Joe Morgan
@joemorganxc.bsky.social
Cycling Fan 🚲 | @domestique | ⚒️
My Cycling Substack: https://substack.com/@joemorganxc?r=4k7wwa&utm_medium=ios
My Cycling Substack: https://substack.com/@joemorganxc?r=4k7wwa&utm_medium=ios
Tro-Bro Léon 2025 Thread Preview 🧵🇫🇷 🚴♂️
(Lannilis - Lannilis) - 203.8km
The 42nd edition of the Tro-Bro Léon, a race known by many as the hipsters Paris-Roubaix, is set to take place on Sunday 11 May 2025.
Here’s a very brief preview…
#TroBroLeon
(Lannilis - Lannilis) - 203.8km
The 42nd edition of the Tro-Bro Léon, a race known by many as the hipsters Paris-Roubaix, is set to take place on Sunday 11 May 2025.
Here’s a very brief preview…
#TroBroLeon
May 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Tro-Bro Léon 2025 Thread Preview 🧵🇫🇷 🚴♂️
(Lannilis - Lannilis) - 203.8km
The 42nd edition of the Tro-Bro Léon, a race known by many as the hipsters Paris-Roubaix, is set to take place on Sunday 11 May 2025.
Here’s a very brief preview…
#TroBroLeon
(Lannilis - Lannilis) - 203.8km
The 42nd edition of the Tro-Bro Léon, a race known by many as the hipsters Paris-Roubaix, is set to take place on Sunday 11 May 2025.
Here’s a very brief preview…
#TroBroLeon
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Stage 2 Preview 🇪🇸🚴♂️
La Nucia to Benifato (166km)
A summit finish on stage 2 will make it very clear who the riders that will fight for the GC are…
What are your predictions? 💭
A Thread 🧵
La Nucia to Benifato (166km)
A summit finish on stage 2 will make it very clear who the riders that will fight for the GC are…
What are your predictions? 💭
A Thread 🧵
February 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Stage 2 Preview 🇪🇸🚴♂️
La Nucia to Benifato (166km)
A summit finish on stage 2 will make it very clear who the riders that will fight for the GC are…
What are your predictions? 💭
A Thread 🧵
La Nucia to Benifato (166km)
A summit finish on stage 2 will make it very clear who the riders that will fight for the GC are…
What are your predictions? 💭
A Thread 🧵
Prediction
Jan Christen and Antonio Morgado are probably my favourites, considering they could win in almost any scenario and have a strong team, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rider make the race winning move in the final 9km after the climb and solo to the win.
Jan Christen and Antonio Morgado are probably my favourites, considering they could win in almost any scenario and have a strong team, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rider make the race winning move in the final 9km after the climb and solo to the win.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Prediction
Jan Christen and Antonio Morgado are probably my favourites, considering they could win in almost any scenario and have a strong team, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rider make the race winning move in the final 9km after the climb and solo to the win.
Jan Christen and Antonio Morgado are probably my favourites, considering they could win in almost any scenario and have a strong team, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a rider make the race winning move in the final 9km after the climb and solo to the win.
Sprint finish (would be a favourite from a reduced group if they survive the climb)
Michael Matthews ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edoardo Zambanini ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jenno Berckmoes ⭐️⭐️
Jon Barrenetxea ⭐️⭐️
Alex Aranburu ⭐️⭐️
Paul Penhöet ⭐️
Valentin Ferron ⭐️
Eric Antonio Fagúndez ⭐️
Michael Matthews ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edoardo Zambanini ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jenno Berckmoes ⭐️⭐️
Jon Barrenetxea ⭐️⭐️
Alex Aranburu ⭐️⭐️
Paul Penhöet ⭐️
Valentin Ferron ⭐️
Eric Antonio Fagúndez ⭐️
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Sprint finish (would be a favourite from a reduced group if they survive the climb)
Michael Matthews ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edoardo Zambanini ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jenno Berckmoes ⭐️⭐️
Jon Barrenetxea ⭐️⭐️
Alex Aranburu ⭐️⭐️
Paul Penhöet ⭐️
Valentin Ferron ⭐️
Eric Antonio Fagúndez ⭐️
Michael Matthews ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edoardo Zambanini ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jenno Berckmoes ⭐️⭐️
Jon Barrenetxea ⭐️⭐️
Alex Aranburu ⭐️⭐️
Paul Penhöet ⭐️
Valentin Ferron ⭐️
Eric Antonio Fagúndez ⭐️
Attack after the climb - Could make a race winning move when others hesitate.
Antonio Morgado ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Urko Berrade ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Matej Mohorič ⭐️⭐️
Ivan Romeo ⭐️⭐️
Valentin Madouas ⭐️⭐️
Davide Formolo ⭐️⭐️
Filippo Baroncini ⭐️
Simone Velasco ⭐️
Louis Sutton ⭐️
Davide De Pretto ⭐️
Antonio Morgado ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Urko Berrade ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Matej Mohorič ⭐️⭐️
Ivan Romeo ⭐️⭐️
Valentin Madouas ⭐️⭐️
Davide Formolo ⭐️⭐️
Filippo Baroncini ⭐️
Simone Velasco ⭐️
Louis Sutton ⭐️
Davide De Pretto ⭐️
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Attack after the climb - Could make a race winning move when others hesitate.
Antonio Morgado ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Urko Berrade ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Matej Mohorič ⭐️⭐️
Ivan Romeo ⭐️⭐️
Valentin Madouas ⭐️⭐️
Davide Formolo ⭐️⭐️
Filippo Baroncini ⭐️
Simone Velasco ⭐️
Louis Sutton ⭐️
Davide De Pretto ⭐️
Antonio Morgado ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Urko Berrade ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Matej Mohorič ⭐️⭐️
Ivan Romeo ⭐️⭐️
Valentin Madouas ⭐️⭐️
Davide Formolo ⭐️⭐️
Filippo Baroncini ⭐️
Simone Velasco ⭐️
Louis Sutton ⭐️
Davide De Pretto ⭐️
Attackers on climb - Good Chance if they can get solo or cooperate in small group.
Jan Christen ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Marc Hirschi⭐️⭐️⭐️
Santiago Buitrago ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny Martinez ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jack Haig ⭐️⭐️
Davide Piganzoli ⭐️⭐️
Paul Double ⭐️⭐️
Ewen Costiou ⭐️⭐️
Clément Champoussin⭐️⭐️
Jan Christen ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Marc Hirschi⭐️⭐️⭐️
Santiago Buitrago ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny Martinez ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jack Haig ⭐️⭐️
Davide Piganzoli ⭐️⭐️
Paul Double ⭐️⭐️
Ewen Costiou ⭐️⭐️
Clément Champoussin⭐️⭐️
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Attackers on climb - Good Chance if they can get solo or cooperate in small group.
Jan Christen ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Marc Hirschi⭐️⭐️⭐️
Santiago Buitrago ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny Martinez ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jack Haig ⭐️⭐️
Davide Piganzoli ⭐️⭐️
Paul Double ⭐️⭐️
Ewen Costiou ⭐️⭐️
Clément Champoussin⭐️⭐️
Jan Christen ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Marc Hirschi⭐️⭐️⭐️
Santiago Buitrago ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lenny Martinez ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jack Haig ⭐️⭐️
Davide Piganzoli ⭐️⭐️
Paul Double ⭐️⭐️
Ewen Costiou ⭐️⭐️
Clément Champoussin⭐️⭐️
Considering the profile of this race, it is almost a lottery as to who will win this race. Hence why there are a lot of contenders. Typically someone who I haven’t mentioned will probably go on to win now, but here are the guys likely to be in the mix.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Considering the profile of this race, it is almost a lottery as to who will win this race. Hence why there are a lot of contenders. Typically someone who I haven’t mentioned will probably go on to win now, but here are the guys likely to be in the mix.
Provisional Startlist:
8 WorldTour teams have been invited to this year’s race, and most of them have sent some very strong riders. In particular, UAE Team Emirates XRG, Bahrain - Victorious, and Movistar Team, have sent very strong squads to this race, and will be hoping to win.
8 WorldTour teams have been invited to this year’s race, and most of them have sent some very strong riders. In particular, UAE Team Emirates XRG, Bahrain - Victorious, and Movistar Team, have sent very strong squads to this race, and will be hoping to win.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Provisional Startlist:
8 WorldTour teams have been invited to this year’s race, and most of them have sent some very strong riders. In particular, UAE Team Emirates XRG, Bahrain - Victorious, and Movistar Team, have sent very strong squads to this race, and will be hoping to win.
8 WorldTour teams have been invited to this year’s race, and most of them have sent some very strong riders. In particular, UAE Team Emirates XRG, Bahrain - Victorious, and Movistar Team, have sent very strong squads to this race, and will be hoping to win.
Unless there is a rider who is on a supreme day and is so much stronger than the rest of the field, meaning he can ride away on the climb, I think the descent and final flat few kilometres will be where the race is actually won.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Unless there is a rider who is on a supreme day and is so much stronger than the rest of the field, meaning he can ride away on the climb, I think the descent and final flat few kilometres will be where the race is actually won.
With the summit coming 9km from the finish line, the race is still far from over at this point meaning riders will have time to get back to the front of the race if they have been distanced but not too big a margin.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
With the summit coming 9km from the finish line, the race is still far from over at this point meaning riders will have time to get back to the front of the race if they have been distanced but not too big a margin.
The Alto de Turrón Duro may be the shortest categorised climb of the day, standing at 3.5km, but it is the most brutal, with a stinging average gradient of 9%, max of 18%. There’ll be big gaps made on the climb as the front of the race will become a selective group of riders.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Alto de Turrón Duro may be the shortest categorised climb of the day, standing at 3.5km, but it is the most brutal, with a stinging average gradient of 9%, max of 18%. There’ll be big gaps made on the climb as the front of the race will become a selective group of riders.
This will be where teams who want to distance any fast finishers need to put in the ground work and set a strong tempo to sting the legs of their opponents. 5.7km at 5.2% is enough road and steepness to set things into motion before the final, and most brutal climb of the day.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This will be where teams who want to distance any fast finishers need to put in the ground work and set a strong tempo to sting the legs of their opponents. 5.7km at 5.2% is enough road and steepness to set things into motion before the final, and most brutal climb of the day.
Undulating roads follow before the riders take on the highest ranked climb of the day, the cat 2 Coll de Rates. The climb has been used four times previously in La Vuelta with the most recent inclusion coming on stage 20 in 2016 where Pierre Latour epically beat Darwin Atapuma.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Undulating roads follow before the riders take on the highest ranked climb of the day, the cat 2 Coll de Rates. The climb has been used four times previously in La Vuelta with the most recent inclusion coming on stage 20 in 2016 where Pierre Latour epically beat Darwin Atapuma.
An test of 2km at 5.1% follows the sprint point, before the Alto de Barx. A category 3 test standing 5.9km long with an average gradient of 4.9%, the climb is a modest test and is unlikely to have any significant impact considering the summit comes with around 95km to go.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
An test of 2km at 5.1% follows the sprint point, before the Alto de Barx. A category 3 test standing 5.9km long with an average gradient of 4.9%, the climb is a modest test and is unlikely to have any significant impact considering the summit comes with around 95km to go.
The Route
There are 3 categorised climbs on the menu spread across 185km of racing with the race beginning in Valencia. The first 70km are flat, leading to an intermediate sprint at Barxeta, where those who have made the breakaway will be rewarded.
There are 3 categorised climbs on the menu spread across 185km of racing with the race beginning in Valencia. The first 70km are flat, leading to an intermediate sprint at Barxeta, where those who have made the breakaway will be rewarded.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Route
There are 3 categorised climbs on the menu spread across 185km of racing with the race beginning in Valencia. The first 70km are flat, leading to an intermediate sprint at Barxeta, where those who have made the breakaway will be rewarded.
There are 3 categorised climbs on the menu spread across 185km of racing with the race beginning in Valencia. The first 70km are flat, leading to an intermediate sprint at Barxeta, where those who have made the breakaway will be rewarded.
If there was ever an edition where it is likely the sprinters miss out, it is certainly the 2025 route. This is reflected by the lack of pure sprinters on the startlist this year compared to the previous few editions.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
If there was ever an edition where it is likely the sprinters miss out, it is certainly the 2025 route. This is reflected by the lack of pure sprinters on the startlist this year compared to the previous few editions.
Since the return of the race in 2021, each edition has ended with a sprint finish.
🏆
2021: Lorrenzo Manzin (Team Total Direct Energie) 🇫🇷
2022: Giovanni Lonardi (EOLO-Kometa) 🇮🇹
2023: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) 🇧🇪
2024: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 🇳🇱
🏆
2021: Lorrenzo Manzin (Team Total Direct Energie) 🇫🇷
2022: Giovanni Lonardi (EOLO-Kometa) 🇮🇹
2023: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) 🇧🇪
2024: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 🇳🇱
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Since the return of the race in 2021, each edition has ended with a sprint finish.
🏆
2021: Lorrenzo Manzin (Team Total Direct Energie) 🇫🇷
2022: Giovanni Lonardi (EOLO-Kometa) 🇮🇹
2023: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) 🇧🇪
2024: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 🇳🇱
🏆
2021: Lorrenzo Manzin (Team Total Direct Energie) 🇫🇷
2022: Giovanni Lonardi (EOLO-Kometa) 🇮🇹
2023: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) 🇧🇪
2024: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 🇳🇱
The race was run from 1969 up until 2005, where after which, there was a 16 year hiatus. The race returned in 2021 under a new name, its current one, and was initially given a 1.2 rank until it was upgraded in 2023 to a 1.1 level race.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The race was run from 1969 up until 2005, where after which, there was a 16 year hiatus. The race returned in 2021 under a new name, its current one, and was initially given a 1.2 rank until it was upgraded in 2023 to a 1.1 level race.
The first ever edition was won by Spaniard Carlos Echeverría of Kas - Kaskol, who had previously won two stages of La Vuelta a España in 1965 and 1966. The race was held on the 23rd of February 1969, so a month later than its modern day slot.
January 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The first ever edition was won by Spaniard Carlos Echeverría of Kas - Kaskol, who had previously won two stages of La Vuelta a España in 1965 and 1966. The race was held on the 23rd of February 1969, so a month later than its modern day slot.
UCI Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm Men’s race lap 6 🇪🇸🚴♂️
All together…
#cycling #cx #cyclocross #cyclisme #ciclismo #cyclingbluesky
All together…
#cycling #cx #cyclocross #cyclisme #ciclismo #cyclingbluesky
January 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
UCI Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm Men’s race lap 6 🇪🇸🚴♂️
All together…
#cycling #cx #cyclocross #cyclisme #ciclismo #cyclingbluesky
All together…
#cycling #cx #cyclocross #cyclisme #ciclismo #cyclingbluesky
UCI Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm U23 men’s race lap 1 after planks 🚴♂️🇪🇸
#cyclingbluesky #cycling #ciclismo #cyclisme
#cyclingbluesky #cycling #ciclismo #cyclisme
January 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
UCI Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm U23 men’s race lap 1 after planks 🚴♂️🇪🇸
#cyclingbluesky #cycling #ciclismo #cyclisme
#cyclingbluesky #cycling #ciclismo #cyclisme
January 19, 2025 at 8:27 AM
There are many contenders for this opening stage. For example Ally Wollaston, Georgia Baker, Rachele Barbieri, Chloe Dygert, Sofia Bertizzolo and Clara Copponi among others.
Ally Wollaston won the opening stage 12 months ago in Campbelltown.
#TourDownUnder
Ally Wollaston won the opening stage 12 months ago in Campbelltown.
#TourDownUnder
January 15, 2025 at 8:16 AM
There are many contenders for this opening stage. For example Ally Wollaston, Georgia Baker, Rachele Barbieri, Chloe Dygert, Sofia Bertizzolo and Clara Copponi among others.
Ally Wollaston won the opening stage 12 months ago in Campbelltown.
#TourDownUnder
Ally Wollaston won the opening stage 12 months ago in Campbelltown.
#TourDownUnder
The stage will come to a rip-roaring end at Snapper Point, which saw its first stage finish in 2023 when Polish sprinter Daria Pikulik of Human Powered Health took the glory.
There’s a very strong chance it will be another sprint finish at Snapper Point
#TourDownUnder
There’s a very strong chance it will be another sprint finish at Snapper Point
#TourDownUnder
January 15, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The stage will come to a rip-roaring end at Snapper Point, which saw its first stage finish in 2023 when Polish sprinter Daria Pikulik of Human Powered Health took the glory.
There’s a very strong chance it will be another sprint finish at Snapper Point
#TourDownUnder
There’s a very strong chance it will be another sprint finish at Snapper Point
#TourDownUnder
Courtesy of the official race website, stage highlights include a pass over the spectacular Myponga Reservoir wall, sprints at Aldinga Beach and Yankalilla and a scenic loop through holiday destinations including Carrickalinga and Normanville.
#TourDownUnder
#TourDownUnder
January 15, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Courtesy of the official race website, stage highlights include a pass over the spectacular Myponga Reservoir wall, sprints at Aldinga Beach and Yankalilla and a scenic loop through holiday destinations including Carrickalinga and Normanville.
#TourDownUnder
#TourDownUnder