There is an argument that cycling fans are the most sadistic in all sports. We love to see riders facing the cruellest of challenges. At the Grand Tours, we revel at the thought of the best cyclists facing the toughest climbs and the steepest gradients. We cheer when the winner crosses the line with barely an ounce of energy left to give after five hours of racing and we take delight in knowing that a simple rain shower could transform a cobble or gravel stage into an unpredictable mud bath. The harder the conditions, the more we are amazed at…