2019 Tour de France, stage 1: Bruxelles > Brussel, 194,5 km

[sir fly]

C. PRUDHOMME'S COMMENT
The second Grand Départ held in Brussels after the one in 1958 will honour one of the country’s speciality: sprinting! Despite the fact that the day’s visit will take the riders on the roads of the flemish classics, the perspective of a bunched finish in front of the Royal Palace remains the most likely. But a solo exploit can’t be excluded.

last km

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Congrats for the iniciative!!
Groene ftw!!
will there be some sort of celebration at Wolume Saint Pierre(Merckx) at 14km to the finish?

 

[Tonton]

Re: 2019 Tour de France, stage 1: Bruxelles > Brussel, 194,5

Now the TdF has officially begun. The first OP. Not much about this stage but a celebration. Eddy all the way. a sprint. July...love it!

 

[hammerthaim]

Caleb or Peter for me.

 

[Koronin]

Wonder who is going in the break to try to get the first KOM jersey.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Anyone know elevation gain? Would like that info before predicting a stage winner

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Wonder who is going in the break to try to get the first KOM jersey.

Bala

 

[Pantani_lives]

Prediction.

The first attack will come from Aimé De Gendt. De Marchi, Bouet, Simon, Turgis and Van Melsen will join him in the early break. Viviani will be launched by his train and beat Groenewegen in the bunch sprint.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Re:

Anyone know elevation gain? Would like that info before predicting a stage winner

1500m. Thereabouts.

 

[glassmoon]

Just please don't crash, OK?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Gramont and Bosberg will establish the break of the day, and first over Gramont will get the polka dots...... it will probably not be one of the "big" riders, this early in the race, I'll look for a pro-conti rider going all out to take it on Gramont, as it is a 2 day trip to the podium, including a little prize money and notoriety.

Question is if the green jersey is important enough, that someone will reel the break in prior to the intermediate sprint at 125 k...... that could make the last 70 k interesting. But if there is no wind today (and it looks like a gentle breeze), chances are the peloton will keep them at 2-3 minutes until the last 50 k, and then drop the hammer.

The last 5 k, will be a very interesting fight between DQ, LV and LS, to see who has train dominance.

I think Viviani has the best train, Groenewegen has the best legs, and the sprint is best suited for Ewan (and you never know with Sagan)........ It's going to be a close one

 

[Robert5091]

Hail the modern charioteers!

Though not as well paid as Gaius Appuleius Diocles - to the winner goes the laurels, and may the gods keep all safe. Ride on!

 

[tobydawq]

Isn't the Muur much steeper than 13 percent?

 

[Laplaz]

I fear some crashes unfortunately

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

I fear some crashes unfortunately

If there was no crash, on stage 1 of the tour, it would be an anomaly

 

[tobydawq]

The Deceuninck riders have watched the final part of the stage with virtual reality glasses, as there was too much traffic to do it yesterday. So, an employee of the team had gotten up early one day (not yesterday) and filmed the final 10 km.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

Isn't the Muur much steeper than 13 percent?

It's 9.2% average; 19.8% maximum. However that maximum part is a very short. The cobblestones are what make it really hard.

 

[Nirvana]

Since the presentation I'm wondering if some teams would be crazy enough to try something on the Muur, a fast run in and a good pace on it usually are enough to stretch the peloton and then have splits on the descent.

 

[Vesica]

The second Grand Départ held in Brussels after the one in 1958 will honour one of the country’s speciality: sprinting!

The first thing I tought about this was: Oh nice sarcasm from the OP..then I realized it was a serious quote from the Tour boss.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

That 2 km section of pave after Charleroi might catch a few out. It doesn't have difficult cobbles but it does get narrow in the second half and it would be surprising if someone didn't end up in the field

 

[Pricey_sky]

The little uphill rise of 3-4% in the final km could have its say here. They won’t want to start their sprint too soon!

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

The little uphill rise of 3-4% in the final km could have its say here. They won’t want to start their sprint too soon!

It looks like it's 500 metres of 5%. I say Ewan.

 

[Salvarani]

Re: 2019 Tour de France, stage 1: Bruxelles > Brussel, 194,5

This taking forever to get going

 

[RedheadDane]

LoL, Mørkøv. He wasn't really supposed to be up there… :lol:
I did find the fact that - from the images - it's only the Eritrean and the Danish champion up there, I would… definitely have expected the French...

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Let's hope everyone comes to Paris safe and sound and everything is decided fair and square on the road.