Had an overnight on the Lourdes Hautacamp back in 2000. Ochoa won the stage but Armstrong came in second and settled that years race.claret wizard wrote:Been some great stages this week. I think the De Gendts win being the best. Not even got to the mountains yet!!
I did go and watch a stage a few years ago. Well, watched the riders zoom by in the South of France on a hill just outside Castellane. Anyone else done a stage (not in the UK).
Tour de France 2019
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Re: Tour de France 2019
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Stage win for Simon Yates - that is all three Grand Tours now - but main talking point is likely to be Team Ineos - they put on a real show of power today
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Two stage wins for Mitchelton Scott. I am pretty sure that they know that they can’t realistically challenge for the yellow jersey. Must be pretty demoralising for Adam Yates to know that they don’t back him.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
The day after getting back on his bike - just 35 days after that horrendous crash - Chris Froome is officially awarded the 2011 Vuelta title
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... doping-ban" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... doping-ban" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Of course they still back him. It won’t do Simon any harm stretching his legs after sitting chatting at the back of the peloton for the last week and a half. Rest day tomorrow ready for the real fight.TheFamilyCat wrote:Two stage wins for Mitchelton Scott. I am pretty sure that they know that they can’t realistically challenge for the yellow jersey. Must be pretty demoralising for Adam Yates to know that they don’t back him.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
So pleased for Simon Yates. Loved the velodrome, cat and mouse finish.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Do you believe they are 100% committed to trying to win the Tour?Winstonswhite wrote:Of course they still back him. It won’t do Simon any harm stretching his legs after sitting chatting at the back of the peloton for the last week and a half. Rest day tomorrow ready for the real fight.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
In a word, yes.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
shocking accident for Wout van Aert - just as I was thinking he would possibly be Sagan's biggest challenger at the World Championships
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Re: Tour de France 2019
He looked in massive pain, such a shame.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Must have been bad when they started covering him up with the advertisement banners. I suspect he broke his femur.
Edit : Flesh wound on upper leg. SO I guess there was lots of blood.
Edit : Flesh wound on upper leg. SO I guess there was lots of blood.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Anyone changing their mind on this?claret wizard wrote:
I'm also wondering if Alaphilippe is worth an outside chance after his efforts last year in KotM. Cheeky chance at the GC if it falls his way?
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Stunning ride but If that was a British rider at sky/Ineos doing a TT ride like that - effectively for the first time in his career L'Equipe would be asking serious questions
His team have come to the Tour exceptionally prepared though
His team have come to the Tour exceptionally prepared though
Last edited by Chester Perry on Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Incredible TT by him. Without a team of great climbers around him I guess the smart thing now is to sit on the Ineos train in the mountains and let them respond to attacks from those below. It will then be a case of what he has when Thomas and Bernal attack him.claret wizard wrote:Anyone changing their mind on this?
Although, with him who knows - he’s just as likely to go on the attack himself!
I still can’t see him lasting the distance riding as he is but he’s certainly putting on a great show.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
A real test coming next week if the forecast heat wave, 40°C+, is correct.
Brutal in those temperatures.
Brutal in those temperatures.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I think you’re spot on. Anyone watching that today’s second thought will have been “FML he’s got to be juiced up”.Chester Perry wrote:Stunning ride but If that was a British rider at sky/Ineos doing a TT ride like that - effectively for the first time in his career L'Equipe would be asking serious questions
His team have come to the Tour exceptionally prepared though
It’s a sad legacy of the EPO years that cyclists are always always always going to be doubted. I’d like to believe he’s clean.
I think today was exaggerated because he’s not expected to do anything in the mountains so he can go balls out. If he’s finishing like that on a summit finish in the Alps then questions would have to be asked.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
all I can say is the parcours was ideal for the type of ride he thrives on - he is on a phenomenal year as spring showed and he is charged by being in yellow and having a whole nation behind him.
will say I thought Thomas's eyes were telling though when he was being questioned after the race - he looked stunned by that ride of Alaphillipe and when asked if he though Alaphillipe could win - his answer was diplomatic - "if he continues to ride like that" his eyes said if he does I don't think it is right
will say I thought Thomas's eyes were telling though when he was being questioned after the race - he looked stunned by that ride of Alaphillipe and when asked if he though Alaphillipe could win - his answer was diplomatic - "if he continues to ride like that" his eyes said if he does I don't think it is right
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Ineos will do everything they can to isolate him in the mountains then attack and counter-attack.
Shame for G. that Bernal wasn’t closer in gc but Bernal is that good a climber Alaphillippe can’t allow him up the road.
Shame for G. that Bernal wasn’t closer in gc but Bernal is that good a climber Alaphillippe can’t allow him up the road.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
As I said, i’m not convinced JA can go the distance and if that is the case, I wonder what his ambition and motivation for the rest of the race would be: to try and hang in there and finish as high on GC as possible or keep riding aggressively and entertaining the public until he blows and loses lots of time.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
TheFamilyCat wrote:As I said, i’m not convinced JA can go the distance and if that is the case, I wonder what his ambition and motivation for the rest of the race would be: to try and hang in there and finish as high on GC as possible or keep riding aggressively and entertaining the public until he blows and loses lots of time.
The latter would certainly endear him to the French media and public as it is the antithesis of Sky/Ineos
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I also get the feeling he would rather shine bright then blow out rather than slowly fade to finishing tenth. As I said though, my comments are very much if he doesn’t believe he can win it.Chester Perry wrote:The latter would certainly endear him to the French media and public as it is the antithesis of Sky/Ineos
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Really looking forward to this weekends stages and hope Team Ineos struggle and arent able to dominate and nullify the action. The final climb to the finish tomorrow looks absolutely mouthwatering
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Alaphillipe is an incredible rider. However, I suspect that he is now deep into the red. Fully expect Ineos to come through soon.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I’m at Crewe tomorrow, I’ll be avoiding any cycling need until I get home. I really think JA thinks he can win it.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I don’t think that will happen DA. Other teams will attack and it should be Quick-step’s job to defend against them, though I think Ineos May be the ones to react to them.
Then Ineos have to attack JA.
Been a great race so far and I think it will continue to be so.
Then Ineos have to attack JA.
Been a great race so far and I think it will continue to be so.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
If he does win, considering the way he’s ridden early in the race when others were saving their legs, then it will probably be the best win for years.claret wizard wrote:I’m at Crewe tomorrow, I’ll be avoiding any cycling need until I get home. I really think JA thinks he can win it.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I hope thats the case but if Ineos get a good squad up top for the last climb and JA hits the red and is dropped it might not be as explosive as it could be if Thomas and Bernal were to be left on their own
Whatever happens it will be great viewing
Whatever happens it will be great viewing
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Re: Tour de France 2019
It will be interesting to see how Ineos deal with JA. Will they attack him this weekend hoping he will be spent from the TT? It is sometimes better not to be in yellow as it the pressure is on the team defending the jersey.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I appreciate he could have been saving energy but JA lost almost an hour to GT last year over the stages 12/13 that he won. Those aren’t the sort of numbers you can turn around in a lifetime never mind 12 months.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
If not JA do you think there's anyone who can really trouble team Ineos over the next 2 days and maybe take yellow into the Alps?
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Re: Tour de France 2019
No. Unless Thomas and Bernal have a really bad day. They are so well protected by a strong team and the others now have so much time to make up that I don’t think anyone else can touch them.Devils_Advocate wrote:If not JA do you think there's anyone who can really trouble team Ineos over the next 2 days and maybe take yellow into the Alps?
Hope i’m wrong as I want to see an entertaining race which is still open right to the last stage.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Thats my thoughts too but like you would love to be wrong
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Re: Tour de France 2019
All of Pinot, Uran, Quintana, Yates, Porte and Fuglsang need to start catching up so there could be any number of attacks especially as very soon most will resign themselves to seeking stage wins if they continue with this gap - next two days will be stunning
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Re: Tour de France 2019
On another note, what has happened to Bardet? He’s never been a strong TT rider but where other climbers have improved the discipline (Yates for example) he seems to have gone backwards. He’s not even a nearly man at the moment.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Yates was awful today considering the extra effort he has put in on TT and didn't change bike like Bardet
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Re: Tour de France 2019
So are the French playing into the hands of Ineos by racing hard and leading them to the final climb?
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Re: Tour de France 2019
GT dropped in the last KM! JA still going strong
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Well this is getting interesting!!
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Wow exciting racing - we look like having a new Tour winner
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Re: Tour de France 2019
That was Juju’s Tommy Voeckler day. First mountain day in yellow looks good then it all goes to doggy doo. Fair play to the guy he rode extremely well, being solo from so far out.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
I reckon top 6 all in genuine contention now
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Re: Tour de France 2019
check this https://twitter.com/DickinsonTimes/stat ... 1602863104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
meanwhile Thomas says he didn't feel good from the off today (bit like yesterday) so his ride was extremely gutsy if you compare to Porte, Quintana, Yates etc
meanwhile Thomas says he didn't feel good from the off today (bit like yesterday) so his ride was extremely gutsy if you compare to Porte, Quintana, Yates etc
Re: Tour de France 2019
Just seen a claret on the tour 300 metres from the top of the first climb. Burnley shirt and flag.
This user liked this post: chekhov
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Another great day of racing - this is really becoming quite fascinating
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Well done Simon Yates....some great cyclists tackling them big big climbs.
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Re: Tour de France 2019
great ride for Yates, his brother has been very poor again - G gets some time back on a bad day - this is the most exciting tour in what feels like eons
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Re: Tour de France 2019
Not been up to speed with cycling of late ..what's the situation with sky??? Are they involved as a team? Genuinely don't know.Chester Perry wrote:great ride for Yates, his brother has been very poor again - G gets some time back on a bad day - this is the most exciting tour in what feels like eons
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Re: Tour de France 2019
tim_noone wrote:Not been up to speed with cycling of late ..what's the situation with sky??? Are they involved as a team? Genuinely don't know.
Ineos (formerly Sky) do not seem to have the strength of previous years, the 8 man team rule (previously 9) is certainly contributing to that but riders who you would expect to be much stronger are falling off early - not like them to be under-cooked which makes me think there is some kind of bug in the camp - The abscence of Froome is having a massive impact though
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Re: Tour de France 2019
So Froome obviously missed ..he's now with Ineos? Sky team no more.Chester Perry wrote:Ineos (formerly Sky) do not seem to have the strength of previous years, the 8 man team rule (previously 9) is certainly contributing to that but riders who you would expect to be much stronger are falling off early - not like them to be under-cooked which makes me think there is some kind of bug in the camp - The abscence of Froome is having a massive impact though
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Re: Tour de France 2019
tim_noone wrote:So Froome obviously missed ..he's now with Ineos? Sky team no more.
You have been away haven't you - Sky ended sponsorship - Ineos took that over - same team and set-up, possibly a bit bigger budget - first raced as Ineos in Tour of the Alps and Tour de Yorkshire this year