Pro Racing pub quiz

[Aravis]

True, but it only takes one person out of the 100 surveyed to have heard of Bernard Thevenet and that’s the jackpot out the window.

(I can’t remember if Thevenet was a pointless answer or not but I do remember being surprised at a couple that weren’t)

I think I went for Gimondi, Walkowiak, and probably Van Impe. A good spread, and I'd've been fine. You could've won with Stephen Roche, so I think anyone knowing the subject would've very unlucky not to.

Colombia is close to becoming the 14th nation to win the Tour de France, and also the ninth to produce a winner of all three grand tours. There's an unexpectedly long time to wait for tomorrow's action, so while we wait:

Which are the other eight, and which was the last nation to add itself to the list?

 

[Aravis]

As that one fell like a lead balloon, I'll try another. Watching today reminded me of something. In which year was the Paris circuit raced in the opposite direction?

 

[smutchin]

As that one fell like a lead balloon...

Possibly because Colombia are the 10th, not the 9th (at least until Horner retrospectively has his Vuelta taken off him).

 

[Aravis]

Possibly because Colombia are the 10th, not the 9th (at least until Horner retrospectively has his Vuelta taken off him).

I think my brain's developed a filter which protects me from seeing that one.

 

[smutchin]

GB would be the most recent, by the way.

Full list (but not necessarily in this order) is:
Belgium, obvs
France
Italy
Spain
Switzerland
Ireland
Netherlands
USA
GB

Not a clue on the wrong way round Paris question!

 

[andrew_s]

The Col de l'Iseran (2770 m) was the highest KOM on this year's Tour, but what's been the lowest KOM for a major race? (UCI x.1 or better.)

 

[Adam4868]

The Col de l'Iseran (2770 m) was the highest KOM on this year's Tour, but what's been the lowest KOM for a major race? (UCI x.1 or better.)

Alex Dowsett in ride London Surrey would take some beating !

 

[andrew_s]

Box Hill is about 180 m, and Newlands Corner is about 170 m.
You can go quite a bit lower than that.

 

[smutchin]

My guess would be the Tour of Denmark.

 

[Adam4868]

One for @rich p...phone me if you want.

View: https://twitter.com/MillionaireUK/status/1180923909329362944?s=19

 

[andrew_s]

My guess would be the Tour of Denmark.

Climb by bike lists up to 1800m for the country concerned.
If it makes it easier, the KOM was at 20m

 

[Dogtrousers]

One for @rich p...phone me if you want.

Well, Cav has finished first four times ...

 

[Aravis]

Climb by bike lists up to 1800m for the country concerned.
If it makes it easier, the KOM was at 20m

Is it the Tour of Israel? It looks as though this took place at least once, in 2010, and the Dead Sea was on the route. So you could have had a big categorised climb finishing below sea level if you wanted to.

The reverse circuit in Paris was 1988, by the way. It was quite a noteworthy thing at the time but seems to be largely forgotten. Here it is:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XH7jQL0A_g

 

[andrew_s]

Is it the Tour of Israel? It looks as though this took place at least once, in 2010, and the Dead Sea was on the route. So you could have had a big categorised climb finishing below sea level if you wanted to.

Right idea, but "major race" cuts that out.

It was the Arctic Race of Norway, the time they visited Nordkapp.
The bottom of the tunnel to reach the island is at 212 m below sea level, and the exit and KOM is at about 20 m. The climb out is about 2.5 km at 9%.