Richard can never be replaced. But I think they’ve done as good a job as could be asked in terms of carrying on the podcast. I’ve enjoyed the more diverse and rotating cast they’ve brought in to cover the gaps left by Richard passing, Lionel having less bandwidth/capacity than in the past, and Daniel not being entirely comfortable in the lead role. Been great having different voices come in (some more than others!), and between their main race coverage, the kilometre 0 series, the pod feminin and service course, there’s enough content there that I don’t mind just skipping bits or whole episodes if they’ve brought somebody in who is starting to get on my nerves! Particularly enjoyed the contributions of Dan Martin, Mitch Docker and Ian Boswell. Others like Brian Nygaard and Rob Hatch I would prefer in slightly smaller doses but I’m sure others have different favourites.
Always interesting to see how people differ in their perception of things…for me, the lack of a “center” is what is ailing TCP now. As you note, Daniel is not really comfortable in the role and Lionel has other things going on to assume that mantel.
It likely would have been strange to bring in a 3rd party as the new “center”, but I really think it is what is necessary.
I do enjoy the contributions of the rotating cast, though…
I listened yesterday. I’m enjoying Lionel as the lead with Francois and Mitch Docker.
The wine and cheese tour of the Giro was too much.
I had totally forgotten about this movie, but it popped up today in my Hulu feed. Definitely good viewing material (although I think everyone interviewed was suffering from some revisionist history, to some degree)
The funniest sub-plot may have been Kathy Lemond’s hairstyles though the years, though…
I liked it - my biggest takeaway is how grateful I am for full zip jerseys. And just how un-aero Fignon was in that last TT and how aero LeMond was (staying in the aerobars, more aero helmet, more aero position).
His position in 89 would not be too far off from the best positions today…it is really amazing how good his fit was for being the first guy in the Tour to use aerobars (7-11 had previously used them in the Tour de Trump).
The below pic was from the stage 5 TT, as his aerobars were tilted further up for the final TT (again, foreshadowing future TT positions), but this is the best shot on how aero he was when he had his head down.
When he rotated his bars up, his arm got parallel to the ground as opposed to scooping a bit as shown above. His head is up in this pic, so he doesn’t look as aero as the above image, though…
Some of his position was also due to his body…he was always aero AF, even on a road bike. The guy was just made to ride a bike. Fignon was similar…both of them could just lay out flat over their top tubes.
If the stuff about the epididymitis is true about Fignon, that would definitely affect anyone (with testicles) ability to get aero for prolonged periods of time.
Yeah, I do wonder if that is some of the revisionist history I mentioned above…that is the first time I have ever heard that claim, although I do recall some talk about him having a saddle sore in the final stages. That would align with him going back to the doctor’s car and getting cream for it.
But yeah, if true, then it undoubtedly affected not only his ability to stay down, but also almost certainly his power output.