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looks much like here damp and miserable
https://twitter.com/bleubourgogne/status/1809508814246301753
wout mobbed @ the finish yesterday
Today looks like it might be deceptively hard. There was a time when I’d unquestioningly go along with the ‘break or sprint’ narrative. With todays GC guys* I can’t expel the thought that there might be some SHENANEGANS today.
*I mostly mean tadej
Thing is, he doesn't need to do anything at all - especially not on a stage like this where it'd be possible to pull moves back if you put the whole team to work. It's a tough stage but it's more a "soften the legs of the sprinters" effect than a day where the GC can be made or broken.
The last couple of sprint stages have been a bit dull without a breakaway to liven things up so maybe today is just about hard enough for a few riders to nip up the road. It's the kind of stage that would suit the likes of Magnus Cort, Søren Kragh Andersen and Matej Mohoric for a decent long-lived breakaway.
missed this one (oh I remember hamster day) a Cav "OK Dad" Selfie from thursdays start 😉
https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1808827454678573082
why don’t teams have custom doors for the mechanics these days ?
You're not allowed to lean out and fix bikes on the move any more. Partly because it was a very common trick for a rider in distress to fake a mechanical, drop back to the team car and hang on for a bit while the mechanic waved the magic spanner around pretending to fix things - usually, in an incredible coincidence, managing to "fix" it just as the tough climb was coming to an end!
And partly, safety - stuff getting dropped, tangled in the bike etc.
Besides, modern road bikes can't be fixed that way; everything is integrated, the gears need to be put into adjustment mode etc. Easier and quicker to just change the bike.
You’re not allowed to lean out and fix bikes on the move any more.
eh ? seen it more than once on this edition 😕
https://twitter.com/LidlTrek/status/1809517090379809091?t=fq4SwCQHmdX5rkR6gMN3uA&s=19
Mads Pedersen is out.
looks like it's going to be very wet for most of the day
Oh No! Poor Mads. It could have been much worse if the Bunnyhopping incident hadn't come off. Mads is one of the best riders in my Velogames team, so sad to lose him.
There's been a lot of laughing at the TT helmets, but having spent two hours peaking through the top of the original Aerohead visor on Sunday, I'd rather like to try the new one when it becomes available. The front on shots show really very excellent visibility. Ask Stefan Kung why that might be helpful! Given the rest of the attire (skin suit, calf socks, undergarment...), it's a small sartorial step.
Interestingly, testing shows limited differences between helmets that can be very position-dependent. Getting the head out of the wind lends to wider helmets at the base to spread the wind around the shoulders. That said, I'm not wearing a POC. I have my standards 😀
And Bernard was 61st yesterday, perhaps I should stop mid-race for a kiss as well, seems to work on a negative split.
The julien bernard fine is just silly. It completely spoils what was otherwise a very joyful moment in an already joyful tour. Loving the Magnus Cort response
https://twitter.com/MagnusCort/status/1809309362923372825
I think the fine was because it was a TIME TRIAL, so go as fast as you can. And hence stopping is bringing the race into disrepute. Not a lot different to a bike change though to be honest. That he was mid-pack despite stopping did not seem to register with the UCI - he wasn't troubling the time cut. There is a long tradition of sending local riders off the front of the peloton to enjoy their fans when they ride through their locale. Just not in TT's. I thought it was fabulous, personally.
remco selfie
could be in Yorkshire !
All kicking off as the climbs start - good little break from EF up the road and then a couple of other EF riders tried to bridge but only succeeded in waking up the peloton. Counter attacks flying!
lovely traction avant parked on someones drive 🙂
also this
https://twitter.com/eurosport/status/1809576138215174147
Like a lot of UCI rules and regulations the one about mechanics on the move was often ignored, however, they are supposed to be clamping down on it more (although it onl applies to the bike, a mechanic can still lean out of the window to adjust a riders cleats), discussion by inner ring here: https://inrng.com/2015/03/no-more-mechanics-on-the-move/
see Sam Bennett just voided the frame warranty 😀
This has got very fast and slightly nervy - through narrow towns on wet roads, everyone fighting for position amidst the threat of crashes and crosswinds, Pogacar slightly isolated, splits appearing in the peloton.
Gap to the lone breakaway (Abrahamsen) falling rapidly now, just coming up to 25km to go.
the UAE enve wheels look fab @ speed!
Philipsen pipped at the post again. Excellent 🙂
Great to see Girmay doing so well. WvA looks a shadow of his usual self, really hasn't recovered from his crash seemingly. He'd have been a favourite for today in years gone by.
Is WvA just working solely for Vingegaard?
Agree about Girmay, he's been knocking on the door of being a truly top notch sprinter for a couple of years now but what he's doing will be huge for the sport. Plus he's a thoroughly likeable guy and it's great to see the team fully behind him.
Not sure what happened with EF's tactics today. Looked good for a bit then kind of shot themselves in the foot and then the last effort fell very short of the mark. Loved the rather "WTF?" look that WvA gave the last EF rider who tried to split the bunch through town only for to be stamped out like a damp squib.
WvA and the whole Visma team have been dealt one blow after another this season. They just seem like any middle ranking team just now. But at least they aren’t competing with UAE as the peloton’s ugliest team - really - were they all hired with jug ears to provide maximum wind protection for Pog ??
Shallow? Moi??
Gravel stage tomorrow!!
https://www.rouleur.cc/blogs/the-rouleur-journal/the-making-of-the-tours-first-gravel-stage
Terrible news from the Tour of Austria. 🙁
https://twitter.com/TeamCoopRepsol/status/1809623361225474555?t=tjgPuLvVdn4WjHrMH5wX5A&s=19
@48.2051321,4.2131771,3a,15y,52.24h,79.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgo113ltd4yQicx8GVqzZcQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dgo113ltd4yQicx8GVqzZcQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D52.23968946964685%26pitch%3D10.358993445031388%26thumbfov%3D90!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&coh=205410&entry=ttu">quite rough in places
this is going to be mental tomorrow looking how narrow the sections are if you have a mechanical and don't have a team mates bike to take you're going to be ****ed because the team car aint getting to you. Think I'd be using team motorcycles 😕
@48.2366765,4.174409,3a,73.8y,154.05h,65.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1smYK4m79_E3Bi9K3-VZpXHg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DmYK4m79_E3Bi9K3-VZpXHg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D154.05013488249065%26pitch%3D24.54627317878473%26thumbfov%3D90!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&coh=205410&entry=ttu">another section close to the finish
@48.259811,4.1861464,3a,65.1y,266.36h,77.44t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sL9VbxzF06eLq5yWBeQTddw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DL9VbxzF06eLq5yWBeQTddw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D266.3647009187482%26pitch%3D12.559821139029424%26thumbfov%3D90!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&coh=205410&entry=ttu">might be some nettle rash in the peloton
As an aside from all the racing, I have to say the caravan is coming up top tat this year. Here's todays haul, including 11 hats (after we gave some away), drinks, socks, 3 t-shirts, 6 sleep masks, Sweatbands, olive oil, mini sausages, haribo, multiple keyrings. Cos that's what it's all about really ?
Given the rain we had near Dijon today, the gravel could be quite sticky up at Troyes tomorrow. I'll be riding a few bits (on my road bike!) Before the race comes through. Hopefully no punctures as I've got a chunnel to catch later!
Marked contrast today huddling out of torrential rain waiting for the race to come through, after yesterday getting close to heatstroke watching the TT for 5 hours. Makes me appreciate just what the riders are subjected to re weather conditions, 30c last week compared to soaking 14c today. Throw in a bit of cyclo-cross tomorrow. As if it wasn't tough enough!
Ahem, @klunk may i suggest you check your autocorrect, parkour is running up walls and stuff, parcours is french for "race route"
why don’t teams have custom doors for the mechanics these days ?
Climate change?
Terrible news from the Tour of Austria. ?
Indeed, this has affected me a fair bit as I have a mate still in hospital unable to talk after a crash on our ride Saturday....cycling isn't dangerous until it is and then it can be very dangerous....?
Seems that opinion is a bit divided about the inclusion of gravel sectors although how much of that is manufactured by breathlessly excited journalists is debatable...
Bit of a gimmick IMO - like cobbles
I love the cobbled/gravelled one-dayers but I think Lefevre is right on this <washes hands furiously and repeatedly>
I might play a drinking game while watching, see how many times the commentators use the phrases:
"well you can't win the Tour today, but you can easily lose it"
"the Tour might not be won today but it could certainly be lost"
I reckon I'll be quietly pissed by about 40km into the stage.
doubles for "used to be mountain-biker" ?
What time does it start? I'm in dire need of actually getting some work done today! Might have it on in the background for a bit.
What time does it start?
12.15 for ITV4 coverage, it's on EuroSport already (the pre-stage stuff)
km 0 12:15, first gravel 13:35-13:41, the approach to that last cluster of gravel segments 16:00-16:15, finish around 17:00
I think this is an "all day" or "last hour" day.
I think this is an “all day” or “last hour” day.
All day for me - partly cos the weather here is shite but partly cos there's anything that could happen! ITV4 just pointing out that the 5 previous winners of Strade Binache are in this peloton.
Just started and immediate attacks, predictably including polka dot jersey Abrahamsen.
I might play a drinking game while watching, see how many times the commentators use the phrases:
12.45. Already started !
My pick for the day is Toms Skuijns. He was on the podium a Strade this year and has been freed from team duties. Hope he's not too knackered after his outstanding spring.
Interesting take from Inner Ring:
[i]The Route: 199km and a rare loop, the start and finish in the same town. 33km are off road gravel sectors, often amid the vines. Gravel comes in many different forms but remember some of these roads were used in the inaugural Le Tour Femmes in 2022. Marlen Reusser won the stage and the only GC rider who lost time was Mavi Garcia, but not undone by the stones but felled by her team car. The gravel is not fierce but there’s the “fear of fear” effect where teams stressed about something going wrong fight for position which adds to the pressure and so on.[/i]
Full webpage:
https://inrng.com/2024/07/tour-de-france-stage-9-preview-troyes/#more-44749
Pidcock on the move, trying to bridge across to the breakaway.
So if gravel riding is part of the tour does that mean we will have road bikes in stw going forward or does finally proove that gravel is not about riding off road?
Absolute chaos!
Riders off and running, the riders at the very back completely stopped in the logjam... A turn off the main road and onto a 15% gravel climb is somewhat unfair I think. It's more turning it into a fake CX race. Visma are ripping it up at the front, making the most of the confusion.
Absolutely loving this, so exciting!
Nah, it's great. They'll be moaning like hell afterwards though.
Does make you wonder if some of them have ever ridden off road when you see them spinning out on that climb.
Tom Pidcock right at the front in a break away
Does make you wonder if some of them have ever ridden off road when you see them spinning out on that climb.
Yep is was a bit weird to see so many walking, but we didn't get to see too much footage of what happened so prob very different if you're there
I think they had to stop and then couldn't get restarted on that slope.
Has certainly blown the race apart for now
Well when you see them stood up over the front of the bike and the back wheel spinning you can't but wonder.
Obviously those coming off in front have a knock on effect on those behind leading to issues and them having to stop and run, but still some questionable technique.
Anyway I enjoy the added entertainment and mixing up of the race.
'Chemin blanc' sounds so much better than 'gravel road'
Sudden drama within Visma, looks like Vingegaard had a problem and had to nick Jan Tratnik's bike leaving JT stuck at the side of the road. UAE picked up on that and are continuing to pile the pressure on.
Vingegaard back up to the front, has found WvA to help him but he's on Jan Tratnik's bike.
Pogacar goes! Not quite a full on attack but they're properly smashing it.
Remco not too happy about Jonas not riding, but what did he expect with 70k to go? Pogi and Remco clearly want to race so looks like the break are going to struggle.
This has been a thrilling day of racing. Little separate stories and races happening all over the road, Visma and UAE almost taking it in turns to attack each other and all still in the balance with 20km to go.
I agree, watched it live, I've never been so glued to an entire stage like that. There was always something happening!
We started watching the full stage at 7pm while eating, thanks to the psa about the cheap itv sub a few pages ago it's hd coverage (broadcast channel is only sd) with all the ads cut out. If i didn't have to get up for work tomorrow we'd have watched the entire stage rather than switching to the highlights programme when that was posted online. Bloody excellent watching, gutted for Gee and Pidders though
I think the Tour of Britain needs a gravel stage.
There might be plans for that... 😉 Not this year but hopefully in 2025.
Today was just outstanding. Photogenic, constantly active, nailbiting. Bet the riders will be glad of the rest day!
I remember watching a road race with gravel sections rutland way. Was good fun.
Todays stage was excellent.
@anyone,
Does the ITVX subscription give ad-free live TV or just ads in HD ?
Today was just outstanding
Vingagoagoago doesn't agree.
Remco said he doesn't have the balls to race! I love Remco, he's so instinctive. Such a shame Vingagoagoago got across to him and Pog at about 75km to go, those two thing to finish would have been great.
psa about the cheap itv sub
I can't find this - could you point me in the right direction?
Remco said he doesn’t have the balls to race! I love Remco, he’s so instinctive. Such a shame Vingagoagoago got across to him and Pog at about 75km to go, those two thing to finish would have been great.
There was no real incentive to do anything.
Pogacar couldn't drop them therefore couldn't extend his lead. Remco got chased down so no chance for him to close the gap on GC and Vingegaard had the common sense not to smash himself into the ground trying plus he certainly wasn't going to abandon his teammates behind him.
Each side tried numerous times to land the killer blow but it all ended up a stalemate. No point smashing to the line to finish 1-2-3.
I certainly wouldn't be ruling Vingegaard from winning yet. He seems to riding very much within himself still and has a tactical brain.
We started watching the full stage at 7pm while eating, thanks to the psa about the cheap itv sub a few pages ago it’s hd coverage (broadcast channel is only sd) with all the ads cut out.
I missed that too, could someone repost it?
ITVx stuff was NBT on p2, adding to somebody else's info. Seems you need to go via the app on an i-device (my android didn't see it)
I'm still not sure that it shows real-time telly with no adverts but there's a free 7day trial, so you could find out
Looks more like a big mouth idiot than “instinctive”.
Yeah, cycling should just have the likes of Vingagoago, just follow moves, never attack never show panache never do anything exciting until you have had your team work over the contenders first.
There was no real incentive to do anything.
I now, hence the disappointment that Vin got across.
I was also hoping to see MVdP and Pog team up off the front one for GC one for stage, that would have been fun.
I certainly wouldn’t be ruling Vingegaard from winning yet
That's very true although I don't see his team being able to out ride UAE in the mountains and I don't see him riding away from Pog so it's going to be tough. Remco will crack in the mountains though.
I can’t find this – could you point me in the right direction?
someone else mentioned it, as above I tracked it to subscribing via the app on an apple device - gives you a 12 month ad-free sub for £19.99 rather than £59.99. Note: ad-free only applies to non-broadcast streaming, if you are watching something that is being broadcast at the same time then you get the broadcast with ads and cannot even fast forward / rewind, not even if you use "watch from start". If you watch after the broadcast finished then the ads disappear and rew/ff works fine
Vingagoago
Hilarious.
To return to the actual subject, I was referring to Evenepoel's interview - dissing Vingegaard, dissing his team, dissing the race organisation. Childish.