The Bike Lane :: Season 2, Episode 3

In this week's episode of The Bike Lane, Matt Keenan, Scott McGrory and I debrief on the Tour of Flanders, talk about which teams are worth their budget, discuss the mystical powers of beetroot juice, and put our tips in for this weekend's Paris-Roubaix. As always, feel free to leave your views and opinions in the comments below.

In Episode 3 of The Bike Lane’s Spring Classics season, Matt, Scott and I chat about various topics including:

Sagan’s pinch: Bridie O’donnell gives us her measured thoughts and we give some of our own.
Tour of Flanders debrief. Who rode well, and just as importantly, which teams rode well.
Paris-Roubaix preview. The moment we fell in love with the race, and who would we pick for the win (barring Cancellara).

You can also enjoy this episode on:

YouTube (uploading now…)
Vimeo
Podcast (uploading now…)

Special thanks to Ben Miller and John Hewat and the Bike Gallery for allowing us to film the show in their shop.

Eat this @petosagan #Scheldeprijs @laurensnuyens @lienc @majaleye twitter.com/StephsClerckx/…

— Stephanie Clerckx (@StephsClerckx) April 3, 2013

Even Maja is joking about it now…

Tags: 2013 Spring Classics, The Bike Lane

cyclingTips

Discussion Thread #1: Sagan’s Squeeze: Mountain out of a molehill? Or is there a bigger issue at stake?
- Pete
  
  I don’t think anyone could argue that what he did was right however I’m not sure that it’s worthy of the lead story on the age website yesterday…
- Pablo Jones
  
  Overblown.
- Pablo Jones
  
  Overblown.
- slhaydon
  
  cheeky banter from a cocky 23 year old. Move on everyone.
- Tim
  
  This is not a mountain out of a molehill. Sagan was wrong and he knows it – see his apology. I think his apology is genuine. BUT – as a sport we need to think why we need podium girls. In the past they were links to the region where the race was held. Kind of ambassadors. Now they are merely for men to look at.
  I believe they need to go. They are archaic. They reflect badly on our sport. They reflect badly on us as riders. I dont see male models kissing M. Vos.
  - cyclingTips
    
    Flanders Podium Girl Lien Crapoen appears to love her job. According to her twitter profile, “Loves her job! Loves her life! Can be found on quite a lot cycling races, behind and on the podium.”
    
    https://twitter.com/LienC
- pmark1bike
  
  Not sure Maja is to upset https://twitter.com/StephsClerckx/status/319479925885259776 Lets move on.
  - Nick Lothian
    
    Why not go by what she says?
    
    “What happened on Sunday was wrong. I hope this never happens again. But I’m sure it won’t…excuses accepted”
    
    https://twitter.com/MajaLeye/status/318831336871825410
    
    (I suspect “excuses” could be better expressed “apologies”)
  - Sam
    
    Actually, https://twitter.com/MajaLeye/status/318831336871825410
- pmark1bike
  
  Not sure Maja is to upset https://twitter.com/StephsClerckx/status/319479925885259776 Lets move on.
- candyman
  
  A shame to lead off with this story when there has been so much great cycling to talk about!
- John
  
  Put a couple of buff men in speedos up on the podium, and you see the real purpose of the podium girls.
  I like looking at beautiful women as much as the next middle-aged male cycling tragic, but surely it’s time the sport did away with this un-necessary display of anachronistic voyeurism?
  - Robert Merkel
    
    Agree totally.
    
    I’d add the following.
    
    * Yes, there are bigger issues in the world. But from that perspective pretty much *everything* in cycling, or sport more broadly, is trivial.
    * That said, just because there are bigger issues in the world, it doesn’t mean that we collectively shouldn’t push for small problems to be fixed.
    * If the wider world reacts negatively to something that occurs in your field of interest, it’s tempting to just assume that they don’t understand what’s going on and dismiss it. That’s a foolhardy attitude.
  - Robert Merkel
    
    Agree totally.
    
    I’d add the following.
    
    * Yes, there are bigger issues in the world. But from that perspective pretty much *everything* in cycling, or sport more broadly, is trivial.
    * That said, just because there are bigger issues in the world, it doesn’t mean that we collectively shouldn’t push for small problems to be fixed.
    * If the wider world reacts negatively to something that occurs in your field of interest, it’s tempting to just assume that they don’t understand what’s going on and dismiss it. That’s a foolhardy attitude.
- Nick Lothian
  
  It was nice picking up on the whole “too bad we’ve seen more of the podium girls on the men’s race than Vos on the podium in the women’s race” thing, but how about discussing Vos & the women’s race? The bit that I saw looked great, and Vos has to be the best cyclist since Merckx. I didn’t see Cancellara going and backing up his win with a lazy UCI MTB Race win the next day (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/537714/marianne-vos-from-tour-of-flanders-to-mountain-bike-victory.html)
  
  Another thing: I believe Sagan blamed a bet in his team for grabbing the girl’s ass on the podium. He said something similar about the whole “running man” victory salute at the Tour last year (which – right or wrong – Cancellara seems to have found in bad taste). Perhaps he should be more careful who he listens to in his team?
- Andy
  
  Is it wrong what he did? Definitely. It’s disrespectful, embarrassing and naive.
  
  Is it completely unexpected that a hot headed 23 year old succumbed to peer pressure, the heat of the moment, whatever else and did something a bit over the line and inappropriate? Of course not.
  
  Everyone goes through moments when they learn a life-lesson and I think Peter has just had one.
- The Potato Man
  
  One perspective that hasn’t been mentioned is that it was disrespectful to Cancellara. Sagan couldn’t outdo him in the race so he did on the podium, effectively stealing Canc’s thunder. The girl in question doesn’t seem too bothered by it, would be interested to hear what Fabian’s opinion was.
  
  Sagan is coming across as immature, a show off and a prat. Not someone I can respect and be inspired by. Hopefully he grows out of it.
cyclingTips

Discussion Thread #2: Which team is riding providing the best bang for their buck?
- Nick Lothian
  
  Blanco? They have won a lot this year, and all the riders seem very motivated for some strange reason…
  
  I agree that Europcar have been visible. IAM (who are also Pro Continental) have had riders is a lot of breaks too.
- Robert Merkel
  
  OGE haven’t had a great Classics season so far, but they keep popping up with wins here and there, and they seem to be getting a decent run in the local media (ABC Radio News gave Gerrans’ win in the Basque Country a run, for instance).
  
  I still reckon an Australian World Tour team with Australian sponsors looking for a commercial return is a struggle, but OGE are, in the main, making a decent fist of it.
- Dagoose
  
  Regarding BMC, they didn’t have a terrible classics season last year but it was all thanks to Ballan. I think they’re really missing him this year.
  I thinkn argos-shimano arebpretty good value, not sure how they sit in the budget ladder but
cyclingTips

Discussion Thread #3: Barring Fabian Cancellara, who’s your tip for Paris-Roubaix?
- Ro
  
  Would be good to see Chavenel or Boasson Hagen get in the mix. Both looked to have strong rides in Flanders.
- Notso Swift
  
  As much as I would love Haussler to preform a miracle, and Greipel was a monster at De Ronde, and everyone likes Chavanel as a smokey, and Sky had numbers late at Ronde
  
  But then, how could you bar Fab going solo from Le Carrefour
  - Notso Swift
    
    Couple more I have thought of, how about Sep Vanmarck, young, got a few classic wins, goes well on cobbles, right build
    Devolder was OK at Flanders as well, not the man he use to be but he did a bout 15kn on the front dragging the whole peloton solo after 200km. If he doesn’t work he could be sent out as a guard for the Shack, then if the move sticks he would be fresher
  - Notso Swift
    
    Couple more I have thought of, how about Sep Vanmarck, young, got a few classic wins, goes well on cobbles, right build
    Devolder was OK at Flanders as well, not the man he use to be but he did a bout 15kn on the front dragging the whole peloton solo after 200km. If he doesn’t work he could be sent out as a guard for the Shack, then if the move sticks he would be fresher
    - Dan
      
      I wouldnt be surprised if Sky one, they clearly have all the ‘marginal gains’ however they dont want to be too obvious winning all the classics but the biggest one I expect them to win or atleast get close to.
    - Sam
      
      Good call!
- cyclingTips
  
  I can’t believe nobody is with me on Terpstra!
  - Notso Swift
    
    Not a bad choice with a big Engine, then you could say th same about Gustav Lasson or Lars Boom (who you would take if it was wet but it is dry)
- Dan Wilkins
  
  Taylor Phinney!
  - Brent Parish
    
    Ill back Phinney too!
- Ankush Agarwal
  
  hands down, Sebastien Turgot
- Nick Lothian
  
  I like Terpstra too!
  
  I’ve had Michal Kwiatkowski in my fantasy team since the start of the season. Not sure I’m tipping to win exactly, but I think he’ll do well.
  
  Other roughies: Offredo, Hayman & Stannard, Phinney
- Dorian Dowse
  
  He might be a tool, but you’d be a fool, if you were to rule out Peter Sagan.
  - Notso Swift
    
    Of course I’d say you would be a fool to back him, since he isn’t starting
    He is being rested for Amstel
    - Dorian Dowse
      
      DOH!
- Michael in Sydney
  
  Haussler
- Abdu
  
  Keeno’s on the money, didn’t Degenkolb finish 5th last year, if so not bad for a young’un. He’s my tip
- Robert Merkel
  
  It’s a lottery. There are probably a dozen guys that might win from the peloton if Cancellara is neutralized, and several dozen more who might win if an early break stays away.
  
  Tactically, given that everybody fears Cancellara, might we see an early break featuring some strong riders, kinda like the Olympic road race?
  - Dave
    
    I agree, this is a race where a defensive move could well turn into a winning move, although at the Olympics it was kind of funny that the man they were defending against couldn’t even lead his bunch over the line!
- Sean Doyle
  
  I’ll throw Thor in there. Not a fan of his but he idolises the PR and I reckon he might just ‘come good’ at the right time. To negate FC a couple fo the favourites are going to have to come together and just attack the shit out of him and take a chance that they might not be the straw to break the camels back. What have they got to lose?
- Matthew Conway
  
  I’m backing Durbridge as a late entry to shock them all and pull it off by beating Cancellara at his own game with a solo win
- Clasicómano Luigi
  
  I’d tip Langeveld. He was riding relatively easy on the cobbled climbs in Flanders, but was stuck behind EBH and Chavanel at the decisive moment on the climb of Oude Kwaremont.
- lefthandside
  
  News just in: Turbo Durbo to win Paris Roubaix on debut!
cyclingTips

Discussion Thread #4: What was the moment you fell in love with Paris-Roubaix?
- Notso Swift
  
  Not love but respect, late 80’s I think I saw Sunday in Hell on tape, Merckx, RdV, Maertens, Moser at their peaks, I was a Kelly fan and he had won a couple of times by then, kind of sealed it
- Justin
  
  1968 via the magazine International Cycle Sport. To see pics and read of Merckx, Van Springel and Godefroot et al had a mesmerising effect on this young cyclist.
- Matt Keenan
  
  Another one for me was the article in Winning magazine about the photo finish between Eddy Planckaert and Steve Bauer in the 1990 Roubaix. And John Tomac was the last official finisher that year. I thumbed the ink off the pages of that magazine.
  - Notso Swift
    
    Tomac there is a blast from the past he was HUGE in the US glossies and the first serious MTB crossover… was he running the Rock shocks, I remember Lemond experimenting with them in those days as well
- Brent Parish
  
  I only started road cycling last year so seeing Boonen solo to the finish last year is what did it for me!
  - Brent Parish
    
    This series of videos did it for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ZXSjDNpBE
- PeterC
  
  Seeing Robbie McEwen running RockShox on his Colnago first tweaked my interest. Any road race needing RockShox had to be something special.
- Mike
  
  1988. Riding in that dust. I’m still coughing.
- Sean Doyle
  
  I prefer the Rhonde. A bit less of a lottery in my books but PR is close behind just for the sheer spectacle. I would like to see the Rhonde mix up the last 100km each year though and not have a predictable circuit race happening.
cyclingTips

Discussion Thread #5: Feel free to suggest the topics you’d like us to include in our next episode (i.e. interviews, segment ideas, tips, topic discussions, etc)
- John
  
  With the colder weather approaching I would like a segment that looks at winter clothing. The different layers you should use at particular temps etc.
  gloves, booties, long sleeve tops.
  I commute to work & the mornings are starting to get cold & plan on doing more night rides up mountains. I use short sleeve top with arm warmer but found out on a recent ride that that wasn’t enough up the mountain as it was raining also. I did have a wind proof vest on but I froze coming down.
  Knowing what gear works at what temps would help out. There is a lot to choose from but we all know that some gear is better than others & knowing which one to pick is the hard part especially since it is so expensive. You want it to work.
  - Matt Keenan
    
    Good suggestion John. I got depressingly close to putting leg-warmers on today for the first time this year.
    - Scott McGrory
      
      Matt you need a trip to the ‘bush’ mate, we’ve been running leg warmers for a week now! Good timing John, we’re getting close to that time of the year when clothing becomes very important.
      - dcaspira
        
        +1
        
        I’d be interested in Scott’s thoughts of layers vs technical do it all in one jackets. I recall Scott saying he’s a big fan of layers. And, I’m wondering how he manage them on long 5-6 hr rides (early morn.) and where does he stash all of them as the day warms up.
  - Angelo D
    
    I found these help: gillet, knee warmers, merino base layer and cap for the rain.
- dcaspira
  
  Following on from the Sagan thing – perhaps some more discussion on etiquette?
  
  Winters coming on – lots of people with snotty noses and discharging all over the place. What’s the etiquette to avoid / manage mishaps when people drop a snot-block on or near you ?
  
  Drafting – should people ask if it’s OK that they draft off you on a training ride? vice-versa
  Is there a difference in cultures for this sort of thing: in the country are people more likely to ask, than say people on beach road? or OS?
  
  (ps – great show guys, getting stronger every time – thanks for putting this content together for us)
- Pete
  
  Guest presenter each week would be a killer addition to the show… rider? (ex?) management (local or domestic team?) sponsor? perhaps the secret pro could make an appearance… with a mask on of course.
  - Scott McGrory
    
    You’ll be pleasantly surprised pretty soon Pete.
- lefthandside
  
  Here’s a suggestion: best domestiques in the pro peleton. Who would you want fetching your waterbottles, shielding you from the wind etc and why?
Ro

Regarding the Beetroot juice topic. I always find the contrasting attitude towards supplement and PEDs interesting. What makes the reaction so different? Just that one is unproven, or has minimal effects. While the other has larger effects? Both could be unhealthy if taken to extremes. Whats the real difference?
- Robert Merkel
  
  That’s a very, very good question.
- Robert Merkel
  
  That’s a very, very good question.
- Alan McCubbin
  
  Hi Ro, this is definitely an ethical debate, in which I doubt a consensus will ever be reached. But as a lot of people have been expressing their opinion in the last few days I’ve set up a poll on my FB page to capture people’s thoughts on the topic. I’m happy to report back on the results after a week or so. https://www.facebook.com/nextlvlnut
  - Ro
    
    Personally I figure its human nature to want more. We’d all love some superhuman abilities. If we could get them without side effects the majority would. Im not talking cheating, im just talking human improvement aided by science. Something which happens every day.
  - Ro
    
    Personally I figure its human nature to want more. We’d all love some superhuman abilities. If we could get them without side effects the majority would. Im not talking cheating, im just talking human improvement aided by science. Something which happens every day.
- Nick Lothian
  
  Supplements are never harmful in normal circumstances and can be taken without medical supervision. OTOH drugs can be harmful when used as designed.
  
  Yes, the line is blurry – see caffeine for example. But generally that’s a pretty reasonable guideline.
- Nick Lothian
  
  Supplements are never harmful in normal circumstances and can be taken without medical supervision. OTOH drugs can be harmful when used as designed.
  
  Yes, the line is blurry – see caffeine for example. But generally that’s a pretty reasonable guideline.
Paul T

Great episode guys – the sound was perfect too.
Might a future topic suggestion be tailored toward the practice of littering. Every race we see pro’s throwing bottles and gel wrappers into the countryside – what a bad example to all the youngsters and general cyclists we wish to inspire. If race organisers picked up every piece of litter then maybe we could forgive this practice, but surely it’s time for the organisers, the teams and the individual riders to take responsibility for this?

It would be great if more time was devoted to women’s racing too – the only way we’ll see change in attitudes towards women’s racing is if high profile and respected outlets start giving it more profile.
Keep up the good work.
- Carl
  
  Have to totally agree here. Especially regarding littering. It frustrates me to see punctured tubes and energy wraps strewn around the beautiful landscapes that we can take for granted each day. It’s not hard to shove the wrapper in your back pocket. It takes about a minute to patch a tube with glueless patches these days and put back in your saddle bag.
  
  Littering. It’s not pro, it looks shit and makes cyclists look bad.
Henry

The beetroot juice discussion was interesting. CA released its supplements guidelines recently and in them they effectively ban juniors from taking beetroot juice. This is despite, elsewhere on the CA site, there being a study on the very topic espousing its benefits of beetroot juice. Hard for juniors to work out why adults can have but they can’t when its not banned, is all natural and all their heroes take it!
Henry

The beetroot juice discussion was interesting. CA released its supplements guidelines recently and in them they effectively ban juniors from taking beetroot juice. This is despite, elsewhere on the CA site, there being a study on the very topic espousing its benefits of beetroot juice. Hard for juniors to work out why adults can have but they can’t when its not banned, is all natural and all their heroes take it!
- Scott McGrory
  
  Isn’t that interesting. Perhaps we should get a statement from CA on this?
Nicholas Marshall

Europcar are so popular here in France, with Omega Pharma coming a close second. Europcar hire vehicles have cyclists in team colours on their sides and Thomas Voeckler is everywhere in the football magazines and general sports press. Huge.
Anonymous

Matt and Scott to replace Paul and Phil ASAP
- Anonymous
  
  That definitely should happen. Heartily sick of Paul’s evergreen pearls, plus Paul and Phil seem to be resting on their laurels latterly, maybe not doing the study of riders. Matt and Scott started well and have got steadily better – terrific job chaps.
  
  And congrats on another good Bike Lane. I look forward to it.
Trevor Seaman

Living in Singapore maybe i should get the distributorship for SE Asia for the beetroot juice
dave

3TERPSTRA, NikiNEDOMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP31

who’s laughing now….

The Bike Lane :: Season 2, Episode 3

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