2019 Tour de France
-
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
-
@WillieTheWaiter the Bianchi's they are riding today are pretty sweet too. I love that colour.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Should be a fun stage.
-
Paddy Bevan out with a couple of fractured ribs
-
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.
-
@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.
-
@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.
-
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.
-
@SynicBast I’m interested to hear your evidence against Thomas.
-
@scribe said in 2019 Tour de France:
@SynicBast I’m interested to hear your evidence against Thomas.
I don’t think he’s claiming evidence just suspicion.
Brailsford has always appeared dodgy and doesn’t quell suspicions.
I d like to think the sport is in a clean phase but just like cricket, things that appear odd will raise eyebrows
