Not to disagree with you or flick him, but I also think these super athletes are hardwired to win— and anything less is frustration and disappointment. Which sometimes leads to outbursts like from Nys and many from Remco. It’s a lack of impulse control or emotional maturity that erupts when their own lofty expectations are not met.
I don’t have the time around youngsters like Rick and Fredly, but I compare that against Pogacar (both now and his young version) and his protege Torito, as well as MvdP. Those guys fail fast, briefly stewing on it and then directing it in a positive way (and are largely gracious in defeat to a superior opponent). Pogacar getting beaten by Venga at the Tour. Torito goofing the Giro. MvdP losing to Pogacar at Flanders. They learn from the mistakes and then lay the wood instead of getting stuck in a negative loop. I think that is a crucial trait of the best of the best — the mental fortitude to deal with it, move on, and grow from failures.
Absolutely, the ability to accept what’s happened, learn and move on rather than raging at factors out of your control, that’s a really valuable attribute to have and a big part of why those guys are so good.
I think it would be fair to say I wasn’t really a fan of Remco early on. I think confidence is a big part of a winning attitude, and when you’re so good so young, it’s easy to get cocky. And then when things don’t go your way (and when you’re under a massive weight of expectation) the frustration boils over, and I think it’s natural to lash out.
In every sport there are athletes that have that bigger picture mentality, where they handle things well and move on when things don’t go well. But there are also really good athletes who tap that vein of brash (over)confidence and it seems to be a part of their winning formula (most of the time). Particularly young men. Many grow out of it. Some don’t. I think the transition from the junior ranks to competing against the best grown men in the world helps this process, but it can make for a rude awakening at the time.
The team still exists, Adams still owns it (but is stepping back on terms of active involvement). They will no longer be registered in Israel (maybe will move to Canada?), and won’t have the “I” or the “PT” in their name next year, when they are slated to move up to the World Tour. Seems like there’s still a lot to figure out here. Is the team folding a possibility?
IPT is losing the I and the PT..that doesn’t sound good. Adams is close to Netanyahu so even if puts his own money I think the anti Israel mob will still target the team.
It’s disappointing that a radical left sponsored mob (ETA terrorists and other troublemakers, supported by Spain’s PM) did some serious damage to one of our three grand tours (Oscar Pereiro’s post race interview was heart breaking) and at least a couple of much needed sponsors. Moreover, this political agenda will likely cost a young rider (Gee) at least a few couple thousand bucks in lawyer fees (best case scenario).
Are there any new sponsors for 2026? Have only heard about the ones leaving the sport: Arkea, B&B, Circus, Dstny, I, PT…
Anti mob?…I think there are a bunch of people who are anti genocide on either side. I hope GeeC and anyone not pro genocide have a team that can house them.
I find it interesting that no one is protesting hamas executing hundreds of palestinian civilians, jacking and killing aid truck drivers, or sending children to scout around IDF troops., I don’t see anyone outraged about thousands of Christians getting massacred in Nigeria. The terrorists played millions of left wing Westerners into protesting certain issues but turning a blind eye on others.
This is getting a bit coffee shop topic, so let’s just agree that we have very different views on the topic, perhaps it is because I have friends that actually lived in the area and still have relatives there, and they are not from Israel by the way. Cheers.
Can he foot the entire bill for the team? Despite moving the team and renaming it, I’d imagine getting sponsors signed on remains a challenge at this point. Not great when your move to the WT coincides with a dramatic drop in budget. And currently it looks like their signings have not made up for the riders they’ve lost. Bini was rumoured to be heading there a while ago, not sure what the status of that is.
Given cross season is underway, and we’ve been talking a little about the state of cx racing in North America, I’m wondering what the local racing scene looks like for you.
Up here we have 9-race series, every Sunday through the fall. Starts at U11 and goes from there, and we get around 200 racers overall for a typical race. Some fast folks show up, we do get the occasional road pro or ex-road pro. We have some juniors that head over and race in Europe. Between road racing, MTB and cross, it’s our cross series that is the best at developing young racers (as an example it’s this series where Derek Gee got into racing). I can’t really comment on whether participation is growing or shrinking, but I think it’s been pretty stable. It’s a regional series though, there are others like it but in Canada anyway there’s no national or provincial level series. Basically, if you’re fast and want stiffer competition, you can race the provincial, national, or pan-am championships. It’s common for some of our young riders to go down and race some USCX races. There are also some kids who will go over to Belgium for the kerstperiode. Overall I think cross is pretty healthy as a pipeline into racing, but is more or less non-existent at the elite level.
There is a disappointing lack of cross where I’m at. I feel like cross is a great way to build the engine and acquire handling skills.
I’m curious for those of you who are American and know the history. Did Armstrong kind of kill cycling here? I feel like I know a lot of people into cycling, but the racing isn’t nearly as robust as it used to be from what I’m told. Except gravel.
I don’t think LA killed American cycling. If anything, the attention he brought to it (good and bad) lives on. Kind of like using steroids. Lasting affects.
I think that cycling in general here is still a “those people” sport/activity here for the most part. The almighty automobile reigns supreme and those people are in the way. Until that motorist has a family member who is a cycling enthusiast, racer, whatever, they’re not going to embrace it.
There’s a curmudgeonly old farmer here who is just the kind of guy to run a cyclist off the road. And then I raced with his son and grandson and there’s old Mr. Schultz at the races. We bonded over it and he’d honk and yell nice stuff at me on the road. Otherwise, they’re just going to be annoyed (or worse) at cyclists on the road and this low grade anti cyclist feeling I think bleeds over to racing and throws a wet blanket on the sport. Armstrong for a time brought that USA USA fan into it, though they really didn’t know much about what was going on except that he won again and eff the French. In Europe it’s so deeply imbedded, way down the food chain. I bumped into a nice older couple in Gerona. They were Liverpudlians and we talked racing and racers for an hour. I asked them if they’d ever raced in their younger years and they said, oh no, we just love the sport.
I was stunned at Roth on 2010. The locals were so into what we were doing, so loud and supportive, it made the race. The key hill on the course is packed and loud like a GT climb. Best triathlon moment ever. Doing and IM Fla or MD it’s more, when the eff are these people going to get off the roads?
Anyway, I think the prevailing attitude of non cyclists towards cyclists here keeps the sport from really taking hold. I think gravel and mtb are more popular mostly because they’re not in conflict with the automobile and it’s easier to throw together a race.
I agree politics and sport can be (usually are) an hazardous mix (and yet my favorite classroom poster was the 68 Mexico Olympics Smith/Carlos/Norman podium). I recently read ‘say nothing’ - about IRA and the Troubles - very good and very tough read but it’s hard to see much moral high ground for any of the actors involved (even though my brain says the little guy is usually ‘more’ right).
Armstrong good for/bad for the sport - I see it as a kind he was until he wasn’t. Of course if anyone knew how cruel and vindictive he was all along - the huge coat tails were likely tougher to stomach MUCH earlier. Yes - road cycling in the US is REALLY hurting. I think there are about 4 billion more humans on the planet than when I began racing. I have to think that means A LOT more drivers. Traffic must be a near universal boogie-man (I despise traffic). Yes - gravel is much better. I crave a good ol deep out there minimal auto interaction gravel ride, but… the few gravel events I’ve done still provoke more than a few us v them cyclists v autos incidents. I have to think unless/until motorists are aware of events and have some kind of work around plan (maybe more true in Europe?) - we are the (hated) ‘other’. trainer season and weights beckon - but some chill road and gravel are necc. to get me through the winter (and cross highlights and talk about the ‘LOOP’!).