Tour de France 2019 **SPOILERS**

[gavroche]

With speculation rife those figures look normal. For comparison, in the Armstrong era it was not unknown for riders to put out much more than 6.0W/kg up to 6.7.

Of course this is no guarantee but comparisons of Alaphilippe's ride with Armstrong are overblown hysterics.

Who is this Armstrong fellow? Is he the one who was a cheat, a liar and a bully? Oh yes I remember him now. The less said about him , the better I say.

 

[rich p]

With speculation rife those figures look normal. For comparison, in the Armstrong era it was not unknown for riders to put out much more than 6.0W/kg up to 6.7.

Of course this is no guarantee but comparisons of Alaphilippe's ride with Armstrong are overblown hysterics.

It looked far from spectacular to me. It almost looked like they were all similarly cream-crackered and unable to launch the sort of attacks that we've seen in the recent past.

 

[Adam4868]

It was far from a spectacular stage,it was more about surviving it.Look at some of the talent that didn't.
As I say i could eat my words but I can't see Allaphillipe carrying on at that pace.I hope he can,we all remember Yates in the Giro ? I don't remember when it was last won,without trying to conserve some energy.He really has been full gas.Id still favour Thomas,I have faith he'll come good.

 

[smutchin]

Just watched the highlights. G in his post-race interview admitted to being a bit below par, both today and yesterday. If he’s got some kind of lurgy, he’ll need to get rid of it before tomorrow’s stage or it could be race over.

Pinot was imperious today, ably supported by the fantastic Gaudu. He’s still a genuine contender.

The great thing for Alaphilippe is that with the lead he now has, he can afford to ride defensively - which he did to great effect today. He has clearly always had the all-round talent and physical attributes required to win a Grand Tour - any dickhead who thinks otherwise can’t have been following his career very closely. He’s always been a decent climber.* His problem remains lack of decent team support. But today he looked like someone who has started to believe that he really is a GC contender.

With those two looking so strong, and other supposed contenders looking very much off the boil, it’s the best chance the french have had of winning the Tour in many years.

I still think there’s no clear favourite though - could be any one of the current top 6, I reckon (Uran and Fuglsang are just a bit too far behind now, and didn’t look today like they’ve got the means to come back into it. Everyone below them is well out of contention). It’s an intriguing race.

*Like, duh...

 

[Crackle]

Brian Smith saying on Eurosport this morning that it looked like Quintana bonked. That he went to the side of the road and took a can of coke off a fan. So quite possible that he didn't know he was on a bad day until he bonked. Although he was drifting off the back from early on.

 

[rich p]

Brian Smith saying on Eurosport this morning that it looked like Quintana bonked. That he went to the side of the road and took a can of coke off a fan. So quite possible that he didn't know he was on a bad day until he bonked. Although he was drifting off the back from early on.

To be brutally honest, Crax, he bonked about 3 years ago

 

[Dogtrousers]

To be brutally honest, Crax, he bonked about 3 years ago

He's a Colombian jaguar, just waiting for the right moment to pounce.

He just hasn't found it yet

 

[KneesUp]

Brian Smith saying on Eurosport this morning that it looked like Quintana bonked. That he went to the side of the road and took a can of coke off a fan. So quite possible that he didn't know he was on a bad day until he bonked. Although he was drifting off the back from early on.

George Hincape (or maybe Johan Bruyneel) noted on their podcast that Quintana took a can of coke from a spectator on the way up - something you'd only do if you'd bonked. Presumably he didn't fuel properly, perhaps because it was 'only' a short stage?

 

[smutchin]

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

I was joking, but the way he went up the first big climb today, I'm now starting to wonder if there might be something in this...

 

[rich p]

Dimension Data should have taken Cav for PR value alone, considering their lack of impact. Are they still riding?
At least they'd have got the brand on screen when Cav drifted out the back.

 

[rich p]

I was joking, but the way he went up the first big climb today, I'm now starting to wonder if there might be something in this...

I don't think Quintana is sandbagging!

 

[Dave Davenport]

To be brutally honest, Crax, he bonked about 3 years ago

Heard on Movistar's team radio;
DS; Oi Nairo, Rich P says you're rubbish!
NQ; Right that's it! I'll show that knobber he doesn't know what he's talking about!

 

[rich p]

Brian Smith saying on Eurosport this morning that it looked like Quintana bonked. That he went to the side of the road and took a can of coke off a fan. So quite possible that he didn't know he was on a bad day until he bonked. Although he was drifting off the back from early on.

Hmmm, Colombians and coke.
I call shenanigans, to quote an erstwhile poster

 

[Crackle]

More cool Movistar tactics

 

[rich p]

More cool Movistar tactics

Quintana is still a tit.
see my posts passim...