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[Other Sport] 2023 Tour de France







Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,238
Withdean area
I was using it as a mild and amusing comment to suggest that it might not be what it appears to be, hence the reference to gazelle.

@Weststander I'm not seeking to have some big argument with you here. I'm just saying that it's very surprising and it's surprised experts as well as everyday fans. There are also other experts and everyday fans that say it's fine. Whichever way you look at it, it has divided opinion.

Ditto :smile:.

I am worldly wise/cycling punch drunk. It would be no surprise to me if we eventually see both UAE and Jumbo Visma raided, doctors arrested, or a David Walsh type writer revealing all. But I truly hope not. I like to think the likes of Contador were the last (team orchestrated) cheats.
 
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Beach Hut

Brighton Bhuna Boy
Jul 5, 2003
72,313
Living In a Box
Pogacar has cracked, game truly over now
 


BNthree

Plastic JCL
Sep 14, 2016
11,452
WeHo
What was with the car and moto blocking the course just there??
 


pb21

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2010
6,684
Whose going to win, suspect not Vingegaard to far and will take it easy on descent, Yates I reckon...
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,238
Withdean area
The area today would be well known to nsc’s winter sports enthusiasts. We were there in April, today’s finish is on the small runway perched on the edge of a mountain, billionaires arrive there including champagne socialist @WATFORD zero .

IMG_4815.png
IMG_4816.png
 


WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,750
The area today would be well known to nsc’s winter sports enthusiasts. We were there in April, today’s finish is on the small runway perched on the edge of a mountain, billionaires arrive there including champagne socialist @WATFORD zero .

View attachment 163791View attachment 163792

It is the way to arrive, straight onto the skidoo and then a couple of hundred yards down to your chalet. We used to play a game whereby you had to arrive at the chairlift at the last possible moment, so the walnut skinned, trout lipped Russian woman in her furs and gold with her private instructor had already committed to that particular chair. Then come bombing in, jump alongside them, spread out and be very loud and very common (something my family are well skilled at) :thumbsup:

I did once buy Mrs Wz and the kids lunch at the restaurant just to the left of where that photo was taken. Bit of pasta and four drinks increased my mortgage by 18 months :ohmy:
 


Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,238
Withdean area
It is the way to arrive, straight onto the skidoo and then a couple of hundred yards down to your chalet. We used to play a game whereby you had to arrive at the chairlift at the last possible moment, so the walnut skinned, trout lipped Russian woman in her furs and gold with her private instructor had already committed to that particular chair. Then come bombing in, jump alongside them, spread out and be very loud and very common (something my family are well skilled at) :thumbsup:

I did once buy Mrs Wz and the kids lunch at the restaurant just to the left of where that photo was taken. Bit of pasta and four drinks increased my mortgage by 18 months :ohmy:

That sounds like me … I insist on joining 6 seaters where despite queues, selfish two’s of three’s try to hog it all to themselves. It often takes a deft last minute shimmy to scupper their plans.

This was one of those outdoors 1850 restaurants this April, prices in €. We had something symbolically …. hot chocolates.

IMG_4826.png
 
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May 1, 2023
66
Felt a little sorry for Pogacar there with how the team just abandoned him.

Reminds me a little of Pinot in 2019, showing how top level sport waits for no one.
 


pb21

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2010
6,684
Felt a little sorry for Pogacar there with how the team just abandoned him.

Reminds me a little of Pinot in 2019, showing how top level sport waits for no one.
He had a team mate with him, and I think it may only have been Yates up the road and he is riding for the podium.
 


BNthree

Plastic JCL
Sep 14, 2016
11,452
WeHo
He had a team mate with him, and I think it may only have been Yates up the road and he is riding for the podium.
He had Marc Soler with him who even abandoned him on the last KM. Though Pogacar was on the team radio saying his legs had gone and Yates should go for GC 3rd place so more than likely Pogacar himself telling others to go.
 






Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
62,681
The Fatherland






Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
17,770
Fiveways
Interesting conversation from people that know much, much more about cycling than I, and helpful differentiations between cynicism and scepticism. I think we can be both sceptical that there is no evidence to implicate Vingegaard and sceptical that the margin of victory in the TT was stark. FWIW, JV did indicate that it was his best cycling ever (and not best TT ever, which is what Peter Kennaugh relayed).
Pogacar not right, as today demonstrated and JV came in in fourth after another stunning ride, but was outdone by Gall, A Yates, and was pipped by Bilbao on that brutal final climb (just how brutal it was, see Gaudu trying to keep up with Bilbao and JV).
 


The Lemming Stomper

Under the flag
Apr 1, 2007
2,740
Saltdean
Wout Van Eert has left the Tour...

To be with his wife who's about to give birth and not for failing a drugs test in case the Grassy Knollingtons on here start getting excited :oops:
 




pb21

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2010
6,684
Whisperings in full flow now...

Given that Pogačar has now fully blown up, and with hindsight had been in the red for more than a few days, as evidenced by the cold sore @BrightonCottager mentioned, it puts the TT into more context.

I think it's very likely (90%+) it was all kosher. Which puts the next handful of TdFs very much in Vingegaard's favour, because even a fresh Pogačar would struggle to not lose significant time against that kind of performance...
 




1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,233
Wow!.... Just caught up with yesterday's stage. What a stage that was!, but then the interview afterwards from Matej Mohorič took it to the next level.

That interview is possibly the most emotionally connected to an interview I've ever felt. So emotional, so well expressed. Absolutely beautiful.

Anyone who hasn't seen it, please try and watch it if you can.
 




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