Tour De France 2021 with spoilers

[matticus]

Unexpected indeed. Not very often you'll see the yellow jersey be allowed to get away like that. Maybe the thinking, on both sides of the equation, is that VdP will lose time in the mountains.

Also, just about every big team had a rider in the main break.
V unusual circumstances!

 

[mjr]

I don’t know that part of France at all but it’s beautiful!!! Adding it to my list!

Don't tell him, Pike!

Good to see him giving it a go. Shame Movistar (who?) bolloxed it.

I think there's some history there(!)

 

[yello]

I don’t know that part of France at all but it’s beautiful!!! Adding it to my list!

I know the earlier bit (Vierzon way) relatively well, and have done a few rides around there and Bourges/Sancere/Nevers way. It's really flat around Bourges and can be hard work if the wind's against you. But the latter part of the stage I don't know at all and I agree that it did look lovely.

 

[yello]

I've read that Matthieu VdP wasn't planning to ride the full tour and was intending to pull out at some point to prepare for the Olympic Games. I'm guessing then that he's just planning to enjoy his days in yellow and defend it for as long as he can. That'd maybe explain why the GC 'usual suspects' were unconcerned with him in the breakaway.

A good day for Cavendish though. I didn't realise just how many points he bagged yesterday.

 

[Mike_P]

Have Thomas, TGH and Yates indicated they will pull out to prepare for the Olympics?

 

[Buck]

Yates said he wasn’t going for the GC but was looking at some stage wins and using the TdF as prep for the Olympics

 

[jowwy]

Have Thomas, TGH and Yates indicated they will pull out to prepare for the Olympics?

Dont think thomas was picked for the olympics was he??

 

[GuyBoden]

Looking forward to today's mountain stage 8, it looks like a good stage for Alaphilippe, with a nice descent to the finish.

 

[Mike_P]

Dont think thomas was picked for the olympics was he??

Is according to British Cycling
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/Team-GB-Announce-Cycling-Team-Tokyo-2020-Olympics

 

[cyberknight]

I was thinking and correct me if im wrong , its great that Cav is in green but is it me or are there no real top flight sprinters this year ?

 

[KneesUp]

He ended up finishing all on his own in the middle of two groups. Very odd.
View attachment 597058

I've not seen anything but that just looks to me like he stuck with the 18'37" group for a fair while until either he thought 'I'm definitely within the cut off now, even if I get a mechanical' or he got to the last climb / decent and thought he had no need to push himself or take any risks so just coasted home, but the other group were so far behind they didn't catch him.

 

[bitsandbobs]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Rog doesn't start tomorrow. The poor guy looked a wreck.

JV have said they'll take a decision on Monday (assuming he can hang on over the weekend).

 

[bitsandbobs]

Should Jumbo go all in on WVA for GC?

Dont think he'll be allowed to get in any more breaks!

 

[roadrash]

Roglic does indeed look wrecked

 

[Eziemnaik]

Spanish tv commentary is funny. A guest (ex movistar rider) mentioned Movistar is still doing anything possible to hinder Carapaz. The host is looking at him like as if he shat on the floor