Critérium du Dauphiné 2020

[dsw]

Ineos' performance is so strange for a team with their strength. When have we ever seen Sky/Ineos leader be consistently isolated day after day. Either their team is imploding, or they're up to something strategic. But I find it hard to believe that Kwaito, Thomas and Froome are just getting dropped by Jumbo everyday when loads of other riders are still able to hold their wheels.

 

All the focus is on Froome's performance, but Thomas hasn't really looked that strong either, or the rest of the team for that matter. Even Bernal seems uncharacteristically off the pace. 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they're on a completely different preparation program for the tour than most other teams, and thats why their performance is off now. Referring back to previous year's results and strategies is bit irrelevant when you consider how massively different this year's race calendar is and the fact that none of the riders have been able to train and prepare as normal. It almost seems illogical to follow the strategy from previous years when everything has been completely changed by covid and lockdowns etc. 

 

 

Very good points. 

[meathead]

Are Ineos perhaps missing the influence of Nicolas Portal, from what I understand he and Chris Froome had a good relationship?

['Dale]

Teams do not bluff.

The stakes are too high with every performance and with the company brand on their backs.

 

An individual rider may bluff in a duel up a mountain pass and then do a flyer.

Or conserve his energy as he’s targeting a stage the next day as team strategy determines.

 

I’m following Urán Urán closely.

He’s searching for form when the roads turn to the heavens.

[J Wakefield]

Remember when looking at Ineos performance look at how they got to this point of discussion, they have gone from:

La Route d'Occitanie 5 day stage race

 

directly to 

 

Tour de l'Ain - 3 day stage race

 

directly to

 

Dauphine 5 day stage race

 

That is a very big load of back to back racing. Its also 13 race days in a short period, are they doing a block to see how well they perform in the 3rd week? Maybe, I dont know but if this is the plan, they doing pretty well against fresh teams. Additionally, All of these are super hard stages every day so there is no doubt Ineos team are carrying some (excessive) fatigue in their riders as they used the same team (TDF marked) for all races. Not surprised at all they showing some cracks. 

 

 

The one side note to note is that between them and Jumbo it seems to be a display of who is stronger and showing dominance than the other by asserting what they doing at the races and here especially. Without going into too much but there is a clear display being put on here.

 

To keep this going for 5 more weeks until end of Tour is going to be the key on who does what. 

Edited August 15, 2020 by J Wakefield

[Eldron]

SkyIneos have been doing this for waaay to long to suddenly have a bad season with every single one of their riders.

 

Corona year or not.

 

You don't win the last 700 tours in a row by not knowing how to train/run a team.

 

They Skytrained as usual and couldn't thin the herd to less than 20 - that is unheard of.

 

I've laid down my marker - glory or shame to me in a few weeks :-)

[DieselnDust]

SkyIneos have been doing this for waaay to long to suddenly have a bad season with every single one of their riders.

 

Corona year or not.

 

You don't win the last 700 tours in a row by not knowing how to train/run a team.

 

They Skytrained as usual and couldn't thin the herd to less than 20 - that is unheard of.

 

I've laid down my marker - glory or shame to me in a few weeks :-)

 

 

 

true but the cracks were showing last year ....

 

I get that they may be carrying more fatigue than others but then so is Jumbo....

[Gen]

true but the cracks were showing last year ....

 

I get that they may be carrying more fatigue than others but then so is Jumbo....

The calendar is hectic. And all of the teams have a lot of cycling to do and have done a lot of cycling..

 

As it is with all sport at some point others catch up and things change at the top.. Jumbo's rise has not been overnight they have had a clear plan for a few years and slowly have strengthened their squad and it is all starting to come together for them.

[The Ghost]

Jumbo are looking really impressive and I’m hoping they can carry this through to the end of Le Tour.

[emoji1319]

[Frosty]

In the latest podcast from Thomas and Rowe, Thomas mentions that everyone is talking about Ineos vs Jumbo, yet there are other teams in the Tour. He seemed quite irritated by that comment. Time will tell.

 

Listen from 2:20 to 3:25

https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/watts-occurring/id1472946465?i=1000487842345

Edited August 15, 2020 by Frosty

[Mntboy]

In the latest podcast from Thomas and Rowe, Thomas mentions that everyone is talking about Ineos vs Jumbo, yet there are other teams in the Tour. He seemed quite irritated by that comment. Time will tell.

 

Listen from 2:20 to 3:25

https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/watts-occurring/id1472946465?i=1000487842345

Quite like G's comment. Seems a fair point to make. There's enough good guys doing the Dauphine that'll also do the TdF as well. There will be a lot of tight racing and the result isn't necessarily going to come down to Ineos v Jumbo although that is the contest we are all looking forward to.

[buchanan]

I see Egan Bernal has abandoned the Dauphine...

I think Roglic's strongest challenge for the Tour will be from Pinot (I really hope his body can hold up this time).

[Vetplant]

Coverage from 15h10 today.

[DieselnDust]

Bernal abandons with a back ache...

[Vetplant]

Bernal abandons with a back ache...

Sivakov's time to shine?

[Vetplant]

Proper breakaway formed.

[Vetplant]

Thomas De Gendt and Dylan Theuns also in there now, 15 strong riders.