Tour de France 2023 Tour de France, Stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao, 182 km (Spain, Saturday, July 1)

[Devil's Elbow]

What the hell is this abomination of a US jersey? Everything ruined by Lidl.

Immediately claimed the ugliest team jersey in the peloton and somehow the three NC jerseys are all worse. Can't decide on which of them the Lidl logo looks the most out of place.

Edit: it does look better from the back, though.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

What the hell is this abomination of a US jersey? Everything ruined by Lidl.

why Thor is using captain america kit??

 

[Ricco']

Remember when I said that Lidl Trek was going to be a banger of a kit?

I was right, I just want to bang that *** hard against a wall

Ffs, Stycle Design did something wonderful for their kit on his Instagram, how can a for fun design be more awesome than something done by professionals.

 

[Netserk]

And a groper, let's not forget that part. It doesn't reflect well on the wider cycling fanbase that he was one of the most popular riders for most of his career.

I liked him when he contributed to racing. I couldn’t care less what he does when he doesn’t have a number on his back.

Decoupling is always an option.

 

[red_flanders]

What the hell is this abomination of a US jersey? Everything ruined by Lidl.

Looks like an iron-on patch from 1977. Unbelievable. Trek (generally) and that team just have no style. That is an abomination.

 

[theyoungest]

Immediately claimed the ugliest team jersey in the peloton and somehow the three NC jerseys are all worse. Can't decide on which of them the Lidl logo looks the most out of place.

Edit: it does look better from the back, though.

Cycling jerseys are supposed to be ugly. The jerseys that the cycling police tend to prefer are boring ones which are indistinguishable in the peloton. This one you can clearly recognize, and that's the point.

 

[red_flanders]

Remember when I said that Lidl Trek was going to be a banger of a kit?

I was right, I just want to bang that *** hard against a wall

Ffs, Stycle Design did something wonderful for their kit on his Instagram, how can a for fun design be more awesome than something done by professionals.

Basically because it's quite often easier to do great design w/o a client. Professionals have to answer to decision-makers, who often have goals at odds with pleasing design.

 

[red_flanders]

Cycling jerseys are supposed to be ugly. The jerseys that the cycling police tend to prefer are boring ones which are indistinguishable in the peloton. This one you can clearly recognize, and that's the point.

Fair points, but both can be done at the same time. From the instagram mentioned above...

 

[QuickZulu]

3 years ago the first name I would have put up for this stage is Alaphilippe. Pogi now the obvious favourite, but there are some serious dark horses here.

Gulio Ciccone could go very well here.

 

[theyoungest]

Fair points, but both can be done at the same time. From the instagram mentioned above...

That does look better, and is distinguishable. Too much yellow though, won't pass the ASO test.

 

[Ricco']

Fair points, but both can be done at the same time. From the instagram mentioned above...

***, I was just picturing Skjelmose rocking this style on route to a stage victory in the Alps. Now I'm just gonna see mismatched colored patches on a Groupama base layered jersey

 

[Boehmand]

I‘d say Jumbo chase because Grischa Niermann likes winning and they hope to get Van Aert over the climbs and into the sprint. Also, Jumbo is more than comfortable in the role of the team controlling. But they’ve also historically liked giving leader’s jerseys away (although they won‘t have one here yet), so what do I know. Alpecin will most likely rely on others. Or Pog is bluffing and his team ride a high pace all day up until the final climb. I don‘t see Bora pacing. Maybe Alaphilippe is ready to take a chance.

I don't see it, I think they will leave the responsibility to stage win focused teams like Soudal, Alpecin and possibly EF and Trek, and then try to capitalise with Van Aert or Laporte if the break is caught.

Up the last climb though, they will move to the front, in case someone important makes a move.

 

[Boehmand]

Gianetti says Adam Yates is UAE's Tour de France co-leader alongside Pogacar

Gianetti says Adam Yates is UAE's Tour de France co-leader alongside Pogacar

'We really don't have any choice in the matter'

www.cyclingnews.com

"UAE Team Emirates general manager Mauro Gianetti has told L’Equipe that the ongoing uncertainty regarding Tadej Pogačar’s current condition means that Adam Yates will be the team’s co-leader for the Tour de France."

As predicted

I question though if Vingegaard will go after Yates the way Pogacar did after Roglic, partly because he's pretty wise to the tactic already, party because he knows he can crack Yates on the big climbs and beat him on the TT.

 

[search]

I don't see it, I think they will leave the responsibility to stage win focused teams like Soudal, Alpecin and possibly EF and Trek, and then try to capitalise with Van Aert or Laporte if the break is caught.

Up the last climb though, they will move to the front, in case someone important makes a move.

Ineos will normally work as well, same as all teams with Spanish/Basque riders, to go for a yellow jersey on home soil. Normally the early breakaway shouldn't stand much of a chance.

 

[Boehmand]

What the hell is this abomination of a US jersey? Everything ruined by Lidl.

Danish one is not exactly great either.

The cross is way too broad, it's as broad as the Swiss cross.

 

[theyoungest]

As predicted

I question though if Vingegaard will go after Yates the way Pogacar did after Roglic, partly because he's pretty wise to the tactic already, party because he knows he can crack Yates on the big climbs and beat him on the TT.

With Roglic, there is an "anyone but him"-attitude from Pogacar. That's why he was the ideal bait. Vingegaard doesn't care about Yates. He won't give him 5 minutes, but if he takes a minute somewhere, it's okay.

Maybe Jumbo will play the same game with Kelderman, who is a bit underrated but in the GTs he really isn't any worse than Yates.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Nothing says 'I'm motivated for my final Tour' like partying until 3 in the night and getting so drunk that your alcohol promillage is still triple the legal limit at 11:35 the morning after.

I'm not sure that what he did on 11th May can really be seen as his preparation for the Tour on 1st July.

Not that it is to be commended in any way, but not that detrimental to his level. He got three top tens (among 6 stages without finishing below 16th) in the following week .

 

[hayneplane]

Ineos will normally work as well, same as all teams with Spanish/Basque riders, to go for a yellow jersey on home soil. Normally the early breakaway shouldn't stand much of a chance.

Maybe, thing is the basque riders like Bilbao would have a much bigger chance of winning by going in a decent breakaway than by controlling and hoping to beat all comers at the end.

I wouldn’t rule out UAE allowing Soler to mark the break and try to slip into a dangerous move and I would bet he has been lobbying the management to be given a free pass.

 

[RedheadDane]

Maybe, thing is the basque riders like Bilbao would have a much bigger chance of winning by going in a decent breakaway than by controlling and hoping to beat all comers at the end.

So... you're saying that saying that all the teams with Basque riders might be attacking relentlessly, until they get their guy(s) in the break?

 

[Boehmand]

Maybe, thing is the basque riders like Bilbao would have a much bigger chance of winning by going in a decent breakaway than by controlling and hoping to beat all comers at the end.

I wouldn’t rule out UAE allowing Soler to mark the break and try to slip into a dangerous move and I would bet he has been lobbying the management to be given a free pass.

Fraile is Basque too - and we don't even know if Ineos is doing GC yet

 

[Salvarani]

What the hell is this abomination of a US jersey? Everything ruined by Lidl.

Murica!

 

[Salvarani]

3 years ago the first name I would have put up for this stage is Alaphilippe. Pogi now the obvious favourite, but there are some serious dark horses here.

Gulio Ciccone could go very well here.

I dont think Pog wins this one.

There should be +20 riders that are fresh and ready to go 110% for the win here. Once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in the yellow jersey.

Pog, Vinge and other GC-guys should be quite happy to finish in the top 10 and escaping any crashes.

 

[Nick2413]

I dont think Pog wins this one.

There should be +20 riders that are fresh and ready to go 110% for the win here. Once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in the yellow jersey.

Pog, Vinge and other GC-guys should be quite happy to finish in the top 10 and escaping any crashes.

This is like a double length Mur de Huy and might already be a reduced group going in. Pog and Jonas will float to the top just by riding tempo, I don’t see more than a few guys hanging with them. A reduced sprint of 5 maybe at best.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Remember when I said that Lidl Trek was going to be a banger of a kit?

I was right, I just want to bang that *** hard against a wall

Ffs, Stycle Design did something wonderful for their kit on his Instagram, how can a for fun design be more awesome than something done by professionals.

Next weeks Lidl bogof at 9.99.

 

[Salvarani]

This is like a double length Mur de Huy and might already be a reduced group going in. Pog and Jonas will float to the top just by riding tempo, I don’t see more than a few guys hanging with them. A reduced sprint of 5 maybe at best.

We will see.

I think many will try and go deep into red here. They got nothing to lose.

Maybe it will be an earlier move/break that could get it as well.