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Cracking emotional win for Houle, well done.
The commentators are constantly talking about Yates helping Thomas up the mountains. Can someone explain this to me as Thomas looks stronger, there’s no drafting benefit because they are going too slowly, and Thomas is quite capable of pacing himself - what don’t I understand? ( quite a lot probably! )
On a similar note, where is the benefit when one rider has a teammate ride in front on the climb e.g. Mijca riding in front of Pogacar?
The commentators always get very excited, but in the example above, Vingegaard is getting the same aero benefits as Pogacar (or more of he's third in line) and also in the example above, was Pogacar really worried about having to neutralise any possible attacks?
The commentators are constantly talking about Yates helping Thomas up the mountains. Can someone explain this to me as Thomas looks stronger, there’s no drafting benefit because they are going too slowly, and Thomas is quite capable of pacing himself – what don’t I understand? ( quite a lot probably! )
There's always some aero benefit, even if it's very small. OK, maybe not always, but certainly on the faster sections.
On a similar note, where is the benefit when one rider has a teammate ride in front on the climb e.g. Mijca riding in front of Pogacar?
For the most part, keeping the pace high prevents attacks from behind because it puts everyone on the limit.
On a similar note, where is the benefit when one rider has a teammate ride in front on the climb e.g. Mijca riding in front of Pogacar?
A lot of it is psychological. The aero benefits are very limited but if you're there with a teammate and your opponent is on his own, it's easy to start playing mind games or to let one person attack, the other one hangs back forcing the opponent to chase.
And then the negative thoughts creep in - can I stay with both of them, can I counter the next attack, what if I get a puncture and need a bike swap urgently, what if I run out of gels and want one from a team-mate...?
Pics from today's stage:
https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-16/image-gallery
We were at this yesterday, on the descent of the final climb just short of the summit (we were too hot/slow/faffing to reach the other side before they shut the road).
We had a good spot and saw everyone come through in dribs and drabs. It was seriously hot, tarmac was melting. Some of the domestiques look absolutely broken. Soler came past us about 15 mins after we started the descent back to Foix! Deserves to start today.
Nothing was ever going to happen on the descent into Foix, nowhere near technical enough.
Would post pics but the data where we are sucks.
Short ride long lunch today!