How do we feel about the moustache-forward, hair-tossing, attention seeker doing Leadville?
I mean I’d love for a World Tour rider to just destroy the Lifetime kids but I kinda wish that World Tour pro wasn’t so aggressively American. Simmons is basically a personified Monster Energy drink crossed with a shampoo commercial.
Simmons is a great road racer but there is not way he “just destroy[s] the Lifetime kids.” This an exceptionally rude framing for a group of talented athletes especially considering Simmons is younger than the race favorite Keegan Swenson. Events like Leadville have a learning curve, I don’t see a primarily road rider sweeping their first time out.
I haven’t given it any thought. I like when talented riders from other disciplines mix up their race schedules and try new events. I think its good for the sport and it tests everyone. As far as Simmons, I get that many here dislike the guy, but don’t let him live rent-free in your head. Personally, I think his style looks silly, but I also can say the same for Travis Kelce or the majority of the NFL and NBA. That’s his choice. He’s a damn good rider. I don’t like his actions off the bike. It is what it is. I have no problem with him riding Leadville.
The thing about Keegan at Leadville is that he is a freak at altitude. He loses very little power up high. I am not too sure about Simmons, but he did place second back in the day, when it may not have been as competitive. Keegan has shown himself to be up for racing World Tour riders. He was in the running for Gravel Worlds one year until he washed out on a corner, and then still ended up sprinting with Valverde. He holds the MTB Marathon World Championship Jersey. Leadville is also about taking care of your equipment. Keegan is generally pretty good about that, and he can ride a flat a long ways at a weirdly fast pace. Keegan will not be intimidated. I doubt Beers will either. Also, it is not quite the same race this year, so results may be inconclusive.
Swenson is a beast, no disrespect at all to him. I do think a lot of the Lifetime riders used to be chosen as much for their social media followings as their speed.
That criteria has not been in place for years now…they are now selected based on performance.
Simmons lives in Durango and I believe he has been there for some time since the Tour ended, so the altitude should not be an issue for him. Similarly, the length is roughly equivalent to a long road race, so well within his wheelhouse. The nature of the race (long, steady muscular endurance efforts) would also seem to suit him well since his primary tactic is trying to bludgeon his opponents into submission.
Will he beat Keegan? Highly unlikely. Will he place pretty well up in the standings? Wouldn’t surprise me…as noted, he has finished well there before (although the talent is likely now better than when he previously raced it)
I mean, it was quite awhile ago, but he did get second place on his first ride at Leadville in 2019.
I love Simmons for being such a charicature … it just makes people smile.
I don’t like Simmons for some of the views he previously held, and the impression that he may still hold those views.
I can get behind his Leadville participation as it will add interest, intrigue and possible stories to the event, even if I won’t necessarily smile about him winning, if he does.
So if he was passively American, you would be okay with him?
He is a bike racer and this is a bike race. I am pretty sure that he isn’t running for any political office so his thoughts and views really don’t matter.
He is well known in large part because he’s such a patriotic caricature rather than passively American, as you put it, and because of the controversy caused by his actions that exposed his views.
You can’t separate those from the question of people’s views concerning his participation because without those things far fewer people would know or care who he was, never mind have an opinion.
Indeed, if it wasn’t for his character, the question would never have been asked and this thread would not exist.
I disagree completely. He is a three time National champion and has ridden the Tour several times. People would know who he is because of his accomplishments. People don’t know you or me because we have done nothing of the sort.
This thread would not exist but for the fact that he is riding Leadville and lefties don’t want to hear what he has said.
Again I ask, how do his views affect you, me, anyone else, or how he races? If you are entitled to whatever you believe, so is he.
Come on, you know that this isn’t true. Yes his political views are on the wrong side of history and he likes to put on a show, but I think you are letting your political views cloud your judgment.
Do you think that if Sepp rolled up to Leadville we wouldn’t be having this discussion?.
I didn’t know he was a two time national champion (I knew he’d won once, cause he’s in the US jersey), and I couldn’t tell you any other wins he’s had, except for under 19 world championship, or whatever it was, but even that I can only tell you cause it was here in the UK, broadcast free-to-air.
Those into racing will know what he’s achieved. Casual fans will know him as the moustachioed bloke in the US jersey often attacking at the TdF, and little more.
Probably but the question that sparked the thread would have been worded quite differently and the conversation definitely would have followed a different tack.
Also, Sepp is arguably more famous, what with the whole Vuelta win and circumstances around that, so yes, conversations would be had, but not the same conversations.
Further up I said I like an element of Simmons because he’s a caricature but I should have also said I respect him as a racer and love how he animates things. I did say further up that I like that he’s taking part. I just struggle to get behind him.
100%, but the OP question was how we feel about his participation given the character he is. That question is only every likely to be asked concerning a person who’s character is perhaps a little problematic, and so you can’t be surprised if some people answer the question in such a way as to indicate a level of uncomfortableness.
I obviously have no idea what OP’s true intentions are but this thread was clearly going to descend into some level of argument and ugliness. Rage bait is maybe too harsh a label, but maybe not.
Ok fair point all.
Can someone recap whatever he’s done from a political and/or inflammatory standpoint? I feel like I heard about him using a wrong skin color emoji in a twitter response - is there more than that?
Also, isn’t his brother also a pro? Does he attract the same level of opinion?
See I’m of a different camp - I think people only know who he is because of his grooming choices (and his national champs - regardless of my feelings about the guy, I’m not denying his accomplishments).
If Sepp rolled up, fuck I’d probably drive out to watch.