Oh, and for those doubting the sense of Bora's tactics from the point of view of Buchmann, he moved up 5 places on GC. He's overtaken Pogacar, Chaves, Mollema, Landa and Porte. I'm reasonably sure he will be quite content with that.
Team My Man 2022:
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
For me, the highlight of what was an excellent stage was Cosnefroy's panic in the last 500 metres of the first climb as he realised that the day was not turning out as he'd expected it would. It was almost slapstick comedy.
What put the absolute cherry on top was the Bora riders realising what they'd done to him and sheepishly waving him through to take the points. Absolutely superb TV.
What made it even funnier was that he barely had the energy left to accept their invitation. Comedy gold.
Team My Man 2022:
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Even if Jumbo don't win the Tour it's been an absolutely stellar first week for them.
roglic is going to win it with one leg?
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
Oh, and for those doubting the sense of Bora's tactics from the point of view of Buchmann, he moved up 5 places on GC. He's overtaken Pogacar, Chaves, Mollema, Landa and Porte. I'm reasonably sure he will be quite content with that.
That would be me. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If what happened to Carapaz had happened to him, I am sure a few others on here would then be doubting Bora's tactics in terms of the GC. And what happened to Carapaz was the reason I questioned Bora's tactics in the first place.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
Peter SAGAN PETER SAGAN 21 BORA - HANSGROHE 138 PTS - 2 Sam BENNETT SAM BENNETT 43 DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP 129 PTS - 3 Wout VAN AERT WOUT VAN AERT 18 TEAM JUMBO - VISMA 106 PTS
Green jersey competition still looking interesting
Yep, not a massive reward for all the effort. I still think Sagan will win it comfortably as he'll pick up points at the intermediate sprints on mountain stages but given how it looked at half way through the stage I suspect Bennett will be quite happy with that.
I'm not unconvinced that Bora's initial plan was to take it as far as the sprint and then sit up. They certainly seemed to be on the point of doing so (which incidentally is why I think de Gendt thought it was worth a pop off the front) until BB went to the front to lend a hand.
De Gendt only went off the front about 500m from the top of the climb - about 16km after the sprint. They already had 6 minutes by then and the Bennett group wasn't coming back.
Exactly. It wasn't 6 from memory but it was big enough. I think de Gendt was gambling on Bora only wanting to do enough to stay ahead of the Bennett group and not being particularly motivated to chase him. I reckon de Gendt hoped that Sagan knew that he was not going to win the sprint so why would he bother bother chasing down a loan escapee. If the wind wasn't strong enough to provoke echelons then maybe, just maybe it could have worked. As I said at the time though, he was doomed because, even if the wind wasn't strong enough, the race to get into position would up the pace enough to bring him back.
Team My Man 2022:
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
My pessimism about Groupama FDJ coping with wind appears to have been unjustified. An astonishing 5 FDJ riders arrived in the same time as the winner, beaten only by Astana (who managed to get a remarkable 7 riders in the final group) and equal to Jumbo who also had 5 riders on the same time. No other team managed to bring more than 3 riders in the final group and Ineos ended up with just Bernal on the same time as WVA. One might argue that this is harsh on Ineos who'd have probably had 4 riders in the lead group if it weren't for Carapaz's puncture (and 3 if they hadn't made the bizarre decision to send Castroviejo back for him) but these are exactly the kind of misfortunes that would have befallen FDJ in years gone by. It does seem that FDJ have finally been paying attention in class.
Team My Man 2022:
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Saw the stage as VOD a bit delayed. Marvelous stage Really liked it.
The decision to send Castroviejo to Carapaz was rather asinine even in the moment. The speed the first group were doing 65 km/h made it an impossibility for them to even limit losses let alone catch up again. Groupama was quite passive before, the moment Ineos was reduced to 2 riders they started drilling it. If I were Ineos DS, I'd have called Carapaz' race and told him to join the Maillot Blanc group. Was a pointless waste of energy.
Kwiatkowski looking back to semi decent form (for his super high potential). Castroviejo and van Baarle looked good too.
Jumbo in total control.
Bardet doing a great Haimar Zubeldia impression.
This Tour has me very optimistic. I see some fireworks approaching!
My pessimism about Groupama FDJ coping with wind appears to have been unjustified. An astonishing 5 FDJ riders arrived in the same time as the winner, beaten only by Astana (who managed to get a remarkable 7 riders in the final group) and equal to Jumbo who also had 5 riders on the same time. No other team managed to bring more than 3 riders in the final group and Ineos ended up with just Bernal on the same time as WVA. One might argue that this is harsh on Ineos who'd have probably had 4 riders in the lead group if it weren't for Carapaz's puncture (and 3 if they hadn't made the bizarre decision to send Castroviejo back for him) but these are exactly the kind of misfortunes that would have befallen FDJ in years gone by. It does seem that FDJ have finally been paying attention in class.
Looking at the remaining stages it does look at a lot harder for Sagan this year. Most of the intermediates have been put before any climbs. He is a slight favourite with the bookies.
My pessimism about Groupama FDJ coping with wind appears to have been unjustified. An astonishing 5 FDJ riders arrived in the same time as the winner, beaten only by Astana (who managed to get a remarkable 7 riders in the final group) and equal to Jumbo who also had 5 riders on the same time. No other team managed to bring more than 3 riders in the final group and Ineos ended up with just Bernal on the same time as WVA. One might argue that this is harsh on Ineos who'd have probably had 4 riders in the lead group if it weren't for Carapaz's puncture (and 3 if they hadn't made the bizarre decision to send Castroviejo back for him) but these are exactly the kind of misfortunes that would have befallen FDJ in years gone by. It does seem that FDJ have finally been paying attention in class.
Kwiatkowski was in the front group too wasn't he?
Strictly not as he lost 15 seconds, but I'll give you him given that his one minute effort caused the split.
Team My Man 2022:
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Apologies to all Bennet fans, I switched him in for Sagan in my fantasy team and killed him.
“Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”
Still 5th on the currently active riders with the most wins list. For all the criticism he gets, he's had a very respectable career.
I've nothing against the man Eddy. But... without looking, can you name his last win?
At a guess, something in the Tour of Norway. I've nothing against him either, but I think there's some censored small races padding the palmares
“Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”
Still 5th on the currently active riders with the most wins list. For all the criticism he gets, he's had a very respectable career.
He ruined his prospects when he joined Sky, like when some potentially-great footballers join a big club for the prospect of success and money, but then end up put in a position which doesn't suit them.
Still 5th on the currently active riders with the most wins list. For all the criticism he gets, he's had a very respectable career.
He ruined his prospects when he joined Sky, like when some potentially-great footballers join a big club for the prospect of success and money, but then end up put in a position which doesn't suit them.
His first three seasons there were very successful. Maybe the best of his career. But it went wrong somehow over the last two years.
4 year old heavy frame. Having to ride rim brakes and non sponsored wheels to give it a competitive edge. I pity any one who’s bought one thinking they are this years cutting edge.
Still 5th on the currently active riders with the most wins list. For all the criticism he gets, he's had a very respectable career.
He ruined his prospects when he joined Sky, like when some potentially-great footballers join a big club for the prospect of success and money, but then end up put in a position which doesn't suit them.
My memory may be fading but wasn't he a member of Cav's HTC lead out train prior to joining Sky?
4 year old heavy frame. Having to ride rim brakes and non sponsored wheels to give it a competitive edge. I pity any one who’s bought one thinking they are this years cutting edge.
Still 5th on the currently active riders with the most wins list. For all the criticism he gets, he's had a very respectable career.
He ruined his prospects when he joined Sky, like when some potentially-great footballers join a big club for the prospect of success and money, but then end up put in a position which doesn't suit them.
My memory may be fading but wasn't he a member of Cav's HTC lead out train prior to joining Sky?
They did the 2009 Giro and Tirreno together but nothing else stage race wise. Both did Milan San Remo and 2008 Scheldejpris which Cavendish both won and Gent-Wevelgem which EBH won
Posts
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
If what happened to Carapaz had happened to him, I am sure a few others on here would then be doubting Bora's tactics in terms of the GC.
And what happened to Carapaz was the reason I questioned Bora's tactics in the first place.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells
It does seem that FDJ have finally been paying attention in class.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
The decision to send Castroviejo to Carapaz was rather asinine even in the moment. The speed the first group were doing 65 km/h made it an impossibility for them to even limit losses let alone catch up again. Groupama was quite passive before, the moment Ineos was reduced to 2 riders they started drilling it.
If I were Ineos DS, I'd have called Carapaz' race and told him to join the Maillot Blanc group. Was a pointless waste of energy.
Kwiatkowski looking back to semi decent form (for his super high potential). Castroviejo and van Baarle looked good too.
Jumbo in total control.
Bardet doing a great Haimar Zubeldia impression.
This Tour has me very optimistic. I see some fireworks approaching!
He was the next Eddy Merckx, you know...
- @ddraver
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
- @ddraver
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
I am not sure. You have no chance.
Did somebody (commentators I'm looking at you) call this Autumn?
His first three seasons there were very successful. Maybe the best of his career. But it went wrong somehow over the last two years.
Still looks awesome though
They did the 2009 Giro and Tirreno together but nothing else stage race wise.
Both did Milan San Remo and 2008 Scheldejpris which Cavendish both won and Gent-Wevelgem which EBH won
(Not from memory. CQ Ranking)