Tour de France 26. The least exciting one ?

[weeksy]

but as it stands they might as well just sack the last week of the race off now and just give him the Jersey now I'm afraid!

I felt that was the case before we even turned up. I couldn't see any way anyone was beating Pog. The only possibility was a fall/illness that could happen, but in a riding context, he's so far ahead of anyone else right now.

I guess it depends how you look at the world in a way. Is it boring seeing someone bugger off anytime they want, is it boring having the UAE train chase everyone down. Or is it impressive seeing arguably the best cyclist of all-time racing. Double edged sword with a few twists of logic in there.. I enjoy watching him race as he's a beast who'll attack rather than just sit in. But i must admit, Pidcock is my favourite to watch at the moment as he's a bit of a nutter in many ways

[Count Steer]

I've been keeping tabs on it and this year's event has taken the sting out of putting it behind a paywall. Without a competition for GC and with a high-speed expensive, state-funded steamroller of a team dominating (at least Sky wasn't a nation state when they did the same!) then...meh.

[weeksy]

I've been keeping tabs on it and this year's event has taken the sting out of putting it behind a paywall. Without a competition for GC and with a high-speed expensive, state-funded steamroller of a team dominating (at least Sky wasn't a nation state when they did the same!) then...meh.

There's always one dominant team, Visma have had it, so have UAE and of course Team Sky, you have to accept that, it ebbs and flows. Even in the flat stages there's teams that dominate the bunch even if they don't end up always winning the stage. Some teams are just stronger.

This year though i'd argue UAE are less dominant that Team Sky era, you only have to look 50% through a stage and there's only McNulty there and Isaac as well as Pog, whereas in Team Sky days they'd still have 5-6 at that stage of things. But I do kinda get your point.

[Hot_Air]

Today's BBC Sport: Why are cycling's anti-doping tests being carried out at night?

[cvilla]

Quiet GC day, good sprint thou' helps green jumper battle and mountains are coming:)

[mboy]

I've been keeping tabs on it and this year's event has taken the sting out of putting it behind a paywall. Without a competition for GC and with a high-speed expensive, state-funded steamroller of a team dominating (at least Sky wasn't a nation state when they did the same!) then...meh.

There's always one dominant team, Visma have had it, so have UAE and of course Team Sky, you have to accept that, it ebbs and flows. Even in the flat stages there's teams that dominate the bunch even if they don't end up always winning the stage. Some teams are just stronger.

This year though i'd argue UAE are less dominant that Team Sky era, you only have to look 50% through a stage and there's only McNulty there and Isaac as well as Pog, whereas in Team Sky days they'd still have 5-6 at that stage of things. But I do kinda get your point.

Agreed... UAE weren't even that good a team though (they are now to be fair), Pogacar was THAT far above everyone else he was doing the job on his own for a long time... He now has a couple of decent deputies and is absolutely untouchable.

I felt that was the case before we even turned up. I couldn't see any way anyone was beating Pog. The only possibility was a fall/illness that could happen, but in a riding context, he's so far ahead of anyone else right now.

I guess it depends how you look at the world in a way. Is it boring seeing someone bugger off anytime they want, is it boring having the UAE train chase everyone down. Or is it impressive seeing arguably the best cyclist of all-time racing. Double edged sword with a few twists of logic in there.. I enjoy watching him race as he's a beast who'll attack rather than just sit in. But i must admit, Pidcock is my favourite to watch at the moment as he's a bit of a nutter in many ways

Both, for sure... It's incredibly impressive, but it's also not much of a spectacle to watch! Kinda like the Armstrong years sadly... The racing was all the better for Armstrong's retirement for a while!

Pidcock is an outright nutter... He has absolutely zero self preservation... He's an incredibly talented individual, but I have it on good authority he's a very, very challenging individual for many reasons... Not least of which is that he's so uncompromising, that he expects nothing but 100% from anybody and everybody about everything, just cos that's what he expects of himself... Either way, he's a great watch, but more often than not he would be that bit more consistent and get more results if he just backed off that last 10% or so... To finish first, first you've got to finish and all that... Backing off just does not compute with Pidcock!

[Dodgy69]

Pog had another good day, record time.

[weeksy]

By a lot. Like a heck of a lot.

Hes some boy !

[cvilla]

That's some final Saturday, queen stage 170km over 5,400m climbing!!! Just can't comprehend that.
Shortened stage in Paris due to fires and logistics, note later evening slot (9pm highlights C5)

[weeksy]

Was a battle for sure. Lots of positives fron the Tour this year even if thr p1 battle wasn't really a battle.

Carapaz for my favourite this year

[Noggin]

I haven't followed properly this year (it's more interesting when it's closer to home!! I know it wasn't "that" far away, but still, not in the same valley!!) but one of the physios reminded me about yesterday, so I tuned in

No idea what was going on with Canal+ but I tuned in to a "live" coverage, that finished at close to 10pm !!! LOL

As always, my take away is complete and utter awe ! Those guys are amazing !! A mate of mine did the etape last week, and I'm always amazed at the amateurs doing the same course, voluntarily!!

But seeing the pros do the constant up and down of that route was bloody inspiring - they are amazing

And the guy that fell off twice in the last section and still finished second (??? I think ?? Still struggle to follow the TdF - would be easier in English!!)

Freaking awesome

[weeksy]

He was Sepp Kuss

[Noggin]

He was Sepp Kuss

That's him. Bloody glad for the catch net/fence thingy !!!

[cvilla]

For those that want to see it live in the UK, it's on Welsh TV, use iPlayer S4C, only snag it's in Welsh language, just you'll get to see Paris in the evening light
Which sprinter do we think....

[weeksy]

Sprinter? They're going up montmatre?

[weeksy]

Thats some power there for those boys

[cvilla]

Bang goes my virtual team!!

[Hot_Air]

Sepp Kuss must be gutted about the Alpe d’Huez. But what drama!

[weeksy]

Bloody wow!!!!

[mboy]

Final stage was a lot more dramatic than the usual procession eh!