2021, Tour de France. Who, what, where.

[weeksy]

Cavendish won't be enjoying today...

I think we'll see plenty of fireworks though and potentially a few changes in the 2-5 placings.

I don't see Pogacar worrying much though

[MingtheMerciless]

Hopefully after the rest day he’ll have the legs to finish inside the cutoff. Is it then all downhill to Paris?

[weeksy]

Nah, tomorrow hills too I think.

[lostboy]

BIG hills tomorrow. And a mountain top finish.

[weeksy]

Once again, the Tour seems to be playing into Cavs hands. It could easily have been a tricky stage and a case of will he/won't he make the time-cut. But the group are being cagey once again, there's no pushing, no chase and no chaos.... So he'll sit in the big group until they start clawing it back to the break, which will mean he's more likely to finish 20 mins down instead of 50mins down. So should be safe once again for the day.

With all the sprinters dropping out now apart from Griepel it's looking more and more like he's in with a chance of breaking the 34 and going into the record books on his own. Sure it's not certain, but there's got to be a chance.

[lostboy]

Once again, the Tour seems to be playing into Cavs hands. It could easily have been a tricky stage and a case of will he/won't he make the time-cut. But the group are being cagey once again, there's no pushing, no chase and no chaos.... So he'll sit in the big group until they start clawing it back to the break, which will mean he's more likely to finish 20 mins down instead of 50mins down. So should be safe once again for the day.

With all the sprinters dropping out now apart from Griepel it's looking more and more like he's in with a chance of breaking the 34 and going into the record books on his own. Sure it's not certain, but there's got to be a chance.

It was always going to suit Cav once Pogacar was 5 mins in front. All the GC riders know that they can't beat him on a stage unless he breaks down completely (which isn't going to happen) so the pace is never right up there.

What an end to the stage yesterday. The three breaking away, two deciding to gang up on Carapaz who then goes himself, only to get caught within 100m of the line. All on a 10% + gradient and in the last km!!

[lostboy]

Another lesson from Pogacar today but, most importantly, Cav was shepherded across the line by 5 (yes, 5!!) team mates well inside the time cut off.

Tomorrow is a sprinter's stage, then the time trial, then Paris. Given the lack of quality opposition it's got to be hoped that he's got enough in the tank to take at least one of those - just to piss Merckx off!

[weeksy]

HArd to argue with any of that. Pogacar solid again and dominant.... Would've been nice to see someone able to give him a kicking in the last 3-4km and take it off him, someone like Gaudu would have been nice. But not to be.

Cav looked and seemed OK, so really assuming DQS keep things in check tomorrow, he's got to be odds on. As we know, no-one makes a break stick in Paris, so we'll be expecting Fireworks !

[JamJar]

Bahrain Victorious’ hotel rooms were raide by the police yesterday and they are investigating alleged doping and importing of controlled/illegal substances

[weeksy]

Bahrain Victorious’ hotel rooms were raide by the police yesterday and they are investigating alleged doping and importing of controlled/illegal substances

Oh man. I hate that shit. Arses

[lostboy]

Bahrain Victorious’ hotel rooms were raide by the police yesterday and they are investigating alleged doping and importing of controlled/illegal substances

Given some of the performances that Pogacar has put up I'm a little surprised it wasn't the UAE Team Emirates hotel rooms.

I remember a very, very serious (ex pro) cycling friend saying to me at the height of Armstrong's fame "the watch doesn't lie" and when you look at some of the times that he's done up some of the climbs there's definitely some room for concern.*

*I am always optimistic that he is a "once in a generation" talent.

[weeksy]

Bahrain Victorious’ hotel rooms were raide by the police yesterday and they are investigating alleged doping and importing of controlled/illegal substances

Given some of the performances that Pogacar has put up I'm a little surprised it wasn't the UAE Team Emirates hotel rooms.

I remember a very, very serious (ex pro) cycling friend saying to me at the height of Armstrong's fame "the watch doesn't lie" and when you look at some of the times that he's done up some of the climbs there's definitely some room for concern.*

*I am always optimistic that he is a "once in a generation" talent.

I was looking on STW and he was 30s behind Dan Martins time up one of the big ones last week. Which doesn't scream doper to me, especially as it was one where the others were off the pace, i think some are just way of form.

[lostboy]

As Tao G-H has just tweeted - "Serendipity?"

[JamJar]

Bahrain Victorious’ hotel rooms were raide by the police yesterday and they are investigating alleged doping and importing of controlled/illegal substances

Given some of the performances that Pogacar has put up I'm a little surprised it wasn't the UAE Team Emirates hotel rooms.

I remember a very, very serious (ex pro) cycling friend saying to me at the height of Armstrong's fame "the watch doesn't lie" and when you look at some of the times that he's done up some of the climbs there's definitely some room for concern.*

*I am always optimistic that he is a "once in a generation" talent.

I was looking on STW and he was 30s behind Dan Martins time up one of the big ones last week. Which doesn't scream doper to me, especially as it was one where the others were off the pace, i think some are just way of form.

I'm more pragmatic about it and just think that most of the teams still dope so that no one individual time ever appears that much better than anyone elses.