Tour De France 2021 with spoilers

[Dogtrousers]

I can believe it and, coincidently, I remarked on something similar to my wife when walking the dog earlier. That is, I knew that I'd personally take at least twice the amount of time to complete a stage of the TdF - and yesterday's stage, sheesh, I'd probably still be out there!

I use "double the pros' time" as a benchmark quite often, going back to when I was a runner. Marathon? 2hrs for the pros. 4h will do me. The peloton can cruise happily at 40-50kmh. I cruise happily at 20-25 kmh. And so on.

Of course that's only for running and cycling, things that I would consider myself good at. Thinks like shot-putt or swimming or other stuff that I never do I'm probably down to 10%. Ski-jumping probably more like a fraction of a percent

Edit: I just checked. Stage 1 of the 2016 tour (flat, 188km) was won by Cav in 4h 13' 55" I rode it a few days before the race and it took me 11h 04' 58". So a factor of 2.6 Mind you that did include a hearty breakfast stop a really good lunch stop ... and a mid-afternoon snack And my route came out 10km or so longer for some reason.

 

[BrumJim]

I use "double the pros' time" as a benchmark quite often, going back to when I was a runner. Marathon? 2hrs for the pros. 4h will do me. The peloton can cruise happily at 40-50kmh. I cruise happily at 20-25 kmh. And so on.

Of course that's only for running and cycling, that I would consider myself good at. Thinks like shot-putt or swimming or other stuff that I never do I'm probably down to 10%. Ski-jumping probably more like a fraction of a percent

Eddie "the eagle" Edward's record for the ski jump is 71m. Given that he did it all himself without any funding or professional coaching, with second-hand kit that didn't fit, and being much heavier than the average ski jumper. So I guess it wouldn't be that difficult for an average Joe / Jo to get reasonably close to that distance......


as long as.....


they had the guts to launch themselves off a 90m hill into the oblivion. Frankly I would get nowhere near 71m. As in not 60m, not 50m, not 40m, but as in not even having the courage to sit on the pole with my skis on looking down the massive slope and hill that awaits me!

 

[Dogtrousers]

So I guess it wouldn't be that difficult for an average Joe / Jo to get reasonably close to that distance......

I'd have to learn how to ski first ...

 

[JBGooner]

At only 22 years of age, Pogacar could be the first rider to win more than 5 tours and take the record. His future is certainly bright. As a climber, he is head and shoulders above all the others. As a TT rider, he is pretty good too.

After his performances so far this tour I'm leaning towards him winning as many TdF as Lance Armstrong ...

Which would make the race for "second" place interesting at least.

 

[matticus]

The race for 2nd IS interesting; the strongest on-paper candidates pre-tour seem to have teams in disarray. Could be a left-field contender - such as that mountain goat "Cobrelli" chappie?

(and for 3rd place of course)

Green Jersey looks set for a battle royal, which is unusual. :-)

 

[Dogtrousers]

The race for 2nd IS interesting; the strongest on-paper candidates pre-tour seem to have teams in disarray. Could be a left-field contender - such as that mountain goat "Cobrelli" chappie?

(and for 3rd place of course)

Green Jersey looks set for a battle royal, which is unusual. :-)

Who is this Sonic O'Brelly guy? Is he Irish?

 

[BrumJim]

Who is this Sonic O'Brelly guy? Is he Irish?

Yup. An Irish blue hedgehog. Goes really fast too.

 

[JBGooner]

Ol' Rigoberto Uran has done a good job submarining his way onto the podium positions

 

[matticus]

After his performances so far this tour I'm leaning towards him winning as many TdF as Lance Armstrong ...

Think you'll find he is one up on the Texan already.

 

[gavroche]

After his performances so far this tour I'm leaning towards him winning as many TdF as Lance Armstrong ...

Which would make the race for "second" place interesting at least.

Who is he? Officially, no-one has won more than 5 TdF so far.

 

[matticus]

Some wag on twitter:

Unexpected graffiti on the final summit today; "Allez OPI!"
Shouldn't laugh, but I did.
#TDF2021

 

[yello]

Over the last Sky years (era?) I'd gotten used to it being a race for 2nd. It was the only way I could sustain interest. And even then, I stopped watching in the last few years, just read reports. What's happening now is a god-send for my interest in the sport.

 

[yello]

Unexpected graffiti on the final summit today; "Allez OPI!"

Was Omi dropped?

 

[matticus]

Was Omi dropped?

Don't know!
It looked like they ran out of paint (or road width).

Replay the coverage of Pog summiting if you want to check.

 

[JBGooner]

Over the last Sky years (era?) I'd gotten used to it being a race for 2nd. It was the only way I could sustain interest. And even then, I stopped watching in the last few years, just read reports. What's happening now is a god-send for my interest in the sport.

Wait until Team Ineos sign Tadej Pogacar!

(Don't worry, that'll never happen!)