OV9

Managed to avoid the result on news and social media, then watched the highlights just now, I was literally screaming at the TV

It was beautifully set up, the whole of the last 40km was perfectly managed, the right position at the right time, with the right legs left. And watching the overhead camera in the last 1km was so skillful, the way he chopped his way through the other riders, jumped onto wheels then took that final line across the other side of the road. Absolutely magnificent. Always mind-blowing to watch him win a race, he never seems to simply win. When Cav launches, he makes it look like nobody else had a chance. So happy for him

I managed to avoid the result too, without realising it. Watched the highlights tonight and made involuntary noises. Damn he did a good job. He made it look easy. I started saying to myself that 40 is within reach. But it is based on that, a fucking amazing win. Clear air between Cav and second place.

I spotted his chain flopping around - didn’t realise it was broken. I suspect it broke when he stopped pedalling; it clearly wasn’t actually broken to get to the front.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 03, 2024 10:33 pm
I spotted his chain flopping around - didn’t realise it was broken. I suspect it broke when he stopped pedalling; it clearly wasn’t actually broken to get to the front.

Social media was saying that chains often jump when sprinters go from flat out ~1500W to backpedalling slightly over the line

It looks like it's come off the chain ring rather than broken.

mik wrote: Thu Jul 04, 2024 7:42 am It looks like it's come off the chain ring rather than broken.

That's what I assumed - and not surprising as Gavster says.

Just seen the clip of the last kilometer - Jesus he had to work for it. I thought he was going to be hemmed in and trapped a few times.

Great analysis of the setup and sprint here:



Also asks the question… will he get 36 or even 37? If he can sustain the level he performed at yesterday then it could easily happen.

I didn't notice his chain! I did manage to avoid the headlines until I watched the highlights show last night, absolutely incredible stuff. Amazing the career he's had and in recent years how he's comeback after some very tough times.

I wonder if he'll get any more stage wins this time round before bowing out?

Sprint finish again today, there's 9km to go and Astana are holding a strong position at the front of the Peleton again... I guess Cav's got nothing to lose and will be full throttle into any sprint finsishes that are well setup for him.

It's gonna be a biiig sprint again!

Epic end to the stage today

Spoiler

Pogacar and Vingegaard went off in a break and were racing right down to the finish line, and Vingegaard beat Pog in the sprint

Great day again. Sprint finish climbs

I like both of them but I like Vingegaard slightly more so I was very happy with today. Pogacar has the explosive power to attack on the climbs and gap everyone, but Vingegaard kept a cool head, played the game and timed it all perfectly to take the stage. Brilliant finish. I was going to say it's experience over youth but the age difference is less than two years. I forget how young everyone is.

I thought Pogacar taking overall GC was a given this year, but I'm not so sure now. Just over a minute between them. It would only take a little luck, good or bad, one way or the other, to swing it. Today proved that Pogacar is going to have a damned hard time extending the lead that's for sure.

Amazing performance by Vingegaard today, especially considering he hadn't raced for nearly three months before the start of the TdF this year because of a really nasty crash

Then again, maybe all that rest has helped?

Gav, really appreciate the spoiler tags - I absent-mindedly clicked on this thread before I knew the day’s result so thank you.

Great to watch. I wish I’d watched the full stage, or at least the full last 45km. The highlights show was way too short and they barely showed any of the descents - from time to time the gaps would disappear because of the editing which they were forced to do to get the show down to ~40 mins of racing. They barely showed any filmed segments even.

It's unprecedented for Vingegaard to outsprint Pogacar, so today's stage really turns expectations on their head. Also, the highlights may not have shown it, but Vingegaard gradually hunted Pog in such a calm and calcualted way. I suspect Vingegaard has got better endurance than Pog, so even though Pog is a more exciting racer, when it comes to a three week grand tour, Vingegaard just keeps on grinding away.

Also, another problem for them is that Remco is in third place only a minute behind. On a good day he could destroy them in a TT so they really need to open up a big gap before the final stage.

Can't wait for Saturday's stage, big mountains and a chance for someone to put put a lot of time into their competitors in the GC. I'm supposed to be hiking in the Peak District but will be seriously tempted to have this on my phone at the same time

They didn’t spend much time on it but yes, it was apparent that Vingegaard hunted Pog down. I wasn’t sure if Pog was just playing today though, testing how well Vingegaard has recovered. I don’t think Pog would have given the win away but that could have been purely accidental on the line. Setting up to be an amazing fight though.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2024 10:23 pm They didn’t spend much time on it but yes, it was apparent that Vingegaard hunted Pog down. I wasn’t sure if Pog was just playing today though, testing how well Vingegaard has recovered. I don’t think Pog would have given the win away but that could have been purely accidental on the line. Setting up to be an amazing fight though.

Watching yestetday’s finish back it looks like Pog was absolutely flat out at the finish, but it also looks like he was expecting to out-sprint Vingegaard and left it very late to go full-power.

Start of two big days in the Pyrenees today. I think Visma & Vingegaard will come to the fore a bit more in this terrain.