Hey all, simply attempting to crawl out of a reasonably in depth, and pretty typical, finish of summer season work cave. It’s not as darkish because the biking ache cave, and I can undoubtedly justify a frosty brew on the finish of every such effort, however in different respects the parallels to skilled biking are… properly they aren’t zero anyway.
It’s actually been one other thrilling season, with a really distinctive twist to it. I’m glad I didn’t have time to put in writing about MeRgEr MaNiA whereas it was nonetheless on the desk, because it ended up not taking place (for now), however there isn’t any query that the dominant theme for the season has been single-team dominance, on the a part of Jumbo Visma after all.
In our minds the Flying Dutchmen and their worldwide forged of Grand Tour champions owned the 12 months, in 2009 HTC-like vogue, nevertheless it’s not fairly like that. The Jumbos did lead the world in wins, with 66 whole, however simply barely forward of Fast Step and UAE, and actually UAE at present leads in whole factors, at our PDC-generated rankings (through the FSA Directeur Sportif), in addition to on the Biking Quotient and PCS rankings. Proportion-wise the hole to second-ranked Jumbo is closest at our rankings, a few 5% distinction, versus extra like 9-10% on the different two. If these rankings really feel like we’re being collectively gaslit by the game, properly, biking is eternally kinda bizarre, however perhaps a extra particular message is that it’s an on a regular basis job, whether or not it’s taking place beneath the brightest lights or the darkest shadows, and everybody relishes a win. Oh and Marc Hirschi says hello too. Sheesh.
Wish to know what an ideal season actually appears to be like like? Jumbo ‘23 is one model, and its polar reverse most likely stays HTC ‘09, the place the GerMerican squad racked up 85 FUCKING WINS!!! — almost double the second-ranked Saxo Financial institution — en path to … simply barely squeaking out a 600-point total hole in whole factors. [Probably toss in some Mapei or Renault seasons here too if you want to carry on, but let’s stay more recent.] In relation to wins, there’s an historical debate of amount versus high quality, and these two historic seasons signify the acute examples of every. However neither crew actually dominated the factors rankings within the course of. Biking simply at all times has so many transferring elements.
I don’t need to drone on about 2023 proper now, we’ve loads to cowl with the season’s finish, together with FSA DS outcomes, however I need to subject our annual name for nominations for our 2023 Awards. Recall, the classes are as follows:
- 2023 Males’s Rider of the 12 months
- 2023 Males’s Race Day of the 12 months
- 2023 Girls’s Rider of the 12 months
- 2023 Girls’s Race Day of the 12 months
No explicit standards, that’s so that you can determine, as that is eternally a subjective ballot. I might solely notice that race “day” means what it feels like, stage races on the entire aren’t eligible, although in case you are excited a few stage race — as I’m certain most of us have been — then choosing the day that summed all of it up for you is a good one for the nominations.
PLEASE go to feedback and ship me your nominations! Early subsequent week I’ll declare the nominations adequate to launch the polls themselves, after which we’ll vote our awards. Clearly the World Champions, Grand Tour winners and Monument winners are most or all anticipated to point out up within the polls. For race days, these will likely be beginning factors there too. However please do get artistic and transcend the apparent to determine folks or occasions that moved you as a biking fan. Be happy to elaborate right here in feedback — if the case for that individual or day isn’t apparent, make it right here and now! My expertise is that when the polls are posted folks vote first and peruse feedback later.
Thanks all for an additional nice 12 months! I can’t at all times be right here as a lot as I would love proper now, however most likely subsequent 12 months will likely be a bit extra open. Thanks as at all times to Jens for his fixed and much-appreciated dedication to posting boards for just about each race day of any significance, Males’s and Girls’s sides. Thanks as at all times to UMWolverine for her work in feedback every single day! And to each for updating ends in the DS too. Thanks all for the roles you play as group members, this has at all times been and shall stay a group effort the place your concepts, ideas and passions drive the positioning as a lot as any official work that the Editors do. I’ve been saying for a bit that 2024 could possibly be the last word showdown on a number of the largest levels, and I had higher cease tying proper now earlier than I get myself prematurely spun up about it. As the youngsters say… LFG!!
