2019 Tour de France
-
The blame lies squarely with team management - despite all our hopes, George was never going to be anything other than a super-domestique failsafe for Kruiswijk. And yes, if he's asked to go back and get waterbottles, he will do that - the watre bottle call is at the call of the directeur sportif - we've seen other GC team leaders go back and fetch waterbottles for sprinters or KOM specialists already in this tour so George going back was nothing unexpected - the issue I have is that team management knew there was a possibility of cross winds splitting the peloton at that stage of the race - I think they were surprised at the severity of the effect but they were aware of a decent probability, so it does come down to an error of judgement letting your #2 GC rider away from the front.
George is actually best omn the long climbs anyway - he's not a puncheur style rider but more of a long tempo rider - but still it's gutting as he was a threat that the other teams couldn't ignore ...a 1 -2 of Kruiswijk and Bennett was a pretty healthy combo.
-
@antipodean said in 2019 Tour de France:
@Chris-B said in 2019 Tour de France:
He's there riding as support to Kruiswijk, with the supposed pay-off that he gets to be team leader at the Vuelta.
In that role - if you get told to go back and get bidons, you go back to get bidons. I guess what's not clear is whether that was what he got told to do.
Riders that get to be team leader in a Grand Tour aren't your usual domestiques. I can't recall a super-domestique abandoning the rider he's supposed to be supporting to go and get bottles.
I think George's position in the GC was pretty much a bonus to TJV. They stuck him on the front for a decent stint on the very first day, to try to set up a stage win for Groenewagen - and presumably to save the legs of their TT riders for the next day. That's not usually what happens to super (climbing) domestiques either.
They've accidentally burned the bonus of George's high position in the classifications - but, George was pretty clear at the start about what his job was.
-
@SynicBast said in 2019 Tour de France:
And yes, if he's asked to go back and get waterbottles, he will do that - the watre bottle call is at the call of the directeur sportif - we've seen other GC team leaders go back and fetch waterbottles for sprinters or KOM specialists already in this tour so George going back was nothing unexpected
But they aren't the Great George Bennett. This is a disaster. Not sure if his employers and peers understand the concept of team - do what's necessary to ensure GGB wins.
-
Was great to watch as it happened. EF had an early dig but got their timing all wrong and ended up in the second and third group eventually. Quickstep started riding and were joined by Ineos who had all their classics riders like Rowe, Van Barle, Moscon and Kwiato pulling as well. The main GC riders caught out (Porte, Pinot, Fuglsang, Uran) were in a small group chasing with a few domestiques. This group got from about 35 seconds to within 10 seconds and could almost touch the front group. Unfortunately, their domestiques were utterly spent and even with the GC guys pulling, couldn't quite get there and the gap slowly extended again to 1.40 eventually.
Was sad to see Bennett. You got the sense he knew what was about to happen and frantically got back onto the back of the peloton just before it all kicked off (spilling a number of the bidons he had collected, in the process). Unfortunately, given the narrow nature of the road and the fact the peloton was getting strung out, it was impossible for him to move up. In almost no time was a minute behind (in group 3). He did break away with 2 other riders and tried in vain to bridge across to group 2.
It all happened in the space of 9km. The Ineos DS, Nico Portal is from the area and had pinpointed that particular stretch given the likely wind direction and narrow roads.
On a different note, I did a sportive on Sunday (Etape UK) with Owain Doull and Chris Lawless from Ineos also riding it. Man, they've got some sweet looking kit (they were saying that they couldn't believe the amount of stuff they get issued each year). Those Pinarello Dogma F12's are impressive looking bikes in the flesh.
-
@antipodean said in 2019 Tour de France:
@SynicBast said in 2019 Tour de France:
And yes, if he's asked to go back and get waterbottles, he will do that - the watre bottle call is at the call of the directeur sportif - we've seen other GC team leaders go back and fetch waterbottles for sprinters or KOM specialists already in this tour so George going back was nothing unexpected
But they aren't the Great George Bennett. This is a disaster. Not sure if his employers and peers understand the concept of team - do what's necessary to ensure GGB wins.
George's form wasn't fabulous going in. And he's never shown the ability to last three weeks. His position was a bonus, but no more than that.
Meanwhile sending Geoge back won't seem bad for Jumbo Visma. They got another win with Van Aert. They'll be stoked with the day.
-
TJV have already done what most teams would kill for - 4 stage wins for three different riders and the team time trial is exceptional especially when they still have a rider in GC contention and a 2ic who is a very good super-domestique for the upcoming climbs of the pyrenees and alps - now if only the tour could get rid of ITTs for good
-
ITTs don't bother me at all. There should be two of them, to prevent the GTs just being who can sprint out of the bunch on the climbs. That's a skill, but doesn't make for the most rounded rider.
It adds suspense too. Can a climber get enough lead to hold off the TT specialist? Otherwise the whole thing is over once you know who is climbing best. The recent Giros have really come down to that calculation, and been exciting for it.
I loathe Team TTs. They merely advantage those who are already most advantaged with a good team.
Can't say I watch ITTs, but that doesn't mean they should go.
-
@Chester-Draws said in 2019 Tour de France:
ITTs don't bother me at all. There should be two of them, to prevent the GTs just being who can sprint out of the bunch on the climbs. That's a skill, but doesn't make for the most rounded rider.
It adds suspense too. Can a climber get enough lead to hold off the TT specialist? Otherwise the whole thing is over once you know who is climbing best. The recent Giros have really come down to that calculation, and been exciting for it.
I loathe Team TTs. They merely advantage those who are already most advantaged with a good team.
Can't say I watch ITTs, but that doesn't mean they should go.
Nail. Head.
-
Alaphilippe wins the time trial and puts mre time into Thomas - and those two put time into everyone else.
But, tonight is the climb up the Col du Tourmalet, where I'd imagine Ineos will be planning to make their move. Interesting question whether they'll be able to crack Alaphilippe, who has not looked in any trouble on the previous mountain stages.
Kruiswijk up to 3rd for TJV and I read his team director saying that the first climb where he lost time was the least suited to his climbing style - so I guess we're likely to see whether he's a genuine contender to win tonight.
-
Egan Bernal fell back from 3rd to 5th. Lots of talk based on early season form of the young Colombian as a Tour winner. It doesn't look like he is ready yet.
So it is probably now a two-way duel between Geraint Thomas and Julian Alaphillippe. It would mean so much to France for a Frenchman to win the Tour de France for the first time since Bernard Hinault in 1985.
-
I’ll eat my hat if Alaphilippe survives the high mountains. They don’t have the team to support him and I think Mas is a better bet for Quickstep overall, for a podium place.
I know he won the KOM jersey last year but that’s completely different from riding GC.
I read somewhere that Alaphilippe has treated the race to date as a series of one day races.
-
Sagan is the best guy to have in the field. Wins the green every year. He popped a mono on the TT. He's just gone over a climb 2nd for some reason out on a break.
Entertainment
-
@mariner4life said in 2019 Tour de France:
Sagan is the best guy to have in the field. Wins the green every year. He popped a mono on the TT. He's just gone over a climb 2nd for some reason out on a break.
Entertainment
He wants the intermediate sprint points after the next climb.
-
@scribe said in 2019 Tour de France:
@mariner4life said in 2019 Tour de France:
Sagan is the best guy to have in the field. Wins the green every year. He popped a mono on the TT. He's just gone over a climb 2nd for some reason out on a break.
Entertainment
He wants the intermediate sprint points after the next climb.
He's winning by daylight! Surely he's just about making sure he gets up the climb in time?
-
18 km of the stage to go until the summit finish at 2000 km up.
No pressure on Julian Alaphilippe, Monsieur Le President, Emmanuel Macron, is in the car right behind him.
Heavy Movistar presence at the front of the Yellow Jersey group. Landa or Quintana to go for the stage win.
-
10km to go. Quintana dropped from leading group. He was highest on classification for Movistar. They are working for the stage win for Landa.
Alaphillippe, Thomas and Bernal in the middle of same group with about 20 riders. No attacks between them yet. Alaphillippe is looking strong. Should be secure in yellow tonight.