2020 Tour de France

[Gen]

Wow didn't figure Bennett to be a late bloomer.

Wouldn't say late bloomer just opportunity

 

Sagan was picked up really young first by Spez (mtb) and then Cannondale so from a young age he had more support in the sport and at teams with really good resources.

 

Now I don't know too much about Sam's early years but he was with Bora for a long time but at the time Bora did not have the resources they had after Sagan's arrival..so just been a longer journey for Sam..

[Gen]

I see minimal stages for Sagan to claw back points.

 

Tomorrow (St 15)

Flat as a pancake before the intermediate sprint. They'll sprint for position, which means Bennett could outscore Sagan.

Stage 15.PNG

 

Monday

Rest Day, test day

 

Tuesday (St 16)

Sagan/Bora might want to attack up the hill before the sprint point.

Stage 16.PNG

 

Wednesday (St 17)

Another small bump before the intermediate sprint point. Might not be steep/long enough to hurt Bennett.

Stage 17.PNG

 

Thursday (St 18)

Profile shows a pimple between Km zero and the sprint point. Might not be enough.

Stage 18.PNG

 

Friday (St 19)

Last day to try get intermediate sprint points and drop the green jersey

Stage 19.PNG

Sam has really struggled getting over any bumps in the road....its going to be a fight to Paris... sure is very exciting though. Edited September 12, 2020 by Gen

[Gen]

https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1304816817827962881?s=19

 

Ewan is in.[emoji123]

[Mntboy]

Here is Sean Kelly's thoughts on the green jersey contest: 

 

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/sean-kelly-tour-de-france-green-jersey-battle-will-go-all-the-way-to-paris/

 

Please note this was published before today's stage.

[Gen]

Here is Sean Kelly's thoughts on the green jersey contest:

 

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/sean-kelly-tour-de-france-green-jersey-battle-will-go-all-the-way-to-paris/

 

Please note this was published before today's stage.

Good read.. we often don't take the mental part of it into consideration..that will be the biggest hurdle for Sam... its been a tough few days for him and a tough few days to come. Edited September 12, 2020 by Gen

[Mntboy]

Good read.. we often don't take the mental part of it into consideration..that will be the biggest hurdle for Sam... its been a tough few days for him and a tough few days to come.

Yup. Will be fascinating to watch. This has been a very entertaining battle for green. Glad Sagan's got a bit of competition this year!

[Gen]

Yup. Will be fascinating to watch. This has been a very entertaining battle for green. Glad Sagan's got a bit of competition this year!

Yeah the route and the faster guy.

 

Week 3 is going to be something else alright.

['Dale]

Good read.. we often don't take the mental part of it into consideration..that will be the biggest hurdle for Sam... its been a tough few days for him and a tough few days to come.

 

Two strategies that is deployable by Sagz Baby:

1/ The points race, which is an unlikely winning strategy

2/ The endurance challenge, which is more a likely success for the living legend - every attack takes Bennett deep into the red and further from rolling his Spez onto the Champs Elysees.

 

It is great to have a contest for the maillot vert after the Hulk's dominance since, what feels like, 2007. I will never write Sagan off as he has a champion mindset and a very solid team. Certainly do not envy his work load for the next 4-6 weeks. 

 

What a rare purple patch for Team Sunweb after a tough time with team politics and roster challenges. I reckon Hirschi has sparked the morale of the team. A win supplies a team with major feel-good and confidence gains.

 

Meanwhile, a view from the maillot jaune, who is relieved to be through to Lyon safely and will be anticipating big GC challenges tomorrow before the next rest day and the Covid-19 cloud:

"I thought it would be easy today but it was full gas racing. At least it didn’t last so long and our team didn’t have to work all day. It’s the Tour de France and another day behind us.We didn’t have to ride the whole day but our guys did the perfect job and put me in the right position going through this city. There were a lot of obstacles and points where something could happen and luckily we had everything under control.Tomorrow will be a nice challenge again and for sure it will be nice to watch. I will try to do my best and we will try to do our best as a whole team."

 

Pic by Cor Vos

[Thomo]

I see minimal stages for Sagan to claw back points.

 

Suspect he really needed the win today.

[Gen]

[The Ghost]

If I was a betting man, I’d put my money on Sagan from here.

I’d love to be wrong, sorry Gen, but I think Sam is going to struggle in the days to come.

 

I wonder when it will become a mathematical certainty.

[Patchelicious]

https://twitter.com/DeGendtThomas/status/1304837645500125185?s=19

Where is Haga when you need him.

[DieselnDust]

From here on out there won't be any alliances between the two.

 

 

Hmmmmmmmm I'm not so sure.

It pays for them to work together. Pogacar doesn't have as strong a team as Roglic to support him. So he needs Roglic to help him cement 2nd place.

The alliance works till the final TT then we have a proper race for the title on our hands.. Thats How I see it playing out.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" Paul Koechli

[betaboy]

Different versions of TDF stage 14 on youtube? Anybody noticed Cycling Planet channel and the TDf channel? weird?

[betaboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OC5BzAlTdQ

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imXI8yZtSQ4

[betaboy]

2020 vs 2019.... LOL. I wonder if anybody has told Sean Kelly?