julian alaphilipe

[smutchin]

Personally though, I'm becoming somewhat disillusioned with the "King of the Mountains" competition that he won last year. The current points system seems to reward riders who charge off half cock (Thomas Voeckler style) putting on a show of bravado and racing to the top of the first few mountains in first place, only to fade away badly. They usually get overtaken by half of the peloton before the final climb or summit finish. Just hoover up all the early points on offer, then let the GC contenders fight it out for the remaining points at the end of the stage.

I dunno. I think these minor jerseys only justify their existence if they're won by someone other than the overall winner, and the format allows someone to go for glory who doesn't have a genuine shot at GC. The polka dots in particular encourage flamboyant, exciting racing - I always had mixed feelings about Voeckler but there's no doubt he was a popular rider.

Also giving the lie to your assessment is the fact that Alaphilippe won two stages last year, one of which featured two 1st category climbs, the other three 1st cat and an HC. He was a thoroughly deserving winner of the spotty jumper.

Besides which, all the HC climbs above 2000m are given double points this year, which weights the competition towards the true climbing specialists, and against those who go points-harvesting on cat 3 & 4 climbs. Wellens currently leads the classification on 64 points, but over stages 18, 19 and 20, there are four HC climbs, worth a potential 160 points, so I don't think we'll be seeing him in the polka dots in Paris (though presumably one of the GC boys will take the win on Val Thorens, so more realistically 120 points for someone like Ciccone or Barguil to go for to make the title his - or maybe Bardet has been sandbagging so far, taking it easy in the knowledge that he could still win the polka dots with a flourish on the final three stages).

 

[Fab Foodie]

JA is creeping ahead on the big hills....as GT ebbs....

 

[david k]

JA looked strong in today's stage, he also looked fresh in his interviews, it gives me the impression he has the energy to complete the race at this top end effort

GT looked spent mentally, emotionally and physically. He need to turn that round to have a chance, fingers crossed

 

[smutchin]

GT looked spent mentally, emotionally and physically.

Going by what he said in his post-race interview, I think he's got some kind of illness.

 

[rich p]

I always knew Thomas was a potential GT winner from early in his career - I said (to anyone who would listen) when Sky launched that they should focus on him rather than Wiggins. His problem was that because he was brought up through the BC system with its focus on Olympic medals, he wasted too many of his prime years fannying about on the track. )

You did, it's true.
I recall us both whingeing about G wasting another year pursuing another futile gold medal.
Julian Alaphillipe also needs to stop being Viviani's lead out man if he's to take the GC seriously. Unless it's á la Wiggo on the Champs Elysée!

 

[smutchin]

It's hugely gratifying when these long-term predictions/guesses come to fruition - makes it look like you know what you're talking about.

It'll be interesting to see if Alaphilippe's success so far this year leads to a bit of a recalibration of the team. Viviani already looks disaffected and like he wants out.

 

[smutchin]

Interesting stat: the last rider to win both Milan-Sanremo and the Tour in the same year was Eddy himself, who did it three times (1969, 1971, 1972).

Fignon and Nibali have won both, but not in the same year.

 

[david k]

Going by what he said in his post-race interview, I think he's got some kind of illness.

That did cross my mind

 

[Fab Foodie]

You did, it's true.
I recall us both whingeing about G wasting another year pursuing another futile gold medal.
Julian Alaphillipe also needs to stop being Viviani's lead out man if he's to take the GC seriously. Unless it's á la Wiggo on the Champs Elysée!

Also he needs to curb his enthusiasm!
Pinot impressed. Climbs well for a big guy.

 

[smutchin]

Also he needs to curb his enthusiasm!

Yep. Kelly's take on the reason for him blowing up on the final climb yesterday was that he went too hard at the start.

He could have done with a couple of domestiques too.

 

[ColinJ]

Pinot impressed. Climbs well for a big guy.

I was thinking the same. He looks quite big but he is actually only 5' 11" tall and weighs just under 10 stone. Big compared to typical climbers maybe, but not another Indurain.

 

[KneesUp]

Is it just me that thinks Pinaut's stubble permanently give him the look of someone who had to fix something oily on his 2CV on the way to the trace?

 

[cyberknight]

It's hugely gratifying when these long-term predictions/guesses come to fruition - makes it look like you know what you're talking about.

It'll be interesting to see if Alaphilippe's success so far this year leads to a bit of a recalibration of the team. Viviani already looks disaffected and like he wants out.

I think this is where he we fail,the team isn't really built for GC support

 

[Pale Rider]

Viviani already looks disaffected and like he wants out.

I get the impression what Viviani wants is a more lucrative contract which he believes would be on offer elsewhere.

 

[brommers]

Pinaut's

Is he a cross between Pinot and Hinault?