Tour de France - 2023 edition

[Devils_Advocate]

Just watched the highlights and another great stage. Based ourselves in Morzine for the 2016 Euro's heading into Lyon to watch some games. Was gonna cycle up the col de joux plane up from Sameons and down into Morzine (obviously with several rest breaks on the way up) but there had been a landslide and they closed it off to make sure it was read four Le Tour where that year it was the penultimate stage.

Think he missed a trick today but I'm hoping Pog can somehow find a way to win it this year

[jdrobbo]

Another fabulous stage, finishing in the fantastic Saint Gervais. What a privilege it must have been for those watching at the end, to see Pogacar and Vingegaard racing the last 1000m and going over the line together.

TT next…

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[TheFamilyCat]

The TT is reaching its climax with Pogacar on the climb after changing his bike. Vingegaard currently going quicker and hasn't changed bikes.

I'm not sure about this bike swapping. I don't think they should be allowed a push-off if they swap for tactical reasons, personally.

[Lancasterclaret]

Poguchar has to go all out tomorrow to have any chance now

What a TT by Vindegaard

[jdrobbo]

Vingegaard awesome!!! The Jumbo train is about to head on up those hills!!

[Chester Perry]

Vingegaard awesome!!! The Jumbo train is about to head on up those hills!!

Incredible day, Pog made van Aert look ordinary then Vingegaard made it look like he was on an e-bike

It is good to know that cycling is much cleaner these days because in the past today's results would have been subject to intense scrutiny

UAE will have to go hard from the flag drop tomorrow and Saturday to have a chance and even then it would require a charge from a long way out - just think tomorrow is better suited to Jumbo

awesome from the pair of them but there is a clear favourite now

[Tricky Trevor]

I was pleased to see Eurosport giving the gear ratios, I’ve often wondered what they ride.
I compared them to my two bikes but my table only goes up to a 54 front, Pog was on 58.

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[Carport]

I was pleased to see Eurosport giving the gear ratios, I’ve often wondered what they ride.
I compared them to my two bikes but my table only goes up to a 54 front, Pog was on 58.
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Crazy high gearing and the fact that you can even get a 10 sprocket. Used to be back in the 70s and early 80s when I did most of my riding that I’d ride a 14-32 and 50-40. Mind you that was on a Dawes Galaxy!!

[Winstonswhite]

Incredible day, Pog made van Aert look ordinary then Vingegaard made it look like he was on an e-bike

It is good to know that cycling is much cleaner these days because in the past today's results would have been subject to intense scrutiny

After watching Vingegaard ride 10% faster than everyone but Pog, I’d say there’s going to be a lot of intense scrutiny!

[theduke]

Incredible day, Pog made van Aert look ordinary then Vingegaard made it look like he was on an e-bike

It is good to know that cycling is much cleaner these days because in the past today's results would have been subject to intense scrutiny

UAE will have to go hard from the flag drop tomorrow and Saturday to have a chance and even then it would require a charge from a long way out - just think tomorrow is better suited to Jumbo

awesome from the pair of them but there is a clear favourite now

Can u honestly believe it's much cleaner having watched a 60kg guy put 3 mins into the world's best TT riderin 25k??

That I'm afraid was a nonsense. Has Armstrong vibes all over it

[Tricky Trevor]

Can u honestly believe it's much cleaner having watched a 60kg guy put 3 mins into the world's best TT riderin 25k??

They are in the final week of the toughest bike race in the world and not every rider had full motivation.
I’ve watched the first half again because I couldn't believe the gaps but Vingos lines through the bends were superb and he went in quicker and came out quicker on all the ones it showed. Saving him time and energy of getting back up to speed. In the second half Pog looked a beaten man. Possibly hearing the time gaps and knowing he couldn’t go any quicker it took the edge of him.

[theduke]

i presume u believe in Dragons and Unicorns?

That ride yesterday was a s believable as the tooth fairy. A man that weighs 60kg put 3 mins into Wout Van Aert on a 25 km Time trial!!!

An absolute nonsense i'm afraid. As Chris Boardman once said 'if it looks to good to be true... it usually is' he averaged 5 secs a KM more... no amount of 'tighter lines' account for that.

And btw his technique as awful, his knees were constantly out.

[Chester Perry]

Pog looking like he may drop off the podium

[Chester Perry]

Pog looking like he may drop off the podium

Then again, maybe not

[jdrobbo]

And there you have it, the Jumbo train blew the field away! Incredible.

Feel for Pog. Felt it was always going to come to this, especially with his injury recovery.

Two absolutely elite riders.

I wish ITV covered the other two Grand Tours. Eurosport is ok but ITV so much better

[Cooclaret]

Orla and Adam are brilliant. If they had Wiggins back on the bike disrupting the peloton daily it’d be perfect!

Sean Kelly is brilliant with his obvious statements.

Long live GCN/Eurosport!

[tally]

100% agree with Cooclareton on this one.
Sean Kelly is a legend and his comments are almost 100% right re. how the race develops from day to day.

[Chester Perry]

After watching Vingegaard ride 10% faster than everyone but Pog, I’d say there’s going to be a lot of intense scrutiny!

Can u honestly believe it's much cleaner having watched a 60kg guy put 3 mins into the world's best TT riderin 25k??

That I'm afraid was a nonsense. Has Armstrong vibes all over it

Interesting and lengthy article in The Times on this subject

Have we reached an era of cycling that can be trusted?
Technology advances have enabled riders to break records without there being a need for automatic suspicion. Is this naivety, asks David Bates
https://archive.li/Y5Oq4

[Winstonswhite]

Thanks for that Chester.

Tuesday was the first time in a long while, that I’ve had my doubts. So I really hope you’re right and we don’t have anything to worry about.

[AfloatinClaret]

...Tuesday was the first time in a long while, that I’ve had my doubts. So I really hope you’re right and we don’t have anything to worry about.

Agreed. Given van Aerts ability, even the time that Pogacar bettered him by was surprising, but the gap to Vingegaard was downright uncomfortable. That said, if there had been anything unsavoury about that performance, the smart move would've surely been to ease off a bit - easily disguiseable on that final climb - to ensure that things looked more realistic?

[Stanbill05]

Agreed. Given van Aerts ability, even the time that Pogacar bettered him by was surprising, but the gap to Vingegaard was downright uncomfortable. That said, if there had been anything unsavoury about that performance, the smart move would've surely been to ease off a bit - easily disguiseable on that final climb - to ensure that things looked more realistic?

To be fair, the day after showed how broken Pog was.

[jdrobbo]

Pogacar winning today just summed up what a wonderful Grand Tour this has been and how fabulous this new sporting rivalry is evolving into.

Vingegaard and Pogacar are just class. I would love to think that Ineos could make it more of a three GC competition next year.

[Chester Perry]

Pog lighting up what could have been a boring stage - I would love a breakaway winning today

[Ightenhill_Claret]

Pogacar winning today just summed up what a wonderful Grand Tour this has been and how fabulous this new sporting rivalry is evolving into.

Vingegaard and Pogacar are just class. I would love to think that Ineos could make it more of a three GC competition next year.

It’ll be interesting if Jim Radcliffe opens the cheque book and is able to prise Remco Evenepoel from Soudal Quick-Step.

The next series of the Netflix doc following this summer’s Tour is going to be sensational!

[gawthorpe_view]

Last 6 km, mad dash for the line!

[jdrobbo]

WHAT A TEAM!!!

The Jumbo Train

Great photo finish sprint

Wonderful tour!

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[jdrobbo]

It’ll be interesting if Jim Radcliffe opens the cheque book and is able to prise Remco Evenepoel from Soudal Quick-Step.

The next series of the Netflix doc following this summer’s Tour is going to be sensational!

You’re not wrong!

[Tricky Trevor]

Super finish to the final stage. With 4 in a line at the finish. No spoiler but if you get the chance enjoy.

[KellyClaret]

Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock confirmed for the Tour of Britain.

The first stage goes through Edenfield and Ramsbottom too.

[jdrobbo]

Cheers for this info. Just checked out the stages. Interesting stuff.