Tour de France

[GGJaguar]

No changes expected in GC tomorrow with a flat stage. Probably another slow tempo ride to let everyone recover until the last 10 or 12 kilometers where the sprinter teams will drive to the finish.

 

[Brick]

Another chance for Cavendish to try for the stage win record.....might be an exciting finish.

 

[Bernie]

Not so well played for Jumbo Visma I'd say, coz they seem to have thought Pogacar would be a bit weak again, and that they could give him a final shot ; Pogui had to fight very hard, but he managed to come back in the game instead... Well done !
I'm quite happy with it, as he is a serious contender again, and earlier that I would have hoped too...
Right, Vingegard has the Yellow Jacket now, but maybe a bit sooner than necessary.

 

[ReevesRd]

Sad to see Cavendish abandon the tour after his crash.
However, to be tied with Eddy Merckx for the most stage wins is a record that will not be broken soon. If at all.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm not sure what's more impressive - Cav winning 34 sprint finishes or Merckx winning 34 stages that include sprints, mountains, and time trials.

 

[ReevesRd]

Both are impressive. I know Cavendish wanted to break the record. But to have your name linked to Merchx is special.

 

[Bernie]

The stage you are going to watch today may be very interesting ; quite a few little mountains to climb before the beginning of Puy de Dome's ascent (over 11 kms I think), with a dramatic final part, 4 kms with a 12% slope, no spectators allowed and very few cars, as it is a environmentally protected area that they will open briefly today for the race...
The TdF hasn't climbed Puy de Dome in 35 years, but it still remains a legendary stage that connoissors haven't forgotten !

 

[Bernie]

I enjoyed watching Lance too. But what many riders were doing at that time was wrong.
These guys should have stopped for a beer.

I learned something yesterday from Cyrille Guimard, a famous French racer who's been involved in getting the right for racers to get fed during the race (he comments the race on a French Radio called RMC).
For a long time racers were only allowed to get food and drinks once, in about the middle of the race ; there were not allowed to get anything elsewhere from their teams.
It wasn't till 1968 I think that their team got allowed to give them things to eat and drink...That's likely why they had to stop and get a beer (or whatever they bought, or were offered by bar tenders) like we see on those photographs... ( The book 'Histoire du Tour de France' - chapter IV "Le spectacle du Tour de France"-, by Jean François Mignot [2014] would tell you more if you can read French or if it's been translated)

 

[Guildedagain]

Cav crash

Well, he's looking good for a career in the movies.

 

[lungimsam]

I guess it depends on the intent of the race.

1. Is it to display what can be done by a human on the machine alone? Then support the riders with food and drink and new bikes upon mechanical failure so they don't have to carry their own provisions on the bike and perform their own repairs.

2. Is it meant to display what a human can do on a bike - unsupported?
Then they would have to carry their own bags/ racks, etc. for food and gear so you would not get to see the times of just a human and a bike. They would be weighted down with the racks and bags. Also, their mechanical skills would factor in as they would have to do their own roadside repairs and not just have another bike tossed to them like they do presently.

 

[GGJaguar]

Good stage today. Puy de Dome looks almost as painful as Mont Ventoux.

 

[lungimsam]

So in the Tour this year, if Cavendish had gone for a stage sprint win, would they have let him have it, for old times sake, or would they have fought him for it?

Also, is there a reason he cannot race again next year to break the record?

 

[Bernie]

So in the Tour this year, if Cavendish had gone for a stage sprint win, would they have let him have it, for old times sake, or would they have fought him for it?

Also, is there a reason he cannot race again next year to break the record?

His team wants him to race again next year I heard today (they asked him to stay and go for it one more year)...

Yes good race today, except that as the leaders were not competing for stage's victory this time it ended up being less dramatic...

 

[ReevesRd]

GOAT

 

[Brick]

The greatest sprinter ever, shares a record with the greatest cyclist ever. Awesome.

 

[Westerly Wood]

In 1971, Merchx won 54 races of the 120 he rode. I doubt that is ever something that can be matched.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

In 1971, Merchx won 54 races of the 120 he rode. I doubt that is ever something that can be matched.

There are so many incredible achievements during his career! Not only did he win 5 Tour de France, but in all but one of those wins he also won either the points or King of the Mountains, winning the lot in 1969! Current top pro's tend to build there season around a single grand tour, but Merckx regularly competed in all the grand tours and classics. When you add it all up, nobody else comes close!

 

[Bernie]

Important things may happen today ; lots of climbing and a very difficult stage. Reaching the Alps mountains right now...

Vingegard says the Alps fit him better and Pocagar is nearer than ever : he will probably just follow today (and maybe try something if that's possible) : still 9 secs. to catch up but the arrival will be down in the valley - after 5 times to go over a major pass !!
Better to watch on TV with a fresh beer in the hand, than be there riding a bicycle...
Cheers !

 

[GGJaguar]

High mountains today and tomorrow, but the time trial on Tuesday will be another way for Pogacar to make up those 7 seconds.

 

[Bernie]

Bad race as Pogacar had to stop his attacking Vingegard near the last top because of a motorbike ahead of them that was not watching and didn't see him coming, and then on the way down an other time Rodriguez couldn't take over because of the same motorbike (or was it an other one I don't know)...What a shame...