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The battles between Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Primoz Roglic (BORA – Hansgrohe) at Paris-Nice, the huge performances of Jonas Vingegaard at Tirreno-Adriatico, the sprint battle between Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at Nokere Koerse and the upcoming fight between a returning Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at Milano Sanremo. There’s a lot to talk about in this new episode of the Domestique Cycling Podcast. Discover the main takeaways from the past week of racing and find out who our favourites are for La Primavera, the first monument of the cycling season!
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I’ve got the SP the sickness there the twins in my brain La Prim Vera the first Monument of the season is upon us the easiest race to finish the hardest to win Milan Sano is also the most elusive race where Victory can often feel Within Reach attempting marriage a sprinter can win
It a grand tour Contender too and every single Rider in between gets to G plan we’re ready for the short but tense Ascent of the pjo or is it happening this year does someone hear it as Pacha dares to attack on the cha after the spell of absence I’m back
In the hot seat today for domestic cycling podcast to make this episode as entertaining as possible we decided the monologue wouldn’t be as entertaining to listen to so humus is joining me for another St episode hi hus how are you doing mate hi Eve I’m fine thank you the past week something interesting
Uh was revealed in the Pro Pelin do you have any clue what I’m referring to yeah um I can see your smile so I think you’re talking about the visma helmets Yeah indeed the new time trial helmet the iro head two created by jro
Sport Design on a scale from 1 to 10 how ugly does it look well I think you expect me to say 20 or something like that um I have to be honest it doesn’t look really fashionable but yeah if it works it works so I think it’s it does look that bik uh
Bad while being on the time tril bike but it looks horrendous when you’re just walking with that helmet on there’s a lot of lather on on X and a lot of jokes but after all it’s a helmet and in a Time TR you need to be as fast as
Possible and if it helps I would wear it too according to several sources the helmet gives quite a bit of extra aerodynamic advantage to the rider the UCI decided to investigate the Innovation after they approved design around October 2023 do you think the public opinion influenced their decision to investigate it
Again I have no idea but I think Mato Jorgenson he said it himself and it’s the whole point of the story the rules of UCI they’re a joke that’s yeah I can only agree with that one but enough about that ugly looking helmet ugly but fast probably
How hyped are you for the first monent of the Season La Prim Vera Milan Sano well hyped is maybe a big word we had a conversation this week um about Milan Sano and I said it’s not in my top 10 or favorite races but on the other
Hand you said that the 15 minutes from the foot of the pel until the Finish are maybe the most 15 exciting minutes of the whole season I don’t know it’s not my favorite race so I’m not really hyped but it’s good to be back in in Italy we can’t preview the first big
Appointment of the uh season the first moment before we look back at the races from the past week and Milano Torino and no that happened this week about no what a Sprint by T me yeah his third victory in a row there at no I think um the way he’s printed
You you clearly see he knows how to finish that race um he used the last yeah downhill section to launch his Sprints and he immediately had like a gap of 20 M and the others didn’t see him back so it was quite funny on the television the they showed the photo
Finish but yeah me was the only one on it in the last two kilometers there was quite a nasty crash um with um Pascal Akerman who created a bit of Mayhem um he pushed um a rider from sud quip I don’t know who who I think I think akan
Bumped into yonas rard um if I recall correctly there was AEP Rider in between them so so you you had M on the left rard who had done his job at the front he was going backwards he was in the middle and then akan he was on the right
Side he bumped into erard Rickard had nowhere to go because merer was on his left side and he crashed and took a couple of um entm riders with him I think Don H was involved as well so not at all theault of yon zard but akman was to blame
I don’t know if there was already some information about a possible relegation um no clue but on the the sporza coverage didn’t really talk about that crash um or they didn’t really see it um so I don’t know a bit more information will follow maybe the next couple of
Hourss 100 UCI points for akran he ended up fourth place so might be important an encouraging encouraging performance by Fabio yakobson as well finishing second um after a difficult season opening within the um Team DSM um is he on his way back to being one of the
Fastest sprinters in the Pro pin is it too early to tell it’s maybe too early to tell but yeah he’s not panicking and if I were him I wouldn’t Panic either um yakobson has everything to be among amongst the best sprinters in the world
So I think he will be on the top level again uh yeah maybe in a couple of weeks maybe in a couple of months we’ll see we talked already about the winner we talked about the guy in second then we have the last Podium spot yasper
Philipson he did um quite a bit of work before the final Sprint he launched an attack um to to see if he could get a gap and go to the line with a smaller group um then he did it the second time to bridge towards four or five men who had a gap
So it was quite nervous the last 10 to 15 kilometers M said it himself as well um yasper Phillipson didn’t believe in an Sprint at the end or did he want to test his legs for Saturday well I think the final of no Cur was changed a little
Uh this year um and that caused some some doubts in the heads of the sprinters if it would be a real Bunch Sprint like we saw the last couple of years um but yeah the way philipsson closed that gap on I think it was Tim well and a couple of other Riders who
Were in the attack the way he closed that one was was quite impressive so yeah philipson is is clearly in in in a great shape it’s also no on nober a weird finish on the cobbles weird Sprint so um it’s still something else as then a flat Sprint
So himself in the flash interview afterwards philipson said I hate sprinting on the cobbles um I had flashbacks to the stage 21 in the tour on the sh that are cobbles as well and they aren’t yeah they aren’t very nice there as well um philipson made the trip from
Tyo to no to go back to Italy on Saturday what’s your opinion on that why does he put in no in between those Italian races yeah it’s it’s a question I’ve asked myself as well this week um maybe to keep some race Rhythm um to get another
Victory if philipson at start of noi you know he will be close to the victory if if all goes well um but the same can be said about Tim wance in my opinion um he was in Ur too before going to Sano on Saturday um yeah the the DS’s the team DSS said
Um he asked it himself to be at the start of noer which is quite weird in my opinion um racing in flounders is always quite hectic and a crash is always around the corner so it’s a risk okay um wance was was really good um he he
Almost won but I don’t know if it’s a risk you need to take to be honest someone who didn’t make the trip back um to Belgium to go back to Italy is Alberto Beto um he wrote um toino adriatico as well but decided to write Milano Torino today um on the last Hill
Of the day he wanted to test his his legs he said it himself he wanted to see how his legs responded on a yeah on an effort after a tough tyo but he yeah he finished a solo of 30 kilom that’s mission accomplished pretty good Le I
Assume yeah bet it’s such a weird guy I don’t know um one week you think yeah bet you’ll he won’t be there for spots uh this spring and then the next day he he wins a race so he’s an enigma for me yeah it was pretty weird because he said
He used uh the race to just stay into racing Rhythm and test how his legs react after Tano but he was completely Ked up in um iro um tools and AO helmet and a a Time Trail skin suit um the iro bike IO iro gloves um so everything was
There yeah to go for the win so it was quite weird because he was one of the only ones within AF who was completely equipped with the iro material of AF maybe it was a test from for shimo can be possible as well for sure but still
It was a Big Show from Bol and he showed he’s at a very high level at the start of a a very important stage in the season yeah but that will be necessary if you see who’s lining up in Sano yeah all right steo Adu and Par last week we’re quite a show
Let’s dive into those races so we can link it up a bit with the start list of Milan Sano first we had to head-to-head battle with philipson and Jonathan Milan in the tyo yasper philipson was able to win one stage um he crashed in another while being in a very good position Jonathan
Milan won two stages um with a tough finish um one of those two BOS took another win there as well but that was The Hectic Sprint with the crash of uh philipson so head to-head philipson Milan was one to3 for the Italian Beast where is Milan in the picking
Order of sprinters in general after Dino difficult question um I said it this week to you as well yeah we talk a lot um it’s hard to make an order uh between the sprinters and for me philipsson is is still the best in the world but yeah Milan he’s he’s on a
Rooll he definitely made that that next step again he’s on a big team little track is doing everything for him so um I’m enjoying the enjoying the show imagine um a group goes to the line um in Sano uh who of the two is the most
Likely to stay in the front group over the buer philipson still philipson yeah I think so um although I don’t think there will be a group going to the line but if if you ask the question my answer is uh y but philipson yeah so philipson
Is um more likely to survive the the combination Chessa where probably U will um pick up the pace and then pojo um if there is a big group so it’s Al in the king and little track um according to our preview writer putina none of them have the big
Favorite in their ranks um but we have to be honest Al in theing lines up with the world champion with the defending Champion ma VPO together with yper philipson um as already mentioned then we have Axel laurance um who proved this season already he’s in in a very good shape as
Well and then you have Mr Sano actually Sanders so the Squad from squad for opon is pretty damn strong and they can go for two scenarios do I see it correct yeah I just mentioned it I don’t think there will be two scenarios um to be honest um there’s only one leader
Here much of vpol and if all goes wrong and I’m totally mistaken then yasper philipson comes into play um of course s kerson is in good shape and you said it yourself he is always a kind of surprise um at Milano sanos so this is an entertaining team but there’s only one
One big name here I have to add s Anderson is always a surprise for you in Sano and he’s always on top of my list before the start so but he has some knee issues uh I I saw earlier this week I don’t know if he’s um completely fit um
But still yeah I have to AG read the main man is fpo um and after three months in Spain training um in the sun enjoying his life um without back issues or something he will come in the season with a bang um I suppose besides that we
Have little Tre um with a an amazing Squad as well um their leader matz Peterson um flanked by um former winner yasper Sten Jonathan Milan in there as well um Tim decl was on the professional list but um has to um yeah is not starting because he has a cult um but
Then we have baji um as well Pon already as as Milan showed pretty strong form in parin where he um domesti quite a bit for SC MOS um and was able to get two times second or three times second two times two time second so that’s yeah he’s ready for the first
Moment of the Season as well totally um M paderson was incredible in Paris um in bad weather yeah you know who says bad weather also says M paderson um but he’s damn strong yeah for sure um if he’s strong enough to follow pogacha and vpol on
Poo I’m in doubt um Milan for me is is no option here but what is very very um interesting is Tom Sans yeah do you think he’s able to follow the big gun like Tom sens was very strong in omop news blood where he surprised fsma bik maybe he he was the
Strongest in the race at omop KN BL he was the strongest on the uphill crush the opponent on B um okay pogar is climbing a little faster than than jurgenson and and V fart I think but the the Dual Peterson screens is really interesting to play
With yeah that’s true but yeah and the skin Dr was very impressive as well after crash coming back and then just um the first chaseing um if I Rec correctly and we all know yeah if there is one two three Riders going in the attack on pojo
And you have like a group of 10 Riders five or 10 seconds behind them you need a teammate and if Peterson is still in that group with sens then yeah good luck with that before we move on further um I want to dive a little bit more into the race
Scenario you said two or three times already you don’t believe in a group Sprint to the finish line How would how will it be what do you expect um from the shess on explain the race situation for me how do you see it well if you say you enjoy
The Milano because of that 15 um highly entertaining minutes I hope this year it will be half an hour um what I hope for this race is that we have a pogar attack on Sha I believe if he wants to win this race he needs mucho vpol to be as
Fatigued as possible so that’s only possible in my opinion if he goes all in on Chessa already and does it another time on on poo I know I’m asking a lot of of pogy but I hope that’s the scenario we get to see um is that most likely to happen I don’t
Think so probably U memat will set a high Pace on sheresa and we will wait once again um for the big attack on podjo but in that scenario the chances of machio vpol increase in my opinion because if he goes with pachar over the
Top of pojo yeah he has a big chance of winning um I have no doubts uh ma VPO will be 100% ready for this race a lot of people say it’s his first race of the season but so was bian for uh for bachar um vpol has done it three years go as
Well I think so yeah don’t doubt the guy um do you agree with that uh first of all I think it’s the the course profile for tyo for Milano is just not um difficult enough to fatigue uh a top shape um vpol he will surely be
In top shape uh we we’re not arguing that so even if they go all in on the chipra um as a team it’s not fast enough they tried it last year um vpol had um a huge burst of power left on top of the pjo but if if pogacha goes himself on
The Chessa then still I think it’s um suicide for the Slovenian because the team from Alon isn’t bad at all you have a c on who almost every time survives till the foot um of the pojo so he will domestique and if there is one more left for Alon
Then yeah it’s going to be difficult and I don’t see a little track for example if Pacha go solo they will participate with the opin because yeah why not they they want to win it and they know if they go to the p with f is difficult to
Follow him but still if they don’t chase down Pacha the win is gone as well so going solo um would be huge and would be something for the history books um that’s you know what the problem is the pace in The Descent of Shipra is always that high it’s
Really hard to create a significant Gap but I think it’s all about the tactics of UA team Emirates before St there was an interview with with t w he said yeah tomorrow it’s yeah all our money is on t pachar there’s no way I will I will
Attack myself but imagine if T Valance attacks on on Sha that would be interesting too that would be interesting yeah but the problem is with Milano it’s always the same fixed way towards the pjo and the cost just doesn’t suit um to mix it up it’s a bit like the
Wallel fles they can do everything um with the ca it will always happen um on the same moment on the last Ascent um the Sprint to the line so it’s the same with Sano they all know it’s the the burst of power on the PUO that’s the
Most important thing and to break that you have to be something special you have to be Pacha but even for pachar um it’s it’s very difficult and with the wance um it’s not if valence attacks that from thep gets more fatigued for example it’s
Just a team is is he going to to react his team will have to work but what is also really important in in this race are the weather circumstances do you have any idea what it looks like well it’s it’s sunny um 15 degrees um a light Breeze um C sorry cross
Um cross wind a little bit Yeah in the back um it’s not um yeah the wind is good for a solo attack but it will not influence the race it’s not like it’s a disadvantage and the wind is um in favor um in the
Final so if there is going to be a solo attack it’s this time um but still um one last thing I want to add vpol is he can he go solo again over the P can he go solo again you have that’s the question of 1 million I think
Um I don’t see it happen again this year I don’t know why um yeah I didn’t I didn’t expect it last year either so is it because you expect vpol to me be one person less than last year or do you think bachar is a bit stronger than last
Year yeah bachar being a bit stronger the bachar we saw in during spring last year was was already incredible so I don’t know um all I all eyes of pachar will be on vpol I think and I think he will be able to to follow him at this
Time um so that answers your question but I also want would like to say something about you emor um I need to give them Kudos because today at no kurusa they were incredible with them W with Baron Chini I also saw at Milano Torino the top four they didn’t win but
At number two was youngan Christen three mark hiri four Diego olisi um the team doesn’t need T poacher to have good results and I think they’re stronger than last year they are stronger but I have to be honest I saw the lost um 20 Cas of of
Torino and the the ascent where um beol attacked um but they made the that final Ascent pretty hard with the team but betal did a crazy attack um and UAE team Emirates completely exploded the his he didn’t look that good on the upu he was suffering to stay in that chasing group
Same for ulissi they were able to hang on um but still they didn’t give me such a good vibe a good feeling and then UAE tactics they both Sprint next to each other but they they are so strong in depth they also yeah Morgado deloro those guys didn’t even race today they
Could line up a team of 10 to 12 Riders and be equally strong in my opinion yeah the the team in depth is very strong but like if you’re being a his in see um and you’re not able to react on bettiol today uh then What’s happen what’s happening if vpol
Goes yeah but they’re not the guys who need to react on on vpol that’s why Mighty T poach is lining up on Saturday yeah still I’m not convinced by H and II today so they can prove me wrong in Milan Sano okay we had the Sprint duel philipson Milan Ino adri
Um we had the P koi um duel in parin we talked earlier about pish we didn’t talk yet about Ki um to be clear he isn’t um oh he is participating probably in Milan Sano Ki was able to win two stages where p p finished two times seconds um we can
Agree that Ki in a normal Sprint is the faster of the two but can koi survive theapy STA and pujo is the big question like imagine in the scenario where Phillipson yeah Philips in Milan I asked earlier where do you rank Ki um that um is he in the stars of our
Preview writer Olaf Ki KI is not in the stars of our preview writer and I do agree with that um philipsson is still on the top top spot when it comes to those three names um but yeah viala bike for me has has one big leader that’s Kristof laort and
I don’t think Olaf Koy will play a significant role in the race I have to agree there is one big leader um for from yeah and it’s laort but I saw um an article for from a DS from Vima bike saying we have to approach this Milan Sano differently
Because we don’t have a wot forart at the start who’s absolute leader it’s something completely different um um in the other editions they had to carry a little bit of weight of the race on their shoulders because they had Ro fat at the start um this time they don’t
Have one of the big three um as they are already named um so yeah how will they play it out they have a koi who is very fast but they have a Laport who proved he’s very strong then the brothers from um St it’s I don’t know
I what do you expect from vial B it’s very difficult for me to be honest yeah for me it’s not really difficult if I were Diaz at visala bike I I tell my guys just to not be active in the race and to follow um as good as possible to
The top of the pojo and then the race really starts if you you’re still there um will laort be able to follow pogacha and Vanderpool if those guys go all in on pojo I doubt it um but as I mentioned there could be a group of 10 Riders like
Close to to those guys over the top and if he’s still there Laport after 250 300 kilm is a really fast guy to the line so he has a big chance um for a nice result and why not winning so the tactics not be active follow as good as possible and
See what happens he will probably need some luck but if luck is on his side it’s possible yeah I have to agree we had Peterson and KY in pin but there was another Sprinter in the mix there Arvid Declan from Tudor he’s probably most likely not participating in Milan Sano
Um but we have Mato trantin um the very experienced Italian who’s always at a very high decent level um besides him we have mariio Meer Hofer as well who started the season um pretty strongly but had a bit of bad luck the last couple of weeks um
T main leader Meer hover protected and the rest um in service of the two yeah same story here um for me trentin is the big leader yes but but yeah I don’t give him a chance uh to win a top 10 might be possible but um
Meer Hofer would would be a big big big surprise if he makes top 10 for me a big big big surprise if he makes top top 10 well would be interesting so then we go over to inas um they had quite a lot of interesting performances um they had Pitcock um in
Tyo arensman in tyo as well and Bernal in parin who’s building up toward his best shape um ever again Tom said in an interview himself um in that mountain station tyo it was one of his best climbing performances ever my question is um not looking at Sano um is it
Enough to be GC leader in the tour later this season yeah I think you’re asking this to the to the wrong person um I’ve always believed in Tom pitcock being that’s why I asked you being a gr toour leader and I think I already said it
Last year he would be a contender for top 10 even top five at to of France um so I still believe in Pitcock being the tour to France leader but for this year yeah um a Podium yeah that that won’t be possible it’s also not the main priority
Of of the summer uh I think it’s all about Mountain bking um but besides to the France yeah why not win Milan Sano it could be possible he’s according to our previous writer um he received three stars um so five stars for Pacha four for Peterson
And VPO and then three STS for kristo laort um Pitcock and moic so utina um yeah rates him quite high for Sano yeah so he gets two stars or three three three yeah rightfully so um pitcock is together with moic the most dangerous guy in that descent um he’s in
Good shape like he said um so I have big expectations actually I think he will yeah if he if he really felt that strong on the uphill he maybe um will be able to follow pachar and Vanderpool and if he goes in front into that descent I
Wouldn’t want to be in his wheels to be honest strong performance by Pitcock um according to him very strong performance as well for from arensman in my opinion and the same too adriatico um as we already talked about with derer um last year arensman is a
Rider who needs a lot of fatigue and the legs and gets better um if the the days goes on in a grand tour now Tio is only a onewe stage race and he was able to um climb with the best um not looking at yonas V of course so it’s his second
Season within um the inas ranks from arensman um will he grow out to be one of the main GC guys for the BR British team um in grand Tours yeah probably um but do you know what is um his ground tour will be this season um I’m gonna look it up right now
I’m not sure um what he gonna do if you have gine Thomas in the team you know he won’t be there for five years anymore so he’s going for the J for jro so together with G um interesting but there’s also pachar at the start there um anisman is a rider
I don’t know that well but I do agree with derer he’s a guy that can really Peak into a third week of ground tour um but talking about someone else I’ve been really surprised by Igan benal um at bar um I know you’re a big fan of
Of his I love Igan and I always said I didn’t think um he wouldn’t be back on his old level but this is the first time I’m I’m really doubting about that code of mine um he was really strong yeah it was so nice to see um igon is back
Fighting at the front of the races um he’s daring to to attack even um yes he he dropped um now and then when rco and jurus went um but still he showed balls um he showed he wanted to race um and inos um the team showed they they trust
In him as well they had sometimes questionable tactics in parin they yeah they were chasing down breaks um without knowing why but it proves that inos believes um in benal and I think he can still grow um to his best level of course the big question is um he won the
Tour in 2021 or 2020 um I don’t recall um is that level good enough to compete with The Grand Tour Riders we have right now being a vinea a Pacha a na AOL is that good enough that only time will tell um I think to know that
Yeah was even 2019 uh when he won to the France um yeah that’s a question we can’t answer right now um if you ask me this question now I my answer would be no um he’s not able to compete with those guys but the fact that he would
Now be in the mix for a top 10 for instance is is a miracle so big leader and Milan San for Ino pitock as already mentioned but can Ghana do a Ghana like he did last year nope that’s absolutely impossible in my opinion um I read a few he received a star by
Tina really yeah well I’ve read a few interviews with uh P Ghana and he said he didn’t really train on his his climbing during winter that his his mind was completely on uh time trial and on the Olympics this season um and if you want to win Milan
Simo I think you need to be good on pjo so yeah this is maybe the first time I don’t agree with eritro putina can Nar do what Ghana did last year it’s his first race back after his um very strong early season form in Australia in Downer um if I recall
Correctly he um he has a newborn at home um between now um and then is his first race back um can he do what Gana did last year yeah y the narv is expert and big fan so it’s maybe up to you to answer it well he had his best season
Start um ever um deer mentioned um in the earlier podcasts that he um kept on training during winter because he knew that the his child would be born um around February that he would get a little bit of a break then um yeah between yeah the
Second week of February and now um the end of the second week in March there’s not a lot of time so it all depends on yeah how much did he touch his bike probably a lot but how was his sleep Etc um but yeah if he can continue his
Form um from D down under towards Milan Sano he’s a guy we have to watch out for he’s a serious Underdog um I’m not arguing that but still it’s a name that it’s yeah we have to keep in mind and it’s not as big of a surprise um if he
Gets into the top 10 maybe or in the mix on top of the pojo in my opinion I do agree then we had Theo adriatico pitock IR M we talked about and we talked about the best of the rest climbers yeah yonas Viner Ino adrio like it was the Battle V AO um
Yeah I’m telling it again um D Los is a huge believer in huan AO um his power output values whatever is astonishing um according to D but Vin got just said all right bye have comparing it to last year when he was at parin he ended up third there
Behind I think pachar and Dav goody DAV good yeah compared to that it it’s really Stellar what he did um he totally crushed tyo and he won the nicest trophy of the whole season that’s what I’m most jealous about I want such a trophy at home as well it’s very scary
To to realize um first race of Pacha bian an 80 plus kilometers solo vinard opens his season in Oran Camino um demolishes the opposition but yeah you can say it’s only Camino then go to tyo with a pretty strong um starting list including AO and just um with other EAS if he
Attacks um auu was able to follow 20 seconds and then had to sit and wait on the others it’s phenomenal he seems so relaxed as well he’s yeah it’s scary to see yeah and I think we can even say we we saw things that are not really like
Yonas vineard um we know him as as the guy of of not the big big big big um yeah I can’t say big performances because what he performs is big but I don’t know how to explain um he’s not putting on the show he’s he’s always
Calm down to Earth but this time I I got a different feeling is he influenced by Stan of ins ired maybe and we say he was inspired he was at o Camino and won three of the four stages as well there so yeah right that’s true but yeah not looking at Sano
Um it’s the tour um in two weeks Pacha Vino who’s taking the win if the tour starts in two weeks yeah that’s a really good question yeah my heart says of course yeah I know what you heart say but I want to know what your mind says yeah that he is too strong
Today I have to agree I think at this point um vinard is the better of the two looking at purely at a grand tour um but a grand tour is not only about numbers and performance it’s also about positioning L luck tactics um Etc an important important thing to note um we
Started this episode with the Innovation from the TT helmets um from Jimbo um from jro um but the two time trials in tyo and in parin were won by U memor IO won the individual time trial and U memores won the team time trial in parin so did
They yeah they did a lot of work on their Time title material is it paying off already yeah clearly if you win it’s paying off um it’s obvious to say they they worked a lot on it and it’s good to see they’re they’re in the mix as
Well yeah um it they always there was also laughter about Gago um and that there a little bit a little bit of amateurism um looking at the equipment Etc but I think they really made the next step um both for the road B and for
The um time trial back so it’s good that they get as close as possible even better um than C well because we know Sero and Vima is top of the league everybody is aiming for that level um performance- wise and Equipment wise so if they can get as close as possible to
That um yeah it’s an advantage for we we need to be honest you said they won both um the time trial at tyo at that and at parin but the team time trial they wouldn’t have won that one if it wasn’t for the weather conditions yeah that’s true but the
Point is that they they improved and that’s true then we move on again to sud quickstep and Bora an um both teams aren’t lining up in yeah very top team in Milan sanre um Sula quickstep is going for Julian ala Filip um once again his his last
Contract here he proved some he showed some signs of improvement uh yeah did he um in two down under um in tyo yeah he was nowhere to be seen one stage he finished nth while being in while while being in a perfect position but he is the leader
Um is Quick Step making a mistake by not bringing an a pool for example because a Milan Sano will not influence the season for even in my opinion absolutely yes even though he should have been there um I know stick to the plan um it’s it sounds boring but if you got
Through the France on your mind I do get it on one hand but on the other it’s One race it it it won’t be be a drama if you if you write Milam Sano um aul is a good one day racer and I think he would have added that extra touch to
The race so yes he should have been there they they added Luke lery um in the squad as well for Sano but I think we can both agree that the team will play a minor role um in this year’s Milan Sano I fear it’s sad to see and we
Can’t expect um Luke lamberty and man and guys like that to carry the hopes of sudal quickstep during the Spring Classics okay those guys are performing really well they’re strong guys but if Franco aipu isn’t in the team for a big race they don’t have they
Can’t say yeah we’re here with the big favorite we’re here to win so it’s indeed sad to see Ram G tested his legs for the first time in a stage race in France in parin he wasn’t able to take the overall win but he was able to win the final stage
And every Jersey except the yellow Jersey how good was ramco Evo and did he learn a lot from this par to be honest I was a little disappointed it um that’s maybe because it’s rco AO and his standards are really high but I didn’t have the feeling he had that extra kick
In the legs to really drop everyone where he he want them to be dropped like he he showed in the past um so yeah for instance he said um when jurgenson went solo I gambled too much um but I still felt I could have followed him I think that’s yeah other
[ __ ] to be honest he had a second chance um scale mza went into the Counterattack AOL didn’t react once again so that’s two mistakes um in in like two minutes so his explanation didn’t make a lot of sense um I have the feeling this was an 90 95% rco have seen
But not the strongest um I read some quotes from um a Belgium podcast whe Club page where they dove into the performance from ramco as well um they were arguing about did he learn um things in this partan ban said no um Tom Bolan and Etc said
Yes he did um but then there was an interesting um Point made I don’t know who did it exactly but they said they said Vima bike learned the most um because of Mato jurgenson who was in The Wheel of Raven pool for 30 kilometers so they know exactly um the power output
They have to produce to stay in the draft of renol what do you think of that quote yeah I totally agree that um Remco didn’t really learn a lot at pinis um I listened to that episode as well um they said um yeah if you’re training on the
Roads in France or the roads in in Italy or or racing it it doesn’t matter a climb of 7% in France is is 7% in Italy as well and that was the reason Tom St said why he lined up at parin because he got to know the French roads but yeah
Come on um it was Jan bons in that episode who said um you learn the most from battling against the best so he should have battled against vard at tyo and that’s also my opinion I I totally agree with that the par was predicted to be a
Head-to-head um even pool um Rish um it was the first outing for Rish in borans gr colors um before we dive into the rogich um parin Affair we will look at the lineup in Sano for Bora Han and I have to be honest um I can sit in a corner and
Start to cry because that team yeah will be non-existing during Sano they have Danny van poo alotti nikol Den Patrick gumper Marco holler and Mato soero on the provisional list right now and soero showed um a pretty good form um during P um for domestique work for
RIT but this team in Sano um yeah will not do a thing I don’t know if you yeah if you disagree please convince me otherwise but I don’t think you will I think if if I disagree with this you kick me out of this conversation um but
Yeah it’s it’s still a provisional team lineup of course and there’s only six Riders instead of seven but if it stays like this um we won’t see the Bor shirt I think so we can move on immediately to RIT and pin um he finished uh ninth or 10th
Um before we yeah is he able to fight for the podium spot in the tour I’m going to ask it right away is able to no um I would have said no before parin but now I’m say no h um yeah that he was the disappointment
For of the whole pares for me they’ve lost um 45 no 54 seconds in the team time trial but after stage eight he’s on place I don’t know what did you say place 10 nine or 10 yeah and he lost five and a half minutes um the RO glitch we’ve seen the past
Couple of years wouldn’t have been there at 5 minutes so um all the Riders who go to vimala bike they put a Next Step well he put one back I have the feeling yeah but um in the last stage he he was seriously called um I saw in
An interview with that team manager from Bora and that’s why he lost that chunk of time but still all the stages before that final stage he wasn’t able to make a difference he was able to barely hang on um vazov was better in my opinion he
Took that stage win as well um hindley Andino adrio showed very good form as well um those are the two guys who were um team leaders last year now rogish comes in as the big guy for the team in the tour but um he has to yeah of course
It’s the project RIT and Rit will always be leader but the way vazov and hindley are writing right now and if they can grow um as the season moves on towards the grand tour season then I don’t think it’s that that obvious that’s that Rog going to be the
Main leader for them exactly shows that um RIT shouldn’t take his role as team leader for granted you have to work for it you have to prove yourself and if hinley and V of continue the way they performing now andish is is yeah not upping his game then there will more
Than one leader at Tour of France I think but that’s of course still a long way to go but what stroke me as well was the way RIT gave his interviews he was always smiling laughing very optimistic and yeah saying we learned a lot okay I
Get that you learned a lot but he he didn’t really seem to care about being in 10th place or something like that so he was clearly not worrying right now so I don’t know what his next races are probably Catalonia yeah one of those two or Bas country country
And that’s against even I think so yeah curious I was going to say something like ah his coach um Lambert lamber I don’t recall his name um said um he’s pushing good numbers um he’s not worse than he was last year um I doubt it um to be honest
Because otherwise you’re not losing a less a little less than six minutes um but here you you can hear it yourself the way he he if those quotes are correct he’s pushing good numbers um if someone is in great shape the trainer would say he’s pushing the best numbers
Ever um you say RIT is not worse than last year if rogich was good he would have said rugit is way better than last year you see it’s it’s it’s a way of saying things yeah so he has to panic about his current shape um behind closed
Doors I suppose he he can be happy with this par I like RIT is up and top professional um you can like him or dislike him but the guy lives um for the sport and he has to know that this is far from good enough and to get his big
Target the way we’ve known Rish the past years is that he was always there um for the win in races of one week like pinis for instance but I had now the feeling that he was still building up his shape and if he wasn’t building up his shape then he really has a
Problem all right we have to move on to the next team because this podcast is taking quite a lot more time that we than we planned but I think it’s quite some nice discussion so let’s move on to um bahin Victorious um their leader for Milan Sano mate Mo without a doubt um
They have Fred right in the team as well but he didn’t perform um that good this season so far um so their big best hope and biggest hope is moori again if he’s able to stick with the main favorites on pojo he can do it again in descend with
His um special I don’t know what’s it name again saddle thing The Dropper The Dropper post yeah um I don’t know if you want to add anything more to the bahin Victoria squad for Sano no I think all is said about that if por has the legs on the uphill and
Yeah kicks some ass again in The Descent then he might be there yeah then a little mention for um buo and pinis um he started there uh very strong um with a stage win um he went in on adventure with Luke PL um I was able to drop him quite
Easily on the final uphill slopes was it stage three or four um he was right in a mix for General classification but then he crashed um in stage five or six and crashed again pretty bad in the the final stage um he went to the hospital
But there were no no serious injuries um luckily so if he’s able to hop back on his bike um pretty soon um bahen Victorius has um yeah a GC guy on their hands for one week stage races to start with and maybe maybe he can grow towards a
Protected role in a grand T but still encouraging performance foro wasn’t he uh Podium finisher in Le he was or he was top five I don’t know he has been close so you have you need to have quite some volume to to do that then we talked about the adventure
He had together with Luke PL um he was able to finish top 10 in general classification in Paris um his first season within team Jaco alula after two seasons within the Inus ranks um he can be happy the Australian with his part absolutely um you often see it when
Australians get home at the jao alula they start to perform again so that’s another example a good week of racing for uh clappy when we talk about Jak alula we always have um a thought about Caleb euan as well yes he went on an adventure beautiful adventure to Lotto sudal lotto
Destiny um who ended up um in a quite horrendous way he’s back now um in the team where at El began um in 2021 uh Yan was among the strongest strongest Riders on top of the PUO and maybe even the strongest um he W he didn’t have the luck that there was a
Teammate in the team back then to keep the group together um so he wasn’t able to Sprint For the Win um he’s lining up again um in Sano um this year can he find that same climbing legs he had in 2021 yeah probably not um I remember
Saying for the two round under preview that y would have um yeah an excellent season man I was wrong um he won the crit race at the national Criterium I think in Australia and after that I thought he was launched um new team new start but then he won at tour of Oman
Not against the strongest sprinters but that’s it so I think he’s having trouble again I don’t know what the problem is but for Sano nope I don’t think so who’s the main man for Jak alula in Simo yeah I don’t know profal list of course yeah Michael Matthews was at the start
Of parin but then got sick so I don’t know if he’s recovered um but an interesting name that is probably also on your sheet is Moto Schmidt but yeah is it enough to play a significant role in the race um if Matthews is 100% he’s the man in my
Opinion all right then we have a couple of teams left to talk about um first launching um a lot of Destiny towards you um there we have um the weird story with an the um it all started yeah it all started actually in the early season season where he wasn’t
Able to get a win and so he’s still on um zero um for victories this season then he went um into the open weekend he did it um very good in om new belot he was in the yeah in the favorite group but wasn’t able to um win it and then he
Was obliged I don’t know question mark to go to lamin um was it o obliged we don’t know because it’s in a race in woni in in um French um side of Belgium where he he’s born um and raised he crashed there and I have the feeling
Something snapped and in his head um during that crash he was very angry he yelled thanks to the the team DS um in the car um yeah this crappy race Etc I can’t recall it completely um where the team DS backed him to stay on the bike
And ride till the Finish um yeah the Lee decided to to ride to the bus and hop in the bus um it was a small crash so yeah that wasn’t the small crash but we thought nothing to worry about because the team didn’t communicate a lot um he
Lined up normally at the start of and P but then he dnfed um pretty early into P um second or third stage already and then um a couple of days ago the team announced he’s not going to m Sano but he’s riding um BR Co the classic and he the da
Instead to get um some race Rhythm towards the big targets being again wam R Etc so a long story um short question is there a mental issue um for Dilly yeah I think he’s struggling um before the season really started we all had high hopes and I think he had High
Hopes um himself as well I think he put a yeah he simply put too much pressure on him on himself and I think he cracked a little uh because of that his omope knees ball was really good excellent race the result wasn’t there because he didn’t want to Sprint for Place nine um
He said um but yeah he he needs to to take it easy be calm um take some time and then once he has that first Victory I think he will be launched again so he has to win a race as soon as possible to get a bit of Peace in his
Head um the sooner the better yeah so da or or um BR is a good choice by the team to give him some confidence there um to try and get that win yeah I can’t see him win Bren a CO the classic to be honest that’s more of
A sprinter race um and I don’t think um I don’t know if philipsson or t or guys like that M are lining up there but if if the Lee has to Sprint against those guys I can’t see him win um but yeah I I hope we get to see nice things this
Spring from AR herbin T is on the provisional list for um BR together with grunen um so that or already two pretty fast sprinters um so it will be difficult maybe da um should suit him a bit better than BR um cobbles raw power
Um so the Lee um the big man for parin um for lotto Destiny um abandoned pretty early um comput um used the freedom um after that abandon um to show himself um and he was pretty strong he was I think I think he went into the
Attack on the final day um he was on his own for a for a long time and finished in 11 place so it was a tough stage but yeah compar is compar so no dele for lot of Destiny in um Milano but in my opinion um and you
Probably don’t hear that a lot out of my out of my mouth but they line up quite an interesting team um with Maxim van Hills who was very strong in Str bian with a CED burlin who started his season very strong um a compage who pre previously mentioned is in a pretty good
Shape um so yeah nothing is a must um for this Lotto um Squad in Sano but they have um quite a who Chances with van Hills maybe Maxim van Hills is the man yeah top five incoming top five incoming what are the odds for that on batting sites I don’t
Know all right anything more to add about the Belgian pro team no I don’t I don’t think so all right then I have um to end it off um a couple of individuals left um within Deaton a m team um I wrote down sadly no
Go comes too soon for him um after his crash um in the opening weekend in k um Co NE is in a good shape in the best shape he has been the past um two seasons do you expect something from him yeah it’s he has 10 Race days so far
This season I think he ended up six or seven times in top 10 so that means the shape is really there um and the final of Sano suits him but yeah can he win it that will be difficult I think now we have another French team
With cofidis um their main man um is Axel Zangle um who started his season strong as well in provance but then had to abandono adriatico um stage seven and finished today um in Milano Torino in a Anonymous 119th Place mostly saving legs for Saturday um it’s possible um same story as k for
Me um yeah K is is better on the uphill but has less of a Sprint and Zangle is not stronger on the uphill but has uh a kick in the end but to win yeah once again winning Sano is really hard um and I I don’t think Axel zangler has
Everything it takes uh to win but a nice result is is definitely possible yeah then the last last team um I want to Spotlight is AF education easy post we already talked talked about betol and his phenomenal attack in Torino just to test his legs um but besides bet we also
Have n pus in the team um he suff he’s suffering from a knee issue injury um I saw he tested two or three times on the indoor rollers already um his Trava shows us that um but it doesn’t says a lot um of course Paul is within in 100%
Shape or PO is in 80% shape is a big difference surely in Sano where you have to be 100% but imagine imagine him being in his shape he wants to be um is he one of the strong Outsiders yeah well paa said this year it’s time to harvest and take some big
Wins and within the classics but yeah those knee injuries I don’t know he he has having some trouble all season long he dnf to Grand Camino had trouble in s bian then tyo once again problems um yeah doesn’t predict a lot of good things but if he is 100% he
Is among the strong Outsiders yes but I’m afraid he won’t he won’t make it all right so I made this preparation for the podcast um yesterday um and I’m comparing it right now to the star that erit rotina gave um on our X account and there is only one name missing
Um in our list it’s a writer for from Israel it’s Corbin strong he receives one star from um apil do you agree with apil because you disagreed um for Ghana um if I Rec correctly so what about strong yeah Corbin strong is um for me the stronger
Version of uh Axel Zang I know what he did um he has the kick it takes in the end and he is uh better on the uphill so I can understand why he gives him one star yeah all right um the question Sprint Solo or small group I’m not not asking
You I’m asking you two more things um your favorite and your Dark Horse oh I should have known you with ask that um I think mat Peterson will win um Milano and my Dark Horse will probably not be dark enough again for you so I heard I’m quite boring this season
So a dark horse yeah give me your favorite first I I’ll have a a thought I’m going to be very boring with my favorite and I think it’s h going to be a a back to back for mat VPO mhm that that went too fast and I
Already have a name in mind for my Dark Horse thing as well of course I prepared it but still okay my Dark Horse I don’t know if it’s yeah is it a dark horse if he’s in the list OFA uh well if it’s below
Um yeah if it has two stars we can argue if it has one star it’s yeah a light Dark Horse damn it had two in mind both two stars just mention him just mention I was going to say Maxima Hills yep um I can live with that it’s a
Yeah his odds on batting size probably won’t be that high because of his performance in Str bian so um looking at that it’s not that B I already know your is oh shoot he’s wearing an orange shirt he’s coming from South America yeah correct yonathan n is my Dark Horse for M
Sano that is it all right is it going to be mat VP or is it going to be the pjo from pachar um we will know on Saturday that’s a wrap for today’s domestic cycling podcast a big thank you to our audience for tuning in if you enjoyed this
Episode consider supporting us on coile link is in the description and if you’re on YouTube hit subscribe and turn on notifications we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you next time ciaoo byebye I got the SP Lo the sickness there’s be twins in my brain
1 Comment
No mention of Bini he will be the dark horse