brommers
Years beyond my wisdom
- Location
- Clacton-on-Sea
I remember that Smutch, but it was really filthy weather, unlike this week's forecast.
Tour de France 2019 **SPOILERS**
- Thread starter rich p
- Start date
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- Tags
- tour de france
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woodbutcher
Veteran
- Location
- S W France
Dont count on it, is Nimes is due to be 37c with 40 percent humidity
I wonder if JA will still be leading out Viviani today!Put your money on Greipel today
Kristoff has been off the pace too.
Ewan for the win
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
regarding stage 15, wradley biggins , does he make a good point, or just having a dig at when froome had to be called back to help him.
According to Sir Bradley Wiggins, Thomas’ admittance that felt strong enough to chase down Bernal - who finished in fifth - has left questions open for Team Ineos.
“What was going on there?" he pondered on Eurosport. "Where was the communication coming from? Why was Bernal there if Thomas was feeling as good as he was? They kind of messed up in some ways, but where does that call come from?
" Does it come from G or does it come from the car behind? Bernal should’ve been there with G, really. He will continue to limit his losses, he got dropped early on that climb, but he was time trialling to the summit. "
“He finished ahead of Alaphilippe, so he rode the climb the best of all of them – including Bernal. I’d like to know what was going on there, if G is the team leader.
“He’s the defending Tour champion, and he wasn’t able to attack because his team-mate was in front, who’s two or three minutes behind him.”
..
According to Sir Bradley Wiggins, Thomas’ admittance that felt strong enough to chase down Bernal - who finished in fifth - has left questions open for Team Ineos.
“What was going on there?" he pondered on Eurosport. "Where was the communication coming from? Why was Bernal there if Thomas was feeling as good as he was? They kind of messed up in some ways, but where does that call come from?
" Does it come from G or does it come from the car behind? Bernal should’ve been there with G, really. He will continue to limit his losses, he got dropped early on that climb, but he was time trialling to the summit. "
“He finished ahead of Alaphilippe, so he rode the climb the best of all of them – including Bernal. I’d like to know what was going on there, if G is the team leader.
“He’s the defending Tour champion, and he wasn’t able to attack because his team-mate was in front, who’s two or three minutes behind him.”
..
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
of course he will blag it in interviews , all part of the game, I still fancy Thomas for the win
iandg
Legendary Member
- Location
- Dumfries and Galloway
I would like to see Pinot in Yellow but unfortunately (for him) winning is as much about staying out of trouble, not making mistakes and losing time as it is about getting a break and gaining time.
I think Pinot may be kicking himself over 'what might have been' for some time.
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I agree. I only see Pinot making more mistakes or having a bad day. He expended a fair bit in those two pyreneen stages clawing back time he shouldn't have lost and he still hasn't closed the gap. That's got to be preying on his mind.
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
I think Thomas hasn't got the legs he had last year and he is bluffing in his interviews. On the other hand, Pinot is on top form and the mistakes he made a few days ago has given him a kick in the backside. He knows the Alps stages very well and has adapted to the heat better than other years. I think this year is his year and he will win in Paris.
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
ooof, Thomas down on a corner 
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
If you've got two riders highly placed on GC, you can send one up the road to force the yellow jersey to defend, and the second rider can mark him until he blows and then attack...
So that's one possible explanation. Although I don't think that's what was actually happening - I think they were just riding à la Movistar. Bernal was in a world of his own. Whether or not Thomas is individually as strong as he was last year, the team doesn't look nearly so well organised on the road.
Kind of worked out OK in the end though - Alaphilippe did crack, and both Thomas and Bernal took some time back off him. Although both lost time to Pinot...
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
I agree, I know one man doesn't make a team , but they seem a different team when supporting froome
johnblack
Veteran
- Location
- South Northamptonshire
More strength, with Froome as a team leader they had 6 or 7 pulling for him (9 man team) with Thomas last man, Pouls before etc.,With two up on an 8 man team, they only have 4 - 5 riders pulling leaving them exposed earlier. It still wouldn't surprise me to see the team stronger in the third week. The Alpes are far more suited to the team with the long steady climbs, where riding the train has more benefit over the shorter steep Pyrenees climbs. Even the Tourmalet had limited benefit for a train because of the gradient.
brommers
Years beyond my wisdom
- Location
- Clacton-on-Sea
On Sunday, basically Thomas and Ineos fu**ed up. If Poels had got in front of Alaphilippe just after they caught him and sort of blocked him, Thomas could of rode away from him quite easily IMHB.
