Tour de France

[weeksy]

The run in to finish was pretty good in the end. Harsh penalty aswel, rules is rules.

Indeedy. He should know better really. Quite surprised they picked the chosen one in France though!

[lostboy]

The run in to finish was pretty good in the end. Harsh penalty aswel, rules is rules.

Indeedy. He should know better really. Quite surprised they picked the chosen one in France though!

Quite! Plastered all over the front and back pages over the last few days for being the saviour of French racing and then this happens. Shows that ASO are happy to take some big decisions..

[WelshDragon]

Well after all I said! It would be nice to think Yates will keep it but it’s too early in the race to tell. Maybe he’ll give us the GB interest we need!

[weeksy]

Dull stage but brilliant finish battle!

[lostboy]

Dull stage but brilliant finish battle!

Be interesting to see if the Commisionaires have their big boy pants on again today and do anything about Sagan.

[weeksy]

Dull stage but brilliant finish battle!

Be interesting to see if the Commisionaires have their big boy pants on again today and do anything about Sagan.

I thought it was ok myself. WVA seemed ok with it. It was strong but didn't look dangerous as such

[lostboy]

Dull stage but brilliant finish battle!

Be interesting to see if the Commisionaires have their big boy pants on again today and do anything about Sagan.

I thought it was ok myself. WVA seemed ok with it. It was strong but didn't look dangerous as such

If he'd have hit anyone else other than Wout like that it would have caused carnage as they wouldn't have been able to hold their line quite as well as WVA managed - he's one of the more robust riders. Whether the defence of "well I knew he'd cope and wouldn't take Bennett and Ewan out" will count for much we'll wait and see.

[chutzpah]

I wasn't surprised by the decision. I wouldn't be surprised if it was on account of the movement off his line once he was through.

Thing is, with Jakobsen only just surviving barely a few weeks back at the Tour of Poland and still in recovery the judges are going to be expected to be taking a hard line on things like this at the moment.

[weeksy]

I wasn't surprised by the decision. I wouldn't be surprised if it was on account of the movement off his line once he was through.

Thing is, with Jakobsen only just surviving barely a few weeks back at the Tour of Poland and still in recovery the judges are going to be expected to be taking a hard line on things like this at the moment.

True. But I didn't see it like that

[chutzpah]

And that's one of the glorious things about pro cycling... Imagine if they were all in lanes like a 100m sprint....

[chutzpah]

Can't beat images like this though

[weeksy]

That was epic for the win today, Martinez stealing it in the last 20m.... brilliant... both all in, both dying multiple deaths... awesome.

[weeksy]

Well that shows a lot from Roglic and Pogacar.

Quintana, Uran and Bernal, just not quite there...

I can't see it being anyone other than Roglic.

I wonder if Ineos are regretting some decisions here.

[chutzpah]

Bernal came in better towards the end last year, but needless to say Roglic looked pretty on it today.

I'm surprised that Adam Yates hasn't purposefully lost a chunk of time.

[DefTrap]

The Tour went past the end of the street last week.
This particular stage was one of the scenic and flat ones, pretty but not very exciting racing. Kind of makes you wonder why they bother.

[weeksy]

Big Tom the hero of the day.

Bernal on the next flight home

[weeksy]

The Tour went past the end of the street last week.
This particular stage was one of the scenic and flat ones, pretty but not very exciting racing. Kind of makes you wonder why they bother.

Because it's not all about the hills.

To certain riders, the green jersey is the pinnacle of their career. It's the be all, end all of their racing.

[chutzpah]

I wonder if the true story of this one will only come out over time. I wonder if Bernal overcooked the training due to the pressure of having to defend the jersey? Easy mistake to make for someone quite young. I wonder as well how much they're missing Portal behind the wheel.

[weeksy]

I dunno, you'd think whilst Portal would be missed in terms of knowledge that wouldn't manifest itself so quickly.

It's not like they're losing this Tour through poor tactics, they're just off the pace, not 1 of them, not 2, but ALL of them... they're just a bit meh.. I'd have thought they've still got the trainers, nutritionists, etc for now that should have seen them higher that they are as a squad in terms of form.

[chutzpah]

That's true, I was just wondering if they missed a bit of his obvious genius in what was a topsy turvy run-up. Maybe if it had been a 'normal' Tour year they would have muddled through OK with a tried and test formula, but as things have been so unusual this year the team haven't worked as dynamically as they could/should have. That's clear supposition though.

One thing is for sure though, you look at the Jumbo team and that is some talent and they've been building up to this year for some time now. They had their Tour team announced some considerable time ago, Ineos were still finalising in the final weeks to the lead up.