TNT1

I really find it weird. I mean even back in the 60's and 70's Molteni used to do the exact same thing for Merckx. (as have the teams of all the big/multiple tour winners... La Vie Claire, Z, USPS, Discovery, Renault, Fagor, SKY, all of them.) This tactic is nothing new. (or do guys here just not really understand the sporting tactic at this level )

The disc vs rim brake thread is over there ---> Oh, and Lopez was running discs when he won on Col de la Loze, just fyi.

With good reason, you wouldn't bet against him winning the final stage.

Depends. If Lopez wants to take second place from Pogacar and get a decent enough buffer for the TT, Astana will start winding it up from the Col des Aravis already. If he goes on the Plateau des Glieres to gain time, the group will already be so fragmented there will be no coming back. If they do that, no break will stand a chance anyway. If the GC guys play it safe, yeah, then a damp squib is in the offing.

Nice. Reminds me of when Shimano first had hollowtech cranksets. The pro's started using the XTR ones until the dura ace ones caught up with design/needs.

Is that funrider still in the dotty shirt though?

I can see three Jumbo riders on the TT podium.

Wout Van Aert gonna win, Roglic second, some random out of left field third and Pogacar fourth on the day. Seeing as three of the names mentioned are some of the best climbers this year, I'll go with the TT being a medium mountain stage.

I was never banned. Self imposed exile is what it was...

You'd think so after all this time.

probably a 36or38 up front and a 28or32 at the back would be my guess.

No one should pay R25k for mechanical disc brakes. In fact no one should pay any money for mechanical disc brakes. Unless it's proper disc brakes stick with lighter and better rim brakes.

No Fenix at Giro here: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2020/startlist/roster

That Citroen money being put to good use...

I disagree. Money talks. Look at the contract garbage Van Aert had to go through just to get to Jumbo. Ditto for Dumoulin. Same for Sagan. He could easily have continued with dual disciplines. He's gonna kill himself at the TdF and then again at the Giro. Money.

They might change next year with Citroen.

The main obstacle in the TT is 5.9 kms at 8.5% That is not the kind of climb that suits a climber like Quintana or Bernal. It is a climb that suits a Roglic and a Pogacar.

Realistically only Roglic and Bernal have the team around them to be able to defend yellow from now until Paris. The others need to get close (but not into yellow) and hope to pop Roglic in the TT, although probably only Pogacar can do that. The climbers need 2+ minutes going into the TT and I can't see Roglic shipping that much time unless he has a shocker of a bad day.

My two cents: My current favourites are a toss up between Decathlon and Anatomic. Both very good and very affordable. I have a few pairs of Mille. (not assos mille, just Mille) about a 7/10. I can't justify spending the amounts you guys talk about on bibs. I mean I can get 4 pairs of Decathlon or Anatomic (on sale) for like the price of one pair of your assos stuff. I'm light (as in I don't wear stuff out quickly) on kit, so it works for me I agree with some of the comments here on Giordana. My last team kit was made by Giordana, very good stuff. Also, for context, I appear to be about half the size of some of the posters here, so maybe that plays a part, and maybe my arse is as tough as old leather after 35 years in the saddle as well.

Speaking of NTT, that guy in the break, his flared bars really make him look like a fun rider. I just can't get my support behind a team with so little style.

A sprint is not a static picture. Look at the actual video clips. Sagan clearly and deliberately went into the other rider. Hell, his own team management said he deliberately went for the other rider. I don't know what picture you refer to, but it sounds like one where Van Aert is leaning back in an effort to stay upright - ie. after Sagan's original untoward movement.

Am I the only one watching today's stage? Let the Sagan Saga rest in peace.

Oh look. NTT slipped a rider into the break. I almost forgot they were even in the race. Can a team really be more anonymous?

Oh, ya, if you're looking for MTB rides in that area, Finish Line in Kempton Park is who you should talk to. I'd bet even money Clint or Mike would be able to point you at the MX guys in the area as well.

Just hang out behind Serengeti or Eastlands/Dunblane and you'll stumble across the MX guys from Kempton park. They go through every weekend.