Ah, it’s another week of fun and frivolity in the pro-cycling peloton. This week, it’s mainly about the gorgeous Tour de la Provence, which gave us hours of viewing enjoyment. But there’s also peloton bromances, Sepp on skis and Cav sprinting … GO
Ganna gone
Tour de la Provence was a cracking race – not least because of the presence of Filippo Ganna. Who is 88kg at the moment.
@RealStephens @AdamBlythe89 hi guys – great to hear your commentary today, really enjoying it. Just a small thing though – isn’t Ganna 80kg, rather than 88kg?
I mean, it’s still a lot bigger than Coquard and everything, but it’s not quite 88…— Tricky Hawes (@trickyhawes) February 13, 2022
Straight from the horse’s mouth … 88kg
Pippo is a gem 😄 https://t.co/89YHznFxrQ
— Cycling What Ifs (@cyclingwhatifs) February 11, 2022
You do have to wonder if all the marginal gains stuff is still a thing with Ineos. How could they have missed that Ganna’s bike change was against the rules? He hauls his 88kg up the final climb of the stage for what … a DSQ
Yeah didn’t get bike from team car. Was switching to rim brake Pinarello. Guess they thought if he flatted, he could limit time loss with wheel exchange. But yeah, against rules.
— Fred (@fredfalcone) February 13, 2022
To be clear, Lena’s soup break did not cause Ganna’s disqualification …
I just cooked some soup and Ganna is now disqualified?
— Lena (@reathina) February 13, 2022
Just a little bit more from Ganna
Italian stallions 🇮🇹🤣👊🏻 https://t.co/coQKExKAEV
— Luke Rowe (@LukeRowe1990) February 14, 2022
Love Peloton Style
🤔 WHAT IF… You could pick your favorite cycling duo?
It could be :
– A romantic duo (Viviani 💗 Cecchini)
– A dynamic duo (Cav 💗 Morkov)
– A special duo (Pogi 💗 TDF)Love is on the bike 💛
Have fun with this Valentine's special "what if"!#cyclingwhatifs
— Cycling What Ifs (@cyclingwhatifs) February 14, 2022
Sorry, half read that as Walter Matthau 🤣
— SuzeCY (@festinagirl) February 14, 2022
Let LouLou be LouLou
Alaphilippe is just one of those riders – sometimes he gets it swash-buckling right, sometimes he gets it swash-buckling wrong. But either way, he rides on instinct and gives it a go, willing to take the consequences for good or for ill. What’s not to like?
This is why Alaphilippe is one of my favourite cyclists. The normal tactic would have been to stay calm, don't follow Nairo and put Ilan Van Wilder work for him, sprint like hell at the end. What he did? He tried to follow a flying Colombian. GOTTA LOVE LOULOU! 😍 #TDLP2022 https://t.co/G6D2vXRcES
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) February 13, 2022
Pippo coming in only 1'23" down?! 👏🏼👏🏼
Brilliant week for @INEOSGrenadiers, and a wholly great week of racing at @TourProvenceOFF!! Loved it.#TDLP
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) February 13, 2022
But for all the LouLou love and Ganna fangirls, it was Nairo Quintana that won the whole thing. Of course, now there will be all those ‘Quintana to win the Tour’ nonsense, which, let’s face it, IS nonsense. But good to see him attacking!
21-year-old Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose is in pretty good company on Tour de la Provence GC podium. Nairo Quintana and Julian Alaphilippe two other cyclists on stage with him. #TDLP2022 pic.twitter.com/7Ogi1zr7rH
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) February 13, 2022
Along with the calibre of riders at the utterly delightful Tour de la Provence, we also were treated to the platinum standard of commentators with Adam Blythe and Matt Stephens at the microphone. Fabulous
My non-controversial opinion is that @AdamBlythe89 is the most natural expert cycling commentator I have heard. Works perfectly with anyone he is partnered with and his in-race analysis is so on the money. #gcn #TourDeLaProvence
— Phil O'Flaherty (@manwithapln) February 13, 2022
He's also very fair, as he was a rider.
Ethan Hayter is having a mare, and Adam smooths over the mistake of a young rider.
Riding at the back is ridiculous, he keeps doing it and it is losing him positions and possibilities… can't believe the team don't pick him up.
— anenglishmaninspain (@AndyElche) February 12, 2022
Cofidis Corner
Bryan Coquard went so fast because he was being chased by Ganna. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Vintage Coquard, ruling the roost with that uphill acceleration of old… just need to remember his new jersey design 🐔 https://t.co/PXRl1Ro0Yu
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) February 12, 2022
🙋♂️hands up if you thought Ganna couldn’t sprint- he’s not the cleanest sprinter but has some power even though he didn’t take the win. Coquard chalks another one up for Cofidis, Alaphillipe gets some bonifications for second #TDLP2022 pic.twitter.com/cOzOqyNulN
— Peter. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🚴♂️ (@PBXscribes) February 12, 2022
On the bike that Cofidis kit looks even better. Sharp. Proper sharp. #TDLP22
— Rich Mitch (@rich_mitch) February 12, 2022
This can only be described as ‘fan logic’
Stage podium at Provence:
3) World Champ ITT
2) World Champ Road
1) Bryan Coquard of CofidisWhich must now make Coquard the best rider in the world. Well done @bryancoquard
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) February 12, 2022
Cofidis and FDJ are having heated discussions sounds very much like our group chat
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) February 11, 2022
Uno-X v BB
Uno-X weren’t given a Tour de France wildcard. Why oh why not?
ASO: Here are our teams for the Tour De France.
Uno-X: pic.twitter.com/l3U9e2pBfy
— Arrière du peloton – (@reardupeloton) February 12, 2022
But remember, success is the best revenge.
Plus een hele knappe 3e plek voor @LucWirtgen in het algemene klassement. Morgenvroeg terug naar Nederland!✈️ pic.twitter.com/Tdzq6irg13
— Bas Tietema (@BasTietema) February 13, 2022
Being French
— Quicklink Podcast (@QuicklinkPod) February 12, 2022
The Gruppetto
Cav has started as he means to go on …
Cav freelancing to victory! What an absolute dude 🤩#TourofOman https://t.co/Sad3MwvsJF
— Dan Deakins (@DanDeakins) February 11, 2022
Sepp on skis!
Starting the ‘22 race season a little 🥵🥴…different this year 🤘
So fun to be back in the XC scene again and to meet new people from a different sports community! pic.twitter.com/z4pGniE6W9
— Sepp Kuss (@seppkuss) February 13, 2022
There have been a couple of tweets about this bull …
🤯 🤯 The Rock Cobbler race.
He’s ok FYI 👍 pic.twitter.com/bfv9YhwZ4u— Peter Stetina (@peterstetina) February 13, 2022
The last word
'You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you' (Andy Warhol)#QuotableArtist 43/365#quoteoftheday pic.twitter.com/mds4MZDvlm
— Abi Goodman ⏳ (@Abi__Goodman) February 13, 2022