TDF 2019, Stage 21: Houilles > Paris Champs-Élysées 29/07/2018 - 116 km *Spoilers*

mfin

As per others, thanks for the thread starters. A couple of times people have asked me on a day what the stage is like and I always know all the information will already be on a thread and there's no need to look anywhere else.

It's appreciated!

coopster_the_1st

The only thing better than Blazing's thread starters is that I cannot think of a more deserving man in British Cycling to have won.

Olympic Golds, Commonwealth Gold and now the TdF.

m.r.m.

Above The Cows wrote:

ddraver wrote:

Well looking at Chris Froome's instagram story, Kwiatowski is w*nkered already...

He's only little.

Anyway MY MAN! Get in.

I refute that claim! He is only slightly shorter and slightly lighter than me!

Pross

Had a cracking day. Even the wife and daughter enjoyed it. Took Mr Peril’s advice and watched on the garden side of the Tivoli, as someone else commented you now have to watch from within the gardens behind the fence but still got a good view. It was a bit cut off though so couldn’t get to the podium and went for food afterwards instead. On the way back the wife spotted a cluster of Welsh flags outside a bus, I didn’t recognise the Death Star in its new colours but we went for a nose and Bernal was outside getting mobbed by Colombian fans then Froome came out looking really relaxed and happy taking time to sign loads of things, he’s really gone up in my books as he just seemed so genuine. Eventually the main man came out and signed loads of stuff, had selfies taken and other than a few staff having to get a bit heavy with a particularly annoying Colombian they were well received and did a lot of good PR (oh Chris Hoy and Flecha were there too).

m.r.m.

Sounds amazing. I am maillot vert with envy!

I'm only 4,5-5 hours from Paris by car. Maybe next year we should make an event of it!

Pross

Was it Kristoff that won then? I forgot he’d changed team and couldn’t think who the UAE rider was. That would explain the massive Norwegian party in the bar by Norwegian corner! I miss counted forgetting the first time I saw the riders was before the first circuit and thought the Katusha rider had sneaked it then on the last lap it looked liked Laempaerts had it at 500 to go. I also thought I saw Froome way off the back with Craddock but it must have been a number 7 rather than a 1.

G Hincapie

ddraver wrote:

Froome is likely a bit happier because in this example, the equivalent of Bertie to LA would have been George Hincapie himself...

My man in the yellow jumper *swoon*

G Hincapie

Pross wrote:

Was it Kristoff that won then? I forgot he’d changed team and couldn’t think who the UAE rider was. That would explain the massive Norwegian party in the bar by Norwegian corner! I miss counted forgetting the first time I saw the riders was before the first circuit and thought the Katusha rider had sneaked it then on the last lap it looked liked Laempaerts had it at 500 to go. I also thought I saw Froome way off the back with Craddock but it must have been a number 7 rather than a 1.

Yes, he did really well. It was a cracking sprint for neutrals TBH. I thought Big John was going to nab it, but Kristoff overtook him really close to the line.

ds2288

The result is good for cycling as a whole. It brings Froome back down to Earth (but he still has his place amongst the very best ever), it brings a title to a genuinely hard working rider, and it brings encouragement to the next generation/current top 5 GC riders (Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin). What it also does is show just how far behind Movistar really are as a competitive team. They have a few decent riders, but I dare say the media attention pre-race next year will not involve Nairo Quintana or for that case Richie Porte (and I’m Aussie......).

G Hincapie

Just adding to what many of you have said, I am super happy that Geraint won. Still can't believe it, but it seems he can't either so I am in good company

I have been a real dick about Chris Froome in the past, and while I don't think I'll ever really warm to his personality, I haven't had a bad word to say about him this Tour. He showed a human fragility I have never seen before and he conducted himself incredibly professionally throughout. I am sure he'll be back next year for another go, and in the interim, I hope he enjoys some well deserved time off with his family and new addition!

He was brilliant with Geraint as well, they seem to have a genuine friendship which I really like.

There has been so much incredible racing to enjoy; we have been spoiled. Quite emotional in our house watching the presentations today as well; G's mic drop was class

So, c'est tout, the end of another amazing TdF and now a huge void in my life until the next. If only every day could be a TdF day! We're going to follow it next year for a couple of weeks and I am hopeful that my sons will come to appreciate the event for the magnificent spectacle it is.

Thanks for having me.

ocdupalais

DeadCalm wrote:

a rubbish rider who refused to give up.

Sums up every cyclist I know. Except the ones that gave up.

ddraver

G Hincapie wrote:

Pross wrote:

Was it Kristoff that won then? I forgot he’d changed team and couldn’t think who the UAE rider was. That would explain the massive Norwegian party in the bar by Norwegian corner! I miss counted forgetting the first time I saw the riders was before the first circuit and thought the Katusha rider had sneaked it then on the last lap it looked liked Laempaerts had it at 500 to go. I also thought I saw Froome way off the back with Craddock but it must have been a number 7 rather than a 1.

Yes, he did really well. It was a cracking sprint for neutrals TBH. I thought Big John was going to nab it, but Kristoff overtook him really close to the line.

Yeah, great sprint thaf sort of went...

Oh wow it would be so cool if Lamperts won with a classic QS break away...oh wow it would be great if Degenkolb won given his past to...oh wow it's great that Kristoff won.

bm5

Pross wrote:

Had a cracking day. Even the wife and daughter enjoyed it. Took Mr Peril’s advice and watched on the garden side of the Tivoli, as someone else commented you now have to watch from within the gardens behind the fence but still got a good view. It was a bit cut off though so couldn’t get to the podium and went for food afterwards instead. On the way back the wife spotted a cluster of Welsh flags outside a bus, I didn’t recognise the Death Star in its new colours but we went for a nose and Bernal was outside getting mobbed by Colombian fans then Froome came out looking really relaxed and happy taking time to sign loads of things, he’s really gone up in my books as he just seemed so genuine. Eventually the main man came out and signed loads of stuff, had selfies taken and other than a few staff having to get a bit heavy with a particularly annoying Colombian they were well received and did a lot of good PR (oh Chris Hoy and Flecha were there too).

Wow - Really jealous

Pross

Will try again with the photos :?

Pross

Hmm images not uploading properly sorry!

blazing_saddles

Just catching up on the last couple of episodes of Avondetappe.
They made this observation: Over the 42 combined stages of the Giro and Tour, Froome beat Dumoulin by just 13 seconds.

awavey

Surprised there's been no mention, that I've noticed at least, that Chris Boardman announced he is leaving the ITV coverage to concentrate on being the Greater Manchester cycling guru.

lostboysaint

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Just catching up on the last couple of episodes of Avondetappe.
They made this observation: Over the 42 combined stages of the Giro and Tour, Froome beat Dumoulin by just 13 seconds.

That's a stat!

tailwindhome

Classics specialist Geraint Thomas has won as many Tour De France titles as he has one day classics.

(I mean nothing by this)

BelgianBeerGeek

Blazing Saddles - thanks also from me for the threads each day. They have been great.

adr82

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Just catching up on the last couple of episodes of Avondetappe.
They made this observation: Over the 42 combined stages of the Giro and Tour, Froome beat Dumoulin by just 13 seconds.

Which is why we need to get them both to ride the Vuelta somehow, settle things that way

adr82

Just came across this on Twitter, showing active riders who have finished every GT they've started (source here):


Nieve's stats jumped out at me as being incredibly consistent: 16 GTs and he's finished between 8th and 25th in every single one :shock:

inseine

Froomes 12 podiums is fair record

joe2008

awavey wrote:

Surprised there's been no mention, that I've noticed at least, that Chris Boardman announced he is leaving the ITV coverage to concentrate on being the Greater Manchester cycling guru.

Could he not take Ned Boulting with him.

thegibdog

awavey wrote:

Surprised there's been no mention, that I've noticed at least, that Chris Boardman announced he is leaving the ITV coverage to concentrate on being the Greater Manchester cycling guru.

Yeah I only noticed that on Twitter. The ITV4 coverage has been great this year, with the highlights package top notch as always and the live coverage done really well (on the few stages I watched). I liked the approach of treating the middle of the stage as a podcast, with interesting guests in the studio and the pictures merely providing a nice backdrop.

Boardman’s insight and laid back style will really be missed although, as a Manchester resident, the Tour’s loss is our gain.

No_Ta_Doctor

adr82 wrote:

Just came across this on Twitter, showing active riders who have finished every GT they've started (source here):


Nieve's stats jumped out at me as being incredibly consistent: 16 GTs and he's finished between 8th and 25th in every single one :shock:

As is Bodnar's. 12 GTs and never once in the top 100.

G Hincapie

awavey wrote:

Surprised there's been no mention, that I've noticed at least, that Chris Boardman announced he is leaving the ITV coverage to concentrate on being the Greater Manchester cycling guru.

When was that announced? OMG - sad panda. I like Chris's commentary.

RichN95.

adr82 wrote:

Just came across this on Twitter, showing active riders who have finished every GT they've started (source here):


Nieve's stats jumped out at me as being incredibly consistent: 16 GTs and he's finished between 8th and 25th in every single one :shock:

This was also the first time Nibali has failed to finish.

Edit: that's nonsense. He was thrown off the Vuelta for car hanging.

awavey

G Hincapie wrote:

awavey wrote:

Surprised there's been no mention, that I've noticed at least, that Chris Boardman announced he is leaving the ITV coverage to concentrate on being the Greater Manchester cycling guru.

When was that announced? OMG - sad panda. I like Chris's commentary.

it was at the end of the ITV highlights show,still looked quite emotional even if it was the 7th take, though I loved his quote "cycling is more than just bike races" but shouldnt forget he has had quite a lot on his plate past few years.

Ill be sad not to hear his analysis as I always think its interesting, even on a boring stage, Id not be surprised if they didnt bring him in on those mid stage things theyve been doing with Matt Smith, its just the commitment to do the whole 3 week race is too much now

RichN95.

So who would we want to replace Chris Boardman?

I'd go for Dan Lloyd, but he may be too low profile for the general public. Maybe an Aussie like Mick Rogers, he was quite good with Matt Smith.