So who now for the Yellow Jersey ?

joey54321

DeVlaeminck wrote:

M.R.M. wrote:

If I were him, I'd try and give the GC a serious go. He was able to easily keep up with the others on an incredibly hard stage. Maybe he will crack later, but why not see what is possible now!

I think I would too, if only to see whether a crack at GC in a GT may be a realistic aim.

But he may not be interested in that (I don't know).

He is the best in the world at what he does, he is the number 1 ranked rider and he has to gamble a formula that is clearly working for him to risk becoming a GT rider, that may not even work out.

DeVlaeminck

joey54321 wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

M.R.M. wrote:

If I were him, I'd try and give the GC a serious go. He was able to easily keep up with the others on an incredibly hard stage. Maybe he will crack later, but why not see what is possible now!

I think I would too, if only to see whether a crack at GC in a GT may be a realistic aim.

But he may not be interested in that (I don't know).

He is the best in the world at what he does, he is the number 1 ranked rider and he has to gamble a formula that is clearly working for him to risk becoming a GT rider, that may not even work out.

Yes exactly that was the point I made about Gilbert and Cav having a similar dilemma.

hypster

Giulio Ciccone for the TdF now having taken over yellow on Les Planche des Belles Filles? Following in the footsteps of Wiggins, Nibali and Froome of course! )

mididoctors

Alaphillpe has gone pretty deep early. Can't see him hanging on. So has ciccone. Going to cancel each other out for the polka dots. Tim wellens has left a lot of glycogen over the roads of the first week too. Might be some new faces in that competition after tomorrow. If wellens has recovered he has a head start tomorrow.

m.r.m.

Blazing Saddles wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

M.R.M. wrote:

If I were him, I'd try and give the GC a serious go. He was able to easily keep up with the others on an incredibly hard stage. Maybe he will crack later, but why not see what is possible now!

I think I would too, if only to see whether a crack at GC in a GT may be a realistic aim.

He is going to crack during the succession of mountain stages, on the series of 20km climbs in this race.

I think so too. But where is the harm in trying. He has already won a points jersey.

Pross

Pinot is looking very good, nice to see him back in contention rather than stage chasing. He's always felt like the French rider most likely to win of the recent crop to me. Hopefully there won't be any wet descents.

DeVlaeminck

Had a little glance at the stage guide - depending on his time trial Allaphillippe could hold that jersey through to the Tourmalet now.

me-109

Me-109 wrote:

Is Alaphillipe lined up to ride?

20th June in this thread. Just saying....

mididoctors

bardet talking about positive feelings while radiating depressing reality into anyone watching

blazing_saddles

"Alaphillipe won't last the week," Sean Yates.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/raci ... eek-431245

bobmcstuff

If they wanted Alaphillippe to go the distance, surely they would have protected him rather than having him work to set up sprints for Viviani.

specialgueststar

Pross wrote:

Pinot is looking very good, nice to see him back in contention rather than stage chasing. He's always felt like the French rider most likely to win of the recent crop to me. Hopefully there won't be any wet descents.

or crosswinds :?

specialgueststar

mididoctors wrote:

bardet talking about positive feelings while radiating depressing reality into anyone watching

only a climber can see what will actually be required

Pross

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Pross wrote:

Pinot is looking very good, nice to see him back in contention rather than stage chasing. He's always felt like the French rider most likely to win of the recent crop to me. Hopefully there won't be any wet descents.

or crosswinds :?

Yeah, I cursed him sorry!

mididoctors

It's a shame pinot is back on GC. I
Hope he can find motivation to be in this race.

timothyw

Podium is certainly going to be harder for Pinot but we're still only talking about 1m20 behind Thomas, there are a lot of riders in the top ten ahead of him that he should leapfrog in the TT.

He's certainly lost a battle but the war is long.

DeVlaeminck

Allaphilippe now a serious contender then ? I guess we'll know in 24 hours. I imagine that Ineos will try and test him with a mountain train up the final climb tomorrow - be interesting if they use Bernal as part of that or send him on the attack and try and play the 1-2 with Thomas.

DeadCalm

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Allaphilippe now a serious contender then ? I guess we'll know in 24 hours. I imagine that Ineos will try and test him with a mountain train up the final climb tomorrow - be interesting if they use Bernal as part of that or send him on the attack and try and play the 1-2 with Thomas.

The 1-2 is harder to play with Mas in the mix and ahead of Bernal, no? Mas to mark Bernal, Alaphilippe to mark Thomas.

andyp

It looks like the last week is going to be very hot, temperatures in the high 30s forecast, which will effect the outcome.

DeVlaeminck

DeadCalm wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Allaphilippe now a serious contender then ? I guess we'll know in 24 hours. I imagine that Ineos will try and test him with a mountain train up the final climb tomorrow - be interesting if they use Bernal as part of that or send him on the attack and try and play the 1-2 with Thomas.

The 1-2 is harder to play with Mas in the mix and ahead of Bernal, no? Mas to mark Bernal, Alaphilippe to mark Thomas.

Yes I suppose if Mas can be a super domestique it'll make a huge difference. If they can't crack Allaphilippe today then the Ineos tactics are going to be very interesting - I don't think Quickstep can control the race til Paris but if Ineos don't step up to help then the race could be very open and somewhat chaotic - that might open up opportunities for Thomas or Bernal but equally might let another GC contender sneak through.

tailwindhome

Would Alaphillipe winning a Tour really be more of a surprise than Geraint Thomas?

Pross

TailWindHome wrote:

Would Alaphillipe winning a Tour really be more of a surprise than Geraint Thomas?

I think so. Thomas showed more GC potential gradually over a few years in the service of Wiggins and Froome then had a year where he was right up there until his crash and a blow up on the last mountain stage. He'd also shown ability at the Dauphine and Paris-Nice.

That said, Alaphillipe is looking very lean and I'm wondering whether his performance is a bit more planned than people have been giving credit for.

blazing_saddles

TailWindHome wrote:

Would Alaphillipe winning a Tour really be more of a surprise than Geraint Thomas?

Patrick Lefevre obviously thinks so, given the team he has sent in support.

pblakeney

TailWindHome wrote:

Would Alaphillipe winning a Tour really be more of a surprise than Geraint Thomas?

Less so now!

itboffin

Alaphillipe for the win, not that I think he is but no doping control

RichN95.

Double post.

RichN95.

We talk about riders riding A la Zubeldia - getting into the top ten without anyone really noticing them. I'm wondering if Buchmann can get on the podium or maybe even win A la Zubeldia.

pblakeney

RichN95 wrote:

We talk about riders riding A la Zubeldia - getting into the top ten without anyone really noticing them. I'm wondering if Buchmann can get on the podium or maybe even win A la Zubeldia.

Possible. I always thought anyone within 6 minutes (ie top 10 today) going into the last week are in with a shout. Things've tightened up over the years but anyone in today's top 10 can blow up.

slim_boy_fat

Kerrison on The Cycling Podcast saying they think Thomas may have suffered after getting everything out for the TT yesterday. He said they had seen something similar with Froome the day after a TT and hoped he would perform better tomorrow.

RichN95.

Double post. Drunk mouse.