Robert McDonald

@tomdanielson Yes it would have been great to see Tom's level in this company. He has looked really relaxed and confident recently so I hope this isn't a major setback for him.

4. Bummer for Tom Pidcock, as it would have been nice to see how his level was on a long climb like this. Given the wind and his explosive ability, it would be logical he would have been able to stay with Jonas on this climb and in these conditions. Maybe without the crash, he would be wearing the leader's jersey with a mountain-top stage win today. Do I think he is at Jonas' level? No. But I do think he would have been able to take advantage of the conditions.

Volta Catalunya Stage 5 brought the big names to the front. Here are 6 things that stood out for me. 1. First off, the final climb was ridden in extreme wind which looked like head/headcross but also very gusty, so I think it was really coming from all directions. So I am going to disagree with the internet calling Jonas' win and performance low level, and I am going to say it was a crazy high level. The reality is extreme wind like that slows the times down so much you really can't estimate the power from the VAM. For example, I am here in Tucson training right now and I ride the same climb every day. When we have gusty head and crosswind, just like in the race, my times and VAM plummets dramatically. I think this is the reason why the VAM and, if you look at the speed of the leaders on the climb, were lower.

@lee0969 @jillwebb2005 @nikidoog First album I ever bought ! I know - I had good taste :-) That spooky endless loop at the end on the vinyl ! Not a bad track amongst them but always loved I don't Mi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ind !

On this day in 1978 No 34 UK Album Chart Buzzcocks with their first album “Another Music In A Different Kitchen” IMHO a brilliant album that still sounds great today. A difficult choice but I’ll choose “Sixteen” how about you? #1970s #Punk #Buzzcocks @jillwebb2005 @nikidoog @Carolyn_on_x @FatOldAnarchist @brunstead @SkaManD14

@FlintshireCC @FlintshireCC And again! Just 4 days later...you're going to need a bigger bin.

@FlintshireCC dog waste bins in Penyffordd 👏 - makes such a difference

@FlintshireCC dog waste bins in Penyffordd💩👎

@Halbkornbrot2 @daniellloyd1 Yep - I still find myself calling it the Dauphiné Libéré

@daniellloyd1 Considering Parix-Roubaix are still the first two words, everybody will still call it that , so i don't really care I was way more mad about the Dauphine name change.

Paris-Roubaix is changing its name to Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France. Could somebody young (<30) please let me know if your blood is boiling too? I'm worried I'm turning into a grumpy old man, so if you could put my mind at rest, that would slay.

@jillwebb2005 Soft spot for Tonight at Noon and London Girl, but LfaW for me..."staring at a grey sky, trying to paint it blue - teenage blue"

Happy 4️⃣8️⃣ birthday to This Is The Modern World by #TheJam I like to think of it as a stepping stone between In The City & All Mod Cons. What are your favourite tracks? For me it’s I Need You… Life From a Window & The Modern World (one of the finest punk anthems imo).

@jillwebb2005 Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan discussing 'Classic' is genius comedy...

Here’s the 9th batch of songs in round 1 of the #1982singlespoll There are 7 polls tonight. The top 2 from each go forward. All yours… 5/7 1 - Adrian Gurvitz 2 - Marvin Gaye 3 - Vice Squad

@dannydior11 @jillwebb2005 Such a great album...witty, catchy, quality tunes

@jillwebb2005 Well, that's my third choice single eliminated. If you've never heard The Monochrome Set before, well you really should. One of our finest British bands still playing live today... here's a little love song 😁 #1982singlespoll youtu.be/nG8MGCGHaXo?si…

Here’s the 9th batch of songs in round 1 of the #1982singlespoll There are 7 polls tonight. The top 2 from each go forward. All yours… 4/7 1 - The Associates 2 - The Monochrome Set 3 - Wah!

@SeeDaneRun @Roadman_Podcast It's not just me then.

@Roadman_Podcast You don't have to hit return after every sentence.

Zwift is killing road racing. Not because it's a bad product. Because we've forgotten what it was supposed to be. I know riders who won't show up to the Sunday club ride because they have a Zwift race. People who've completed 100 virtual races but never pinned a number to their jersey in real life. Cyclists with 10,000 Zwift miles who can't hold a wheel in a paceline when the wind picks up. It got me thinking how this happened... COVID locked us indoors in 2020. Pros had to race on Zwift because outdoor racing was banned. Club riders met virtually because group rides were illegal. The cycling industry pivoted hard into virtual racing because it was the only option. That made sense then. But we never pivoted back. Local racing calendars are getting decimated while Zwift Racing League grows. Riders are choosing virtual crits over actual crits because "the competition is better online." Club secretaries can't fill race spots but Zwift events sell out in minutes. I get it. Zwift racing is convenient. No travel. No 6am start times. No punctures or crashes. No weather. You can race from your garage in your underwear. But are we missing the entire point? The pre-race nerves pinning your number on at the car. The smell of embrocation and nervous energy at the start line. Looking across at your teammate and nodding before the final climb. The post-race coffee where you replay every moment. The friends you make in the carpark. The local rivalries that turn into friendships. The community that forms when you show up, week after week, to the same circuits. Virtual community isn't real community. 50,000 Instagram followers will never replace 5 actual friends who'll pick you up when you puncture 40km from home. A Zoom coffee isn't the same as sitting across from someone, both of you wrecked, reliving the race over terrible service station coffee. And suffering together on a climb, looking over and seeing your mate's face twisted in pain, knowing you're both dying together—that's what cycling is. Zwift can't give you that. I'm not anti-Zwift. I actually really like Zwift It's a brilliant tool. Winter training when it's dark at 4pm. Structured intervals when you're time-crunched. Staying sharp during the off-season. But it's a tool to improve the outdoor experience. Not replace it. We built Zwift to save cycling during a pandemic. Now we need to make sure it doesn't kill what we were trying to save. Turn off Zwift. Pin on a number. Show up to your local race. The sport needs you on the start line, not the leaderboard.

@lee0969 @jillwebb2005 @nikidoog @Carolyn_on_X @FatOldAnarchist @brunstead @SkamanD14 The last of Bowie's truly great albums for me...

On this day in 1980 No 14 UK Album Chart David Bowie “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) IMHO a brilliant album and a very difficult choice. I’ll choose “Ashes to Ashes” how about you? #1980s #DavidBowie @jillwebb2005 @nikidoog @Carolyn_on_x @FatOldAnarchist @brunstead @SkaManD14

@PoliticsJOE_UK Last time she checked it was spelt like that...

They're fucked aren't they

@daniellloyd1 1

What's the Vuelta stage tl:dr?

@jillwebb2005 Feels like yesterday...

Life is timeless, days are long when you're young You used to fall in love with everyone Any guitar and any bass drum… #OTD in 1979 The Jam released When You’re Young/Smithers Jones. Imo they were untouchable throughout this period. 🔥 Who remembers rushing out to buy it? 🙋‍♀️

@NairoInGreen not for Chris...

Real question, is Froome to IPT the worst contract handed out in sports history?

@jillwebb2005 FWIW I think these polls might benefit more generally from being the "best single (not by The Jam) in 19xx" - as it's a sure bet The Jam will dominate all the polling.

I’m going through all the suggestions. 138 songs so far with more to be added. BUT… I have a dilemma‼️ Should I include ‘That’s Entertainment’ by The Jam? I thought it was released in 1981, but some are saying it was 1980. Can someone please give me a definitive answer?

@JennyLo56747371 @irishpeloton Just record it and whizz through the ads at x32

@irishpeloton But it has about 5 advert breaks in that highlight show. That is the frustrating bit that takes the edge off the quality.

For the past 6 years I have felt compelled to watch first the GCN+ and now the TNT coverage of the Tour. But the ITV (and previously Channel 4) highlight hour is a thing of absolute perfection. It instilled a love for the history and beauty of cycling and I will miss it terribly.

@NBCSCycling This isn't a good look for Lenny or the organisation given it's someone wearing one of the official race jerseys. He should really have been relegated to last place in the KoM sprint. Sticky bottles are an accepted (if questionable) practice in pro racing but that was absurd.

Lenny Martinez loses 8 KOM points, 15 UCI points, a 10 second penalty and fined 200CHF for his sticky bottle(s) on Stage 18 at the Tour de France. #TDF2025

@itvcycling What a roller coaster of a day! He looked odds-on to abandon after he crashed and was wincing...then to fight back and think you'd won...but then find out you haven't. The mental strength of these guys is as impressive as the physical.

"You have to take it in a funny way" Daniel caught up with Julian Alaphilippe after he thought he won stage 15 🇫🇷 #TDF2025

@IntermarcheW @insta360 @LeTour That's even hairier than going up!

POV: downhill to the bus after Tour de France mountain finish 🫨 🎥 @insta360