A random racing thread for non Grand Tour stuff.

[Salvatore]

Start of the British Road Racing season 

Unusually warm and dry out today, racing close to Portsmouth. Alex Dowsett and Ed Clancy were out, but didn't place. Great to have racing back on the roads.

https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2024/02/11/2024-portsdown-classic-report-and-results/

The view from Alex Dowsett's GoPro: https://youtu.be/L7l-PL5iads?si=yaIZeHScSKH4vGJ3

[MattH]

Thanks for that  It was a fantastic day to be out on the bike, that video shows how good the domestic scene is.

[andyoxon]

Nasty crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. 

ETA.  WvA has 7 broken ribs, broken sternum, & collarbone. 

[andyoxon]

   Another nasty crash @~35km to go on stage 4 of Itzulia Basque country.  Some of the big names also involved. 

[alfapete]

Yes, we saw that, and on a seemingly very moderate bend - the consequences were nasty.

I did wonder, though, whether the race would still have been neutralised if less famous names had been involved.

[andyoxon]

Apparently:

Jonas V - pneumothorax, broken collarbone / broken ribs
Remco - broken collarbone / fractured scapula
Jay V - fractured vertebrae
Roglic - battered, no fractures
Cras - pneumothorax, fractured ribs/vertebrae
Quinn - Concussion, sternum fracture
Tesfazion - battered, elbow injury

edit.

[fimm]

I did wonder, though, whether the race would still have been neutralised if less famous names had been involved.

If all the race ambulances and medical crew are being used to treat and move people, then they neutralise, regardless of who is injured.
(I saw a tweet somewhere that suggested that the riders effectively neutralised before the official decision.)

[Flâneur]

The first half of Visma-LaB's season (maybe all of it) appears to be in tatters.

[De Sisti]

Apparently:

Jonas V -  broken collarbone / broken ribs
Remco - broken collarbone / fractured scapula
Jay V - fractured vertebrae
Roglic - battered, no fractures
Cras - pneumothorax, fractured ribs/vertebrae

"Lidl-Trek confirmed that their rider Natnatel Tesfazion was among the riders who suffered the worst in the large crash at Itzulia Basque Country. The team confirmed that he was transported to hospital by ambulance for all the necessary checks."He never lost consciousness, despite the bad crash, but suffered numerous contusions and abrasions on the right part of his body," Lidl-Trek confirmed in a medical update.

"The medical examinations performed on Natnael revealed no fractures or concussion. Further treatment is currently underway, particularly on the right elbow, the most severe injury sustained by the rider."

[fimm]

I did wonder, though, whether the race would still have been neutralised if less famous names had been involved.

If all the race ambulances and medical crew are being used to treat and move people, then they neutralise or stop the race, regardless of who is injured.
(I saw a tweet somewhere that suggested that on this occasion the riders effectively neutralised before the official decision.)

[andyoxon]

Amstel Gold mens...

(click to show/hide)

Tom Pidcock! Quite a result having ripped his hands to shreds at PRoubx

[andyoxon]

Great finish on Mur de Huy in Fleche Wallonne - mens.    Cold one, though.

edit.

[JonBuoy]

Two great finishes

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Great finish on Mur de Huy in Fleche Wallonne - mens.    Cold one, though.

edit.

Didn't get to watch it, but that was a great win for a rider who has had some good results.  I also noticed that all 8 Norwegians finished - probably used to riding in cold weather.

[andyoxon]

FW24 mens finish... 1 min video: https://x.com/BritishCycling/status/1780606694755598816

[Flite]

A victory for wearing plenty of clothes and staying warm?

[andyoxon]

Skjelmose was in a bad way - bordeline / actually hypothermic?  Apparently some of the worse conditions on FW ever.

https://x.com/BenjiNaesen/status/1780614793956614641