2019 Tour de France
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Massive performance by TJV to set the next three weeks up for Kruiswijk and Bennett to take advantage of. They had to tow George for most of that. Being a little 58kg weed isn’t much help in a TT.
Going into Stage 3 with 20 seconds on Ineos is an excellent position to be in. Only trouble is that they are expected to lead now.
Mention for Paddy Bevan as well. His CCC team are only 10 secs behind the Ineos boys as well. -
my god that team must be fizzing at the mo..
obviously good mood in the camp - saw they were taking the pi$$ outta GB by saying they were only starting with 7 riders as he couldn't do sh*t.. anyway he was fine - his TT has improved heaps he was pulling through
they lost a rider within the first 10km which makes it even more impressive
and my god how sexy is that Bianchi tt bike. my wife doesn't understand.. but i feel comfortable expressing these opinions with some random blokes on the interwebs ha
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@WillieTheWaiter the Bianchi's they are riding today are pretty sweet too. I love that colour.
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TJV give up the yellow straight away.
Not quite sure why a rider of Aliphillipe's quality was allowed to make a break near the end of the stage unless TJV decided to let him.Aliphillippe leading, Van Aert at 20 secs, Kruijswijk at 25 (so is George)
Bevan had a crash today and is well down (not even sure if he finished tbh)
Edit: Results up now and Bevan dropped about 14 minutes. Silver lining is that if he recovers and waits for the right stage now he could have a crack at a stage win without the peleton worrying about him.
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Something of note will definitely happen tonight!
There's several scenarios under which George could end up wearing (more) yellow tomorrow - depending on how TJV decide to use him.
Most likely one is if they use him to try to pull some Ineos teeth and Ineos don't bite. Though if I were TVS, I'd be reasonably conservative and hope to use him just to pace Kruiswijk to the finish line.
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Should be a fun stage.
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Paddy Bevan out with a couple of fractured ribs
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I think TJV will be a bit disappointed in Kruiswijk on that climb - he lost 35 seconds to Thomas.
I've only watched the highlights package and didn't catch what George did when the big attacks happened - whether he waited a bit for Kruiswijk or couldn't really respond.
Not that it matters too much in the greater scheme of things, at present. TdF finishes with three brutal mountain stages, so no-one is going to have it safely won until all of those are over.
Interestingly only one individual TT this year and a somewhat hilly course - as well as being sandwiched between two mountain stages - so that might suit George a bit.
A series of flat and hilly stages over the next few nights - next mountain stage is Stage 12.
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@Chris-B said in 2019 Tour de France:
I've only watched the highlights package and didn't catch what George did when the big attacks happened - whether he waited a bit for Kruiswijk or couldn't really respond.
That final km doesn't allow waiting for teammates or even shepherding - if your team mate can't keep up so be it - once you slow down you're cooked on that climb - 20% then 14% then a final 24% and a 90° lefthander as well - devil take the hind most...
Still debating whether I stay up for tonight's stage - I know I won't be doing so for the ITT - gawd I hate that type of cycling event - what worries me are Team Hypocrit Dopage taking over the tour again because Movistar played Dumb and Dumber again while Thomas just looked ominously strong - I still do not understand how long term grimpeurs (steady powerful climbers) can suddenly become Puncheurs (short term huge power climbers) at the end of multiple climbing stages legitimately.
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@SynicBast said in 2019 Tour de France:
@Chris-B said in 2019 Tour de France:
I've only watched the highlights package and didn't catch what George did when the big attacks happened - whether he waited a bit for Kruiswijk or couldn't really respond.
That final km doesn't allow waiting for teammates or even shepherding - if your team mate can't keep up so be it - once you slow down you're cooked on that climb - 20% then 14% then a final 24% and a 90° lefthander as well - devil take the hind most...
One only has to look at the last 400m for the battle between 1st and 2nd to see what happens when you blow up - simply left for dead. A bike length becomes forty.
Still debating whether I stay up for tonight's stage - I know I won't be doing so for the ITT - gawd I hate that type of cycling event - what worries me are Team Hypocrit Dopage taking over the tour again because Movistar played Dumb and Dumber again while Thomas just looked ominously strong - I still do not understand how long term grimpeurs (steady powerful climbers) can suddenly become Puncheurs (short term huge power climbers) at the end of multiple climbing stages legitimately.
I spot the problem.
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Are you implying Thomas is doping?
There is a massive difference between a puncheur and having enough in the tank for a 2 minute burst of power at the end of the stage, which is what Thomas did yesterday.
Thomas is a diesel engine. He can’t respond to consistent short, sharp digs so I don’t really see what your point is.
@SynicBast said in 2019 Tour de France:
@Chris-B said in 2019 Tour de France:
I've only watched the highlights package and didn't catch what George did when the big attacks happened - whether he waited a bit for Kruiswijk or couldn't really respond.
That final km doesn't allow waiting for teammates or even shepherding - if your team mate can't keep up so be it - once you slow down you're cooked on that climb - 20% then 14% then a final 24% and a 90° lefthander as well - devil take the hind most...
Still debating whether I stay up for tonight's stage - I know I won't be doing so for the ITT - gawd I hate that type of cycling event - what worries me are Team Hypocrit Dopage taking over the tour again because Movistar played Dumb and Dumber again while Thomas just looked ominously strong - I still do not understand how long term grimpeurs (steady powerful climbers) can suddenly become Puncheurs (short term huge power climbers) at the end of multiple climbing stages legitimately.