TDF 2021 - Rest day 1 - *SPOILERS *

13

Comments

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436
    You know what I'd go tomorrow?

    A gravel stage.

    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    ITV4 suggesting the wind will blow tomorrow, and potential for echelon action...
    May be worth dusting off the klaxon and making sure it has gas!
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    Mad_Malx said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:



    Also, my commentary is coming from Chris Anker and Rolf Sørensen, who are actually in France I believe.

    Wait - Chris Anker and Sørensen are two different people ?
    Well Chris Anker Sørensen is one person, and Rolf Sørensen is another.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Dorset_Boy said:

    ITV4 suggesting the wind will blow tomorrow, and potential for echelon action...
    May be worth dusting off the klaxon and making sure it has gas!

    Noted.

    I have an opticians appointment late afternoon, so someone will have to supervise it from 16.00 CEST onwards.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    I hope I'm wrong, but I think ITV4 might be clutching at straws. The wind around Valence tends to either blow up or down the valley so they'll most likely have a headwind or tailwind (and if my experiences are anything to go by, it'll be the former).
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    edited July 2021
    andyp said:

    I hope I'm wrong, but I think ITV4 might be clutching at straws. The wind around Valence tends to either blow up or down the valley so they'll most likely have a headwind or tailwind (and if my experiences are anything to go by, it'll be the former).


    Clutching at straws here, but after the sprint there's a descent and then they make a right hand turn followed by a 14km section. Then 50km to go. If there's a lot of wind that combination could be utilised
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,815
    Pog surely going to be mega vigilant about any cross wind danger. He knows Ineos have form for exploiting opportunities.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    mrb123 said:

    Pog surely going to be mega vigilant about any cross wind danger. He knows Ineos have form for exploiting opportunities.


    This is where the intermediate sprint comes in. It introduces temporary discord in the peloton. Those not interested let their guard down.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    andyp said:

    I hope I'm wrong, but I think ITV4 might be clutching at straws. The wind around Valence tends to either blow up or down the valley so they'll most likely have a headwind or tailwind (and if my experiences are anything to go by, it'll be the former).

    You are right on both counts.
    As I posted in tomorrow's stage thread, it's almost entirely a headwind stage.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    mrb123 said:

    lettingthedaysgoby said:

    Best opening week ever?

    I think so, tinged with the fear that the GC from here on in may be a non-event.
    Yeah... that's my main concern.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    Merlier doesn't sound like he thought he was quitting early...

    https://www.cyclingnews.com/amp/news/tour-de-france-tearful-exit-for-mentally-broken-merlier/?__twitter_impression=true
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    rick_chasey said:

    Dorset_Boy said:

    rick_chasey said:

    lettingthedaysgoby said:

    Exactly. We’re not even half way yet. The GC race isn’t over.

    I don’t understand anyone saying things are boring even if it is - the only way it’s over is if we’re watching the arrival of a rider who would then go down in history as one of the best new talents the sport has ever seen. As a cycling fan isn’t that something to be celebrated, something fabulous to just sit back and watch?

    In fairness I have been dealing with some nasty stuff this week and it has coincided with what the forum reckons were the best days, so I do not have a complete picture.

    First 5 days were a snooze if you're not a cav fan.

    Sprint uphill, one dominates the rest, repeat day two but different rider, sprint stage, GC destroying TT, sprint stage.

    Crashes were just sad.
    Clearly you have forgotten the Mur de Bretagne with MvdP attacking first time up to get the needed bonus seconds and then attacking again the second time to take yellow, in memory of his grandad. that was pretty special, and had zilch to do with Cav.
    Then MvdP riding an incredible TT to hang onto yellow by a handful of seconds.

    A breakaway the next day featuring the yellow and green jerseys.

    Seriously Rick, whether you include Cav or not, it's been a bloody good first week, including those first five 'snooze' days.
    In fairness, I missed that entirely as did all the ITV4 viewers on an ad break and I only noticed it after the finish when he took yellow.

    The sentimentality stuff doesn't work for me unfortunately. His dad also took yellow (but they screwed up the timings so he missed the podium), and I saw an interview with him on the day - gave you a different vibe to the whole thing.
    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    For the best opening week, may I go into bat for the 2015 again. In my opinion an underrated great race.

    Stage 1 (14km TT); Dennis wins. But it's the only TT of the race and Froome has a stinker - beaten by the likes of Pinot
    Stage 2: Storms. Echelons. A weather epic. 'Fading force' Andre Greipel wins
    Stage 3: The Tour does the classics with a Mur de Huy finish. Purito wins. Froome is somehow in Yellow already.
    Stage 4: Cobbles. Not as extreme as the year before, but the race breaks up at one point, before Tony Martin wins with a late attack
    Stage 5: A standard sprint stage. But it's still the Greipel comeback show
    Stage 6: A short uphill climb at the end of the stage. A Cyclocross WC wins. The Yellow Jersey crashes and has to abandon.
    Stage 7: Standard sprint stage. Cavendish wins. Paolini snorts cocaine.
    Stage 8: Mur de Bretagne. A French win.
    Stage 9: A late TTT and Sky are beaten by BMC.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    edited July 2021
    Merlier and de Gendt have both said now that despite setting records in terms of power they were dumped out the back in no time. "Something" seems to be up. de Gendt was even talking of retiring if this keeps up as he's just not even close to competitive any more.

    https://www.cyclingnews.com/amp/news/tour-de-france-tearful-exit-for-mentally-broken-merlier/?__twitter_impression=true

    I think this also underlines that the autobus are not just pootling along. They're still riding hard, they're just not as fast as those at the sharp end.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    https://fendrieneu.home.blog/2021/07/05/the-tour-is-over/

    I am calling it over...

    Unless the wind blows today.
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    phreak said:



    I think this also underlines that the autobus are not just pootling along. They're still riding hard, they're just not as fast as those at the sharp end.

    There was a moment in Sunday where the Autobots had to average just over 18kmh to make the cut, and the fastest rider had averaged 19. That included the descent, where they'd probably match or exceed his speed, but still... Also it suggests it was the first part that really did the damage as by that point they were riding to 5% of the leading riders, not the 16% cut.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    bobmcstuff said:



    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...

    Haha I like it grubby and cynical.
    _
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    edited July 2021
    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    phreak said:



    I think this also underlines that the autobus are not just pootling along. They're still riding hard, they're just not as fast as those at the sharp end.

    There was a moment in Sunday where the Autobots had to average just over 18kmh to make the cut, and the fastest rider had averaged 19. That included the descent, where they'd probably match or exceed his speed, but still... Also it suggests it was the first part that really did the damage as by that point they were riding to 5% of the leading riders, not the 16% cut.
    Are you sure about those speeds? Do you mean mph rather than kmh?
    In 2019 on the day of the Tignes stage, I rode from Bourg to Tignes, and from Seez to the top of the dam at Tignes I averaged 18.4 kmh over the 21.4 kms of the strava segment. OK they went up the side road from Les Breviers and not the main road, but i wasn't exactly pushing it that day.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    humble brag...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,332
    Dorset_Boy said:

    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    phreak said:



    I think this also underlines that the autobus are not just pootling along. They're still riding hard, they're just not as fast as those at the sharp end.

    There was a moment in Sunday where the Autobots had to average just over 18kmh to make the cut, and the fastest rider had averaged 19. That included the descent, where they'd probably match or exceed his speed, but still... Also it suggests it was the first part that really did the damage as by that point they were riding to 5% of the leading riders, not the 16% cut.
    Are you sure about those speeds? Do you mean mph rather than kmh?
    In 2019 on the day of the Tignes stage, I rode from Bourg to Tignes, and from Seez to the top of the dam at Tignes I averaged 18.4 kmh over the 21.4 kms of the strava segment. OK they went up the side road from Les Breviers and not the main road, but i wasn't exactly pushing it that day.
    You might be right. Can't find the original tweet, but it might have been confusing different climbs - Col de Pre was around 19kmh, wasn't it? I was out for most of the stage, but that one figure had such in my head. This appears to be where they got the 18kmh from:



    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    rick_chasey said:

    bobmcstuff said:



    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...

    Haha I like it grubby and cynical.
    It's also set up a perfect "winning sprinter" vs "not winning all rounder" battle for the green jersey.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    edited July 2021
    kingstongraham said:

    rick_chasey said:

    bobmcstuff said:



    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...

    Haha I like it grubby and cynical.
    It's also set up a perfect "winning sprinter" vs "not winning all rounder" battle for the green jersey.
    Cav has it sown up, unless you think he's not gonna win the bulk of the flat sprints, plus he has a team to hoover up a lot of intermediate points.
    _
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,910
    rick_chasey said:

    kingstongraham said:

    rick_chasey said:

    bobmcstuff said:



    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...

    Haha I like it grubby and cynical.
    It's also set up a perfect "winning sprinter" vs "not winning all rounder" battle for the green jersey.
    Cav has it sown up, unless you think he's not gonna win the bulk of the flat sprints, plus he has a team to hoover up a lot of intermediate points.
    Did you notice Colbrelli finishing 3rd on a mountain stage? He could easily finish third on a flat stage too.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    TheBigBean said:

    rick_chasey said:

    kingstongraham said:

    rick_chasey said:

    bobmcstuff said:



    Doesn't Cav winning at his age after a long dry patch work without sentimentality?

    But really if you're not affected by sentimentality I'm not sure what you're doing following cycling...

    Haha I like it grubby and cynical.
    It's also set up a perfect "winning sprinter" vs "not winning all rounder" battle for the green jersey.
    Cav has it sown up, unless you think he's not gonna win the bulk of the flat sprints, plus he has a team to hoover up a lot of intermediate points.
    Did you notice Colbrelli finishing 3rd on a mountain stage? He could easily finish third on a flat stage too.
    Sure. You get 15 points for coming third on a mountain stage.

    You get 50 for winning a sprint stage and 30 for third.

    You also get 20 for an intermediate sprint win and 15 for third.
    _
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    Over the last 4 stages it's 76 to Colbrelli and 79 to Cavendish. It's Cav's to lose, but Colbrelli will be trying to get in breaks, going for everything.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    edited July 2021
    If colbrelli doesn't fade he is a real danger for green ..he would deserve it too imo riding like that ..one bad flat stage for cav where he is caught behind a crash punctures or what not..
    "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
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    phreak said:



    I think this also underlines that the autobus are not just pootling along. They're still riding hard, they're just not as fast as those at the sharp end.

    There was a moment in Sunday where the Autobots had to average just over 18kmh to make the cut, and the fastest rider had averaged 19. That included the descent, where they'd probably match or exceed his speed, but still... Also it suggests it was the first part that really did the damage as by that point they were riding to 5% of the leading riders, not the 16% cut.
    I suppose you could argue they are pacing their efforts more though so should arrive fresher. It really does astonish me how well they are able to judge it though, I've found myself trying to beat PBs or cut off times in races (cycling and running) and it's really stressful trying to do the maths in your head whilst still pushing hard. As an aside, there was actually something on one of those BBC programmes looking at the best way to get fit that said it was good for you but I can't remember if it was a mental health benefit or it improved your fitness
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436
    rick_chasey said:

    Cav has it sown up

    After watching the ITV 4 highlights show I'm less confident he'll make it to Paris

    I'd give him a 40 % chance
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,910
    tailwindhome said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Cav has it sown up

    After watching the ITV 4 highlights show I'm less confident he'll make it to Paris

    I'd give him a 40 % chance
    What changed your mind? I didn't watch it. He clearly struggled on the last stage, but then he seemed to be expecting to struggle on that stage.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    TheBigBean said:

    tailwindhome said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Cav has it sown up

    After watching the ITV 4 highlights show I'm less confident he'll make it to Paris

    I'd give him a 40 % chance
    What changed your mind? I didn't watch it. He clearly struggled on the last stage, but then he seemed to be expecting to struggle on that stage.
    He said Sunday was one day he was dreading as it had 2 of the climbs from the day he was eliminated in 2018, so mentally that was really hard. He also said he hadn't ridden any mountains for 3 years.

    If he can survive the double Ventoux he will surely believe he can get to Paris.

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