National Champs 2025 ***SPOILERS***

[No Ta Doctor]

Not had such a successful cycling clan since the Martin family (Guillaume, Daniel, Tony) dominated a few years ago.

True story this:
On 11th October 2020, Mads Pedersen won Gent-Wevelgem. About half a hour earlier, Casper Pedersen had won Paris-Tours.
That very day, another Dane, Mikkel Bjerg, was in the breakaway on the mountainous stage 9 of the Giro. How a TTer ended up there will always be a bit of mystery, but he eventually ended in a very credible 3rd place. On Twitter I asked him if he'd ever wished he'd changed his name to Pedersen, just for a day?
His answer?
"I was called Mikkel Bjerg Pedersen until 2005... In hindsight it would have been smart to keep it"

 

[T4tomo]

Not had such a successful cycling clan since the Martin family (Guillaume, Daniel, Tony) dominated a few years ago.

Its will be the final time the Thomas brothers Geraint and Benjamin ride together at the Tour...

 

[rich p]

I can't help wondering what some of the Nationals mean. Is it just a jolly for the national organisations?
Some are dominated by the countries few pros, some are a race for the pros who bother turning up/ have no pressing future engagement, and a smaller amount are a contest between the nations best.
Even the true competitions are skewed by the vagaries of who from the same nation, working together due to a trade team alliance.
Never mind, they can be fun!!!

 

[Dogtrousers]

I can't help wondering what some of the Nationals mean. Is it just a jolly for the national organisations?
Some are dominated by the countries few pros, some are a race for the pros who bother turning up/ have no pressing future engagement, and a smaller amount are a contest between the nations best.
Even the true competitions are skewed by the vagaries of who from the same nation, working together due to a trade team alliance.
Never mind, they can be fun!!!

From what I've watched (which is only a few tbh and the ones I did see I've largely forgotten) the British ones can be rather negative affairs with the lack of strong team structure meaning there are a lot of stand-offs and refusal to work.

"After you Claude" ... "No, after you Cecil". It probably all makes good tactical sense but isn't top entertainment.

That said, I really enjoyed the one that Cav won a couple of years back, with a succession of young hopefuls trying unsuccessfully to dislodge Cav from the breakaway.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I see Alison Jackson will be wearing her maple leaf Canada road champ's jersey this year. And has no doubt done a celebratory dance.

 

[TomDW]

Sam Watson goes solo at the start of the last lap

Genius move, he's a class descender too.

 

[TomDW]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/9gk6v48TFsU?si=X02-VQcjkfCPtlw0

The Swatt fans were in fine form. See the last 10km. A triumph of team work and no radios