2021 TdF - A really open year again ?

[find_bruce]

Only thing wide open now is the gap between the contenders

[Warnesy]

They’ll be hoping Pog doesn’t climb as comfortably as last year, but he’s looking in great form.

[P!N20]

Terrible crash, hope they arrested the spectator who caused it.

She handed herself in: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-01/ ... /100257528

[MichaelB]

Yep, Pog looks like it’s Pog’s to lose, but still yet to hit any mountains.

Good to see LRP put in a good TT, but didn’t change the deficit at all.

And with tonight being a sprinters stage, may be one to catch up on sleep !!

[AUbicycles]

Well, I feel that ‘not holding your line’ and knocking against the others is not a nice type of victory.

[find_bruce]

I don't think Cavendish will win a stage, but if he does he will have had to work hard for it - doesn't have the pure speed of Caleb et al

Yum yum humble pie

Well, I feel that ‘not holding your line’ and knocking against the others is not a nice type of victory.

I must have missed that - He did move when he switched to Philipsen's wheel, but I didn't notice him knocking anyone

[fat and old]

Morkov's move on Sagan was pretty blatant , but the final sprint? I thought Merlier was leadout and Philipson the designated winner? Last night I thought Cavendish had rorted them bth, but looking at the replay it looks like Philipson and Cavendish both went around Merlier equally and moved to the centre line?

[fat and old]

I don't think Cavendish will win a stage, but if he does he will have had to work hard for it - doesn't have the pure speed of Caleb et al

Yum yum humble pie

Don't feel bad Bruce

Too soon for the TDF predictions? Will he get that elusive 3 more wins?

He won't even get into the TDF team.

[Warnesy]

I didn’t really see a problem with the final sprint either. There were a fair few knocking into each other in the lead up.

[fat and old]

Extra points to Cavendish for dropping his chain on the line

[familyguy]

https://blog.strava.com/riders-to-follo ... 021-22232/
Interesting looking at the pro numbers. Or going back for their training rides pre-event.

I'm really enjoying staying up late for this years Tour. It just feels different.

[MichaelB]

I didn’t really see a problem with the final sprint either. There were a fair few knocking into each other in the lead up.

I'm one for that. Seen many much messier affairs with blatant butting/shouldering and blocking.

The one thing I do like so far about this years Tour is the variety of winners and how they've been won.

Looking fwd to the mountains !

[Retrobyte]

Cav needs two more stage wins to equal Eddie Merckx for most stage wins all time

[AUbicycles]

Ok, the overtake by Cab was fine but there was a knock that was obviously allowed but still put ‘the other guy’ off and a type of win that I feel is more on being pushy than clean. I just like the clean spribts better.

Time did’t allow me to watch todays stage or the Giro Rosa…Giro Donne but I have a bit of rider data to prepare.

[stevenaaus]

Yeah, not enjoying this race so far. Accidents and agro and twats, and another off the planet performance from BV today. Yeah right...

Caleb.. What were you doing mate?
Only plus is JV letting Wout Van Aert have a go at GC. And maybe Richey will finally get to crack a TDF stage win. He's in good form, despite losing the usual time from not caring to fight all day at the front-line.

[Warnesy]

Not enjoying it? That was a crazy awesome stage. When is yellow ever in the breakaway? Such a big gap to the peloton. Great ride by the third Slovenian as well.

[foo on patrol]

This stage was a hard fought one, just look at the average speed of it.

Foo

[MichaelB]

Not enjoying it? That was a crazy awesome stage. When is yellow ever in the breakaway? Such a big gap to the peloton. Great ride by the third Slovenian as well.

I’m with you.

Only downside are those that have been stuffed by the St 1 & 2 stacks

[AUbicycles]

So… shoukdn’t be a spoiler any more but we now have two stage wins by Bahrain (they will be thrilled) and now last years winner in yellow, some of the big contenders incl. Roglic way down on time and some big time gaps.

But, we have mountains and things can happen. Perhaps refreshing that it is not entirely panning out as expected - unfortunate with the riders who were forced to abandon but this provides luck to other riders - particularly in the flat sprints.

I am hoping to be able to watch a bit more now.

[fat and old]

For me, the question now is who’s gonna win in 2022?

[am50em]

Best comment: '[a] different species' - Robbie McEwen.

[MichaelB]

WOW !!

Haven’t yet watched the final 40km, but definitely will now.

Others must be wondering what can be done !

[fat and old]

I guess Froomay must be feeling pretty chuffed at beating the Ineos #1 home!

[foo on patrol]

I guess Froomay must be feeling pretty chuffed at beating the Ineos #1 home!

I was howled down when I said Froome wouldn't win any stages because of his age when he got the injuries. They said that "Elite" sportsmen have access to the best medical attention he will be right back at the top again! That was never going to happen and even when watching him ride over the last few months, nothing I saw would change my mind. Sadly, he isn't even there to help the younger riders in the Team and it's has to be a very disheartening time for him.

Foo

[warthog1]

Pogacar looks far and away the strongest in the race so far.
Combine that super impressive climbing in that stage, with the tt stage win.
Not even close.
Very impressive, even more so when only 22.