TDF 2022:- Stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam, 143.2Km ***Spoilers***

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Comments

  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,330
    N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

    Any news of any sprinters like Jakobsen missing the time cut off?

    Another quarter of an hour or so to get in.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    rick_chasey said:

    Jumbo with 3 of the 4 jerseys

    If Vingegaard was just a few weeks younger it would be all 4
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • zest28
    zest28 Posts: 403
    edited July 2022
    TVJ is the greatest cycling team ever created.

    It is just funny to see a green wearing 80kg domestique destroying 60kg pure climbers as if they are nobodies, and dropping one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

    Pogacar needs to find a better team for next year. He is not going to beat TVJ by himself anymore.
  • rozzer32
    rozzer32 Posts: 3,923
    zest28 said:

    TVJ is the greatest cycling team ever created.

    It is just funny to see a green wearing 80kg domestique destroying 60kg pure climbers as if they are nobodies, and dropping one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

    Pogacar needs to find a better team for next year. He is not going to beat TVJ by himself anymore.

    Hasn’t he signed some stupid 7 year long contract? UAE do need to go shopping though, and spend big. Maybe they have, all the deals for next year will have already been done. They will start coming out in a few weeks.
    ***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,544
    All riders inside the time limit.
  • lettingthedaysgoby
    lettingthedaysgoby Posts: 1,732
    Well, that was epic.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Just watching the ITV highlights, Thomas is so measured as a rider... on his attack, he said he was just riding his own pace - their stop/start attacking wasn't working for him.

    Really seems to know what he can and can't do and rides accordingly.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,330
    bobmcstuff said:

    Just watching the ITV highlights, Thomas is so measured as a rider... on his attack, he said he was just riding his own pace - their stop/start attacking wasn't working for him.

    Really seems to know what he can and can't do and rides accordingly.

    I know he's never threatened to win it, but I think he's had a quietly impressive tour. He's maximised his advantages, not really looked weak anywhere (though not up to the same ability as the top two), and also managed to keep the team around him quite happy despite their own ambitions, partly as they've been able to pursue them. And he's never looked particularly stressed - hopefully he's enjoying it.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,252
    Is anyone still clamouring for a salary cap to stop Sky/Ineos? They never won all three jerseys despite their team leader crashing.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    edited July 2022
    RichN95. said:

    Is anyone still clamouring for a salary cap to stop Sky/Ineos? They never won all three jerseys despite their team leader crashing.

    No but come on, those Froome tours were dry-as-f@ck compared to this.
    _
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,596
    I'd say the last few mountain stages have been as predictable as anything in the 2010s.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,722
    rick_chasey said:

    RichN95. said:

    Is anyone still clamouring for a salary cap to stop Sky/Ineos? They never won all three jerseys despite their team leader crashing.

    No but come on, those Froome tours were dry-as-f@ck compared to this.
    So, if another from a different planet rider happens to comes along at the same time, then salary caps no longer matter?

    Nice logic.

    Actually there are currently four: Pogacar, Vingegaard and............................WVA. (I am sure you will figure it out)

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    It’s more I think sky tours were mega full and this one isn’t.

    I suspect it’s mainly down to corona and the tiny teams remaining of the big GC contenders
    _
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,330
    Roglic getting mugged last year has disguised the fact we've now had two years where JV have mostly sat there grinding the peloton down.

    That aside though, cycling had always gone through phases of sightly more chaotic racing followed by periods of predictability.

    It was often mooted that the end of doping, and some of the associated practices, would lead to more variable performances day to day. It's possible that it's taking a while to work out the best tactics for that, and that making hay whilst the sun shines instead of measuring every day to an imagined sustainable limit - limited further by using the team to do most of the work en masse - is something teams are more willing to risk right now.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    I think this tour is mainly an argument for smaller teams
    _
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,461
    rick_chasey said:

    RichN95. said:

    Is anyone still clamouring for a salary cap to stop Sky/Ineos? They never won all three jerseys despite their team leader crashing.

    No but come on, those Froome tours were dry-as-f@ck compared to this.
    But the people weren't pushing for a salary cap because Sky were dull (it's interesting that they are still being defined by the way they rode for Wiggins's win), it was because they were dominant.

    Yet here we are with a JV team that are even more dominant having also done far more outside of the Tour and no-one seems bothered. It seems OK for a team to dominate if it is registered in a traditional cycling nation (see also DQS).
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,461
    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Roglic getting mugged last year has disguised the fact we've now had two years where JV have mostly sat there grinding the peloton down.

    That aside though, cycling had always gone through phases of sightly more chaotic racing followed by periods of predictability.

    It was often mooted that the end of doping, and some of the associated practices, would lead to more variable performances day to day. It's possible that it's taking a while to work out the best tactics for that, and that making hay whilst the sun shines instead of measuring every day to an imagined sustainable limit - limited further by using the team to do most of the work en masse - is something teams are more willing to risk right now.

    Did you miss a year somewhere?

  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,094
    gsk82 said:

    I'd say the last few mountain stages have been as predictable as anything in the 2010s.

    I would have to disagree - the race leader has been isolated a long way out in each of the last two stages. Ok so he never really looked like cracking but it's a fair bit different to the train leading the leader to the last few Kms.

    And that's just the battle for the win - I think the early racing in almost every stage has been great - eg yesterday Cofidis battling to save the mountains jersey.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,436
    gsk82 said:

    I'd say the last few mountain stages have been as predictable as anything in the 2010s.

    So when Pog started attacking on the second last climb you knew it would result in him being dropped by WvA on the Hautacam?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,461
    Race leader had support until about the final 2k yesterday?
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,094
    edited July 2022
    Re salary caps I don't think it's entirely without merit the problems are partly of enforcement but mainly cycling isn't a single competition so it may just lead to teams specialising even more.
    Pross said:

    Race leader had support until about the final 2k yesterday?


    He was isolated on the penultimate climb too ... and on the descent.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,722
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Re salary caps I don't think it's entirely without merit the problems are partly of enforcement but mainly cycling isn't a single competition so it may just lead to teams specialising even more.

    Pross said:

    Race leader had support until about the final 2k yesterday?


    He was isolated on the penultimate climb too ... and on the descent.
    Barely.
    He had WVA and Benoot (who linked up before the flat for the leg work) just ahead and Kuss just behind.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,330
    Pross said:

    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Roglic getting mugged last year has disguised the fact we've now had two years where JV have mostly sat there grinding the peloton down.

    That aside though, cycling had always gone through phases of sightly more chaotic racing followed by periods of predictability.

    It was often mooted that the end of doping, and some of the associated practices, would lead to more variable performances day to day. It's possible that it's taking a while to work out the best tactics for that, and that making hay whilst the sun shines instead of measuring every day to an imagined sustainable limit - limited further by using the team to do most of the work en masse - is something teams are more willing to risk right now.

    Did you miss a year somewhere?

    It's early! But yeah - you get my point though.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,094
    blazing_saddles said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Re salary caps I don't think it's entirely without merit the problems are partly of enforcement but mainly cycling isn't a single competition so it may just lead to teams specialising even more.

    Pross said:

    Race leader had support until about the final 2k yesterday?


    He was isolated on the penultimate climb too ... and on the descent.
    Barely.
    He had WVA and Benoot (who linked up before the flat for the leg work) just ahead and Kuss just behind.


    Did you watch the stage or were you having another siesta ?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,722
    edited July 2022
    DeVlaeminck said:

    blazing_saddles said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Re salary caps I don't think it's entirely without merit the problems are partly of enforcement but mainly cycling isn't a single competition so it may just lead to teams specialising even more.

    Pross said:

    Race leader had support until about the final 2k yesterday?


    He was isolated on the penultimate climb too ... and on the descent.
    Barely.
    He had WVA and Benoot (who linked up before the flat for the leg work) just ahead and Kuss just behind.


    Did you watch the stage or were you having another siesta ?
    If you don't want to debate then just leave it and don't insult.

    39 kilometres remained and Pogačar launched a stinging attack forcing Vingegaard to follow. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) was able to go with them.
    16 kilometres to go and the trio of leaders were nearing the foot of the Hautacam climb. Pogačar and Vinegaard had been caught by the group containing Thomas, Kuss and other riders

    From CW's stage report.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    edited July 2022
    .
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    Some fan footage of Van Aert completely and utterly empty after cracking Pog 😱
    (link in Flemish)

    https://sporza.be/nl/2022/08/11/unieke-beelden-zo-zwalpte-wout-van-aert-nadat-hij-pogacar-gelos/
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,546
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Some fan footage of Van Aert completely and utterly empty after cracking Pog 😱
    (link in Flemish)

    https://sporza.be/nl/2022/08/11/unieke-beelden-zo-zwalpte-wout-van-aert-nadat-hij-pogacar-gelos/

    So empty, he still put significant time into Geraint and finished third on the stage......
    His powers of recovery are otherworldly.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,691
    This might be less geo-restricted



    Bloody 'ell Yellow man leave him alone for a sec would you!!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • hanshotfirst
    hanshotfirst Posts: 400
    Got to say I don't think he looks that bad after that.

    Wout Van Aert I am not, but I reckon I'd be getting off the bike, puking then lying down for a bit after an effort like that. Feel a bit ill thinking about it in that heat.

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