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I thought Geraint looked very strong yesterday on the first proper mountain stage. The rest of Ineos looked a bit flakey, though, could be an issue later on.
Coverage on ITV4 is good as always, and the French tv live shots, high up over the scenery and down and dirty on the road, is as compulsive as usual.
. a quiet day for gc riders today. tomorrow things may happen, we may get a better idea who's in form for the last few days, and who's fading.
I don't like them downhill finishes though. .
[Post edited 24 Jul 2019 16:40]
Alaphilippe is a brilliant descender and if he is still there amongst the GC contenders he will win. It is also due to rain tomorrow and Friday and Pinot does not like descending in the dry let alone the rain.
Alaphilippe will be out of team mates by the start of the Galibier. He'll struggle.
Ever since my son was... never conceived, because I've never had consensual sex without money involved... I've always kind of looked at you as... a thing, that I could live next to... in accordance with state laws.
Missed the end, looked like Martin was trying to force Rowe into a barrier?
EDIT: Read that Rowe retaliated by pushing Martin in the face, tried to force him into barrier.
UCI made the decision which handily helps two French GC contenders as rivals lose their road captains for key stages...
[Post edited 24 Jul 2019 19:51]
. That is a gutter for ineos. Luke should have kept calm, professional athletes should include anger management as part of their training schedule [ including footballers ]
from the telegraph: 'Geraint Thomas’s hopes of winning a second successive Tour de France title have been rocked after commissaires decided to throw his team-mate and road captain Luke Rowe off the race.'
Missed the end, looked like Martin was trying to force Rowe into a barrier?
EDIT: Read that Rowe retaliated by pushing Martin in the face, tried to force him into barrier.
UCI made the decision which handily helps two French GC contenders as rivals lose their road captains for key stages...
[Post edited 24 Jul 2019 19:51]
Fkn joke. They both should've been reminded of their responsibilities and we carry on.
Ever since my son was... never conceived, because I've never had consensual sex without money involved... I've always kind of looked at you as... a thing, that I could live next to... in accordance with state laws.
Interesting today and a great ride from Quintana. The next two alpine stages have summit finishes-enough to suggest to me that Bernal, Pinot or Thomas could overcome Alaphillipe's lead. He ran out of juice up the Galbier but could make it back on the descent. No chance of that the next two days. Ineos may have a whip hand with two GC riders. Short but unforgiving stage tomorrow that could suit Thomas. If Bernal is above him on Saturday then they will probably go all out with him. I think most of them could take 2 minutes over Alaphillipe yet
. great ride from quintana, he even has an outside chance if he does something amazing, i can't see that happening though.
alaphilippe should get taken tomorrow or saturday, bernal is looking in very good form, i'm thinking he could take it. but thomas could get stronger and pinot could have a second wind - this race is still a very close one.
but i'm going to go for bernal after watching today's race.
Ever since my son was... never conceived, because I've never had consensual sex without money involved... I've always kind of looked at you as... a thing, that I could live next to... in accordance with state laws.
. great ride from quintana, he even has an outside chance if he does something amazing, i can't see that happening though.
alaphilippe should get taken tomorrow or saturday, bernal is looking in very good form, i'm thinking he could take it. but thomas could get stronger and pinot could have a second wind - this race is still a very close one.
but i'm going to go for bernal after watching today's race.
tomorrow:
saturday:
.
[Post edited 25 Jul 2019 16:52]
The very sharp HC climb tomorrow favours Bernal and Quintana, but Thomas or Pinot could strike on the last Cat 1 if not distanced. Saturday is a long, long 33km climb, though less steep. I don't see Alaphillipe being able to hold the other GC contenders up the HC climbs, and although he may catch up on the descent, that final 7km climb may be too. much, He has not got the support that Ineos, FDJ, Movistar or Jumbo have I their teams.
Enthralling race today. I don't think Alaphilipe has got it in him to hang on to yellow over the last two days but we've been underestimating him for the past two weeks, so he could surprise us again. Does G have enough in the tanks to see off the other hopefuls? I think not, although I'll be cheering our boy on. If I had to bet the house, I'd put it on Bernal.
Bernal should've gone kms before. Was never going to make big gains on the descent given the distance. Eurosport floated the idea of getting him up the road to then help G but that sounds bizarre. All that would happen would b G dragging other contenders along, which is what happened...
Team Ineos are great when they can control the tempo as in years past but this tour are so off the pace it's unbelievable.
Enthralling race today. I don't think Alaphilipe has got it in him to hang on to yellow over the last two days but we've been underestimating him for the past two weeks, so he could surprise us again. Does G have enough in the tanks to see off the other hopefuls? I think not, although I'll be cheering our boy on. If I had to bet the house, I'd put it on Bernal.
With G it’s more a case of him being like big diesel truck that can trundle on and on. Bernal and Quintana are typical little Colombians. Feisty with massive acceleration up the slopes with the advantage of growing up at altitude. Less suited to a long grind. I agree though, Bernal may be the man. If he is ahead of G tomorrow then he should get G’s support up that last 33km climb.
Colombia is a great country. Fierce but loyal people. Would love to go there again.
Bernal should've gone kms before. Was never going to make big gains on the descent given the distance. Eurosport floated the idea of getting him up the road to then help G but that sounds bizarre. All that would happen would b G dragging other contenders along, which is what happened...
Team Ineos are great when they can control the tempo as in years past but this tour are so off the pace it's unbelievable.
I thought today that if G was going to crack Alaphilipe, he should have made his break at least 2km from the top, not 1km as he did. This is why I don't think he has it in the tanks this year.
Bernal should've gone kms before. Was never going to make big gains on the descent given the distance. Eurosport floated the idea of getting him up the road to then help G but that sounds bizarre. All that would happen would b G dragging other contenders along, which is what happened...
Team Ineos are great when they can control the tempo as in years past but this tour are so off the pace it's unbelievable.
. I was also wondering what ineos were doing. it was as if they wanted to get bernal's and thomas's time overall at exactly the same time, before thomas went for it?
maybe if he was at his usual fitness levels he could have got away from the other riders and up to bernal, but bernal wasn't waiting around, he was still racing flat out to get away from thomas.
so if their plan was to get them at an almost equal time, i don't understand it. thomas should have given everything he had to go with bernal to stop him from gaining any time (he would have done that to another teams rider who was only seconds behind him in the gc).
they may be in the same team, but bernal is his rival, so no team orders should have stopped thomas going after him to make sure he wins the tour.
today may have been the day that thomas lost the tour to bernal .