TDF 2022:- Stage 7: Tomblaine to La Super Plance des Belles Filles, 176.3km ***Spoilers***

shirley_basso

RichN95.

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

pblakeney

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

Dunno. I for one am enjoying watching Pogacar. I didn't see Merckx so this'll do. 😉

DeVlaeminck

At the moment at least it doesn't feel like Sky simply because the team around him are not dominant in the way Sky were.

RichN95.

pblakeney said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

Dunno. I for one am enjoying watching Pogacar. I didn't see Merckx so this'll do. 😉

People liked "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams the first few weeks it was at number 1.

It will remain to be seen if Pogacar takes on bigger ambitions, like Froome doing the Tour/Vuelta and ultimately 'Froome Slam' or whether he just sticks to the Tour and a few classics . In a couple years he's not going for the Giro/Tour double then it will be boring.

No_Ta_Doctor

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

mididoctors

DeVlaeminck said:

At the moment at least it doesn't feel like Sky simply because the team around him are not dominant in the way Sky were.

This . Pog is winning dispite of his team not because of it

mididoctors

Froomes giro is still something else

RichN95.

No_Ta_Doctor said:

RichN95. said:

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

Do you really? I'd seen Pogacar at the Tour l'Avenir by then and it was like looking a different being.

RichN95.

mididoctors said:

Froomes giro is still something else

The greatest ride of the 21st century. Froome was vulnerable. There was always jeopardy. Pogacar is Armstrong plus (and I don't mean that in doping sense). People talk about the Merckx era as a golden age. None of those people watched the Merckx era.

As an aside, I listened to a podcast that suggested that Pogacar winning easily meant that they didn't have any stories so they might have to generate doping stories. These people need to go.

Lanterne_Rogue

RichN95. said:

mididoctors said:

Froomes giro is still something else

The greatest ride of the 21st century. Froome was vulnerable. There was always jeopardy. Pogacar is Armstrong plus (and I don't mean that in doping sense). People talk about the Merckx era as a golden age. None of those people watched the Merckx era.

As an aside, I listened to a podcast that suggested that Pogacar winning easily meant that they didn't have any stories so they might have to generate doping stories. These people need to go.

Pogacar currently looks unstoppable at grand tours, and okay elsewhere, but he's not Merckx (fortunately). I'd be genuinely surprised if he wins more than five TdFs - it just needs so much to go right, and there's always someone coming through.

RichN95.

Lanterne_Rogue said:

Pogacar currently looks unstoppable at grand tours, and okay elsewhere, but he's not Merckx (fortunately). I'd be genuinely surprised if he wins more than five TdFs - it just needs so much to go right, and there's always someone coming through.

Yeah but the five time winners - their age when they first won:

Anquetil & Merckx: 23
Hinault: 23
Indurain: 26

Pogacar is getting his 3rd at 23.

Barring tragedy he's going to win 5. Realistically the only hope to challenge him in future is Juan Ayoso. He rides for UAE

ddraver

RichN95. said:

As an aside, I listened to a podcast that suggested that Pogacar winning easily meant that they didn't have any stories so they might have to generate doping stories. These people need to go.

Dan Roans working hard to keep you covered on that front again...

DeVlaeminck

RichN95. said:

Lanterne_Rogue said:

Pogacar currently looks unstoppable at grand tours, and okay elsewhere, but he's not Merckx (fortunately). I'd be genuinely surprised if he wins more than five TdFs - it just needs so much to go right, and there's always someone coming through.

Yeah but the five time winners - their age when they first won:

Anquetil & Merckx: 23
Hinault: 23
Indurain: 26

Pogacar is getting his 3rd at 23.

Barring tragedy he's going to win 5. Realistically the only hope to challenge him in future is Juan Ayoso. He rides for UAE

There are no guarantees Pogacar maintains this level for the next 2 weeks let alone 10 years far less that he'll be unchallenged other than by this Ayoso.

RichN95.

Delete

RichN95.

DeVlaeminck said:

RichN95. said:

Lanterne_Rogue said:

Pogacar currently looks unstoppable at grand tours, and okay elsewhere, but he's not Merckx (fortunately). I'd be genuinely surprised if he wins more than five TdFs - it just needs so much to go right, and there's always someone coming through.

Yeah but the five time winners - their age when they first won:

Anquetil & Merckx: 23
Hinault: 23
Indurain: 26

Pogacar is getting his 3rd at 23.

Barring tragedy he's going to win 5. Realistically the only hope to challenge him in future is Juan Ayoso. He rides for UAE

There are no guarantees Pogacar maintains this level for the next 2 weeks let alone 10 years far less that he'll be unchallenged other than by this Ayoso.

I'm talking about him getting to 5, not 10. But I think he'll end up closer to 10 than 5.

mididoctors

Some other young guy could appear ...

DeadCalm

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

RichN95. said:

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

Do you really? I'd seen Pogacar at the Tour l'Avenir by then and it was like looking a different being.

Really? He won the Tour de l'Avenir by an unremarkable 1'28 ahead of 18 year old Thymen Arensman. He obviously had potential, but nobody back then was bigging him up to be the dominant GC machine he has become.

No_Ta_Doctor

DeadCalm said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

RichN95. said:

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

Do you really? I'd seen Pogacar at the Tour l'Avenir by then and it was like looking a different being.

Really? He won the Tour de l'Avenir by an unremarkable 1'28 ahead of 18 year old Thymen Arensman. He obviously had potential, but nobody back then was bigging him up to be the dominant GC machine he has become.

More importantly, he's never won the Junior Tour of Wales
*nods knowingly*

blazing_saddles

pblakeney said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

Dunno. I for one am enjoying watching Pogacar. I didn't see Merckx so this'll do. 😉

Merckx wasn't universally loved for his dominance, just ask the French!
Plus race coverage at the time of his reign was rather limited.

Eventually, the novelty will wear off and then it becomes all about predictability and inevitability, though.
I got a strong sense of both, yesterday.

RichN95.

DeadCalm said:

Really? He won the Tour de l'Avenir by an unremarkable 1'28 ahead of 18 year old Thymen Arensman. He obviously had potential, but nobody back then was bigging him up to be the dominant GC machine he has become.

There was a stage where there were he was already in the lead by a few seconds. There were three unthreatening riders in the break and a GC group of about 15 (including Vlasov, Mader, Foss, Almeida). They kept attacking but got nowhere as Pogacar personally chased each one down. Then he attacked, bridged up to the break and took at minute out of everyone in short time. It was a remarkable piece of riding.
The next day he went off on a corner and had to change his bike while the race was in full swing. The speed that he got back to the front was astonishing.
It was like he could do whatever he wanted with a strong field

rick_chasey

Thing is, he’s getting so much experience at a young age by the time there is a real pretender he’ll just out-think them.

DeVlaeminck

No doubt he's the best and may well remain the best but it might be entertaining seeing challengers to an established champion. There's a story in seeing whether one of the greats can be dethroned - the fact Armstrong was such a dominant winner meant whenever Ulrich, Beloki or whoever looked like they might challenge you wanted to see it more than if say Cadel Evans looked like he might be beaten by Sastre or a Schleck.

I am playing devil's advocate a bit - yes it could also become tedious seeing Pogacar build up big leads and win every mountain stage - I just don't think we are there yet though.

RichN95.

rick_chasey said:

Thing is, he’s getting so much experience at a young age by the time there is a real pretender he’ll just out-think them.

And his team will get stronger. Domestiques are like Minions. They want to serve the biggest baddest master they can.

gsk82

RichN95. said:

rick_chasey said:

Thing is, he’s getting so much experience at a young age by the time there is a real pretender he’ll just out-think them.

And his team will get stronger. Domestiques are like Minions. They want to serve the biggest baddest master they can.

You mean they didn't all go to sky for money?

pblakeney

blazing_saddles said:

pblakeney said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

ddraver said:

Highlight day for me

I booed Kamna when he ended the hopes of the Beard Bred'ren but fair play that was a great ride and a heartbreaking ending.

Not quite sure I agree with the pundits saying that we have a race, but...

Repeats mantra *it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris, it's a long way to Paris *

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

Dunno. I for one am enjoying watching Pogacar. I didn't see Merckx so this'll do. 😉

Merckx wasn't universally loved for his dominance, just ask the French!
Plus race coverage at the time of his reign was rather limited.

Eventually, the novelty will wear off and then it becomes all about predictability and inevitability, though.
I got a strong sense of both, yesterday.

Each to their own.
I’m just enjoying and appreciating what I am seeing .

Pross

rick_chasey said:

Thing is, he’s getting so much experience at a young age by the time there is a real pretender he’ll just out-think them.

Or alternatively winning will have been so 'easy' for him he won't have any answer if he is no longer able to simply ride everyone off his wheel.

Pross

No_Ta_Doctor said:

DeadCalm said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

RichN95. said:

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

Do you really? I'd seen Pogacar at the Tour l'Avenir by then and it was like looking a different being.

Really? He won the Tour de l'Avenir by an unremarkable 1'28 ahead of 18 year old Thymen Arensman. He obviously had potential, but nobody back then was bigging him up to be the dominant GC machine he has become.

More importantly, he's never won the Junior Tour of Wales
*nods knowingly*

Maybe it isn't the guide to form it sometimes seems. If it were I might be featuring as a favourite in the lantern rouge thread.

No_Ta_Doctor

Pross said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

DeadCalm said:

RichN95. said:

No_Ta_Doctor said:

RichN95. said:

It's an even longer way to Pogacar's retirement.

Remember those days when people bemoaned Sky's dominance. They will be seen as the golden years.

I remember when Bernal was going to win 7 Tours in a row

Do you really? I'd seen Pogacar at the Tour l'Avenir by then and it was like looking a different being.

Really? He won the Tour de l'Avenir by an unremarkable 1'28 ahead of 18 year old Thymen Arensman. He obviously had potential, but nobody back then was bigging him up to be the dominant GC machine he has become.

More importantly, he's never won the Junior Tour of Wales
*nods knowingly*

Maybe it isn't the guide to form it sometimes seems. If it were I might be featuring as a favourite in the lantern rouge thread.

😱 Did you take the ultimate prize?

exlaser

Re ages of winners. Fignon won his first at 22 then only won one more .