Tour de France

(27-07-2019 18:15 )hornball Wrote:  

(27-07-2019 17:45 )SecretAgent Wrote:  ^ Agreed Alaphilippe made the Tour exciting and I wish he had held on to a podium place. The final week was always going to be crucial though and Bernal deserved his win. Thomas also showed what a class act he is with his comments in the last few days.

Sad to see Alliphillipe end up out of the podium positions!! Deserved better for the ride a had, and the Tour he gave us! I am still a little unhappy I guess at yesterdays events. Couldn't be helped with the mudslide I know, but to not cancel the stage outright, and take the results from the climb, when Julian couldn't even make use of his specialist skill to the fullest extent, a little sour for me!!

Today showed he had lost his power to compete I guess, but maybe if he hadn't had to make that first climb before neutralisation yesterday...then who knows.

Anyway congrats to Bernal, and the class reaction of G.

Wish they would re introduce the final day time trial to Paris once more myself. It may happen again 'Lemond/Fignon that is. A thought that it couldn't, is no reason to not provide for the possibility surely?? In Principle, I don't like a coronation. The race is supposed to be 21 stages. Race to the line up the Champs Elysee

its mainly a sprinters race on the Champs elysee as team sky/ ineos never really had a decent sprinter since Cav in 2012 they are more geared 2wards GC and domestics for them. Next year could be interesting as both Froome coould be back and also they have signed the Giro winner

Anyone watching the Vuelta? Roglic looking strong. Today' stage has 4x Cat 1 climbs and mountain top finish.

The World Road Cycling Championship in Yorkshire today. Just a bit wet

Today was to be the finish of the 2020 Tour de France, now postponed until August 29th, with a September 20th finish.

Wow Both Froome and Thomas left out of this TDF Froome going to Vuelta and Thomas the Giro

hmmm cant think this could backfire badly

Not such a big surprise regarding Froome with him leaving the team, but Thomas is a strange decision. I hope they have based this on form & fitness as Froome didn't look himself, Thomas less so.
Having 3 former Tour winners would've been hard to manage, very difficult to not give Barnal a chance to defend. They also have Carapaz who is capable.

(19-08-2020 09:29 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Not such a big surprise regarding Froome with him leaving the team, but Thomas is a strange decision. I hope they have based this on form & fitness as Froome didn't look himself, Thomas less so.
Having 3 former Tour winners would've been hard to manage, very difficult to not give Barnal a chance to defend. They also have Carapaz who is capable.

Thing is with Thomas is he would always work for the team i mean he was defending champion last year and was helping barnal i mean on the mountains he was always there to help froome or Barnal over the guy is a fucking beast rode the whole tour with a broken pelvis he did on the first stage of the 2013 tour remember that head on collision with that lamppost and he still got up and completed the race and tour

I've read his book on the tour win. some interesting stuff regarding team orders. Thomas didn't get treated as Froome's equal yet still won. Froome even attacked on one stage which could've put Thomas's chance of victory in jeopardy at a time when it was clear that his own chance had gone.
You have to wonder with Froome's age, & his last crash, whether his best is behind him. Thomas on the other hand has another Grand Tour win in him.

Stage 1 today which is a 156km course around Nice.

It will seem odd that there's limited UK interest. No Froome, Cavendish or Thomas.

^^ 22 eight man teams with only 4 British riders, Adam Yates, Luke Rowe, with Hugh Carthy, & Connor Swift making their Tour de France debuts.