Cycling Thread

[Gavster]

Anyone else watching this year?

Really excited to see how today's stage plays out, also going into the final week with plenty of big climbs and the individual TT to come, and such small gap between Pogacar and Vingegaard. There's been some great racing so far.

[DaveE]

Yep, I always try and watch as much as I can each year

I've seen quite a lot this year

It's been another good Tour this year

Trivia: today's stage finishes in Morzine, tomorrow's starts in Les Gets. My sister has lived in both (they're next door to each other, but even so, I've got a lot of fond memories from these places)

[8Ball]

Watching as well. I can confirm from experience that the Col du Joux Plane is a horrible climb.

If they're all together as they go over the top of that I wouldn't bet against Tom Piddock. That said, I think Pogacar and Vingegaard will go off and drop the others.

[Jobbo]

It’s an excellent race this year. I always follow it; so glad the coverage stayed basically the same when it switched from C4 to ITV4 some years ago.

Vingegaard is playing it very cool when interviewed after each day, but I don’t know how much that is purely psychological for show, since Pogacar has had his measure on all but one stage so far. Today will be interesting.

[DaveE]

Oh yeah, and it's pretty cool hearing some of the team radio too

I'm not sure I've registered that being broadcast on previous Tours?

[Gavster]

What the hell did Wout van Aert do just then? that was absolutely ice cold

[DaveE]

Oh, and every time I hear the name Romain Bardet:

[Gavster]

Spoiler

That was a very brilliant end to the stage! Vingegaard held onto Pogacar's wheel every time he attacked, which shows he's still strong. And the one time that Pogacar did gap Vingegaard on the big climb, Jonas didn't even get out of his seat to chase, he just stuck with a solid pace. I kinda agree with @Jobbo that Vingegaard is playing it quite cool, yet, at the same time, there's almost nothing in it.

[Jobbo]

Oh yeah, and it's pretty cool hearing some of the team radio too

I'm not sure I've registered that being broadcast on previous Tours?

Ned Boulting has referred to it a few times in a way which made me think it’s new - something about coded messages because they know it’s not private now, for instance. I don’t remember it either.

[dinny_g]

Trivia: today's stage finishes in Morzine, tomorrow's starts in Les Gets. My sister has lived in both (they're next door to each other, but even so, I've got a lot of fond memories from these places)

There’s great skiing in both But way too crowded these days. At least in January

[Jobbo]

Spoiler

That was a very brilliant end to the stage! Vingegaard held onto Pogacar's wheel every time he attacked, which shows he's still strong. And the one time that Pogacar did gap Vingegaard on the big climb, Jonas didn't even get out of his seat to chase, he just stuck with a solid pace. I kinda agree with @Jobbo that Vingegaard is playing it quite cool, yet, at the same time, there's almost nothing in it.

Now I’ve watched the highlights show, agreed entirely. Tomorrow probably won’t be as big a day but that may create more opportunities for a surprise attack?

[Gavster]

Also that Vingegaard outsprinted Pogacar at the top of the climb (admittedly he was napping) shows that he's still got plenty in the tank.

There are three 1st cagegory climbs today, including a big one up to the finish, which will be another huge opportunity for the two leaders to battle it out. Rest day tomorrow too, followed by a short, hilly TT on Tuesday. By the end of Tuesday there's going to be a much bigger gap between Pogacar and Vingegaard, although it's almost impossible to call which way it'll go. I'm rooting for Vingegaard.

[JonMad]

Very much enjoying it and the Never Strays Far podcast each day. It might come down to which of them is the best on the short time trial.

[8Ball]

I'm rooting for Pogacar.

Wednesday is also a massive day in the mountains, with some really steep sections on the Col de la Loze.

[Sundayjumper]

Also that Vingegaard outsprinted Pogacar at the top of the climb (admittedly he was napping) shows that he's still got plenty in the tank.

<snip>

I'm rooting for Vingegaard.

Watching it yesterday I put it down to experience & cunning from age - Pogacar is still young - but having googled it there's only two years in it so scratch that ! 24 vs. 26.

I'm rooting for Vingegaard too.

[Jobbo]

I think Pogacar would have picked up the time bonus yesterday if he’d not been blocked by the camera bike. I do t think anything after that was indicative of his true pace; he deliberately slowed tactically to get Adam Yates back up to the pair and would have known the best he could achieve is a few seconds, so why burn himself out?

Jumbo Visma seriously cracked yesterday which will dent Vingegaard’s confidence, though Wout Van Aert was incredible coming back to set the pace. I think the teams are pretty equal as well.

The time trial might settle this year’s race, but I doubt it will create a sufficiently decisive gap so I’m sure they will both be pushing to Paris.

[JonMad]

when was the last time the final day was competitive? (yeah, I could probably just google that)

[Sundayjumper]

It's tradition that you never attack the yellow jersey on the last day. So to answer your question, probably the famous last day time trial to decide between Lemond / Fignon. 1980-something (yeah, I could probably just google that).

Is that the only time the final stage was a time trial ?

[Jobbo]

1989 was the famous one. I watched it live on telly. Fucking brilliant. Always makes me a bit sad that the Champs Elysees is just a procession most of the time.

ETA: just googled and it’s the only time trial final stage ever on the TdF. Mad!

[Gavster]

The battle for third place on the podium is also divided by the thickness of a Rizla, just 1 second between Rodriguez and Hindley (not Myra)