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they (G et al) needed that 20 seconds over yellow or it would have been the last they saw of him.... he is a man possessed going down !
JA was awesome but the GC guys really let him off the hook. If they are all as cooked as they looked, it's Bernal's to lose.
Another excellent stage, this year's tour has made great viewing.
Did anyone have Quintana for the win? I certainly didn't!
What are Movistar going to do next?
yowsers, better not let Quintana do that again !
General Classification after Stage 18
1 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (DQT) 75:18:49
2 BERNAL GOMEZ, Egan Arley (INS) + 1:30
3 THOMAS, Geraint (INS) + 1:35
4 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven (TJV) + 1:47
5 PINOT, Thibaut (GFC) + 1:50
6 BUCHMANN, Emanuel (BOH) + 2:14
7 QUINTANA, Nairo (MOV) + 3:54
8 LANDA MEANA, Mikel (MOV) + 4:54
9 URAN, Rigoberto (EF1) + 5:33
10 VALVERDE, Alejandro (MOV) + 5:58
11 PORTE, Richie (TFS) + 6:30
12 BARGUIL, Warren (PCB) + 7:47
13 MARTIN, Guillaume (WGG) + 15:11
14 ARU, Fabio (UAD) + 16:21
15 KREUZIGER, Roman (TDD) + 17:00
G says "We wanted a hard pace and unfortunately we ran out of guys" - so losing Rowe might have a significant outcome.
Still a bit out of breath after watching that.
THIS RACE IS AMAZING
Great stage - impossible to call the winner right now. Hope in the next 2 days it all kicks off with the GC...something has to.
What’s with all the blood on Quintana’s jersey as he crossed the line? 🤔
What’s with all the blood on Quintana’s jersey as he crossed the line?
He's put in so much effort he's had a nosebleed.
I'd love to see bernal take it in the mountains. As much as I respect TT and enjoy it to watch I'm not keen on how much and how often a good TT impacts (decides) the GC.
What are Movistar going to do next?
Valverdes turn next isn't it ?
G says “We wanted a hard pace and unfortunately we ran out of guys” – so losing Rowe might have a significant outcome.
Probably not. The problem is that last year Kwiato and Poels and Froome - remember him as super domestique / joint leader - were pulling hard deep into the climbs. I don't think Rowe was ever going to make a difference in that area, even by saving one of the others for longer.
I think the real problem is that Moscon, who was brought in when Froome crashed, just doesn't seem remotely on it. I think they boobed by not bringing an additional climber, Tao would have good if he wasn't broken. Or Eddie Dunbar if he hadn't ridden the Giro. Or Ivan Sosa if he was fresh and living up to his billing. Sivakov maybe, but then he's a puppy and has just ridden the Giro. You can see why they took Moscon, but he hasn't done a lot high up.
If Bernal's as strong as he looks though and they let him go earlier, he might just rip the GC apart tomorrow. #FreeEgan 🙂
ps: those roads today were brilliant. Happy memories.
We wanted a hard pace and unfortunately we ran out of guys
I can't be the only one glad to see this happening.
The thing is with Quintana in the tour, there have been so many times where he looked like he might do something just for it not to happen, that they probably didn't consider it. I mean is this the first time Quintana has done something of note in the tour since he attacked on ventoux way back?
Could be anyone's (including Quintana)
I liked that stage.
So glad to see Bardet up there, and really awesome ride from Alaphilippe.
Phew...
Exciting isn’t it.
🤪😵🤩🙏
According to the Beeb "Nairo Quintana set a new record for quickest climb of the Gailbier. It took him 22 minutes, 28 seconds. That's a minute quicker than Andy Schleck in 2011."
Was it really windy today, or is this a bit worrying given cycling's history? Beating a record by 5% is a fair amount (assuming Schleck had the record, it's a bit ambiguous)?
Amazing stage either way, le Tour has been interesting without the Sky train of recent years..
They mentioned a tailwind on Eurosport commentary, but I guess with the switchbacks it'll flip around a bit. There's a general direction to the climb though so if it was blowing up the valley towards the summit it would help I guess.
Was it really windy today,
According to the commentators they had a tail wind.
Suddenly there's a new name in the hat for the podium - bet no-one saw that coming after the way he looked in the Pyrenees.
That Alaphillipe descent!
Disc brakes FTW. 🙂
Was thinking that, CL. Braking way later in to the corners.
WHAT. A. RACE
this year
Didn't see that coming. Might have to call tomorrow for someone else out of the blue like Woods, or Aru, or Jens Voigt 😉
That’s a minute quicker than Andy Schleck in 2011.
Schleck had been on the attack since the Izoard.
Sadly Alaphilippe is almost certain to lose a chunk of time tomorrow.
It looks like it’s Bernals if today’s race is an indicator of what everyone’s got left.
Pinot didn’t look on it today; G looked back to his standard diesel self; Kruijswijk looks tired, and Alaphilippe looks as if he used up his reserves today.
#prayforalaphilippe
Alaphillipe's descent to and through the group was nuts! Terrifying!
For Ineos to lose now surely?
Assuming the train is good they can push/attack on each of the next two days as JA doesn't have the safety net of a descent to the finish. Surely they'll send Bernal up the road again tomorrow and see how it plays out?
I'm sure Alan Phillip will be getting a penalty for the team member giving him a push up the hill. Or the one from French fans. You know, like Roglic did.
No? Oh. Quelle surprise...
I had to get up extra early to catch up on thursday's stage.
Crikey - I reckon Mr Quintana was motivated by new team negotiations.
Yellow jersey descent was ace and I wish Romain would stop wasting energy berating other riders for not going on the front. It's like a windup Bardet game now. Looks like Bernal is stronger than G ,who I thought was holding back on the descent....saving himself for friday perhaps....
So exciting.
I reckon G's got a big attack to come somewhere, Bernal said G told him to attack in the hope it would spark some something but unfortunately it didn't happen.
That Alaphillipe descent!
Disc brakes FTW. 🙂
No brakes FTW
No? Oh. Quelle surprise…
But just think how lovely it will be if a Frenchman wins! 🙂