[Other Sport] Le Tour de France

[RandyWanger]

Fell for that one didnt he. What a bluff.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Fell for that one didnt he. What a bluff.

Could be up for a BAFTA with that slump back into the saddle and broken body language.

 

[pb21]

How much better is Pogačar at TTing over Vingegaard, I think Pogačar is better, isn't he?

If so, how much time does Pogačar need to take out of Vingegaard tommorow, to then potentially take it over the 40 TT kms?

 

[Bold Seagull]

How much better is Pogačar at TTing over Vingegaard, I think Pogačar is better, isn't he?

If so, how much time does Pogačar need to take out of Vingegaard tommorow, to then potentially take it over the 40 TT kms?

It was 53km when Wiggins won it in 2012, he was 1’16” faster than Froome, and got nearly 4mins on Nibali. Can go horribly wrong if they get their pace wrong in a longer TT.

 

[JackB247]

Have really enjoyed this edition of the Tour - can't see Jonas cracking today after UAE threw everything at him yesterday.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Thomas on the attack. This is a fantastic debut climb up the Spandelles. Pog and Vin exchanging blows. It's brilliant racing.

 

[JackB247]

Pogacar cracks - Green and Yellow Jersey going up the Hautacam together, quite the sight!

Jumbo at TeamSky levels of dominance.

 

[Normal Rob]

Vingegaard waiting for Pogacar to catch back up after his fall, whilst being very sporting, really just showed how supremely confident and comfortable he was. He knew he could deal with anything Pog could throw at him. Easily.

 

[Mexican Seagull]

And he did, impressive riding

 

[The Lemming Stomper]

.

What a team Rabobank are...

Plenty on the specialist forums must feel 'a right bunch of charlies' with epic Robofail etc etc comments

 

[Billy in Bristol]

Great tour sum up in the Guardian, these are interesting times in Cycling

 

[Bold Seagull]

Great tour sum up in the Guardian, these are interesting times in Cycling

Just read it, can’t disagree with that. Just the 2 bunch sprints - you can see the frustrating logic in not having taken Cav. Van Aert could easily have taken green and polka dot. Amazing race for him. It was breathtaking to watch, old concepts of control and reducing risk replaced with instinct and intent. Really memorable race this one.

 

[Stat Brother]

Just read it, can’t disagree with that. Just the 2 bunch sprints - you can see the frustrating logic in not having taken Cav. Van Aert could easily have taken green and polka dot. Amazing race for him. It was breathtaking to watch, old concepts of control and reducing risk replaced with instinct and intent. Really memorable race this one.

Nah not really - and definitely not with hindsight.

QuickStep had a worse tour than Israel Premier Tech.
They Cofidised their way around France providing next to nothing.

They could have had exactly the same Tour with Cav and been 2nd story after Pog v Jumbo every single day.


Assume all the if's are BIG IF'S.

If next season Cav signs for EF.
If Cav rides the tour.
If Cav wins a stage.

Irrespective whatever else happens QuickStep will again be an afterthought.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Nah not really - and definitely not with hindsight.

QuickStep had a worse tour than Israel Premier Tech.
They Cofidised their way around France providing next to nothing.

They could have had exactly the same Tour with Cav and been 2nd story after Pog v Jumbo every single day.


Assume all the if's are BIG IF'S.

If next season Cav signs for EF.
If Cav rides the tour.
If Cav wins a stage.

Irrespective whatever else happens QuickStep will again be an afterthought.

But don’t you think the concept of a sprint team with a hand picked lead out train is already looking a bit old fashioned? If other teams don’t buy into sprinters winning stages, the peloton just isn’t going to have the motivation to catch breaks and organised bunch sprints. Cav isn’t winning anymore stages if teams start looking at far more flexibility and all rounders.

 

[Stat Brother]

But don’t you think the concept of a sprint team with a hand picked lead out train is already looking a bit old fashioned? If other teams don’t buy into sprinters winning stages, the peloton just isn’t going to have the motivation to catch breaks and organised bunch sprints. Cav isn’t winning anymore stages if teams start looking at far more flexibility and all rounders.

Yes if the race is evolving around different styles of riders.
That said though the next Woult or Poggi aren't just waiting to be selected.
Other teams will have to put more effort into stage wins if the jerseys become even more out of reach.


But I was answering the highlighted section of understanding not taking Cav.
It was a bold move before the tour and the wrong move after the tour.

QuickStep, Movistar, Lotto, et al, got nothing from this tour and that's not going to sit well.
One Cav win changes all of that for QS.

Assuming they can't pull a rabbit out of the hat, they'll have no choice but to focus even more on just 4 stages.


A bit like our team, who only have the Rumbelows Cup and not getting relegated, to play for!

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

First time for years I've barely watched any of the TDF...away for the entire first week - and I think it was only 4 stages in the end that I saw.

Any good? Worth re-watching right from the start on GCN+?

 

[Bold Seagull]

First time for years I've barely watched any of the TDF...away for the entire first week - and I think it was only 4 stages in the end that I saw.

Any good? Worth re-watching right from the start on GCN+?

I thought it was some of the most engaging TdF action in a long while. The cobbled stage, the Alps, the Pyrennes all had their action and all were edge of your seat stuff I thought. As discussed with Stat above, not a Tour if you like a bunch sprint though...

 

[Pogue Mahone]

First time for years I've barely watched any of the TDF...away for the entire first week - and I think it was only 4 stages in the end that I saw.

Any good? Worth re-watching right from the start on GCN+?

Blimey, FP...

That was one of my favourite tours. So many momentous stages, so many emotional moments.

I won't mention any of them in case you have blanked out all that happened too.

Watch it!

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Blimey, FP...

That was one of my favourite tours. So many momentous stages, so many emotional moments.

I won't mention any of them in case you have blanked out all that happened too.

Watch it!

Just couldn't get into it this year tbh as there was no TV coverage available while we were away, so I lost interest in it. So busy on our return as well that I just didn't have much time!

Will see if I can watch the highlights while Im at the desk over the next few days...

 

[Hamilton]

Rather nasty crash at Le Tour today.

Marianne Vos really is rather extraordinary. They certainly know how to build cyclists in the Benelux area.