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Bike racing in Belgium is now all the way back. After the false dawn of Opening Weekend our patience has been repaid as we enter the time of so-called ‘proper bike racing uh’.
But don’t let the cobbles and frites distract you from Remco Evenepoel getting pissy with Jonas Vingegaard in Catalunya, or Chris Froome’s latest shenanigans. Both are not to be missed.
(Respectfully) take a pull you goober 🙄
The Volta a Catalunya sprang into life on stage 3, as Remco Evenepoel attacked and was followed by only Jonas Vingegaard en route to the finish line in the vicinity of a theme park. Unfortunately, Vingegaard wasn’t in the mood for playing and refused to work, much to Evenepoel’s annoyance.
Nevertheless, the pair weren’t caught until the final few kilometres, where the heli-shot showed Evenepoel on the deck and Vingegaard sitting up and waiting for the bunch to catch him.
“The cooperation was amazing,” Evenepoel deadpanned when asked by reporters about riding with Vingegaard off the front. The Belgian also said his fall was caused by a “big hole” in the road. Intrepid reporter Sergi López-Egea later went to the scene of the crash and couldn’t find any hole to speak of. The mystery continues…
Either way, Vingegaard really should have worked with Evenepoel, for the sake of bike racing. Come on man! We know you’re riding for GC against Evenepoel, and may lose a few bonus seconds to the Red Bull rider if he bested you in the finish line sprint, but race your bike, goddamnit! Put on a show! More heart, less head.
For all of Evenepoel’s histrionics (which we love unconditionally anyway), at least he goes out there and races his bike, attacking into a crosswind just for the love of the game.
Chris Froome’s retirement plans? 🕺
Chris Froome’s unwillingness to officially retire (which presumably means he’s still holding out for a new contract or can’t face the prospect of calling it a day?) has now arrived at the point of solely being funny. And we’re pretty sure he’s in on the joke too.
Pro cycling has obviously been a big part of his life, festooning glory and riches unto him he hardly could have believed when starting out. But him simply posting through the uncertainty is good stuff. We’re all on tenterhooks each time something from his account pops up in the feed. Maybe he’ll never retire!
Cycling Weekly got “exclusive access to a press release” announcing Froome had become the new chief innovation officer at Vekta, an AI training platform, accompanied by some vintage Froome acting chops in the video announcement.
But of more interest is where Chris Froome headed next.
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