TDF 2024 general chat *CONTAINS SPOILERS*

I know there’s usually a special thread but this dropped into the club chat…velogames TdF:

https://www.velogames.com/velogame/2024

I’ve been waiting for that, thanks for posting!

The STW Grand Tours velogames minileague ID is 347313627

For anyone who entered the Giro or the Dauphine velogames,  your team should be automatically entered as soon as your create it – there are 7 in there already, as I speak.

https://www.velogames.com/velogame/2024/leaguescores.php?league=347313627

Good luck to all the virtual Directeurs Sportifs

Note that as teams are still being announced, the valogames list will be updated as the week goes on to add other riders and perhaps refine the points

https://x.com/velogames/status/1805253774564381124

Just looking through the teams….graphics that I saw included starts’ stages wins etc

Pogacar has 11 wins from 4 starts! He could well end up as the most stage wins of all time at that rate and the way that he races.

Handy guide to the stages here, which ones to skip until the closing kms and which to settle in for and see the whole thing

https://x.com/cyclingyazz/status/1805284097792582001?s=46&t=yRQNMEdCGRiV6tO7y1r0Mw

Just watched Pidcock in the MTB short track, **** hell it was like watching a grown up race toddlers.

Yeah but what the hell is it with him and those stupid dogs ??

Kuss withdrawn from Jumbo team with covid, no crafty second Grand Tour win chance for him.

Yeah but what the hell is it with him and those stupid dogs ??

All the roadies seem to be at it these days. Dogs at the finish, on the podium…

shame no loulou, the opening stage looked right up his street and 3 days in yellow :? maybe Remco fancies it ?

Confirmed roster @soudalquickstep for @LeTour #TDF2024

Startlist:https://t.co/Cba0vzuEWP@EvenepoelRemco@MikelLandaMeana@IlanWilder@pedersencasp@yveslampaert@louisvervaeke@HirtJan pic.twitter.com/Uj8UN7PwKi

— ProCyclingStats.com (@ProCyclingStats) June 25, 2024

If I enter a Velogames team now, can I continue to make changes until the teams are confirmed?

usually its midnight the day before

Yates has the coolest dog

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXVDDh2iQG8mvNEAH4mwv6.jpg

can I continue to make changes until the teams are confirmed

Deadline is usually just before the race rolls out. In this case

Make sure to enter your team ahead of the entry deadline of 12:30 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on Saturday 29th June 2024. Good luck to all directors!

After last years successful gamble on Yates gc e/w this year’s flutter is Ayuso gc e/w (was going to go with yates again but 33/1 vs 22/1 clouded my judgement)

And last years failure of Girmay to win stage 1, which would have been amazing, this year thinking a select group sprint, so WvA at 12/1.

My Velogames team is in (although I may change on Friday). This year there seems to be a clear winner, but anyone’s sprinter could win a stage. I think one can’t go wrong with at least 2 UAE riders.

Bloody hell, Intermarché – Wanty are fielding 13 riders according to Velogames :D :D

https://x.com/roadcc/status/1805578740560224478?t=0vz2saJZePqCPLcdNRJjxQ&s=19

That’s an impressive amount of snow still blocking the Galibier….

shame no loulou, the opening stage looked right up his street and 3 days in yellow 😕 maybe Remco fancies it ?

I would imagine a certain Tadej Pogacar might fancy it.

Cycling Weekly have started banging on about how Cav will definitely win at least one stage, greatest sprinter of all time, most Tour wins ever blah blah.

Which is more or less what they said last year right up to the point he hit the deck.

Geraint Thomas was talking Cav up on the podcast, saying most of the rest of the field aren’t really on form. It’s a big ask, there’s so many good sprinter’s now. Would be amazing to see though.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/british-riders-tour-de-france

Guide to the British riders in this year’s Tour.

To be fair, Cav was going well last year. He won the Giro finale don’t forget. This year not so good BUT if everything flows then he’s got it. Imagine if it was him with the MvdP leadout.

(That’s SIR Cav to you)

Here’s Mr Pogačar saying he’s got even better at bike riding than he was at the Giro:

https://x.com/Domestique___/status/1805876642612461866

Personally, after everyone else has played up their underdog status I quite like the fact he’s just coming out and saying he feels good.

?? Marc Madiot, team manager at Groupama-FDJ

?️ "#TDF2024 will be over after four days. Pogacar will crush his opponents and blow away Vingegaard. At least, that's what I would do to be sure Jonas can't grow towards his best level."

(L'Équipe) pic.twitter.com/mGWw1UGX6J

— Domestique (@Domestique___) June 26, 2024

Good job Madiot isn’t bitter, eh ?

Wondering what G's role will be at the Tour? Hear from the man himself.#TDF2024 @GeraintThomas86 @LukeRowe1990 pic.twitter.com/cGslIVBMWO

— Watts Occurring (@Watts_Occurring) June 25, 2024

?? Remco Evenepoel

?️ "I've been sick. It wasn't a lie. I wasn't super sick, but had a slightly increased heart rate. Really, I would have preferred to ride the Belgian Nationals."

(Nieuwsblad)#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/YsQmOtymcJ

— Domestique (@Domestique___) June 26, 2024

Col du Galibier shall be re-opened today for the traffic. https://t.co/0GT3hs1Uto

— Jaroslaw Sowinski (@jaroslaws257) June 26, 2024

Kuss is out, that’s bad for visma

Currently sat in a bar in Florence and there’s loads of team cars and trucks driving around.

A fresh look for Alpecin-Deceuninck ??

The team will debut their new grey denim kit at the Tour de France ??

? Alpecin-Deceuninck pic.twitter.com/MOacMQJfdn

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) June 25, 2024

he’s just a “yob” on a bike :)

??Tadej Pogacar: "Desde el Giro parece que he dado un paso adelante y mi forma es incluso mejor de lo que esperaba. Hice un buen entrenamiento, probé un poco mis piernas y, para ser honesto, nunca me había sentido tan bien en una bicicleta". #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/YdYCHV4ZQ7

— NotiCiclismo ?? #TDF2024 (@Noticiclismo1) June 26, 2024

bora red bull….

A first glimpse of the new @BORAhansgrohe kit! ?

Thoughts? ?#TDF2024

? Red Bull pic.twitter.com/27ZVEOHoRd

— Domestique (@Domestique___) June 26, 2024

Currently sat in a bar in Florence and there’s loads of team cars and trucks driving around.

Spotted in Florence! Team Visma | Lease a Bike trying to control the uncontrollable? ?#TDF2024 ?? pic.twitter.com/eQf5jRu8VV

— Domestique (@Domestique___) June 26, 2024

https://x.com/GeraintThomas86/status/1805957127313281386

https://x.com/daniellloyd1/status/1805630870562217999

I’m hoping to spectate on the Col du Galibier climb, I plan to ride up as far as I can be bothered on my MTB early morning. Any tips for the day? I’m also wondering if there’s an offroad way back down. It’s not a fully formed plan, I’m about an hour from foot of climb by car. I realise roads will be closed!

Info @Gazzetta_it – According to sources @juann_ayuso has caught COVID-19. Final decision to be made about his participation in @LeTour tomorrow. @cycling_podcast

— Ciro Scognamiglio (@clrogazzetta) June 26, 2024

I’m hoping to spectate on the Col du Galibier climb, I plan to ride up as far as I can be bothered on my MTB early morning. Any tips for the day?

Get there early, take water, suncream, food…

You might be there for a while once the race has passed as well. Support cars, police, the whole “post race convoy” plus a million other spectators all trying to get off the mountain!

Inner Ring are doing a rundown of the various jersey competitions starting with Green:

The Green Jersey Contenders

Anyone got a link to the road book that doesn’t need a login?