Tour de France 2022

[Frosty]

Last time the Tour was here, was in 2007.
Also the first day in France, after the blitz around London and surrounds.
Quickstep won that day, stage 2 from Dunkirk to Gent. 
 

[Vetplant]

2 hours ago, Vetplant said:

SNIP

The route profile seems interesting enough to entice riders to go on a jaunt with the Polka dot wearer MCN...

 

Well, not exactly...

 

Back to work until they reach the coast it seems.

[DieselnDust]

MCN is serious about todays break. He’s on the system6 today

[Frosty]

This is France

 

[Frosty]

Pace is hot


While these two are ambling along

[Frosty]

[Vetplant]

7 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Pace is hot


While these two are ambling alongExciting 10 minutes we just had

 

Exciting 10 minutes we just had

 

Quick Step speeds up

14:19

Quick Step puts the hammer down in the downhill after Cassel. It looks like they want to split the bunch.

 

20'' between the two pelotons

14:26

There are two pelotons now, with 20'' difference between them.

 

Van der Poel and Co back to the pack

14:29

The group of van der Poel, Martin and Pinot has joined the peloton. There are still about 20 riders off the back.

 

 

[DieselnDust]

So QSVF upped the pace over the ventus to keep any break options in check. They’re clearly gunning for the sprint finish today. Last 10km is going to be fireworks ? Or damp fireworks 

 

 

scratch that , they’re not at the Cote do ventus yet 

Edited July 5, 2022 by DieselnDust

[Vetplant]

7min lead with 90km to go...

If only they had two more riders with them, they could play cat-and-mouse with the Peloton and maybe even sneak a win if they held back and put the happer down at 50km-to-go.

But, alas, we will wait some more for a proper Breakaway stage

7' 15'' lead

15:21

7'15'' lead for Cort and Perez with 91km to go

[justinafrika]

There’s a bit of a lull in the action, so here’s an aside.

I’ve admired the exploits and successes of TeamUAE and especially the exraordinary talent and effort of Pogačar.  It's sparked curiosity about whether anyone here would have reservations about doing work for/with a client or employer associated with widespread and serious human rights violations?

To qualify the question:  I stopped working with a major client, a multinational corporate, when they were bought out by Degussa.  That company is of course notorious for processing millions of jaws of those who died in German concentration camps in WW2, in order to extract gold from their teeth.  I started refusing to do business with any level of the SA state about 14 years ago when I realised it was becoming endemically corrupt.  I’m not virtue signalling, I’m outright stating that I won’t do business with the corrupt or criminal.

My ex SiL and her hubby are devout Christians but have no qualms about befriending the likes of the dodgy (traitorous, IMO) Zumas and Mbalulas and Gigabas, who'd occasionally turn up at family birthdays.  I’m outspoken and they were concerned about what I might say when those @R$3#0L3$ were present.  Where does one draw one’s proverbial line?  Would you have reservations about working for the likes of Qatar or UAE or Degussa?  Am interested so just asking...

Edited July 5, 2022 by justinafrika

[lechatnoir]

3 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

There’s a bit of a lull in the action, so here’s an aside.

I’ve admired the exploits and successes of TeamUAE and especially the exraordinary talent and effort of Pogačar.  It's sparked curiosity about whether anyone here would have reservations about doing work for/with a client or employer associated with widespread and serious human rights violations?

To qualify the question:  I stopped working with a major client, a multinational corporate, when they were bought out by Degussa.  That company is of course notorious for processing millions of jaws of those who died in German concentration camps in WW2, in order to extract gold from their teeth.  I started refusing to do business with any level of the SA state about 14 years ago when I realised it was becoming endemically corrupt.  I’m not virtue signalling, I’m outright stating that I won’t do business with the corrupt or criminal.

My ex SiL and her hubby are devout Christians but have no qualms about befriending the likes of the dodgy (traitorous, IMO) Zumas and Mbalulas and Gigabas.  I’m outspoken and they were concerned about what I might say when meeting those @R$3#0L3$.  Where does one draw one’s proverbial line?  Would you work for Qatar or UAE?

gee. Some deep questions there. Perhaps this belongs in its own thread, or perhaps its own forum even?

You have lumped a whole bunch of entities together. Perhaps you can indicate why in the other thread where this belongs?

and since there is a lull, enjoy this meme

[Vetplant]

12 minutes ago, lechatnoir said:

gee. Some deep questions there. Perhaps this belongs in its own thread, or perhaps its own forum even?

 

 

Yeah, agree.

That is a Non-Cycling-Related issue. NCR for short.

It needs to be discussed, but not here, IMHO.

Edited July 5, 2022 by Vetplant
Acronyms...

[justinafrika]

11 minutes ago, Vetplant said:

Yeah, agree.

That is a Non-Cycling-Related issue. NRC for short.

It needs to be discussed, but not here, IMHO.

Not entirely, it was precisely TeamUAE that sparks the question.  You know, the TdF team?  Sportswashing, also in English football, is most topical and relevant at the mo.

PS.  It may not interest you but it’s undeniably cycling and TdF related.

Edited July 5, 2022 by justinafrika

[DieselnDust]

Fine lines both on the stage today and the last few posts. 
there is precious little in this world that does not have dirt on it. Where to draw the line requires a lot of time , preferably lots of spirits or beer , no sharp implements and a referee

Edited July 5, 2022 by DieselnDust

[Vetplant]

3 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

Not entirely, it was precisely TeamUAE that sparks the question.  You know, the TdF team?  Sportswashing, also in English football, is most topical and relevant at the mo.

PS.  It may not interest you but it’s mostdef cycling and TdF related.

Fair point, would you mind making a new thread on the Topic?

Would love to know more.

I think most people on here would like to keep this thread limited to the race itself, thus the need for a new thread.

[lechatnoir]

2 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

Not entirely, it was precisely TeamUAE that sparks the question.  You know, the TdF team?  Sportswashing, also in English football, is most topical and relevant at the mo.

your point is acknowledged. judging by where this discussion could go, this extremely valuable (to us) thread can't get shut down, and it's not even Friday. My offering to you is to formulate a proper argument in a thread dedicated to it. Muddying the waters here won't get anything achieved