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I mean I'm agreeing with 'quietly'....you could probably follow it with any number of adjectives. Tbf it's been hard for anyone outside the top 3 in GC to get any screen time. Not quite in the same league as the classic Haimar Zubeldia....multiple top 10 GC finisher who literally never did anything of note in his entire career!
Went as expected. Unlucky VLaB. Jorgensen deserves a stage win for his hard work, but outclassed by Pog. He wants two minutes tomorrow too, doesn’t he, to make 7 and payback for his big time bonk last year. I suspect he’s trying the same on Jonas, but second and third threw in the towel today.
I’m looking forward to watching the race for 2nd place now. That’s where all the action will be tomorrow and the weekend.
Remco will be saving himself for a TT win. Podium is sorted.
I;m off down into Nice shortly for the signing on and the stage start. I had considered going out to Km0 - rode out that way the other day - but until you get out into the cols well north, there's not a lot to see and it's not very scenic!
There's a big fan zone down on the promenade and plenty of space to watch them line up and roll out so we'll head there. There's been an increasing number of pros around town in the last couple of days. Lots of very slim and lithe figures on immaculate bikes, not a hair out of place as they breeze past effortlessly on a climb.
There's a fireworks and drone show tonight in town as well, should be good fun.
https://inrng.com/2024/07/tour-de-france-stage-20-preview-la-couillole/
https://www.cyclingstage.com/tour-de-france-2024-route/stage-20-tdf-2024/
Cat 2, Cat 1, sprint, Cat 1, Cat 1 finish
the race is going to be for the stage and minor placings, and I think Tadej - as exciting as he may be - will spoil the fun of the racing for the stage. I’m not sure he’ll stick to the statement they’ll let the break go
I think UAE have already ruled it out on the basis they don’t want him burnt out. Which is probably sensible, even if it would be an incredible achievement.
I can't help thinking there might be a few reasons for UAE to say that, and Pog getting burnt out is maybe not at the top of the list. I could easily believe he could show up at the Vuelta in pretty much the same condition he's in now and ride it about the same, although equally he could be on his knees tomorrow I guess.
But I can't see he'd have the support he's got at the Tour - Yates and the rest of his super domestquea will be too tired even if he isn't.
And it would be a bad look if he did do the Vuelta. . I'm not in the 'he's worse than Armstrong' camp, but what would it say about the state of things if he could ride all 3 GTs, dominate 2 of them, and be strong or super strong in the 3rd?
He's a great racer but I hope we don't see him at the Vuelta.
It’s clear to me that this became about 2nd and 3rd a couple of days ago after vinegard was dropped. They have clearly decided to ignore pog and get on with the race for second
My mate's in Nice right now. He was lucky to make it there after breaking his collar bone in a race a few weeks back. I've suggested that he get himself down to the start line: I reckon that if he can convince Pog to spit in his mouth, it'll be fully healed in a fortnight.
If it’s healing powers we’re after, I’d like whatever got Vingegaard from broken ribs and punctured lung to winning a sprint against Pog.
Wasn't Pog aiming to emulate Stephen Roche's triple of the Giro, Tour and world champs?
Anyone heard if that's still the case or did I imagine it all?
I was thinking this morning how good a tour it's been for EF Education. They always seem to have been an also ran team, sort of like Total Energy, who are just there making up the numbers. Especially now Uran is gone. But to have Carapaz in yellow and now beating the GC guys in the King of the Mountains, and take a stage win, is a real success for them.
I did feel like EF was a step down for Carapaz but he seems to be relishing being a free agent.
Also, @crazy-legs if you can nab an extra La Vache Qui Rit hat or two I'll throw money at you!
So Pog has said this morning his intention is to smash Cavs record. That really put me off the guy tbh, let the guy at least celebrate his achievement first ffs.
Anybody know what the beef is between Carapaz and UAE ?
Edit: Sorry, Visma, not UAE
Are Visma unhappy that Pog didn't let Jorg win yesterday, but Pog was happy to let Cpaz get Kom points uncontested today and supposedly let the breakaway win today's stage?
Dunno, but that looked like Soler was playing minder to Carapaz in case Visma tried anything on the last climb.
What are we all thinking about Remco Evenepoel? He's had such an amazing Tour de France, and it's only his first. Is he going to be a realistic challenge for Pogacar and Vingegaard in future grand tours?
Remco should push them, such a pity that all but Pog had their tdf prep severely stuffed by injury.
Pog did say yesterday that the last 2 km was hard for him.
Let's hope he's still a bit empty now and can't get this stage win (even though I do like him).
I agree Mikel Landa has been very strong. As have a lot of the 'older boys': Louis Meintjes and Bardet spring to mind.
Oh please, don't let Pog get another stage.
I can understand Vingegaard riding to drop Evenepoel and it's understandable that Pogacar will stay with him but Carapaz and Mas deserve to fight for the win.
Oh **** off.
New race idea - Pogacar gets awarded the GC before the race even starts, then he gets sent home.
Then everyone else can have a normal race.
Was handed to him on a plate when Vingago didn't crack
Yawn. Obvious doper wins yet another stage. Next.
Yawn. Obvious doper wins yet another stage. Next.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I think something is going on but it's not just Pogacar, whatever it is. The question is whatever it is is currently illegal or not.
It just seems unfair that cyclists get tarred with the cheater brush so quickly. Usain Bolt, for example, is far more of an obvious doper than Pogacar. Very few people seem to acknowledge even the possibility.
It's not like sprinters don't have a long history of finding it's winners are actually dopers.
Mister Big Balls team goes on the front for the first time in 3 weeks. Mr Big himself launches an attack that fizzles out like a soggy catherine wheel and loses a minute to Vingegaard. Nice gesture by Pog at the end acknowledging JV competitor.
PS I did enjoy the moment when a motorbike guy pushed a spectator from the road and sent him sprawling. Normally I'm disgusted by official violence, but I might make an exception here ...
Anyway, I really hope we see Vingegaard and Pogacar come into the Tour 100% fit next year. If Evenepoel steps up a few percent then that would also be a welcome development.
Half expecting Pog to win tomorrow's TT ahead of Remco, for six stage wins this tour...
Cav needs to sign up for at least another year!
Half expecting Pog to win tomorrow’s TT ahead of Remco, for six stage wins this tour…
Without wishing him any harm, I'd quite like him to fall into the sea tomorrow and lose about 5 and a quarter minutes.
Although he'd probably just part the waves and ride ashore...
Not quite sure why the knives are out for Pogacar, considering he got soundly beaten by Vingegaard last year, and it looks fairly reasonable to say that the only reason he able to gap him this year is because of Vingegaard's injury. Or is everyone assuming that Vingegaard is also doping? And, by extension, anyone else who does particularly well? I don't want to point out the obvious, but if the only evidence that is needed that someone is doping is that they are winning stages then it's going to make it a pretty frustrating sport to watch
if the only evidence that is needed that someone is doping is that they are winning stages then it’s going to make it a pretty frustrating sport to watch
The doping thing is irrelevant, it's already frustrating cos he's winning everything, even stages he doesn't "need" to win.
No-one else is getting a look in. The stage starts, there's a bit of riding, Pogacar wins.
YAWN.
Mister Big Balls
Did Remco steal your dinner money or something? Lots of bitterness on this thread.
I don't really get all this thing about him winning stages when he doesn't need to. What's his job? To win races, to win GTs and ride to the best of his ability. What do his team do all and every day? Ride for him to win the stage.
What should he do... say thanks guys but I never fancied going for it today and soft pedal to the finish. Racing is racing.
As far as being on the juice.... no idea, entirely possible but I just don't know. I sincerely hope not but I've followed road racing long enough to not be naive. As a personality... I find him very engaging and likeable. Just my two penneth.
I don’t like any more than the next conscious human to see petrochemical oligarchs, warlords, or dictators buy credibility through sports washing. Pogacar is an undeniably brilliant cyclist though, and I’m happier to see him thrive in a financially broken sport this year than suffer its inequality. I would support stringent budget caps in professional cycling, and reducing grand tour teams to five or six riders so that talent gets spread around more and races harder to control. Races’ carbon footprints need a long hard look while we’re at it. The state of cycling isn’t the fault of its greatest rider though. It’s not Tadej’s fault he gets all the nutritional expertise, cutting edge sports science, altitude camps, and “hyperdomestiques” blood money can buy.
I’ve very much enjoyed this year’s tour. Girmay’s success has been a particular highlight. Eclipsing Cav’s record-breaking win is quite something. Breakaways haven’t had a great edition, but when they have succeeded they’ve been some of the best, with vintage French wins in the early stages and brilliant escape artistry from Carapaz this week.
Highlights:
Cav's 35th win
Biniam Girmay
Carapaz getting KOM - glad that the points are adjusted so it's not just a byproduct of getting yellow.
The gravel stage
Lowlights:
The complete domination from Pogacar - it's much more fun when there's an actual competition.
A couple of the "sprint" stages which were basically rolling rest days.
Oh and the atmosphere in Nice is brilliant. The cheers that Cav got at sign on - even the moored yachts were tooting their horns!
I'm annoyed with vingegaard, more than pogacar. Tadej was never going to crack, or let Jonas beat him in as second sprint, so all Jonas did was tow Tadej up for the win and deny us the chance of a potential sprint between Mas and Carapaz. Astonishing lack of tactical awareness.
Astonishing lack of tactical awareness.
Looking at it another way, he knew he likely wasn’t putting several mins on Podg today, but wanted to defend the gap to Evenpeol and ensure 2nd.
I don’t really get all this thing about him winning stages when he doesn’t need to. What’s his job? To win races, to win GTs and ride to the best of his ability. What do his team do all and every day? Ride for him to win the stage.
Agreed, He's a sportsman. They tend to want to win every time they go out. Why not?
Looking at it another way, he knew he likely wasn’t putting several mins on Podg today, but wanted to defend the gap to Evenpeol and ensure 2nd.
This. Less pressure on him in the final TT.
I enjoyed that. Shame that Carapaz couldn't hang on for another win. As above, cool that he got the KOM jersey. I've not minded Pog dominance, yes it's getting a bit predictable, but this current generation are so much more interesting to watch that the Wiggins and Froome era.
I think that the disappointments for me is that WvA, MVdP and Pidcock didn't feature much. Obviously Pidcock came close on the gravel stage. The other two haven't really featured at all.
Astonishing lack of tactical awareness.
As Kryton says above - he had to defend 2nd place and extend his buffer on Remco in advance of tomorrow's TT which RE is widely expected to win.
If (unlikely if) he could put TP into difficulty (I must have heard that word from Sean Kelly too many times, apologies), that'd be an added bonus but I reckon everyone knew it was unlikely.
So it came to a situation where he couldn't stop riding cos RE would close the gap but he was never going to win the stage.
I think ultimately he's already conceded the win so he's trying to secure 2nd. But in doing that, he handed TP the win on a plate.
If anyone thinks this race is boring they obviously weren't watching for the Indurain years. That really was the epitome of dull.
Pog wins and the team, who have worked so hard for him, share the prize money. Vingegard did everything he could to secure second place after Soudal put in their best day to wrestle second from him. Thought the tactics from all was spot on. Delighted Carapaz has the polka dot. UAE could have chased down breakaways, and Pog could have taken that jersey too, at the risk of burning the team.
Pog to win the TT tomorrow. Remco had a hard day and the fatigue was showing in this stage.
I think that the disappointments for me is that WvA, MVdP and Pidcock didn’t feature much. Obviously Pidcock came close on the gravel stage. The other two haven’t really featured at all.
Yeah, other than the gravel there were many days suited to them. All three were not on Stella form for various reasons either. Pidcock got sick, Wout injured and MVdP only appears to do le tour as the sponsors and team insist, it's just training for him.
All three were not on Stella form
It’s FDJ on the beer, n’est-ce pas?
he had to defend 2nd place and extend his buffer on Remco in advance of tomorrow’s TT which RE is widely expected to win.
While I accept that remco is more likely to win the tt than Jonas (although after yesterday, that’s perhaps slightly less likely), I can’t see him putting TWO MINUTES into it, 2nd place was never in that much doubt
I’d add Bardet winning stage 1 and finally getting a yellow jersey to those hi-lights - that one made me smile
As for Pog, he did everything he could not to get himself in the position where he had to contest the stage win yesterday but Vingo wanted to prove he was a worthy 2nd not just hanging on and Pogs win was a byproduct of that.
Quite looking forward to the TT today - normally they bore me but a few people have something to prove today plus there will be plenty of Cav tears at the end. Remember when Cav and Pog shook hands after his 35th win, Cav said don’t beat me! I reckon it will be a close run thing..he does need another 20 but at this rate it could be 4 more tours!
Just heading onto Nice now for the TT.
There was a fantastic fireworks and drone show on the promenade last night, Nice has really put the red carpet out for the Tour. All seems really efficient and there's a good atmosphere.
Looking forward to the TT. I like the tech and the positions. Thought MvDP put in some decent shifts on the front for the team, but Wout has been absent, likely due to injury, loss of condition, and possible illness. I’d also second Bardet in yellow as a hilight. And Cav making the time cuts to finish. Showing his respect for the race. If you’d like to show your respects and are free, he’s going to be at LHR T5 at 1 PM Tuesday. Mrs TiRed is already excited!
Been reading up on CO hypoxia induction of erythropoiesis. Some contrasting research, but this is the most recent. The athletes were not elite. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32118696/ . Some effects of up to 5%, although earlier studies were negative https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27410770/
Expect an upper threshold on COHb levels next season, 3% looks a decent level to separate gaseous exogenous CO doping.
Cavendish is 63 seconds ahead of Ballerini for the lantern rouge. If he is caught in the TT, the “win” could be on.
These two are first and second off in the TT and there’s a decent gap of NINE minutes to third from bottom. Game of nerves for a “slow race” for that Lantern. I wonder if Ballerini is under team orders ?
Ballerini in already. Cav well back and giving high fives to the crowds!
Well it's very dusty here now.
Edit - I would absolutely love to see V. Campenaerts win this ITT, but this could be asking for the moon on a stick.
It's interesting to see that not everyone is riding a tt bike. Kind of makes sense as the tt is essentially climbing and descending so a regular road bike might be a better choice. I wonder what Carapaz will choose?
I see also that Carapaz was voted winner of the super-combativité award, well deserved, he's never stopped battling to get the stage win
https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1815016549821870133
(Hmmm - not embedding. Is the TDF channel: "Some people had messages for the legend
@MarkCavendish. We showed them to him, and he wanted to send you a message too. Worth the watch")
Pog's smashing it.
Flicking from Tour to Open to TM vs WI, is the presentations at a set time tonight or just 'immediately after the stage'?
Crazy to think that if it wasn't for Jonas, Pogacar would have won 5 Tours de France already at the age of 25.
Well done Remco, could see Vingegard visibly slowing at the end and I expected he’d lose time on the descent and flat. Pog was in a different class in the whole race and today was no different. And o. His local roads.
Cav... Dusty at Chez Fazzini
I thought that Abrahamsen would've been a good combativity winner. Quieter in week 3 I suppose.
Where are you watching @crazy-legs?
Was along the promenade. Got a flypast from the French aerobatic team at the end, amazing atmosphere.
Big crowds of Danes going mad for Vingegaard. Also a group of Eritreans who'd been partying all morning but then left once Girmay had gone through!
Pog's just gone full-Palpatine in this last week. Mask-off, cackling maniacally and firing lightning bolts out of his cock.
Congratulations to Dick Brown - CWCC who came top in the STW velogames.
Went to welcome Cav home. Nice to meet his family, including his brother.
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And with that, we can conclude that the image uploading is broken on iOS. ?
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On the Postimage page, hit Share and copy the 'Hotlink for forums' code, paste it in here
Mrs. TiRed looks as excited as I would be in her shoes.
Sir Cav you are a star.
I definitely have a man crush on Sir Mark.
Oh she’s absolutely buzzing! We met him in 2012 in Chartres when Sir Brad had secured the yellow jersey. He signed the kids Olympic jerseys. He’s absolutely authentic, especially during those post race interviews. And that’s why we love him.
He also signed my book - won the lantern my a minute. I still recall his disappointment at not making the cut on the mountain and everyone waiting for him. Class.
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hooray!