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Morning all.
As the country returns to work, I breath a sigh of relief as I don't have to justify to Mrs Lunge why I need to be on the PC typing something for "internet friends" at 9am on a Bank Holiday Sunday morning!
Yesterday was great fun for a sprint stage, lets see what today has in store.
Racing starts today at 13:30 local time
INRNG, what we got?
The Route: 160km into the Dévoluy alps. The intermediate sprint in Veynes after 51km is a finish line of sorts for all the sprinters today, some teams might try to lock down the race until then and then Col de Festre is hard climb in its last third to allow the break to form. The second half sees the race ride the Drac valley like a snowboarder in a half-pipe, climbing up one side of the valley to descend and then climb up the other. It’s all on regular roads. The climb out of Saint-Bonnet reaches the Tour’s KoM point via a long straight road but keeps climbing up for several kilometres after.
The Finish: a ski station summit finish, there’s a long drag up the valley before the turning for the climb and then 7.1km at 6.7%. The Tour de France is a palimpsest, each edition is built on the last and Orcières-Merlette has a legendary name but today is likely to be more prosaic than poetic. Why? Simply because it’s a short and steady climb on a wide road. This isn’t the place for fireworks, instead team’s will deploy their mountain trains and everyone will try to sit tight in the slipstream before late attacks. Boring? It’s only the first Tuesday, there’s no point having the “big reveal” today but we’ll still get some answers about form and injury. The race’s profile makes it look like it’s harder at the start but the final two kilometres have some of the hardest ramps and with 350m to go it flicks left with a final ramp up to the line.
So, who's in the mix for today? A breakaway? Maybe, but who's far enough back on GC?
The Contenders: two thirds of the field are now already four or more minutes down on GC and half are over ten minutes down so there’s now space for a breakaway to stick as long as it doesn’t contain any names who’ll threaten Alaphilippe’s yellow jersey. Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) are obvious picks for the breakaway but both are suffering with back pain and hoping for things to clear up in the coming days. One breakaway specialist who is in form is Alessandro de Marchi (CCC) so he’s a safer pick. Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) is at four minutes down, he might not get much room and might prefer the upcoming Pyrenean stages. Outsider picks are Nans Peters (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Ben Hermans (Israel).
Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) is good for a short climb like this. Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) normally has the best sprint among the GC contenders. Do we include Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) among them or not? Either way his jump on the Col d’Eze impressed and if he wins he takes the yellow jersey. Sergio Higuita (EF) is fast finisher, has he got the nerves and muscle to position himself for the final kick?
And finally, back to yesterday, one of the finest sprints I've seen in a long time.
I'm with Chris Boardman from yesterdays ITV4 show. I don't think Yates is going to have a better chance to get the Yellow jersey so I'm going with Mitchelson Scott and Yates to win.
Yes, this is a great opportunity for Yates (and who knows he might get some help from his soon to be team mates) but we saw last year what wearing yellow does for Alaphillipe and I think this will be another day for this great French rider.
Thanks for the daily threads @Lunge !
I don’t think Yates is going to have a better chance to get the Yellow jersey so I’m going with Mitchelson Scott and Yates to win.
Would be great if he could but I think he'll be too closely marked. Alaphilippe shouldn't have any issues in defending yellow today. Hate to say it but I think it might be one of those damp squib stages that, on the face of it, looks like it's the perfect terrain for the race to go ballistic but in practice, everyone will just want to get through it safely and defensively while nursing whatever injuries they're all carrying from Stage 1.
Damp squib for GC, but I reckon someone will have a shot at a long one.
Breakaway to win it.
best preview available, nice one lunge
anyone know of any radio commentary available anywhere, ive an internet radio behind me if that helps?
i know i could get text updates here, or elsewhere... but im working today and i know it can be nearly as 'consuming' as watching the live footage
anyone know of any radio commentary available anywhere, ive an internet radio behind me if that helps?
BBC Radio 5 Live normally have commentary - sometimes live, sometimes via podcast depending on the day's stage and how exciting it is thought of... 😉
Have Ned and David been kidnapped?
Have Ned and David been kidnapped?
As they're not crammed into commentary booths this year, they've had the chance to alternate the crews a bit. Ned and Peter Kennaugh did the first stint, then Ned and David, then David and Matt Rendell for a bit and now Matt and Chris Boardman.
Aaa, gotcha - ta. First chance I've had to watch one live, wondered where they disappeared to. 🙂
Ooh, that bridge and dam (65km to go) is absolutely stunning! Love a good bridge.
Oops.
Those dangerous rim brakes strike again...
Almost a comedy crash, he was barely moving when he went over the barrier.
Glad he seems OK, even if his frame isn't...
That's the break done. Alaph looking to be in a good postion.
Roglic, and he made it look rather easy.
Easy but not dominating, I suppose they're all keeping their powder dry for the moment.
I'm not so sure, Bernal didn't look like he was sandbagging!
Easy but not dominating,
I got the feeling some teams didn't fancy having the yellow jersey at this stage of the race. (Jumbo included) let Quickstep drag the peloton round for a few more days.
That climb would have suited Roglic much more than Bernal. The main question is can Roglic hold his form from the the Dauphine thru' the tour.
Not a classic stage by any means, but I kind of enjoyed the ratcheting tension of the uphill slo-mo bunch sprint.
I like seeing Wout van Aert and Alaphillipe side-by-side in a bunch - they're just so opposite in style. WvA is so composed and graceful while Alaphillipe is basically just a bunch of angry ferrets sellotaped together and sat on a bike.
The main question is can Roglic hold his form from the the Dauphine thru’ the tour
agreed, and my money's on "no"
I know nothing, clearly!
The speed with which that mashed Cervélo was whipped away from view, however..!
I'm waiting for Sepp Kuss to get his chance as a No. 1.
@scaredypants...Hmmmm. I would be surprised if Roglic lost the tdf this year.
Hmmmm. I would be surprised if Roglic lost the tdf this year.
He is certainly the favourite but I wouldnt be surprised if someone else won.