Tokyo Olympics 2020 - Cycling

[Robbie Stewart]

I am thinking Lecomte will end up with gold. Rissveds and Prevot will be fighting it out for silverware. 

in the mens, I am of strong opinion that Fluckiger has it. I am not sure MvdP is going to pull the full distance to take the win, but TdF has cast some doubt on that aspersion. Pidcock to cause some upsets. I am afraid I just don't see N1NO doing a double. I would gladly be proven wrong though.

All this is to say that the event actually takes place of course.

[kosmonooit]

The  spanner in the works is really the weather, its hard to describe that type of heat / humidity, nothing like we see in ZA. I've experienced the same quiet a lot in the Philippines, once I made the mistake of taking a bike there on a trip, the only times I could ride was early in the mornings or early evenings, the rest of the day spent sheltering in an air con room. 

So if the same conditions exits for the racing its going to be a matter of who can cope best, I think it will probably be outside most athletes comfort zones, perhaps the older and wiser will do better, like Mathias and Pendrel

[kosmonooit]

LIke who can pace themselves better, the whipper-snappers are likely to burn their matches boxes one time.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

N1no has been sandbagging 

he’s going out in style 

I have no idea what I’m talking about, what time is the gravel race, is Lachlan riding - are guys without beards allowed on the podium ?

[kosmonooit]

Further reading:

Tokyo Olympics: Experts warn Games chiefs about extreme heat

https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57904094

 

[TheoG]

Just now, kosmonooit said:

The  spanner in the works is really the weather, its hard to describe that type of heat / humidity, nothing like we see in ZA. I've experienced the same quiet a lot in the Philippines, once I made the mistake of taking a bike there on a trip, the only times I could ride was early in the mornings or early evenings, the rest of the day spent sheltering in an air con room. 

So if the same conditions exits for the racing its going to be a matter of who can cope best, I think it will probably be outside most athletes comfort zones, perhaps the older and wiser will do better, like Mathias and Pendrel

I beg to differ, try Richardsbay in summer (Nov - Feb), 30-40C with 80% plus humidity on a regular basis, you literally live from aircon to aircon, work-car-home ????.  Yes, its not easy to exercise in such conditions.

[6AL4V]

Grew up in Zululand and I can attest to the heat and humidity !

Northern Zululand is even worse than Empangeni / R Bay.

[kosmonooit]

1 hour ago, TheoG said:

I beg to differ, try Richardsbay in summer (Nov - Feb), 30-40C with 80% plus humidity on a regular basis, you literally live from aircon to aircon, work-car-home ????.  Yes, its not easy to exercise in such conditions.

Yup kinda the same but not quite,  my experience anyway.

[Mountain Bru]

3 hours ago, kosmonooit said:

Further reading:

Tokyo Olympics: Experts warn Games chiefs about extreme heat

https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57904094

 

So that rules Pogacar out.

(This thread made more sense when the road race was a separate discussion to the mtb race)

[Jewbacca]

The 2010 Common Wealth Games in Delhi had similar heat/humidity coupled with the bad air.

Luckily Noida was a little bit out of the way, but it was not great. I remember the Australians adapted to those games quickly.

Maybe an Australian on form? Ben O'Connor?

[Vetplant]

 

There is a whole thread on the mugshots of cyclists at the Olympics, enjoy.

[Vetplant]

Funny thing where WvA and GvA will be riding for Belgium, but they will be doing so on different machines. WvA on his Cervelo and GvA on his BMC.

Wonder how the trade team dynamics will influence the racing.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/woutvanaert/2622446320990552871/

[Hairy]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/complete-entry-list-tokyo-2021-olympic-mountain-bike-race.html

[FootballingCyclist]

Ok ok, I'll be the 1st to admit I never ever thought the kit would look as good as it does. Even though it's not made by Castelli or Bioracer or Santini like alot of the other countries kits so they've got Aero socks and gloves and all the rest, I must say I think Maxed/Mr Price have done well with this one. Ashleigh even has the SA flag on the cuff of the bib and right sleeve, which I'm assuming is because she was the previous SA Ladies Road champ(I may be wrong but haven't seen any of the others in their kit). So well done to Maxed/Mr Price Sports. (Ps, I'll never wear their actual kit out of the store, the fit is horrible)

 

Edit: on closer inspection, I may be wrong, But seems the kit may have been made by Tactic, whose kits are kinda cool

Edited July 21, 2021 by FootballingCyclist

[Vetplant]

47 minutes ago, Hairy on a Davidson said:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/complete-entry-list-tokyo-2021-olympic-mountain-bike-race.html

"New Zealand" on that list nudged a memory of mine.

Whatever happened to Sam Gaze? He was on-the-up, winning the Argus a couple of years back... should have been the start of big things for him. ????‍♂️

[Duane_Bosch]

15 minutes ago, Vetplant said:

"New Zealand" on that list nudged a memory of mine.

Whatever happened to Sam Gaze? He was on-the-up, winning the Argus a couple of years back... should have been the start of big things for him. ????‍♂️

Depression. Seems to be a bit of a recurring thing with elite cyclists