Is it ok to hate certain races?

[Soup890]

Do professional cyclist avoid certain race events because they don't like certain routes, atmosphere, or they are not mentally prepared for it?

 

[KneesUp]

No, it's racist.

 

[John the Monkey]

 

[Citius]

Do professional cyclist avoid certain race events because they don't like certain routes, atmosphere, or they are not mentally prepared for it?

They don't usually get a choice. A bit like a pro footballer not wanting to play against a certain team and missing the game. Oh hang on, they already do that...

 

[ColinJ]

Do professional cyclist avoid certain race events because they don't like certain routes, atmosphere, or they are not mentally prepared for it?

Well, some riders definitely love cobbles and some hate them. The former dream of winning Paris Roubaix; the latter have nightmares about being obliged to ride the race! Bernard Hinault hated it, but still managed to win it once.

 

[Ian H]

That's why Paris-Brest-Paris, once the longest single stage race, became merely a randonnée.

 

[midlife]

Don't know about professionals but I hated grass track, marginally better was racing up and down the sea front at Cleethorpes but not by much ........

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest

Shaun

 

[oldroadman]

That's why Paris-Brest-Paris, once the longest single stage race, became merely a randonnée.

Why anyone would want to ride a 1200km anachronism is a mystery. Nothing to do with hating the race, it wasn't a proper race, just a test of sleep resistance. A bit like the oddest thing in UK, 24 hour time trials - why?? Or any long distance TT for that matter.

So far a hating races, some riders are better at classics on pave, some on flatter ones (P-R), some on lumpier ones (RVV, LBL). Others are long haul stage race riders, some better up to a week, others GT specialists. Horses for courses, and all that. Inevitably as a pro, races have to be ridden, teams have to be filled, and someone almost always ends up doing a job for the team they are not best suited to, but just have to get on with it, which is what the pay is for.

 

[Ian H]

Why anyone would want to ride a 1200km anachronism is a mystery. Nothing to do with hating the race, it wasn't a proper race, just a test of sleep resistance. A bit like the oddest thing in UK, 24 hour time trials - why??...

Don't ask me – I've just completed my fifth 24hr.

 

[BrumJim]

IIRC, Sky manage to get a larger number of participants in the UK squad for the World Championships in Copenhagen (the year Cavendish won) by putting in a stronger squad on some of the more unfashionable stage races, in order to win UIC points which is converted to national team size?

This would suggest that the strength of squad that a team sends to a particular race is dependent on a few things other than its categorisation, such as sponsor exposure, parcours, distance from base (i.e. travelling costs) and 'personal preference' (i.e. how nice the country is, political stability, etc), but that UIC try to influence this.

 

[ColinJ]

Don't ask me – I've just completed my fifth 24hr.

How long did it take you ...?

 

[oldroadman]

IIRC, Sky manage to get a larger number of participants in the UK squad for the World Championships in Copenhagen (the year Cavendish won) by putting in a stronger squad on some of the more unfashionable stage races, in order to win UIC points which is converted to national team size?

This would suggest that the strength of squad that a team sends to a particular race is dependent on a few things other than its categorisation, such as sponsor exposure, parcours, distance from base (i.e. travelling costs) and 'personal preference' (i.e. how nice the country is, political stability, etc), but that UIC try to influence this.

Sky don't decide who rides the worlds. This is down to national federations. The number of riders is based on world rankings of riders from the country. If Sky riders get selected, they do, on a hilly parcours the Yates brothers (Orica) would be likely considered, as would Cav if the course suited his abilities. Horses for courses and all that.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Why anyone would want to ride a 1200km anachronism is a mystery. Nothing to do with hating the race, it wasn't a proper race, just a test of sleep resistance. A bit like the oddest thing in UK, 24 hour time trials - why?? Or any long distance TT for that matter.

So far a hating races, some riders are better at classics on pave, some on flatter ones (P-R), some on lumpier ones (RVV, LBL). Others are long haul stage race riders, some better up to a week, others GT specialists. Horses for courses, and all that. Inevitably as a pro, races have to be ridden, teams have to be filled, and someone almost always ends up doing a job for the team they are not best suited to, but just have to get on with it, which is what the pay is for.

Careful, you don't want to wind up the audaxers...