2026 Races....Spoilers.

[Pross]

I had to remind myself that the final climb was 8% when Pogacar was breezing up it in the big ring.

There’s a lot being made of that but people seem to forget that the cassettes are also a lot bigger these days. A 53t on the front with a large sprocket at the back would be similar to being mid way up a 12-23 cassette with a 39t chainring back in the day e.g 53 x 23 is very close to 39 x 17.

 

[phreak]

There’s a lot being made of that but people seem to forget that the cassettes are also a lot bigger these days. A 53t on the front with a large sprocket at the back would be similar to being mid way up a 12-23 cassette with a 39t chainring back in the day e.g 53 x 23 is very close to 39 x 17.

He did average about 22kmh, which would be doable on the big ring in most casettes.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Martinez had been riding hard in a break, Pog had to ride hard for the final 8km. A 2 minute lead often evaporates over a climb like that.

True but all the same it was a pretty depressing sight. For a while the gap was holding and I had vague hopes that Pog had misjudged it and there might be the merest sniff of jeopardy. Maybe the line would even be in sight when he was caught...? But no.

And the commentators did note how Martinez wasn't working in the break.

 

[Dorset Boy]

The time gaps were all over the shop yesterday, and for most of the race, often changing by 30 seconds or more suddenly.

 

[mrushton]

Apparently he has been fined for inappropriate dress in the finishing area.
I have visions of a basque and fish nets stockings.

Prob something on OnlyFans for you!!

 

[mrushton]

There’s a lot being made of that but people seem to forget that the cassettes are also a lot bigger these days. A 53t on the front with a large sprocket at the back would be similar to being mid way up a 12-23 cassette with a 39t chainring back in the day e.g 53 x 23 is very close to 39 x 17.

Think he rides a 54 but the rear is probably 11-32. Also he is quite a few kilos lighter than us and has some pedigree. A lot of the pros do ride big ring and low end of the cassette.

 

[Pross]

Think he rides a 54 but the rear is probably 11-32. Also he is quite a few kilos lighter than us and has some pedigree. A lot of the pros do ride big ring and low end of the cassette.

Yep, I remember seeing one of the pros big ringing up The Tumble in the early 90s when they would have been on something like 53 x 19 and thinking they were superhuman. These days they can be in the big ring and using something way smaller than that. 54 x 27 is the same as the smallest gear I used to have (42 x 21)

 

[Dogtrousers]

I remember reading an interview with a team mechanic who said that big-big was very popular with pros who like to avoid changing rings until it's absolutely necessary. Presumably because the double change is faff they can do without.

 

[Milzy]

I remember reading an interview with a team mechanic who said that big-big was very popular with pros who like to avoid changing rings until it's absolutely necessary. Presumably because the double change is faff they can do without.

Then just go 1x with a large rear cassette.

 

[gsk82]

Big big is just more efficient.

 

[TomDW]

Célia Gery is definitely one to watch. She's just won France national championships , she's only 20.

 

[mididoctors]

Tao is starting the tour of Austria?

 

[wakemalcolm]

Where else does a top pro dream of riding in July?

I'm worried for Tao: it's contract renewal year and I can't see teams queuing up to sign him, unless he rebrands himself as a mountain domestique.

 

[mididoctors]

Where else does a top pro dream of riding in July?

I'm worried for Tao: it's contract renewal year and I can't see teams queuing up to sign him, unless he rebrands himself as a mountain domestique.

He's had a shoot few years. He needs to get noticed again

 

[No Ta Doctor]

He's had a shoot few years. He needs to get noticed again

Not won anything since Tour of The Alps GC (and a stage ) in 2023. He's not even really come close - two stage 3rd places in the Giro that year, a handful of WT top tens in '24, 3rd in the Tour of Slovenia GC in '25 and not even a top ten so far this season. We barely even see him in the media. I'm not sure his heart's in it any more tbh. He's 31, he's won the Giro, had appalling luck with illness and injury, and he's surrounded by aliens. Unless he finds a new angle on it, a new way to have fun, I can see him just waving bye-bye and going off to do something different.