2019 Tour de France, stage 3: Binche - Epernay, 215km

[Broccolidwarf]

I wonder what Wellens agenda is, it seems like a break doomed to fail, on a route where he could have attacked much later.

 

[Salvarani]

3 hours left at work, hope I get home so I can watch the last hour

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

3 hours left at work, hope I get home so I can watch the last hour

In 3 hours, they will be 30 k from the finish, perfect timing dude

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I wonder what Wellens agenda is, it seems like a break doomed to fail, on a route where he could have attacked much later.

If (or when) the breaks, Benoot should try something.

With narrow and twisty hills, this stage deserves an aggressive race.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Meanwhile, while we are waiting for the last 50 k of the day to make it interesting, here are the highest 10 average watts on yesterdays TTT:

Luke Durbridge
423 W
Michael Valgren
394 W
Mads Würtz Schmidt
394 W
Jack Haig
390 W
Rein Taaramäe
385 W
Nicolas Roche
384 W
André Greipel
379 W
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
374 W
Amael Moinard
374 W
Hugo Houle
372 W

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Cort is clearly the Astana rider dedicated 100 % to Fuglsang, he never leaves his side, it was the same on stage 1.

Pretty cool to see such loyalty, on a stage he would otherwise be in contention for..... I think the viking will surprise everyone in the mountains this year.

 

[Bolder]

Re:

Meanwhile, while we are waiting for the last 50 k of the day to make it interesting, here are the highest 10 average watts on yesterdays TTT:

Luke Durbridge
423 W
Michael Valgren
394 W
Mads Würtz Schmidt
394 W
Jack Haig
390 W
Rein Taaramäe
385 W
Nicolas Roche
384 W
André Greipel
379 W
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
374 W
Amael Moinard
374 W
Hugo Houle
372 W

Interesting. I don't know how wattage correlates exactly to speed, in the sense that if you don't have a great aero position, you could be producing higher wattage than someone with a better position but still moving at the same speed. Is that the case?

Looking at today's stage, it looks like a lightweight puncheur should win. That last stretch looks pretty hard.

 

[Brough]

I can’t see any kind of sprinter being anywhere near the top ten. Strong men only need apply today.
1. Alaphilippe
2. Lutsenko
3. Van Aert
This is going to be a compelling stage

 

[wirral]

Ha! Bradley Wiggins. There's a fine line between the freshness of an outspoken analyst and a dip in professionalism.

:lol:

 

[RedheadDane]

Looks like Astana learned the lesson.

And seems Matthews has gotten over his "But I prepared to help Dumoulin…" issues, he also hasn't gotten used to the fact that Jumbo-Visma isn't called "Lotto" anymore.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

Interesting. I don't know how wattage correlates exactly to speed, in the sense that if you don't have a great aero position, you could be producing higher wattage than someone with a better position but still moving at the same speed. Is that the case?

Obviously, or even higer wattages and be slower. I think Campenaerts produced close to 80 watts on average less than Wiggins, while riding half a km per hour faster when he broke the hour record.

Van Aert pushed the biggest wattages 2 years ago in the Belgian NC ITT. He only finished 6th (then).

 

[Yingge]

As Tony Martin continues with his TT training.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

According to Sven Nys, who checked the last km by foot. He says the final 300 meters are above 10% and you can only see the finishline in the last 150 meters, with a few twists and turns.

 

[Sestriere]

Re: Re:

Interesting. I don't know how wattage correlates exactly to speed, in the sense that if you don't have a great aero position, you could be producing higher wattage than someone with a better position but still moving at the same speed. Is that the case?

Obviously, or even higer wattages and be slower. I think Campenaerts produced close to 80 watts on average less than Wiggins, while riding half a km per hour faster when he broke the hour record.

Van Aert pushed the biggest wattages 2 years ago in the Belgian NC ITT. He only finished 6th (then).

Regarding Campenaerts, that obviously also results from riding at altitude vs riding at sea level in Wiggins' case.

 

[sir fly]

Thought Tony as the rhythm machine was the thing of yesterday.
Give the man a break... and he's policing it by himself.

 

[RedheadDane]

Asgreen and T. Martin pulling the peloton. I don't think it'll be the last time we've seen that this year.

 

[Yingge]

Re:

Thought Tony as the rhythm machine was the thing of yesterday.
Give the man a break... and he's policing it by himself.

Yes, though it seems that he has now got some help. I still have memories of his Vuelta effort a few years back.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

According to Vandegoor (Radio Sporza), FDJ has been working with Bert Blocken from the universities of Leuven & Eindhoven, the same professor that calculated the benefit of riding behind a motorcycle, up to 50 meters, in air resistance. As a possible explanation for their surprisingly decent TTT yesterday.

 

[sir fly]

Martin spent too much time pulling the peloton.
The gap's coming down quicker than it's been rising.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Asgreen and T. Martin pulling the peloton. I don't think it'll be the last time we've seen that this year.

Praparation for the individual TT

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Hehe, Moerkoev boxing out Sagan for the sprint, perfect lead out work

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

Asgreen and T. Martin pulling the peloton. I don't think it'll be the last time we've seen that this year.

Praparation for the individual TT

Preparing to get worn down and leave it to others.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Hehe, Moerkoev boxing out Sagan for the sprint, perfect lead out work

Yeah, Sagan was never going to try to beat Viviani in that sprint.

He needs to keep his powder dry for later in the stage.

 

[sir fly]

I'm off to the grocery store... Anybody something?

O.K.... I'm back... Got some mayonnaise for Broccolidwarf, biscuits for tobydawg and a white ribbon for RhD.
Fitting?

 

[King Boonen]

When does the racing start?