TDF 2024 general chat *CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Looking forward to today, after yesterday’s snoozefest.

Sprint stages are a bit like childbirth/labour. Long periods of boredom then a stressful and dangerous ending.

Woohoo! Racing today. Eight @20seconds, but UAE likely to go for the stage win with serious destruction at the end of the stage, whilst marking down the breaks. Hard work needed as they all detrained yesterday.

French alliance trying to bridge to the break.

Fred Wright struggling according to Guardian ticker?

Is he ill?

You know, watching the TdF live on ITV4 I haven’t quite worked out what I need more:

a) donating all our money to Nicky Campbell’s dogs

b) donating all our money to John Nettles’ donkeys

c) a Verisure monitored alarm in case Angela Scanlon’s mum falls over

d) a SunLife insurance plan

e) a funeral plan

Or today’s number one highlight…

f) a Ryobi ONE+ air inflater, which, apparently, will inflate a bicycle tyre in seconds

Most likely to be option ‘e’, however, given I am looking at bikes again, and Mrs Fazzini seems less than amused.

(Sorry ;) )

You know, watching the TdF live on ITV4 I haven’t quite worked out what I need more:

Tbf, on the other channel the breaks are full of adverts for properly niche sports in the most dubious places on earth. Want to go to a dodgy Middle East theocracy to watch the World Cup Kwang-tai Domino Champs? Wait a sec, there’ll be some info…

I watched the tour on ITV4 the other day, and it was, er, unwatchable due to the adverts.

David Millar was sharp though, and spotted many of the key moments that the Disco+ commentators completely missed.

On Disco+ today, and the stage is brewing nicely.

Are UAE simply chasing the break (why? can’t see anyone placed better than Healy in there from a quick look) or is this a prelude to some massive Pog onslaught ? (doesn’t really look hard enough pace or parcours for that)

Bonus seconds are what Pog is after I expect.

hmm – battering his doms for (max) 10 seconds seems poor value.  Couple of flattish days to come but what if there’s a wind ?

Pog’s tactical shortcomings will be exposed at some point on this Tour. Maybe today, maybe not.

I’d love to see a Remco bomb on one of the final ramps…

I’d love to see a Remco bomb on one of the final ramps…

Roglic seems up for this one as well.

I know the climb hasn’t fully kicked in yet but they’re going uphill on maybe 5% gradients at 25-26mph! It is now shelling a lot of people out the back.

it’s like the run-in for a sprint !

Wout just missed his wall-of-death catch berm there

Ouchy for WvA, he misjudged that corner! Was lucky not to take out half the rest of the team.

All kicking off now. Break has disintegrated, the UAE-led peloton beginning to rampage through them. Pidcock, Bardet, G all dropped.

Yes, Hammer time, Giro v2. Bardet corner looks fab, too bad he won’t have time to stop!

why is G in the Tour?

Bang!

Anyone else watching this descending nervously?

Yes, Vingegard is, watching his former team mate!

The “Zone Bardet” with his screaming fan club is amazing!

2 bloody meetings and I miss all the fun (facepalm emoji)

Absolutely willing Vingegaard to get back on! Come on!!

Some effort from vingo here

This is amazing!

Now will vingo attack?

This is nailbiting!

Wow!

Pogacar moves into the lead on Mountains jersey too.

final climb is going to be a show

This is so much better than the Giro now that Pogacar actually has some competition.

Interesting little deadlock now… This is fascinating, could go any which way.

That was a brilliant day racing. Somebody got something to say about “balls”?

That’s going to be disappointing for Pog to say the least

That was BRILLIANT!!

!

Wow, awesome stuff. Not a Vingago fan but fair play that was great stuff.

Remco looked buggered at the end but he battled hard too.

Roglic has had his crash now!

Emotional stuff from Vingegaard in the interview.

What a stage. I’m a little fearful for Pog in the mountains now. He can get the jump on Jonas, but doesn’t look like he can ride away from him, and it’s looking like he might not be able to stay in his wheel either. Maybe needs to tone down the all-day full-gas style and save himself for the moments that matter. Remco consistently limiting his losses – odds on for the podium at this rate.