2020 Tour de France

[Vetplant]

4 days left for Sagan to make up the difference on Sam Bennett. Luckily for Sagan there are inclines leading up to all the Sprint points where Bora can distance Bennett. Even on the Flat stage 19, it ramps up towards the end, so it favours Sagan clawing back some points.

 

Sagan can't bank on the off-chance that Sam doesn't make it to Paris, he needs to work for these points. Bennett might also outsprint Sagan in Paris, so Sagan would need a buffer by the end of stage 19.

[Mntboy]

You've hit the nail on the head. Brailsford was banking on GT coming good by the time the Giro got under way based on what he saw at the Dauphine, looks like he has. As to Froome, time will tell because we don't know what the plan was for him at TA. Froome has been a good employee for the team, I doubt that they would leave him out of the team because he is leaving at the end of season. Ineos want to win, it's that simple, if Brailsford believe's he won't they will drop him. Bernal was a serious misfire, would be interesting to know what the real problem was, the team never fired like they have in previous years but they have lost key staff. I like the explanation from Johan Brunyeel who thinks that he was unable to train properly during the Columbian lockdown and various other points.

Plenti I honestly think that Brailsford has no real reason at this point to take Froome to the Vuelta but I am interested in seeing how this will all play out.

 

Also I think there's a lot of infighting that's happening in the Ineos camp and we're getting to see snippets of it playing out in public. Ineos doesn't just seem disjointed, they seem severely fractured.

[kosmonooit]

I think that Stage 8 may have played out a little differently had Pogacar been closer to Roglic in time when he attacked.  He was 1'28" down at that point, so I suspect TJV didn't close him down as quickly as they were capable of, while rather keeping a closer eye on the other contenders in the top 10.

Or did they let him go because he was so down on the GC? Rog went with him on the first attack if I remember correctly.

[Vetplant]

Froome clocked a deficit of 1min33 to Ganna on the final ITT at Tirreno Adriatico. Which is a solid mid-pack performance.

 

He would, under normal circumstaces, placed in the Top 5 quite comfortably, so should only be at about a 30s deficit.

 

So he is nowhere near his competitive best, but Ineos might still find a slot for him in the various team setups with all these races happening so close to each other. Ineos are obligated to pitch at the races, but it doesn't mean they have to be competitive in all of them. They can blood some new talent and have Froome there to guide and coach the youngsters. 

 

Very likely he will make the squad for a race somewhere, but they will temper expectations on him and the team for those races.

[Spurs]

Or did they let him go because he was so down on the GC? Rog went with him on the first attack if I remember correctly.

 

Yep that's what I'm saying.  I don't recall them responding to Pogacar, Roglic only went when Quintana attacked.

[Vetplant]

Kilometer 0 commences at 13h20.

 

On the menu today:

[reflexus]

Looks like the sort of stage Bora will attack from the drop of the flag and Team Time Trial to the intermediate sprint.

[Vetplant]

Looks like the sort of stage Bora will attack from the drop of the flag and Team Time Trial to the intermediate sprint.

My feeling as well.

 

Only counter for DQS would be to send Allaphillipe up the road and hope some other breakaway riders join him to gobble up points. But if Bora rip it from the start, for 44kms, the break might not be able to go.

[DieselnDust]

Alaphillipe isn't look very good this last week. Wonder whats going on with him. Schachmann is looking to be a good counter measure.

[Vetplant]

All cleared to race the final week:

 

 

"Joint A.S.O.-UCI announcement regarding the 13th and 14th September testing campaign

 

11:55

 

In accordance with the Tour de France health protocol, developed in the framework of the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) rules for the return of the road cycling season in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the entire “race bubble” was tested on the 13th and 4th September, during the 2nd rest day.After having been tested within the 6 days preceding the Grand Départ in Nice as well as upon their arrival on the Tour as a part of the “race bubble”, riders and staff involved in the race were tested a 3rd time during the 1st rest day over the 6th and 7th of September.The screening campaign which has taken place over the past 48 hours is therefore the 4th since the beginning of the event. Its objective is to guarantee the health of the race for the riders and accredited personnel in the face of the novel coronavirus. Overall, each of the 785 tests carried out returned negative results. The organisers of the Tour de France and the UCI would like to thank all of the teams for their collaboration and for the vigilance that they have shown and will continue to show up until the finish in Paris."

[Spurs]

Alaphillipe isn't look very good this last week. Wonder whats going on with him. Schachmann is looking to be a good counter measure.

 

I've got the sense that he hasn't been too strategic in his choices of when to attack.  He seems to attack almost every day when the terrain suits him, instead of sitting tight for a day and being fresh the next day.  Hirschi attacked a lot but wasn't on consecutive days, they chose their days beforehand. 

 

Perhaps after the rest day JA will be good to give it a go today.

[DieselnDust]

Pogacar apparently in a contract revision with UAE for 20x his current rate....

 

 

John, you holding out on us here man...

[Vetplant]

Pogacar apparently in a contract revision with UAE for 20x his current rate....

 

 

John, you holding out on us here man...

Good for him. Cash it in while you are on form. Some other teams would love to sign him right now. 

[DieselnDust]

He turns 21 on Monday coming.....

He could be the youngest winner of the TdF on Sunday with a moerse hangover on the morning of his birthday.

 

I want Roglic to win because I just think he's a fantastic bloke with a hell of a story

I want teddy to win because I think he's a fantastic bloke with a hell of a story

oh the confict......:/

[Vetplant]

He turns 21 on Monday coming.....

He could be the youngest winner of the TdF on Sunday with a moerse hangover on the morning of his birthday.

 

I want Roglic to win because I just think he's a fantastic bloke with a hell of a story

I want teddy to win because I think he's a fantastic bloke with a hell of a story

oh the confict......:/

And

 

I want Jumbo Visma to win

I want Team UAE to win

 

Either way, we as fans win when either one of them wins.

 

I feel the same with Sagan and Bennett, would be happy for both...but will be just that little bit happier for Sagan if he can pull this one out of the fire.

['Dale]

My wish list for week 3:

 

Hirschi for polka dot. He could go again today as the final climb is quite punchy.

Uran for yellow. A heart choice. Anything can happen in week 3. Head choice is Roglic.

Bennett for green. He's been formidable. He must just haul all those mossels to Paris.

 

Pic by Getty Sport Images