - Roubaix, Flanders & Strada Bianche.

    Amen brother
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    TheBigBean said:

    RichN95. said:



    His hour record stood the test of time though.


    Only because nobody serious bothered until Moser. And then they changed the rules and a scrapheap Boardman beat it with the first serious attempt.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • FreddieVonRostFreddieVonRost Posts: 261
    RichN95. said:

    If Blood doping had disappeared after Festina, Armstrong would still have won the Tour (not 7 times)

    I think Jan Ullrich would disagree with you.
    Not a Giro Hero!
  • FreddieVonRostFreddieVonRost Posts: 261
    And Pantani.
    Not a Giro Hero!
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    FreddieVonRost said:

    And Pantani.

    I’m pretty sure he won’t
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • FreddieVonRostFreddieVonRost Posts: 261
    RichN95. said:

    FreddieVonRost said:

    And Pantani.

    I’m pretty sure he won’t
    That much is obvious. Unless you can raise the dead.
    Not a Giro Hero!
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 27,112
    Oh, here’s a big one - Paris-Roubaix is better dry than wet. A bit of moisture is good, but proper mud, no
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • m.r.m.m.r.m. Posts: 3,258
    RichN95. said:

    Oh, here’s a big one - Paris-Roubaix is better dry than wet. A bit of moisture is good, but proper mud, no

    Don't think this qualifies. It's clearly better dry.
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • Mad_MalxMad_Malx Posts: 4,957
    TheBigBean said:

    jam1e said:

    There are only 3 real monuments - Roubaix, Flanders & Strada Bianche.

    That's an excellent contribution. There are some on here who regard strade bianche as a chipper.
    Roubaix is disappointing more often than not.
    Strade is the best one dayer.




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