Tour de France 2022 with SPOILERS

[Chislenko]

Top marks for prediction
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Thank you, although I fear this may be the pinnacle of his achievements at this year's tour unless we have some abandons.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Thank you, although I fear this may be the pinnacle of his achievements at this year's tour unless we have some abandons.

Actually I'm a bit of a fan of GM. He seems a bit of an oddball. He's never going to be great but he's been knocking on the door of the TdF top 10 for a while, and finally made it last year.

 

[Cathryn]

Phénoménal final KMs! I take advantage of the big screen in my classroom to watch the tour once the children have gone home and I’m prepping for the next day! I had to put a (very small) chair in front of it and give it my full attention at the end!

I’m super excited to see the women end their TdFF on this climb!

 

[Cathryn]

I know I’m going to get yelled at…but the ease with which Pog accelerated worries me and reminded me of the dark days. He’s instoppable. I’m torn between thinking OH MY WORD THIS IS AMAZING AND HE IS INCREDIBLE and ‘Oh this looks suspicious’.

He’s my son’s hero! I think he’s amazing! I’m just nervous.

 

[BurningLegs]

I know what you mean @Cathryn - I find it frankly offensive that he crossed the line looking so fresh! 😝

 

[rich p]

I know I’m going to get yelled at…but the ease with which Pog accelerated worries me and reminded me of the dark days. He’s instoppable. I’m torn between thinking OH MY WORD THIS IS AMAZING AND HE IS INCREDIBLE and ‘Oh this looks suspicious’.

He’s my son’s hero! I think he’s amazing! I’m just nervous.

I understand why you're saying that but I disagree Cathryn. I thought he looked more vulnerable today than I've seen him for a long time. He only beat that old bloke Thomas by 14 seconds who is clean as a whistle.
I think he's a phenomenon.
You can never be certain but I'd be surprised if it's down to substances.

 

[rich p]

He's only taken 8 seconds on the ITT and 15 seconds on the audacious attack on the cobbles when Vingegaard punctured.
Unless. of course, you think Jonas V is also a bit suss!

 

[Milzy]

Yeah but these days they’re not as wreck less with doping.
You can microdose the EPO & it won’t show in the blood after a few days. It’s probably a level playing field what ever but Pog is a one in millions athlete.

 

[Adam4868]

Have to agree with Rich....and that hurts ! I don't think he's done anything that out of the ordinary other than be good.
But I'm of the thinking there all clean until you show me otherwise....I wouldn't watch it otherwise 😁

 

[Dogtrousers]

But I'm of the thinking there all clean until you show me otherwise....I wouldn't watch it otherwise 😁

This.

Unless there's some real evidence or at least juicy gossip, there's no real point worrying about it. Once you get that juicy goss then it's speculation time! But until then...

If you start suspecting malpractice in people who put in dominant performances you set off down a road that ends in The Clinic forum where anyone who wins any race anywhere is obviously on the juice.

Mind you, I'd never go so far as to think that any rider is actually clean. I'd be completely unsurprised if any rider got busted. Disappointed, but not surprised.

 

[Cathryn]

Pog is a one in millions athlete.

I agree and I entirely want the peloton to be clean and trustworthy. I guess this is the sad legacy of a generation of dopers...that we watch these wonderful performances and there's a kernel of doubt in our minds.

As I said, he's my son's hero. And he's amazing.

 

[McNobber]

He's only taken 8 seconds on the ITT and 15 seconds on the audacious attack on the cobbles when Vingegaard punctured.
Unless. of course, you think Jonas V is also a bit suss!

 

[Mike_P]

Theres the obvious natural boost of winning - if Jonas V had won I doubt it would have collasped at the line.

 

[rich p]

Breakaway day if this was a race a few years ago but these days you can't tell if the GC will want another battle.
Rog to put the hammer down and draw out Pog? An Ineos & J-V alliance?

 

[Adam4868]

Breakaway day if this was a race a few years ago but these days you can't tell if the GC will want another battle.
Rog to put the hammer down and draw out Pog? An Ineos & J-V alliance?

I actually think they might let a breakaway go today !
Oh those heady days of the Giro when every stage was a break 🙄