2019 Tour de France
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@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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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@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.
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He wants the intermediate sprint points after the next climb.
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@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.
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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?
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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.
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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.