TDF 2024:- Stage 15: Loudenvielle – Plateau de Beille, 197.7km ***Spoilers***
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My recollection:
Ullrich had a mechanical about 1 km before the start of the climb. The peloton didn't slow down or make any concession, but as they hit the climb, it soon dwindled to a GC group of about two dozen. A few riders of the disintegrated break were still ahead of them.
Ullrich's change of bike took nearly a minute, but he had reduced the deficit to a bit over 30 secs by the start of the climb. However it then took him about another 3½ mins to catch the GC group. This group then rode together, losing just the odd rider, for about 5½ mins, at which point Pantani made his attack. It took him about a minute to properly break clear of Ullrich, i.e. get 50 m ahead.
I'd guess they'd gone about 3 km up the climb when Pantani attacked.
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It wasn't a mad fast lead out but pantani pretty much accelerated from near the base
"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 pm0 -
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Strange decision, there was far more chance of the grupetto being allowed to continue than a lone rider and they're usually pretty good at working out what they need to do.
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The burning off isn't the goal. It's the by-product of riding at a higher pace than the leaders's team would need to. It can also have the effect of burning off the leader's domestiques equally and more importantly greatly increases the kJ workload everyone is outputting prior to the last climb.
This is then the test of fatigue resistance which is the main metric separating the truly elite from the very good. It is also the only thing that has shown to be in Jonas' favour over Pogacar. So, it remains the only viable tactic that has shown itself to counter Pogacar.
PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 20230 -
It wasn't really a grupetto though. Barely a gru, in fact. They'd have been chucked out without even thinking about it, even with Cavendish present.
FWIW I suspect similar reasoning is why Thijssen climbed off, because it looked pretty hopeless halfway through the stage even knowing Astana were keeping some sort of lid on it.
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Ah, I took it to mean the other larger group with Girmay. Even so, working with 6 or 7 would be easier than going alone.
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I'm pretty sure I remember him being in the Cavendish group - he was actually tailed off on the first climb before Cavendish, fwiw.
The larger group also never really looked in any trouble, so why would he chase off?
(I'm saying that last bit more to reassure myself than you!)
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Given what he did in last year’s Tour, this would be a remarkable outcome, given perfect, season long preparation.
How has he managed this with a lengthy spell in hospital, a collapsed lung and a number of weeks unable to train?
I must admit to scratching my head.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
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Actually, this initially turned me fully sceptical about Pog’s performance. Then you factor in equipment, training, and I think crucially shorter stages these days, and perhaps you can believe.
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