Tour de France 2026 ***Spoilers***

[Dogtrousers]

I don't know if something is getting lost in translation but the Belgian federation seem to be saying "FFS Remco, just get a doctors note. We won't care if it's a load of obvious cobblers about you having an aching toenail, just tick the bloody box."

Belgian Cycling director of sport, Massimo Van Lancker: "I am not going to question a doctor’s decision. If it says that a rider is too sick to start or has knee pain, then I don’t ask any questions about that."

https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cyc...venepoel-is-banned-from-racing-for-nine-days/

 

[misforturob]

Onley out of the Tour due to a "significant shoulder injury".

Thomas out of retirement to be NCI's GC rider? 😜

 

[CarbonClem]

Netcompany now chasing a top twenty with CRod I guess?

Onley could get a podium at La Vuelta though?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I admire the Belgian federation for doing this. The British nationals could have done with more support from the big stars. I don't think Froome ever rode them once he was established as a major rider. Thomas was pretty sporadic IIRC.

Cav was more of a regular and won it twice (?) most memorably about 3 or 4 years ago when he went in the break and a group of young riders did their damnedest all day to get rid of him and failed.

Or maybe they are good as they are as a development race and the big boys should leave them alone. I dunno.

 

[CarbonClem]

Previous winners of the GB Champs show a pretty solid list of WT riders TBF.

 

[mididoctors]

Belgian cycling federation requires all Belgian riders to compete at the nationals, unless they've got a note from their doctor or mummy saying they have to stay home. This has often been ignored by riders prepping for The Tour, but seems to have blown up this year because Remco doesn't want to go

Literally every Belgian with a UCi licence...that's a big race ?.

 

[mididoctors]

I admire the Belgian federation for doing this. The British nationals could have done with more support from the big stars. I don't think Froome ever rode them once he was established as a major rider. Thomas was pretty sporadic IIRC.

Cav was more of a regular and won it twice (?) most memorably about 3 or 4 years ago when he went in the break and a group of young riders did their damnedest all day to get rid of him and failed.

Or maybe they are good as they are as a development race and the big boys should leave them alone. I dunno.

That second cav GB win was really good

 

[mididoctors]

Remco has won it before no?.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Literally every Belgian with a UCi licence...that's a big race ?.

Not quite sure it's every UCI licence, or just higher levels, but it's nuts anyway - hey, let's hamstring our best riders just before their biggest race!

 

[misforturob]

The larger problem is the ridiculous position of the European Nationals in the calendar.

 

[Archie from BR]

Remco should get his sick note in and hope the Belgians pick him for the Worlds. He has no chance of winning a sprint in Antwerp but could easily become WC in Montreal

 

[Pross]

I admire the Belgian federation for doing this. The British nationals could have done with more support from the big stars. I don't think Froome ever rode them once he was established as a major rider. Thomas was pretty sporadic IIRC.

Cav was more of a regular and won it twice (?) most memorably about 3 or 4 years ago when he went in the break and a group of young riders did their damnedest all day to get rid of him and failed.

Or maybe they are good as they are as a development race and the big boys should leave them alone. I dunno.

Froome rode in the 2007 race in Abergavenny. RichN95 used to quite regularly post a photo of Froome and Wiggins together on the Tumble (I think they may have been in a break). Both looked far different to their TdF winning versions. In the early Sky years the field used to be really strong but completely dominated by those Sky riders as there were very few British World Tour riders on other teams. Now it feels like we get a pretty strong field but without the GC riders or key GC domestiques. It would be good to see the British champs jersey winning more top races again though.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Remco has won it before no?.

Yes ... tappity-tap, googly-google, wikitty-wik ... 2023.

Unsurprisingly he has been Belgian TT champ too ... 2022, 2025

 

[Pblakeney]

What happens when pog and Toro go up the road together?

Pog wins. Obs.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Affini might be out of the Tour in another blow for Vingegaard. Crashed in the Italian TT and seems to have narrowly avoided cutting his manhood off

https://www.domestiquecycling.com/e...risk-after-heavy-italian-championships-crash/