Only now get to write something about yesterdays stage and the thing that I'm really wondering about is whether Carapaz' implosion would have happened without Kämna. I'm certain Carapaz was already suffering after Hindley's original acceleration but it took a few minutes from that until he actually dropped and I can absolutely see a scenario where Hindley just gives up after his first attack doesn't drop Carapaz. Maybe he would have tried again a bit later and dropped Carapaz then but who knows if he could have gained nearly as much time. I don't want to join in on the collective sh*tting on Hindleys passive tactics but it's honestly hard not to do. It's just difficult to imagine him being so much better than everyone else only today. Surely he could have tried earlier? I suppose it was enough anyway but he basically had to rely on a complete meltdown by his main rival on the final 3 km.
Speaking of his main rival, that was one of the most embarrassing tactical performances I have ever seen and I couldn't be happier it happened to Mr. Marginal Gains and friends. Bahrain was setting a false pace, Hindley was perfectly happy to let that happend and then Carapaz, with the lead and two helpers remaining but on a bad day, decides to blow up the race. Like, even if Hindley was planning to use Kämna to attack Carapaz anyway, good luck Lennard destroying a group of 20 riders after spending your day in the break. This entire collapse was self inflicted and while I feel a little sad for Carapaz seeing Ineos lose this way makes me genuinely happy.