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Been a few Grand Tours decided on final day TT:
https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1320048547207761925?s=20
And a few more on penultimate TT:
https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1320051565563138053?s=20
All that said, I don't think a grand tour has ever been this close for the final stage. It should make for some decent viewing. Imagine if Wilco Kelderman pulled out a total Beast Mode TT tomorrow?
Absolutely fabulous.
I was laughing my socks off when phenomenal Rohan appeared (again) after the longer attack by the 2 youngsters.
Then clapping and dancing with Tao getting over the line in front of Jai. Those 2 just brilliant.
Such enjoyable racing.
Apologies if it's mentioned up thread but has anybody else found the Eurosport/GCN coverage utterly cringe worthy? When the Vuelta started, it was a relief to watch 'proper' coverage rather than Grumpy Wiggins spouting forth...
Completely agree.
Eurosport coverage is unwatchable with the sound on. Both the delivery and content is appalling with them not having anymore of a clue whats going on than I have. Plus they seem to hate each other. Then you have that idiot Wiggins just rambling on afterwards.
Millar and Boulting have a great connection and often add vital info most would have missed. Plus Imlach who is awesome and the hilarious fade out tracks each day. Classic sports commentary.
Edit: it doesn't help that the camera work from the Giro is nowhere near as good as the other 2 tours though.
Agree.
I'm reading Ned's book atm. When David Millar was dropped from TdF in 2014, Ned went looking for him to ask if he would join the ITV4 commentary team. Instead David sought them out and asked to join, if they would have him. What luck.
It's obvious that Ned and David are friends, they gel, they read each other's minds and they know their stuff. Lots of Preparation and revision goes into these grand tours and it shows.
I too find it hard to listen to the Vuelta commentary but find Ron Hatch to be a little better on the Giro.
My favourite is Chris Boardman, who is also superb along side Boulting and Millar.
final day TTs
Sorry I thought that bit was obvious. BTW, most GTs are LOST in TTs not won. Last day TT. Already excited.
Apologies if it’s mentioned up thread but has anybody else found the Eurosport/GCN coverage utterly cringe worthy? When the Vuelta started, it was a relief to watch ‘proper’ coverage rather than Grumpy Wiggins spouting forth
I finb Brian Smith a tad challenging at times and this seems to be a recent thing she used to be quite good, but Wiggins can be good value at times. Completely disagree about Boulting and Millar - terrible pair and they suck the enjoyment out of watching racing. Never really bought into the idolatry for Millar either.
The Eurosport commentary is definitely suffering for having to cover two grand tours simultaneously meaning that you have to put up with the same pair for the entire race, really helped when there was a bit of rotation. I don't dislike any of the commentators, all of them repeat themselves a lot though.
Game on then.
I said previously that Rob Hatch was quite grating with his over-pronunciation but he's bearable compared to the awful nasal tone of Brian Smith.
Millar and Boulting are far and away the best commentary double act and the way that ITV4 rotated the commentary to bring in Chris Boardman, Peter Kennaugh and Matt Rendell was good, it ensured you never had to listen to any one person for too long.
he’s bearable compared to the awful nasal tone of Brian Smith
sorry, but I find that mildly offensive. It's OK to not like him for what he says but to dislike someone because of an accent, or the sound of their voice that someone has no control over is a bit OTT for me.
I too have a quite distinct vocal charaecteristic and if someone felt my work contribution was in some way less valid because of that I'd be right pissed off.
anyway - barring mishaps, it's TGH isn't it?
Oh well here we go!
I set my stopwatch and had Tao ahead by 40s a couple of roundabouts ago.
your stopwatch needs checking - 10s on official
This is utterly brilliant 😁
Tried again, 21s at Jai's last corner
mrs tao looking for a flat in monaco ?
This is phenomenal.
Fascinating finish
Tao went through a red light. Policia after him now. Bloody cyclists.
Go on TGH!
I can breathe again now. That was one hell of a ride!
Get in!
well done lad!
Brilliant! Who whould have thought this three weeks ago?
Tao to lead the Ineos TdF team next year? Froome's gone, G will be another year older and i'm not convinced Bernal would have won in 2019 if that landslip on the stage that he took the jersey hadn't cut it short.
Good effort from the lad for sure.
Really struggle to celebrate any win by ineos however, even if a uk rider is involved.
Awesome effort by a young man from Hackney whose only dream was to be a pro rider one day. Wow, what a performance.
Chapeau Tao!
What rhyming last day TT surprises for the Vuelta?
A few weeks ago Poj pipped Rog for yellow.
Today Tao pipped Jai for pink.
(Both sound better than in writing)
Ineos will be partying hard with news from the other GT too.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sir Dave look quite so genuinely happy. He lost that slick veneer and showed what it really meant. Strength in depth when they need to plumb those depths.
Just listened to his post match interview and absolutely impressed by what he said. Wish I could remember it all, but two bits especially:
"I love my life just now and am living the dream"
Paraphrased. And then when asked if this is the start of an amazing career:
"Don't know, don't care, I'm just going to enjoy the moment"
What a ****ing stunning bloke.
😄😜😃
"Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine this would be possible when we started,"
"It's incredible, really incredible.""bizarre", adding: "All of my career I've dreamed of trying to be top 10 - top five maybe - in a race of this stature, so this is something completely and utterly different to that and it's going to take a long time to sink in.
"My DS (director sportif) told me I was 10 seconds up and then he kept giving me a few seconds. I only knew we must be in a pretty good situation when they were screaming not to take any risks in the last kilometre.
"It's not often your DS tells you to slow down that much in a 15k TT, but I also knew the work was done up to that point so it's incredible to arrive here.
"I'm just going to enjoy this. I'm going to stay the same person, stay as professional as I believe I always have been, dedicated, waking up every day looking forward to riding my bike, loving my life and being grateful for the amazing honour and privilege I am in on this team at these beautiful races."
I was shouting "keep it upright" on those last few bends! And for all his faults hearing Brad really choking up was nice.
Great race, fantastic finale, lovely bloke to have won, felt sorry for the two Sunweb riders too, but............was Dave Brailsford drunk??
Hopefully his comments about winning that way are a sign of a change in tactics. Probably not but you never know.
Brilliant.
Just seen Sir Dave on BBC breakfast (along with Damon Hill). Around 7.50 ish if you want to try iplayer.
This TT reminds me of Geraint in yellow. Nico telling him over race radio to just take the last few ks easy. Same with Tao.
What a great win, what a great team effort and what a fabulous young rider. Let's hope Hugh Carthy takes some confidence from Tao's win and goes on to do the same in La Vuelta. (although secretly I would love to see Dan Martin win La Vuelta, but I'm not sure his style of riding will make this happen).
Likeable, British, Tour winner.
It used to be, pick 2.
Now it's all 3!
Really nice piece in TheGraun by Axel Merckx.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/oct/25/tao-geoghegan-hart-is-the-real-deal-he-deserves-giro-ditalia-success?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other