2020 Tour de France

[Jewbacca]

Does that sum up your opinion of the pro peloton?

Why are you even bothering to follow or comment?

She said 'refuel' etc... Geez. Calm down.

 

I follow because I love bikes, I love riding bikes, watching people ride bikes, seeing the hurt.

 

Do I think that everyone I watch is clean? No. Not at all. But it doesn't make the entertainment and the passion less real.

 

It's entertainment. How it entertains me might be different to how it does you. That is what makes everything beautiful, we are all different.

 

If you can't have a giggle over imagining their tour busses looking like a scene from Universal Soldier are you even alive?

[ChrisF]

She said 'refuel' etc... Geez. Calm down.

 

I follow because I love bikes, I love riding bikes, watching people ride bikes, seeing the hurt.

 

Do I think that everyone I watch is clean? No. Not at all. But it doesn't make the entertainment and the passion less real.

 

It's entertainment. How it entertains me might be different to how it does you. That is what makes everything beautiful, we are all different.

 

If you can't have a giggle over imagining their tour busses looking like a scene from Universal Soldier are you even alive?

Jip, we can only wonder what the tour busses look like ...

 

For sure, they WILL be "re-fueling" ....

 

Some will toe the line ... or as close as modern technology and the regs allow .... we can only wonder what team secrets are at play while toeing the line so closely ....

 

 

And then there will always be those willing to risk it all ... and we can only but wonder what is done to mask test results ....

 

 

But yes, your previous reply was obviously taking the mickey out of the "refueling" comment you were replying to.

[Knersboy]

JV team time triall[emoji33]

 

 

Porte has really impressed me.

 

Rogla and Pogacar just so good.

For me, of this generation, Porte is the best rider to have never won a grand tour.

 

I have always liked the man, and I don’t really know why. Got the normal in built SA Aussie bias in me, but I have always shouted for Porte.

[Mntboy]

 

 

For me, of this generation, Porte is the best rider to have never won a grand tour.

 

I have always liked the man, and I don’t really know why. Got the normal in built SA Aussie bias in me, but I have always shouted for Porte.

I've generally liked him as well. Can't say that I regard him as the best of his generation to have never won a GT but he has certainly always tried wholeheartedly hasn't he. Also can't recall that he has ever whined about the outcome of a stage or a race and generally seems respectful of teammates and opponents alike. Like Rigo he is flying under the radar a little bit. I sincerely hope that he can hold on to finish in the top ten in Paris.

['Dale]

The end of the Sky-Ineos dynasty. I would assume that Bernal is struggling with his back. Without injury, he would normally be contesting the final few kms at least. Regardless, his future is bright and the 2019 winner will be back.

 

Interestingly, Uran Uran is now at 3. This is a remarkable performance considering he had a major crash last year that was so crippling that he considered ending his career. Believe it or not, he also races without power meter or heart rate monitor and races on his rate of perceived effort.

Hopefully Jungels took some flowers to his teammate, Higuita. after what was a reckless switch. It must be so painful to not reach Paris, never mind continue to support ‘Rigo in week 3.

 

NairoMan would’ve normally climbed the ‘Colombier like an angel. His crash, alongside Bardet, seem to have really hurt his ability to perform.

 

The maillot jaune is for Roglic to lose, barring an unforeseaable dip in form or freaky race incident. What a show of strength by the team on Bianchi bikes.

 

Now for the testing and resting tomorrow as a very mountainous week 3 looms. In light of this, can Bennett reach stage 21? Hmmm. Interestingly, the race for green and polka is almost as enticing as the race for yellow so deep into the Grand Tour.

 

EDIT: Bernal said that he felt “empty” in his post-race interview. ????

 

Pic by Cor Vos

Edited September 13, 2020 by 'Dale

[Vetplant]

Pogacar might be able to get another 10s on Roglic in the remaining mountain stages via bonus seconds or a slight gap. These guys are so evenly matched, can't see any movement which would put him in the outright lead before the ITT.

 

Pogacar beat Roglic by 8s at the Nationals ITT, if I remember correctly. Impossible to know how much he can claw back on stage 20, but closer is always better. One would think 40s would be a big ask, but anything under 20s might just be doable on the day.

 

Jumbo Visma should know by now that Pogacar can claim those bonus seconds in a mountain top sprint, they should seriously let the breakaway survive on the remaining stages to take that risk of bonus seconds out of the equation.

 

My bet is that Lopez will just about pip Uran onto the podium in Paris.

[ChrisF]

Tomorrows testing ....

 

Really hope the TdF has a third week. Also hoping none of the teams have to withdraw ....

 

Right now France has more than double the daily positive cases than at the peak of the first wave .... but only 1 death yesterday ... these stats raise more questions than it answers ....

 

 

Wondering if case tracking is showing any link between the tour route and where the new cases pop up ...

Edited September 13, 2020 by ChrisF

[dsw]

I've generally liked him as well. Can't say that I regard him as the best of his generation to have never won a GT but he has certainly always tried wholeheartedly hasn't he. Also can't recall that he has ever whined about the outcome of a stage or a race and generally seems respectful of teammates and opponents alike. Like Rigo he is flying under the radar a little bit. I sincerely hope that he can hold on to finish in the top ten in Paris.

 

Indeed, he always seemed like a real dinkum bloke.

 

If his luck hold he can make the podium. He is a better time- trialist as the 3 riders currently between him and podium and should make up time during the ITT.

 

I hope I have not jinxed him now.

[The Ghost]

Jumbo Visma should know by now that Pogacar can claim those bonus seconds in a mountain top sprint, they should seriously let the breakaway survive on the remaining stages to take that risk of bonus seconds out of the equation.

They may have to box smart here, it’s not sexy and it may not be something the ego allows, but Teddy just looks strong and as you say those bonus seconds and then the ITT.

This is going to be close - barring a crash or other disaster.

[Jewbacca]

Guys, Roglic is also a prodigious Time Trialist.

 

Off the top of my head I'm pretty sure he has won the ITT at Giro, Vuelta, tour of Britain and I am sure a host of other week races. I'm also sure he won the national ITT a couple of years ago.

 

He is no mug racing the clock.

[daveno7]

End of week 2 before a deserved rest day for the teams.Its been a good week for racing...Sunweb and their approach have been a joy to watch.

The green jersey battle has been nearly better than the GC battle.Today Bennett was marking Sagan,that was essential  racing...

sometimes a great climb and the harder that it is, doesn't really make for exciting explosive racing.Jumbo and Dumoulin might be upset that they didn't take todays win.They controlled so well but surprised at Bernal and Quintana.

Tomorrow....rest day.. and COVID testing....this could change the race...

lets look forward to a good 3rd week.....

[jimmycool]

[Vetplant]

Guys, Roglic is also a prodigious Time Trialist.

 

Off the top of my head I'm pretty sure he has won the ITT at Giro, Vuelta, tour of Britain and I am sure a host of other week races. I'm also sure he won the national ITT a couple of years ago.

 

He is no mug racing the clock.

No disputing that.

 

BUT, Pogacar did beat him a couple of weeks ago at their National ITT, so I am saying he needs to be weary of that.

 

Only a handful of okes at the 2020 TDF can beat him in a TT if they are on a good day, but Pogacar is one of them.

 

None of the other GC contenders will worry him at the ITT.

 

One flat tyre during the TT and it can all go up in smoke for Roglic, Pogacar is that close.

[Jewbacca]

No disputing that.

 

BUT, Pogacar did beat him a couple of weeks ago at their National ITT, so I am saying he needs to be weary of that.

 

Only a handful of okes at the 2020 TDF can beat him in a TT if they are on a good day, but Pogacar is one of them.

 

None of the other GC contenders will worry him at the ITT.

 

One flat tyre during the TT and it can all go up in smoke for Roglic, Pogacar is that close.

It seemed like guys were talking a 40 second ITT swing....

 

3 days in the mountains to come. I think this tour is one of the best in recent memory for me. The route, the anticipation, the capitulation of Ineos, the ITT on Saturday.

 

A 21 year old lighting it up....... His birthday is on Monday the 21st of September..... What a celebration that will be if he wins!

[Eldron]

JV outSkying Ineos! WvA outclimbing pure climbers and outsprinting sprinters. Kuss making huuuge numbers.

 

I'd love to know JVs secret. The whole team is on fire.

 

Legal or not they have done something very very right!

[kosmonooit]

After all that fuss in the build up at Ineos, I am sorry it has to end this way for Bernal this time, eish I was hoping he could hang onto 3rd but there is no way back now.  He has offered no excuses except to say others are stronger than him at this race.

 

What went wrong? Perhaps this whole team leadership thing over burdened him, he really hasn't been looking himself. I also think they are missing the suss of the likes of Chris and G on the road.  I don't think Luke has been lucky for them,