TDF 2024 general chat *CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Bit concerning that Astana have already had a rider abandon, Gazzoli.

Sickness going through team?

Pogi has cracked the whip!

That’s a brutal pace they’re suddenly putting on. Gap to the breakaway coming down rapidly and gap to the Cav group going out dramatically. Riders being shelled out the peloton all over the road now.

I think UAE are trying to put Visma under pressure, see how good Vingegaard is really feeling.

brutal!!

On the plus side, that’s a lot of riders heading backwards to the Cav grupetto so a lot of extra support for him, more team cars, also very unlikely that so many riders could be culled if they are a few seconds outside the time cut.

Oh my word, those descents! 😍

Going to put this out there: The Škoda advert bumpers in ITV are really good and I’m glad they’re using them again this year.

And remember. Cav is the king of comebacks. He can still win the stage today.

Looking at the profile Cav has 2 climbs to go, all the big ones are done, with the last 20km downhill. As long as he can keep the pace should be able to keep within the time cut? Would be awful to see him kicked out on day 1, he’s had so much bad luck over the years.

Caveat. Route profiles can be deceiving. I know nothing about the remaining terrain.

It’s getting a bit close 😬

Could you have pointed out San Marino on a map before today? I couldn’t. Looks incredible !!

Nerve shredding first stage, still impossible to call!

Those mountain top forts are spectacular.

I’m guessing Cav will be half an hour back by the top of this climb then lose another 10 minutes on the next.

Next?

Looking on the TDF site there’s another cat 3 climb for Cav’s group yet.

Yeah, forgot that. Good point.

I’d like to see Bardet hold them off and get the win.

Bardet’s pain face.

Looking bad for the 2 leaders. Shame.

I think they’ll bodge the time cut, so unless he climbs off he’ll be able to start tomorrow.

I think van der Poel is off the back of the main peloton?

Looking bad for the 2 leaders. Shame.

Yep, I think they’ll be caught with 3km to go as it all ramps up.

FvdB deserves the Combativity Award though.

Is there anything better than a break like this in cycling?

Incredible!!!!!

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!

OH HECK YES

WOW!!

fabulous!

Magnifique!

**** YES! SL2 on the ITV4 highlights tonight.

Excellent! Now we wait…

What a finish, that was fantastic!!

Great first stage.

Pogi coming in 4th he just can’t help himself :)

Amazing finish, great start to the Tour, didn’t look on with ~3Km to go!

Pogi coming in 4th he just can’t help himself 🙂

It took a sprint from Wout to deny him bonus seconds. In the moment I wondered if it was Jonas going for them when I saw the Visma kit in the sprint.

pretty good legs for Bardet considering he finished 9th @ the Giro!

What a bas#### of a first stage. Wow, some recovering to be done overnight. Superb win, what an edge of the seat finish.

+49:11 time limit

Photo for the wall there.

49:11 time limit

is there anyway to track how he’s doing ?

Think he’d really have to crack to fall outside of that time.

2.8km out with  13+ mins to spare