We're getting into the scenic bits of France now:
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We stay in the hills rather the full mountains for today's stage to the Swiss town of Lausanne, 186km with around 2500m of climbing including another tough punchy finish once again suited for WvA or Pogacar - the former is unlikely to win, the latter doesn't have to although he also didn't have to win yesterday...
There's a chance at this stage that the peloton could finally let the breakaway stay clear for the day.
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Too many potential contenders to call given the fact that Pogacar seems keen on winning everything but equally it's a tricky finish, half the peloton must be wrecked by now and the vagaries of which half-known domestiques are allowed to get in the breakaway.
Start at midday (UK time), ITV4 coverage starts at 2pm, EuroSport/GCN+ have the whole thing live.
After yesterday's win I'm going to guess Pog to go in the break, get bored and solo to the finish with an ever increasing gap to the bunch, cross the line looking daisy fresh and finish his interviews before second gets home.
Lovely part of France today. It's going to be a visual feast.
They go though Morbier home of Morbier cheese. Mmmmmm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morbier_cheese
Ooh, I do like a bit of Morbier…
One thing I’ve found, tuning in from France is that GCN is all in French!
Thanks crazy-legs.
Interesting to see that UAE have a team brimming with 'big names', yet they don't seem to gel. After yesterday they need to get the correct rider doing his correct job (which of course doesn't apply to Pog).
Enjoying watching Tom Pidcock.
After yesterday’s win I’m going to guess Pog to go in the break, get bored and solo to the finish with an ever increasing gap to the bunch, cross the line looking daisy fresh and finish his interviews before second gets home.
Unfortunately I don't think that is actually impossible. It might actually make more interesting viewing than what we're likely to get. At least the scenery will be nice 😎
After yesterday they need to get the correct rider doing his correct job (which of course doesn’t apply to Pog).
Which job? If you mean making sure Pog can make a push when he needs to to take the time or stage I think they could do that from the team bus based on his performance.
He seems quite happy using everyone else's team, including their GC riders as his domestiques.
And it ends in Lausanne, home of the UCI. Will the commissaires find all the motors? 🤣
Don't be silly, there's socks to measure
Unfortunately I don’t think that is actually impossible
I half expect him to do the really really annoying "I'm much better but we're mates" ride to the top then come back down and ride back up having a chat thing
Quick summary of positions after yesterday:
[b]Yellow[/b]:
Pogacar
Vingegaard @ 35"
Thomas @@ 1'10"
Yates @ 1'18"
Gaudu @ 1'31"
[b]Green[/b]:
WvA - 203
Jakobsen - 140
Pogacar - 108
[b]White[/b]:
Pogacar (jersey worn by 2nd placed rider)
Pidcock @ 1'35"
McNulty @ 6'28"
UAE have lost LAENGEN to Covid.
yellow on the deck early doors
I turned it on just as the chase back on and discussion about the crash was happening. So I missed all the excitement. ☹️
Why are Jumbo on the front of peleton?
WvA fancies another stage win
WvA fancies another stage win
Surely they need to make at least a vague attempt to pressure UAE?
Surely they need to make at least a vague attempt to pressure UAE?
If they catch the break now, it'll just be chaos as others attempt to go clear. And it's too far out to go full gas yet.
If they catch the break now, it’ll just be chaos as others attempt to go clear. And it’s too far out to go full gas yet.
I meant sitting back and making UAE do the pace setting!
Pinot in the wars!
cracking descent!
Properly rooting for Fred Wright but I think that break is doomed.
loving the line up to the finish
the helicopter view of how he just threaded his way through everyone was beautiful
Why are UAE flogging Rafa Majka on what is a puncheurs finish? Pog's perfectly able to roll in with the lead group without a lead out.
In my simple mind Pog is just a racer, he wants to win every stage and every race he enters. Love watching him. Would prefer it if the other contenders were closer to him but it is what it is.
I don't think anyone doubts that.
I'd like to think his composure is an act, a brilliant piece of psychological strategy intend to demoralise the opposition and make them doubt their chances before they start.
I'd like to, I'm not at all sure I do.
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Jura and Switzerland looking stunning. 🙂
Images up at https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-8/image-gallery
Fred Wright, on the front here, started his riding at Herne Hill Velodrome.
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Fred was robbed (combativite award).