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Tweets of the Week: Sweeter than discount Nutella!

January 30, 2018, 4:30 am
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Oh, wow, we have a packed TWEETS this week! We’re starting a #LetAquaBlueRide campaign. We’ve got a Pope, Nutella chaos, a Vegemite challenge and the world’s most expensive cup of instant (blech!) coffee. We have some race winners, hospital reports, some serious words about what sport can be and finish it off with a true hero. It’s a mixed bag of awesomeness! Let’s go! 

The never-ending story

Every day we hear about cyclists being hit by cars, vans, trucks, whether on their commute into work, on a weekend ride or even on a training ride with a pro team. Of course, we can never forget that this is how Michele Scarponi died last year. Unfortunately, we had another big incident between bikes and trucks in South Africa with the Quick-Step team that put Laurens De Plus and Petr Vakoc in hospital. Luckily, both are on the mend.

Instagram Photo

#LetAquaBlueRide

AquaBlue, who did such a great job animating all the WorldTour races they were in last year, have been overlooked (to put it mildly) when it came to wild card distribution so far in 2018. Cillian wrote this before it was announced that they had, in fact, got into a Monument – Liege-Bastogne-Liege. But no Grand Tour … that is so disappointing – for both the team and the many fans they’ve won. We say #LetAquaBlueRide!

Nutella and other injuries

A hazelnut spread that spreads only violence …

A few of our usual suspects at VeloVoices Towers have denied any involvement …

I’m not a Nutella fan, myself. But I could get on board with these recipes, I think.

From the sweet to the … well …

Crimes against coffee achievers …

The Gruppetto

Here’s hoping this is just the start of winning ways for The Mighty Degs this season. Yeah baby!

Wise words from John Amaechi about what sport can be – and what it’s not.

I love this photo from Marshall Kappel – the colours are so sharp and rich.

I’m SO ready for the Classics this year.

Cooler than a cool thing from Cool Town

Best. Gif. EVER

It might not have anything to do with cycling, but it’s definitely worth a place in Tweets.

Always love seeing a rider taking time out to make a young fan’s day.

SpokeyDokey‘s response to this really made me laugh.

Gianni Moscon seems a bit ambitious this season. Yet, at the time of writing, he’s still waiting to hear if he’s going to get a ban after his referral to the UCI Disciplinary Commission over Sebastien Reichenbach‘s crash last season.

Oh, Schengen, we love you so …. before you came along, we had this.

“Hi, I’m the Pontiff … ”

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands …

Reactions to the KidneyDefence keep rolling in.

While every cloud has a silver lining, at least for David de la Cruz – is this a masterclass in trolling or just serendipitous.

Liking this Swedish national jersey.

I might just start a green energy company called Gorilla Power.

We love this story – what a good guy is Ryan Mullen

I love this!

Bora has thrown down the gauntlet for the season, it seems.

Things that make us go hmmmmmmmmmmmm

The last word

Gino Bartali was a great cyclist. But an even greater person. Someone who put others’ safety and survival before his own. Who fought racism and injustice with the weapons that he had – his bike and his courage. We can all be a bit more Bartali.

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Tweets of the Week: Little Kangaroo’s return! The pox is back! Cobbles soon!

February 6, 2018, 4:30 am
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Races, races everywhere! The season is really kicking into gear now – and we have the first of probably a thousand Alejandro Valverde victories. We also saw the long-awaited return to victory of the Little Kangaroo, Esteban Chaves. We also have some dodgy pox, some fabulous cobbley posters, Captain America, the Wolfpack and the should he/shouldn’t he debate. All here, all now.

Sunny smiles

Finally – finally – we had VeloVoices favourite Esteban Chaves back to his winning ways with his victory in the Herald SunTour! I really hope that this is just the beginning of seeing that beautiful sunny smile on the top step of the podium.

Meanwhile, another VeloVoices favourite, Larry Warbasse was looking utterly Fab. U. Luuuuus in his Captain America kit.

And he proved very popular with the kids. I am still raging that AquaBlue haven’t been getting the wild cards they so richly deserve this season. #LetAqueBlueRide

Bring it on …

On the other side of the world, Alejandro Valverde was just toying with the rest of the peloton.

He seems to have taken a leaf out of Sagan’s ‘silly sunglasses’ book.

The pox! The full-length pox!

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear

And one of the few riders who looks elegant and cool in the pox, Daniel Teklahaimanot is riding again, just signing a contract with Cofidis.

Meanwhile, FDJ have gone for some stripes. I’m afraid I don’t agree with Midge on this one – do not love the stripes on the side. Do not like this kit.

But I am loving that Thibaut Pinot is going to be in both the Giro and Tour (God willing and the creek don’t rise, that is). Let’s get him out of that hideous kit and INTO PINK! #PinkPinot

Pure cobbles

I’m going to buy the new Rouleur just for that cover shot. Another great one from Marshall Kappel.

The Gruppetto

The ArgoSunGod will be in some desert action …

While this picture is just the opposite of desert action. Will this poor guy ever get clean again?

And the argument goes on … After this week, I might call a halt to featuring this argument in Tweets (unless there are some really funny comments). It’s boring and infuriating all at the same time.

No, Dave, it did not mean that. Not sure what was going on there, but he’s racing next week. In full kit.

It was announced on Monday that Chris Froome‘s first race will be Ruta del Sol, starting next Wednesday. That raised some responses.

Meanwhile, a few prospects for the Grand Tours.

I’ve been shopping in the wrong supermarkets!

We’re hoping that Petr Vakoc heals up quickly.

Pretty

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Crazy Colombians! Wolfpack in for the kill! Other stuff!

February 13, 2018, 4:30 am
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We’ve got racing all over the place! Colombia! Dubai! Spain (again)! And QuickStep have been on tip-top form (again)! We have some sprint trains – a few that are high-speed, some that are freight trains pulled over to the sidings … And more! It’s the original. And the best. It’s TWEETS OF THE WEEK! 

Colombians go crazy!

Fernando Gaviria (one of our favourites!) loved riding on home roads.

And what beautiful roads they are!

We see that Mick Jagger has decided not to start the season Instagramming himself in about a dozen random airports.

While Angryphilippe might be thinking ‘get me to the Classics and I’ll show these guys!’

Upside down … boy you turn me … inside out … and round and round

Other parts of the Wolfpack were in Spain … Murcia to be exact

Desert derring-do

Elia Viviani has fit right into the Wolfpack – so much so, he took the DubaiTour GC (the fourth year in a row a QuickStep rider has done that).

Another ex-Sky rider (and ex-QuickStepper!) showed up as well – that would be Mark Cavendish

While last year’s champ – and former QuickStepper – Marcel Kittel was having a bit of a mare in the sand. It started so optimistically!

 

The Gruppetto

Who says cycling is not a sport for the Winter Olympics

Lotto-Soudal (a long-time favourite team here at VeloVoices Towers) has always given fans something to smile about when they announce their teams. Remember Boys in a Box from a few years ago? Marketing GENIUS

The Mighty Vos 

Well, this is certainly better than the five-deep nasal strips that used to grace David Millar‘s nose.

We’ll all be clam bitches in a few weeks!

Here’s a non-story …

While the Froome argument just keeps on raging …

Hot damn, now THIS looks fun! Hey Midge, shall we go next year????

Wishing Tomasz a quick recovery. This is happening far too regularly.

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Sun, sand and one broomstick cowboy

February 20, 2018, 4:30 am
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It was a full cycling schedule this week – we had races in the  Algarve, Oman, Andalucia (and you can see all the Final KMs from this week on the blog). Familiar names were in the frame for some wins, including Michal Kwiatkowski and his new, strange victory salute, Tim Wellens and Alexander Kristoff.

Giving it some Wellens

It was baby-faced Belgian Tim Wellens, who took the title for Ruta del Sol after a stomping performance on the queen stage, leaving Mikel Landa in his cobbled dust in a thrilling duel to the finish. Hot on their heels was a certain Midge favourite, Jakob Fuglsang.

And this is what the finish line looked like! This could definitely be a mighty course for a new cobbled classic!

A dirt road ITT (strade marron anyone – or more appropriately for the location, camino de tierra?) on the final day didn’t slow him down and he took the top spot with 8sec to spare over Wout Poels. Fuglsang, unfortunately, dropped off the final podium.

Instagram Photo

Oman! It’s Kristoff!

Going back to the Queen stage – because I do love Dries Devenyns …

And the Wolfpack are looking like they’re going out on the road in more ways than one.

This, however, is the best post-race interview this week. It all gets rather emotional for Nathan Haas.

Meanwhile, over in the Algarve

Michal Kwiatkoswki went away 2km from the finish and rode right past Zdenek Stybar to win both the final stage in the Algarve as well as taking the yellow jersey from his teammate Geraint Thomas (who finishes second in the GC with Tejay van Garderen – yes, Tejay van Garderen – third on the final podium).

We were, however, rather appalled by Kwiat’s ‘horse riding’ victory salute. We’re hoping he goes back to the drawing board.

One of last year’s VeloVoices #YoungDudes, Ruben Guerreiro, did himself (and Trek) proud with his second place on the final stage, after a spirited chase after KwiatKrush.

I still can’t quite recognise Jill Bear without the Belgian national champion jersey.

The further adventures of Dan from Nam

Instagram Photo

Kit chat

Is you is or is you ain’t in the EF pink camp?

For those of a sensitive disposition, you might want to look away now. I’m going to subject you to the sight of Tony Martin‘s German TT champion’s jersey. Oh, Katusha … why, why?

It does look like *the* best national champion’s jersey is going to be seen in Switzerland this summer – AquaBlue got a wild card to the Tour de Suisse and Larry Warbasse is going to be there!

The Gruppetto

A VeloVoices favourite, Daniel Oss, is looking good in Bora

The Ladies Favourite had a birthday last week.

A very bizarre DQ

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Cobbley goodness and desert tantrums

February 27, 2018, 4:30 am
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This week, we have cobbley goodness with KBK and Omloop, total meltdown in Abu Dhabi courtesy of Tom Dumoulin, the joys of retirement courtesy of Spartacus and Lord Hoy, Captain America and Bedhead in France, and much much more! 

Groanin’ Wagon hauls ass

It was a cold and crisp Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with attacks and splits and breaks and attacks … until Dylan Groenewegen made his presence known as he blasted past Arnaud Demare in the final kilometre to take a fabulous sprint win.

Barbie wears no gloves. Ever.

Loved seeing Daniel Oss and Jasper Stuyven give it a go for glory. Who knows how far they would have gotten if Oss hadn’t had a flat.

The ‘uhhh’ other guy is coming up later in Tweets … #StayAlert #DumoulinMeltdown

Poor Gaviria

Muur muurs

It just takes a little inspiration…

Just me or does PhilGil look like he’s the misunderstood hero of a science fiction movie about workers in a Martian cobalt mine  plotting revolution?

In the golden age of Hollywood, they used to put vaseline on the camera lens when filming female stars to soften the look. “I’m ready for my close-up, Eurosport!”

Solid gold

Oh dearie dearie me … Tom Dumoulin turns the air blue as he goes into full meltdown at the side of an Abu Dhabi highway. I wouldn’t want to be his mechanic.

The Gruppetto

It’s Larry! Stars and stripes forever!

Instagram Photo

Bedhead‘s back!

That headline doesn’t bode well

Fabs and Lord Hoy in a taxi with Henry VIII. So that’s what retirement looks like …

I think maybe BMC was going for a superman look, but failed.

Looks like that new pink and green kit is giving the guys serious legs.

If the bergs were sponsored

Hmmmm, I don’t think the naked version of TDU was featured in Midge’s Final KM reports.

Just me or does this look like GVA inflated his coat?

It isn’t easy being a cycling fan on a continent far far away

Mavis really does live the life of Riley.

Lookie-likie

Nice snap

Hoping the ArgoSunGod gets his mojo back

The last word

 

 

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Tweets of the Week: Muddier than a muddy thing from Mud Town

March 6, 2018, 4:30 am
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Strade Bianche is always a great race – but it really gave the fans something to cheer about on Saturday, with the men’s and women’s pelotons facing rain, wind, mud and last kilometre cramping. So jump into the muddied waters of the Twitterstream for this week’s TWEETS OF THE WEEK!

Strade has a new champion

… and the three riders who made the race so exciting – Tiesj Benoot, Romain Bardet and Wout Van Aert – made a lot of new fans with their audacity, panache and true grit. Is it any wonder this is one of the best races in the calendar each and every year?

 

Bedhead surprises us all – but we loved it! Riding free, with no thought of saving time for the next day’s stage. Seeing his chance and taking it and riding with such panache!

Sportsmanship – love it!

Wout Van Aert – current cyclo-cross World Champion – is a rider of immense talent and he’s testing his legs on the road now. He proved himself to be strong – riding out front with Bedhead Bardet for over 50km – but the final kilometre was the killer. He said that both legs cramped on the road up, which caused him to fall off the bike. He kept his cool, however, got back on and claimed the third step of the podium. Absolutely fantastic pictures – epitomises this race!

Benooooooooot 

GVA did not get his wish

The Mud Gallery

Andrey Amador – my favourite Movistarlet – loves the race but the race, apparently, doesn’t love him. A quick Google Translate on the tweet below: The most beautiful race there can be! But the one that does not forgive me with the theme of luck! In the same section every year, to change bike! >emojis a go-go<

It doesn’t even look like Valverde!

PhilGil and Gaviria don’t look like they enjoyed that.

 

 

Pluie à Paris

The rain kept up, this time it moved to Paris on Sunday for the start of Paris-Nice. And if it wasn’t hard enough to figure out who was in what kit (and that Mitchelton Scott looked like Jumbo Bees), FDJ now has a new sponsor and a new name (although, let’s face it, we’re all going to keep calling them just FDJ).

And this is how Arnaud Demare did it – by a hair.

The Gruppetto

He’s got the Power

“A son definitely changes the way we think”

Watch the kid’s face

Love love love love love love love this kit

From the looks of that angelic face, he just turned 12

Lord Hoy‘s son is charmingly poetic.

San Remo recon – we’ve seen this somewhere before!

Hard core

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: SuperSagan, Angryphilippe and bittersweet memories

March 13, 2018, 5:30 am
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Two stage races run simultaneously means one thing: a bumper crop of TWEETS. We have sprinting magic, solo wins, exhausted riders, elated victories and a lot of the Wolfpack …

Tirreno-Adriatico

In Monday’s sprint stage, the lion of the peloton is still roaring – although he might actually be the modern equivalent of a Centaur

While the ArgoSunGod made a mockery of Kirby’s commentary to take his second stage

Sunday saw Adam Yates matching his brother’s victory in Paris-Nice on Saturday. Or was it a praying mantis?

G just can’t catch a break sometimes – the worst time for a tangled chain and the world’s slowest bike change on Saturday.

While Michal Kwiatkowski had his mechanical early enough to make sure he put himself in the perfect position to take the leader’s jersey on Sunday

Meanwhile … somewhere in Europe, Mikel Landa‘s win got someone thinking

On Sunday, the race organisers put on touching tribute to Michele Scarponi – the riders responded in kind

Paris-Not So Nice …

It was a tough Paris-Nice – the peloton had illness running through it, rain and not a lot of sunshine on the Cote d’Azur. But that didn’t stop the great racing.

A mild-mannered Dries Devenyns – love the bookworm specs

When Izaguirres collide  (video in this link)

Just me or does Marc Soler look like G’s kid brother?

Julian Alaphilippe does. not. give. up.

Jerseys galore for Lotto-Soudal 

The Gruppetto

Paris-Nice? Or Strade Bianche?

Cleaner than a clean thing from Clean Town

This should have been in last week’s Tweets, but I don’t care! Jungels BOB JUNGELS v Angryphilippe 

PhilGil getting those legs warmed up for the Classics

Wishing Gaviria the speediest of recoveries! We want to see him in the Grand Tours!

Sweeeeeeet

Just me or does Alex Dowsett bear a striking resemblance to The Rocket?

Not sure whose legs these are but … gosh

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Shark jumps Porsche, bollard jumps Cav

March 20, 2018, 5:30 am
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It was a Monument weekend – the first of the season. It was Milan-SanRemo weekend and there was a shark circling … just in time for today’s TWEETS OF THE WEEK!

 His Nibs for the win

It might be Tuesday but I have a feeling that there are a lot of Italian cycling fans who are still celebrating. The first Italian win in 12 years, a Grand Tour winner (all three GTs) taking on ‘the sprinter’s Monument’. And if that’s not enough, Vincenzo Nibali has completed the Italian triple crown – Giro d’Italia, Il Lombardia and Milan-SanRemo. The prosecco must have been flowing day and night!

A masterclass in use of emojis from Daniel Friebe.

With a palmares like Nibblets, there really is a case for him being one of the best riders of his generation. If he adds the rainbow stripes this year, that would seal it.

Give him an inch and he’ll take the trophy. Rookie error from the peloton on the Poggio

Not everyone was enamoured with the finish of the race, however.

While a straight-talking Peter Sagan brought anatomy into the mix.

Chocolate for little Emma and a Porsche for Daddy

It could have been a win from a bygone era

But what about Peter?

Perhaps Daniel Oss jinxed it with the practice Prosecco spray?

Meanwhile during the race, Sagan seemed to have a note to himself. There was some speculation as to what it might have said.

Sagan is quickly becoming the Eric Cantona of cycling. Seagulls, trawlers, sardines …

Whereas Eddy Merckx isn’t much of a poet. But he does talk sense.

Snark for the Shark

It wouldn’t be Tweets without a little good-natured snark from the tweeters

It’s a dangerous sport

He started out so optimistic

The Gruppetto

I want.

I cannot resist pictures of little kids excited about cycling

Now this will be interesting

Instagram Photo

We can all be more Larry now, with some AquaBlue casual wear! (Unfortunately, no Captain America replica kit. I’d even settle for just a teeshirt of it!)

DanFromNam just seems like one of the coolest, nicest guys around.

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Miracle mozzarella and the Wolfpack ascendancy

March 27, 2018, 4:30 am
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We’re almost at the Ronde … but before we get there, we have some warm-up cobbley races to tweet about. This week we fished the twitterstream and found Saganisms, a lone Terpstra, the roaming Wolfpack, tears before podiums, and how to get van Poppeled. Life is like self-healing cheese board …

The Philosopher King

And some new phrases that we will be appropriating pretty much all season!

Self-healing mozzarella cheese balls … who knew?

And some prophetic words before the finish line at Gent-Wevelgem. I think Sagz heard him.

E3 Terpstra

So Niki Terpstra – aided by his teammates particularly PhilGil and Stybar – took the victory on the highway that is E3 Harelbeke.

Ah, my favourite tweet of this week. Thank you, Lois!

Niki had a touch of the Cadels.

Six seems to be the magic number

Tears are not enough

Before the race

Instagram Photo

And after …

Some agreed with Peter Flax, some did not. Was Viviani attention seeking or was he genuinely upset? Depends on if you live in a town without pity or not, I suppose.

Viv in happier times

More Wolfpack fun!

So the Viviani victory salute in the top left hand corner looks like something out of Benny Hill …

The Gruppetto

Not sure which part they thought was so entertaining – those riding immodestly on those cobbles or Moscon getting blockchecked into the barriers.

Secret frites stalls

Break out the heat lamps and fluffy towels – the little kangaroo needs to be warmed up! We so hope that Chaves gets his mojo back for the Grand Tour season. We miss his aggressive riding and his wide smile.

While here’s baby Boonen with little tufty hair like a red squirrel

Fun pun! Wout?

Dear Lord, don’t let Carlton Kirby get hold of this nickname – we’ll never ever hear anything else whenever Lawless is on the screen.

Volta Catalunya was no picnic …

I think ASO just made Team Wiggins pick up the tab for that jiffy bag

I think this sentence should probably read: Tour de France would like to refuse to let Chris Froome race … nothing is definite, that’s for sure.

De Panne! De Panne!

Good point, Felix

Oleg just the other day

On a good day, this man is unstoppable.

Throwing shade (good thing he has those dark goggles on)

I’m assuming that Cav isn’t include Cipo in the ‘wonderful fans, family & friends’ bit

Say it three times fast: Gent-Wevelgem Gruber Gallery … (great to see the Grubers back in our timeline!)

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Ronde and ronde we go

April 3, 2018, 4:30 am
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They came, they rode, Terpstra conquered – it was the 2018 Ronde van Vlaanderen. It was divided opinions about the new champion; the world champion weighed in; a future champion was born; the pay gap was enormous – and Captain Kirk forgives no man. That and much much more in the Ronde edition of TWEETS OF THE WEEEEEEEEEK!

It don’t come easy

There are a lot of Ronde fans who have to get up at crazy o’clock to catch the race – or find that sometimes family commitments get in the way of the television set

Hard as nails

His Nibs made his presence known in the race – and tipped the balance

While Peter Sagan found himself between a rock and a hard place – again

It was Niki Terpstra who was the Quick-Stepper who took the day. We all figured it’d be one of them – and Terpstra made the smart move to catch the wheel that launched his ride to victory.

Instagram Photo

Mads about the boy(s)

While Terpstra goes into the history books, it seems we saw an outstanding debut performance from a Flanders future champion, Mads Pedersen. You can be sure, Midge celebrated well into the night. Good thing we stocked up on those Lidl Nebuchadnezzars of champagne.

It wasn’t just Mads who fans went mad for – there was also Wout van Aert, who had a great ride for his Ronde debut as well, finishing 9th in a top 10 of amazing Classics riders. I just hope that all the hype doesn’t put too much pressure on Wout – let him ride these races with no expectations for a year.

Not so mad about the boy

Sometimes, all of the Twitterstream celebrates a win. Tiesj Benoot in Strade was one of those this year. Terpstra’s Ronde win wasn’t one of those – it divided really divided opinion.

That said, there were a lot of people who do like Niki – and some have had their mind changed a bit

Ker-ching! Or not …

Even if you wanted to argue that the women’s race is shorter than the men’s (although that doesn’t work because they don’t equate mileage with money in deciding the prize money for men’s races throughout the season), Anna van der Breggan took home less than 10% of the prize money given to Terpstra …

Give them an inch … and they’ll take a Monument

Seems Roubaix is already won. But we’ve said that before, haven’t we?

In other Quick-step news

Forgiveness – or not

It was Dan Wuori’s annual intercession between the blockees and the blockers. Whereas most blockers understand what he’s trying to do – and no matter if they unblock or not – it seems he got William Shatner riled …

While Rory Sutherland said no, but perhaps with a bit more Easter spirit

The Gruppetto

Gauntlet thrown

It’s not Flanders without Fabs

Get your frites on, boys

‘Dear Diary …’

For the love of Oss

With prose like Sean Penn

When the gloves are on … it may mean the gloves are off. But maybe not!

As if we don’t have enough trouble with vehicles on the road during a race …

If nothing else, he says what’s on his mind

Into the fog …

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Hamster gold, QuickStep coiffures and hipster racing

April 17, 2018, 11:20 am
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We’ve barely recovered from Roubaix and we’re straight into Ardennes week with some Breton racing thrown in for good measure. We have Quick-Step hair, Viking spirit, and piglets for everyone in this edition of Tweets of the Week! 

Hamster Gold!

During a QuickStep presser for Amstel Gold, Julian Alaphilippe was looking more and more French by the minute – with his curated facial hair and floppy quiff, he could play D’Artagnan in any remake of The Three Musketeers – while Jungels, BOB JUNGELS maintained his perfectly coiffed RAF airman look.

Some Quick-Step kisses – but none on the podium

Here at VeloVoices, we love a good nickname. From now on, Ardennes week begins with the Hamster Gold Race.

@JournalVelo was driving the Tweetmobile on Sunday – and seemed to be trolling Midge!

It’s the laugh at the start of this that really makes it … ever so slightly creepy

Michael Valgren has well and truly stepped up this season – and has been picking up a lot of fans along the way.

Coming off his Roubaix win, Sagan had nothing to prove and his riding style became more nonchalant than usual – if that’s even possible.

True hamster spirit …

Piglets for all!

It was also Tro-Bro Leon on Sunday – one of the coolest races in the calendar.

Of course, a conversation about TroBro is never complete without a contribution by a VeloVoices favourite, Dan Craven

In the Gruppetto

Just sittin’ by the campfire, singin’ cowboy songs

Giro Fever? Meh, not so much

Wonder if there’s a clause in that contract …

File under: Blame David Millar

Andre Greipel wouldn’t put up with any of that sportscar nonsense

Nairo who?

Congratulations to the Contadors on their new arrival!

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: Tom who?

April 24, 2018, 4:30 am
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It was Ardennes Week, which usually doesn’t do much for me but the QuickStep wins in both Fleche and LBL made up for that! Of course, no matter what the race, we can always count on the Twitterstream to either distract or rev up the mood.

The Musketeer

VeloVoices Towers went berserk with Julian Alaphilippe‘s fantastic win on Wednesday. It was a fine day.

Alaphilippe didn’t even realise that he won …

And now a rather bizarre slo-mo, weird-sounding video of his win

Annnnnd from the back

Alaphilippe will not be mocked …

This is much better. Love the helmet at a jaunty angle and the little ‘tache …

Jungels! BOB JUNGELS!

And it was …

There was nothing but love between these two – Alaphilippe looked almost overcome with joy that his teammate won such a magnificent Monument

I had no idea this was QuickStep’s first LBL victory ever!

And a more reflective photo –  a great one by Karen Edwards. Is it just me or does he have a bit of a Matt Damon look about him?

Instagram Photo

The morning after

Tom who?

Meanwhile Michal Kwiatkowski seemed to have had a disappointingly lacklustre spring. Which is a shame, because when he’s on song, he’s a real joy to watch.

Lotto Soudal haven’t had a lot of luck this spring either.

He wanted to. But he didn’t.

Who would have thought we’d have a LBL podium as we did? We are *loving* Bedhead Bardet‘s devotion to racing hard this spring.

And His Nibs‘s roughing up the races. He only made his attacks stick once, but he certainly made his presence known in every one of the races

Instagram Photo

Liege is a race that is dreamed of

However, not for its scenery as Liege really isn’t that attractive. I’ve been there …

Everyone has their limits

And *this* is what Dan Wuori looks forward to every year – the Pimp of Liege. Don’t think he saw him on Sunday though. Maybe the guy was just on the barricades, dressed in jeans and a polo-neck this year.

Alpine fun with Woodsmoke

There was some real disgruntlement with the comms in this race. Nobody puts Thibault in a corner!

While this is just plain unnatural

When your teammate is doing well …

I’m terrified we’re going to have to say these names on the podcast one day. As I’m sure are all our listeners #Mangle

The saddest of anniversaries

It was also a week of saying goodbye to BMC owner Andy Rihs, who died on Wednesday. It’s a sad loss.

The Gruppetto

I love this

The stuff of nightmares

And you know that anything that is compared favourably to tractors by nyvelocity has to be amazing.

A crazy trick of the lens

I really love how riders just go with it in pictures for sponsors. From QuickStep pillow fights to Oss‘s air guitar on restressed concrete.

G speaks

As, apparently, did Froome

Quite honestly, the mind boggles

Ah, summer … it’s just around the corner, Marshall!

Instagram Photo

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: The glorious stallion that is Thomas De Gendt

May 1, 2018, 4:30 am
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It’s a ‘beasy’ time as we get ready for the first Grand Tour of the season starting on Friday. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t great racing last week. Today, we celebrate Thomas De Gendt in the Alps, dance with Dan Craven in Senegal and lament the sanitisation of Fabianese. Plus much much more … It’s a bumper crop of TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Let us sing a song of Thomas De Gendt

Cut-offs and commentary

When the cut-off times are hard line.

Some hate TTs (I’m betting that list above are in that group) and some love them. But commentators should never dis them – (not least because it’s their job not to …)

At least he’s stopped saying ‘golden shoulders’

Rose-tinted tweets

In the run-up to the Giro, our timeline is ablush. And guess who is starting yet another consecutive GT? Adam Hansen of course. Go out and get a copy of Cyclist to read all about it.

This might be a bit Marmite – you either love it or you hate it. I’m inclined to love it. If I’m not mistaken, the artist took the scraps from the Giro road book?

But look at this – the Giro hasn’t even started and we’re already talking about the Tour. Looks like Movistar are taking no chances …

What would Dan do?

I’ve decided that when life is getting me down because of world angst, I’m going to ask ‘What would Dan from Nam do?’ He would smile and join in the fun …

The Gruppetto

When you’re on the road …

I don’t think anyone can overestimate what this must have meant to those kids.

I love this …

This might make some of you feel as old as the hills. It did me …

In total agreement with Cillian on this.

But one thing that does seem to be consistent about Geraint Thomas is that he actually gives you something interesting and revealing in interviews. This interview is worth a read.

“Today I had to try but I just didn’t have it, and when you know that then your head just falls off a bit. It’s never nice. I had no idea what was going on. I didn’t have a radio and was just trying to pace it.”

Has Jillbear been branching out?

Love this – and there’s a Giro prediction to follow

Is Bedhead branching out?

They’re even sanitising Fabianese. Can’t we ever have anything nice?

Ah, many a day I’ve taken as holiday to watch a big mountain stage and … diddly squat

What’s in a name

Brain surgery!!!! This is astonishing. All the best for a speedy recovery to the Ladies Favourite™.

The last word

Even if you don’t understand Italian, this little film gets its point across. People bandy the word ‘hero’ around a lot when they talk about athletes but winning trophies isn’t heroic. Running into burning buildings to save strangers, standing up to bullies who are having a go at a vulnerable person – those actions are heroic. And what Gino Bartali did during the Second World War is what makes his legend so meaningful.

 

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Giro 2018 Tweets of the Week: Camels, ninjas and blue streaks

May 8, 2018, 4:30 am
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It’s the first of the Giro 2018 Tweets of the Week and we’re going headlong into it, like a Viviani sprint to the finish. We have all the best tweets from the grande partenza before we take a little detour to Yorkshire where we run into Thomas Voeckler in Asda! Our gruppetto has a Ninja Purito, a blue Jillbear, backstage pass v2, and the perfect California boy, Peter Sagan.

It was a high Vivz weekend

It may have been the most controversial start host of a Grand Tour but the actual racing was dull and flatter than a flat thing from flat town – there was only about 3km of exciting racing in the whole three days. Most of that excitement came from the wheels of quickest man so far this season, Elia Viviani, and his sometime errant sprint train.

It’s Prosecco time!

While Tom D started where he left off – in pink by the end of the first stage

I’m just going to leave this here

Grande Partenza? Nah, not so much

Hmmmmm. They could take some race etiquette lessons from Yorkshire spectators

Camels are the Middle East’s answer to roadside tractors

Whereas these two have gone for a Giro-inspired push-me pull-you

One thing is for sure – Eritrean fans always give it their all!

Meanwhile, in Yorkshire

There’s always a good turnout for the Tour de Yorkshire – although the way it’s talked about as if the roads are empty for every other race is a bit of hubris (have they never been to Flanders?) – but there’s no denying the race has been going from success to success. There might even be a Vuelta start soon.

Wow – looks like Stephane Rossetto  is doing a De Gendt with bells on! 100km as a solo break – and he won! Chapeau!

While there’s some serious mullet action. AquaBlue seemed to really enjoy their Yorkshire wild card – I still cannot believe they didn’t get a wildcard for either the Giro or Tour of California – especially considering Larry Warbasse is the US national champ. Geez, what’s a team gotta do?

Instagram Photo

The things you see when you’re doing your weekly shop

A near miss – and even though there was an apology, we did notice that the Astana car didn’t stop to see if that marshal was okay. Some things are actually more important than racing, guys, and making sure someone is okay after nearly running them down is one of them. Twitter apologies are not good enough.

This is definitely something to be celebrated

The Gruppetto

Purito on NinjaWarrior TV – now that’s a caption I never thought I’d be writing

Peter Sagan has to be the most Californian rider in the peloton

Love this

Moody blue …

Backstage Pass v2

The Grand Tours just won’t let him go.

If this were true, I’d be one of the strongest riders in the world!

… and this is what I’d eat as part of training

Best hashtag ever.

This has given me vertigo. How on earth does anyone have the courage to go down that thing?

Kitten’s got a sense of humour. Purrrrrrr

Individual mattresses didn’t start with Sky, you know

The Last Word

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Giro Tweets of the Week: Climbing, sprinting, barging … and a cherubic smile

May 15, 2018, 4:30 am
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The first full week of the Giro 2018 certainly got the Twittersphere frisky. But it wasn’t all about Italy – we had Dunkirk AND California as well! There were so many good tweets, I’m letting them speak for themselves, quite frankly. Enjoy!

Climbs and then some

Ah, the sweet smell of woodsmoke in the mountains

 

Crash Froome

Isolated. Riding like a man who’s been at the pub too long. Losing time by the truckloads. And having a contretemp with George Bennett. Just the first week of the Giro for Chris ‘£1m appearance fee’ Froome

When it rains, it pours

A menagerie of sprinters

Is he a tiger? A wolf? How many animals will be used to describe Fernando Gaviria this season?

But Fernando wasn’t the only sprinter who was making some noise. Andre Greipel took a solo win at the Four Days of Dunkerque. So great to have him back after his injury …

Ireland went crazy for Sam Bennett‘s Giro stage win last week – front page news!

I say, I say

Cyclists – and fans and pundits – say the darndest things!

The Gruppetto

The Juan and only …

Instagram Photo

If only they had lined Peter Sagan‘s head in the centre of that neon – it would be like he had a spikey halo 

Cheeky chappy who conquers mountains

The last word

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Giro Tweets of the Week: Perfect in pink, pitching a hissy, punching Dino

May 22, 2018, 4:30 am
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Oh, it was *quite* a week at the Giro d’Italia. We had a pink-clad race leader who didn’t believe in racing the status quo, a returning champion who pitched a hissy on the chase, a dinosaur punch-up – it was all happening on the roads of Italy. Except when it was happening on the highways of California … Oh, what the hell – let’s face it – it’s always happening here in Tweets of the Week.

Leaving it all out on the road

This guy is willing to lose the race in order to win it. And win it with panache!

But could there be a dark horse stalking the maglia rosa?

Doing a Sagan

Oh, Tom D is *not* having a happy time this season. He pitched a right hissy after Sunday’s stage – starting to sound a bit like a frustrated Sagan at the Classics.

Why, look! It’s Pinot in front, doing work!

Meanwhile, one good day in the Giro and Sky were talking all big and bad. At the end of Sunday’s stage, Froome was down just shy of 5min on that non-rival Yates

Best dinosaur tweet of the week

Make it so!

I think the vote whether Ladies Favourite™ Bernie Eisel becomes a permanent part of the Eurosport commentary team would be a landslide.

Until that time, we’ll have to settle for Jonathan and Brian

Goin’ Cali

It was also the Tour of California – where we had quite an elaborate victory celebration, a super-fast QuickStepper and

Fernando Gaviria is back to his winning everything in sight … I hope he’s riding the Tour because I would love to see him win on the Champs.

Tell me – just how tiny is Caleb Ewan?

Just a little excited …

And the Maple Syrup King makes an appearance!

The Gruppetto

Bits and pieces from the rest of the racing

Always a good Tweets of the Week when our favourite Manuel Quinziato is in it!

A mechanical at the worst possible moment in the race puts George Bennett right out of contention

Possible the most bizarre crash ever in the history of forever

Fabio in happier times

Jump back! Kiss yourself!

Even the Zoncolan can’t dampen Adam Hansen‘s joie de vivre!

#Potatopower

Wheelies and making the cut on the Zoncolan

I love Zdenek Stybar. That is all.

The last word

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Giro Tweets of the Week: Ghosts, #84kgs and that everlasting mancrush

May 29, 2018, 4:30 am
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Well, it’s over now. The 101st Giro d’Italia is done and dusted – but the tweets keep on coming. Oh, it was an exciting, contentious, rabble-rousing (even haunted!) Giro – we have Froome, Dumoulin, Bennett (both of them), among others – and the Twittersphere found some new stars with the tweetings of Alex Dowsett, Chad Haga, and Ryan Mullen. We also have little team films, tweets of pure exhaustion … you know, the usual TWEETS OF THE WEEK! 

Top tweeters

Chad Haga kept us entertained with his oversimplifications, Ryan Mullen #84kg with his climbing struggles, and Alex Dowsett with his bone-dry takes on a racer’s life.

The heaviest man in cycling (it’s all relative) – but he lost some baggage along the way

Aren’t Moms great?

Alex Dowsett has a whole Instagram series around the Giro – behind the scenes and musings. Go! It’s here.

Tactics and Ghosts

Once again, Chris Froome has been the strongest rider – and the most divisive amongst fans. Theories abounded – there was even a little paranormal activity! I’m not going to dwell on this too much, however. There are other stories to get to.

So he did learn something from Wiggins!

Dutch courage

This part of the Tweets is really for Journal Velo and Panache – they both have a serious mancrush on Big Tam.

It must have been the most bittersweet race any of the Mitchelton Scott guys have ever been in.

It was an Irish win in Rome

Oh Pinot

The Gruppetto

When the Astana team bus is neutral territory, you know you’re not in Kansas any longer.

Doin’ a Landis

But no no no! He didn’t mean it that way! >please don’t call the lawyers, please don’t call the lawyers<

Chalk up number 20 for the Mighty Hansen … (Have to say, loving Bertie‘s new look)

I do find it astonishing that riders need to trim and pin their numbers on their kit. So old school

Some pain faces …

One of the little competitions that happen when you’re riding for hours and hours and hours

Cycling is nothing without fans

Chubby little face!

It’s a new Cavendish … Casper by name!

The Tigger of commentary chattin’ with Baby Blackbird

Meanwhile, over in the SuperSagan camp

The last word

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Tweets of the Week: #BatChamps, TourTalk and what nots …

June 26, 2018, 4:39 am
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Once the Dauphine and Suisse have been raced, cycling goes a touch quiet in the run-up to the razzlemadazzle that is the Tour de France. But that doesn’t mean the Twittesphere has stopped turning. Oh no! There’s national championships (#BatChamps), training rides (have a heart for Koen de Kort!) and other treats enough to fill our TWEETS OF THE WEEK! 

BatChamps!

Riders around the cycling nations have been vying for those national jerseys (and praying that, if they do win them, their teams won’t make a hash of the design … ). Midge has been keeping everyone updated through #BatChamps (origin of said nickname: she texted me one day and said, ‘What should we do for the Bat Champs coming up?’ Autocorrect gives us our quirks …) Here are some of the highlights.

I really love Pro Cycling Trumps animations.

There’s a lot of heart in that Ethiopian team.

The most elegant man on a bike, Daniel Teklahaminot will be looking stylish in his Eritrean bat champs jersey

It’s a new Belgian champion, Yves Lampaert pipping teammate Philippe Gilbert to the jersey

Meanwhile, over in Poland, KwiatKrush is back in the red-and-white

Not pictured, Bodnar’s ITT podium where he was presented with a sword. A sword!

Purito at the wheel and on the radio … (I miss him in the peloton …)

We may never see Peter Sagan in an ordinary, everyday Bora jersey. He should put all his championship jerseys on and then strip them off one by one on the Champs Elysees …

Eddy Higgs-Boson Haagen-Daz makes it number 10 …

We ❤ Larry!

Larry Warbasse has spent a year in Captain American jersey and did it proud! He now hands it over to Jonny Brown, who races for Hagens Berman Axeon but we just want to say, Larry, you were a great champion!

Instagram Photo

And how is this for an astounding accomplishment? Coryn Rivera takes the women’s US champion’s jersey. Seventy-second championship???!!!!! WOW

 

Just hangin’ out

This really has been a tweet worth waiting for – Petr Vakoc, laid low by horrific injuries after being hit by a truck in January, is recovering well. A film about resilience, hard work and an amazing attitude. We will be popping open the VeloVoices Champagne when Petr is racing again.

A fond farewell

An important story, compassionately told

Talkin’ some pre-Tour

Will this work? Will it not? No one knows for sure. Will it be fun to watch? Oh yeah. Here’s a little film, with possibly the most disconcerting opening clip … ‘Nairo, speak to me, Nairo!’

They might not have a GC contender, but hot damn, QuickStep are sending a formidable team to the Tour. Angryphilippe! JillBear! Jungels BOB JUNGELS! Go-go Gaviria … #WeAreEXCITE

Bedhead Jr – Jasper de Buyst

Spare a thought for Koen de Kort – training with his teammate Bauke Mollema.

A little something from Orla

I think we can safely say that we’ll see Caleb in a new kit, come 2019

These guys are getting ready …

This is a worrying tweet – it sounds like there are some real problems for Fabio Aru. It feels like cycling has chewed him up and spit him out. Whatever the problem might be, we hope he finds his way through.

The Gruppetto

Who feels old?

Alberto Contador – nothin’ but net

Fans of Hannah’s Grand Tour Cookbook will be happy to hear this news!

The Northern Line’s designs are getting the attention they so richly deserve – here in the latest issue of Pro Cycling

And a new style of print from them

Lordy …

The last word

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Tour Tweets of the Week: Chava, Sagan, Lawson and the Tao of cycling

July 10, 2018, 4:30 am
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It’s on! And we’ve got the first Tour Tweets of the Week for 2018. We have a rider whose name is so smooth to say … Sylvain Chavanel … we have the yellow jerseys from the past few days, a 160km swansong, a big Texan heart, a sausage king (yes, indeedy!) and a lion that wants to kiss us. And that’s just for starters …

Let’s start with a little lion love!

Bidding adieu

Stage 2 saw Sylvain Chavanel give it his all as he went into the break, dropped his fellow breakers and then spent most of the day out on his own, cycling through beautiful countryside and soaking in the cheers of the French crowds on the roadside. A fitting swansong for a great rider who is riding his 18th (!) and last Tour de France.

Don’t look behind you!

Chava tats

Chava records of distinction

Getting the love from the crowds that were on the roadside. I love this little clip. One of the reasons I love bike racing – the (good) interaction between cyclist and fans.

When Chava was a pup

Mellow yellows

We’ve had three riders in yellow in three stages. With the look of the rest of the week, we might have more … but for now, here is your maillot jaune parade. First up, Fernando Gaviria …

The changeover – Gaviria crashed out of Stage 2 sprint, taken handily by Peter Sagan. I like the camaraderie in this picture. Two classy riders, no doubt about it.

Sagan’s yellow skinsuit didn’t help him in the TTT on Stage 3 – first time we’ve seen the Velvet Samurai dropped so emphatically in a long time. But he’s as philosophical about it as ever.

BMC, the TTTing juggernaut, took the stage win and put Greg Van Avermaet – yes, you heard us right – GVA! – into the yellow jersey. He’s not had the best of seasons but I suspect this makes up for it.

Interesting

Patch him up and watch him go!

Lawson Craddock has been through the thresher, but that’s not stopping him. Predictions that he would be spit out the back in the TTT and possibly miss the time cut were unfounded (thankfully).

The Gruppetto

Daniel Oss – no matter what the picture, he looks like a wonderfully debauched 70s rock star.

“i believe you dropped your sunnies, ma’am”

EF Dratpack With More Names Attached is really the team of the Tour so far for me – the team that has that extra sparkle, with the guys wearing their hearts on their sleeves.

Oh, it’s so lovely to have That Boy Phinney back in the peloton (and in Tweets!)

KwiatKrush with some high fives

Wouldn’t be the Tour without a farming report in Tweets.

Meanwhile, in Austria, there be sausages

And a school trip to Romania

Let’s have some drums

The last word

Header image: ©GETTY/Velo/Chris Graythen

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Tour Tweets of the Week: Dust, drama and Degs

July 17, 2018, 4:30 am
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We’re going over the cobbles, kicking up the dust for our second TOUR TWEETS OF THE WEEK! The Mighty Degs, QuickSteppers, fun videos from everyone from EF to Velon, SuperSagan, That Boy Phinney and much much more! Giddy up!

The dust and the drama

It was an epic stage … the GC wasn’t as shaken up as we all thought, but the dust was kicked up and the drama was high.

You have to love Thomas De Gendt 

EF Everyone is doing a cracking job on Twitter this Tour.

Pierre Rolland goes crazy with the tape

It’s all about the dirt. Get out the loofahs …

Epic win

One of the most emotional wins I’ve ever seen – the Mighty Degs takes a magnificent win on Roubaix day and made everyone cry with his heartfelt reaction.

A wonderful moment between Cav and Degs after that amazing win

I can watch this 100 times and I’ll cry every single time. This is what I watch cycling for. This.

The gang’s all here

Here are just some great tweets since last Tuesday – not in any particular order. But they’re fun!

Meanwhile, Steve has something to say

I just like this picture

Like a little baby bird

Seriously, I have no idea why they’re cozying up to CyclingWeekly – THIS is the original and best Tweets of the Week. Come on, EF, get on board!

Oops

Cool vids

There are a lot of videos coming out over Twitter every stage – Sunweb, Peter Sagan, Adam Hansen, Cav, PhilGil, and Bernie Eisel

That hair! THAT HAIR! Gorgeous

Always good to see (and hear) The Ladies’ Favourite

Interesting

Fans …

Mavis is living the life of Riley

The gruppetto

Included just because I think it’s very funny – and charming

Very saucy. And – wow – those are some kind of tattoos on Koen de Kort 

It’s not a Tour tweets without the tractor section, courtesy of NYVelocity

Stage 7 was a long long long stage … some stuck with it, some didn’t

Um … champagne showers? Yikes!

Well, hello there, WaWa. We’ve not seen you very much this season

No one loves you quite like a grandma …

The last word

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