32ème édition du Tour de l'Ain (2.1) // August 7th - 9th 2020

[CTQ]

113

FROOME Chris

Team INEOS

1:46

Froome will definitely not win the tour this year. Also a question if Ineos will take him with them.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1291732317401239553

View: https://twitter.com/TeamINEOS/status/1291732317401239553?s=20

 

[F_Cance]

Tomorrow looks like a good stage for a breakaway. Not hard enough for the GC guys and an early attack seems unlikely.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dumoulin was one of the best climbers in a Tour he did after doing the Giro.

You can safely say in 2018 he was the 2nd best climber behind Thomas, after already doing that Giro indeed.

 

[Red Rick]

You can safely say in 2018 he was the 2nd best climber behind Thomas, after already doing that Giro indeed.

Roglic was clearly better in the Pyrenees, they just had horrendous stage design/tactics.

 

[Earns1985]

Tomorrow looks like a good stage for a breakaway. Not hard enough for the GC guys and an early attack seems unlikely.

Well because Roglic already tested his legs today (so at a much easier stage), I´d be surprised if the favourites don´t try anything tomorrow...

 

[Red Rick]

I think the race is too short to have real breakaway stages.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Naico]

I know it’s been said numerous times before but those comments on Wielerflits articles are just despicable..and they only get worse.

Andrea Bagioli: “Deze zege is voor Fabio Jakobsen” - https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/andrea-bagioli-deze-zege-is-voor-fabio-jakobsen/
https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/andrea-bagioli-deze-zege-is-voor-fabio-jakobsen/

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

The man is a GT winner, and probably the best rider in 2019. The route suits him down to the ground, yet you're saying Jumbo should focus on Dumoulin. Now why would they do that? Dumo didn't rode for over a year, there's certainly question mark around him. And on the other hand you have rider who's on top of his game for quite some time. I know who would be my main man, but doesn't mean they could not co-lead till at least end of 2nd week, or even beginning of the 3rd. By then picture should be much clearer, and the best man will emerge.

I'm also backing Roglic, as of right now, as far as team leadership is concerned. Not sure the Col de la Loze stage is perfect for him, however. (Not saying it's perfect for Dumoulin either, though. )

Agreed, though, that they need to keep Dumo as a backup. (and KW as a dedicated dom when he starts bleeding time, which should be by stage 4 already, if not stage 2 (ha))

Most obvious scenario is that both Rogla and Dumo fall short in the end. The Col de la Loze stage is "pure climber" / not-so-marginal gains territory. Gaps will likely be big.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm also backing Roglic, as of right now, as far as team leadership is concerned. Not sure the Col de la Loze stage is perfect for him, however. (Not saying it's perfect for Dumoulin either, though. )

Agreed, though, that they need to keep Dumo as a backup. (and KW as a dedicated dom when he starts bleeding time, which should be by stage 4 already, if not stage 2 (ha))

Most obvious scenario is that both Rogla and Dumo fall short in the end. The Col de la Loze stage is "pure climber" / not-so-marginal gains territory. Gaps will likely be big.

It entirely depends on form and how they pace the efforts. In my opinion, Col de la Loze is not harder than Col de Portet, where gaps were comparatively small because pacing was really even by most GC riders there.

But Ineos really, really loves to do positive splits when they need to attack and do negative or even splits when they need to defend. I think Jumbo need to be ready for that and not risk blowing up by following the Ineos train if they start flying like a bunch of maniacs early on Col de la Loze. In that case, the middle section is the easiest and Roglic and Dumoulin should be able to work together. Same goes for the Grand Colombier. That climb is hardest at the start, and getting blown up there is the worst thing you can do. If Roglic is the team leader at that stage and Dumoulin is good, Roglic should just sit on Dumoulins pace who will quite likely take it up once the climb starts flattening out more.

I really think this sort of pacing is where teams need to do their research into how Sky/Ineos does it and how to defend against it.

 

[Sestriere]

It entirely depends on form and how they pace the efforts. In my opinion, Col de la Loze is not harder than Col de Portet, where gaps were comparatively small because pacing was really even by most GC riders there.

But Ineos really, really loves to do positive splits when they need to attack and do negative or even splits when they need to defend. I think Jumbo need to be ready for that and not risk blowing up by following the Ineos train if they start flying like a bunch of maniacs early on Col de la Loze. In that case, the middle section is the easiest and Roglic and Dumoulin should be able to work together. Same goes for the Grand Colombier. That climb is hardest at the start, and getting blown up there is the worst thing you can do. If Roglic is the team leader at that stage and Dumoulin is good, Roglic should just sit on Dumoulins pace who will quite likely take it up once the climb starts flattening out more.

I really think this sort of pacing is where teams need to do their research into how Sky/Ineos does it and how to defend against it.

This is getting a bit off-topic, but I just had another look at the Tour route and have to say that I really like the design of stage 18. Plateau des Glières as penultimate montain with that gravel road at the top could really be a great place to invent something with a strong team. Roglic and Dumoulin may also deal better with the gravel than Bernal.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Didn't have the time to watch stage 1 yesterday, will watch stage 2 and stage 3. From what i could see, a few short news and videos, TJV did a good job, they are here to win and wanted to show that from beginning. Roglič is looking strong, Dumoulin is in a good shape and he did help a lot. Interesting stage ahead today, maybe we will get to see some earlier attempts, by people that lost time yesterday.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Agreed, though, that they need to keep Dumo as a backup. (and KW as a dedicated dom when he starts bleeding time,

KW?

 

[Red Rick]

I know it’s been said numerous times before but those comments on Wielerflits articles are just despicable..and they only get worse.

Andrea Bagioli: “Deze zege is voor Fabio Jakobsen” - https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/andrea-bagioli-deze-zege-is-voor-fabio-jakobsen/
https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/andrea-bagioli-deze-zege-is-voor-fabio-jakobsen/

They make me wanna throw up. Overly nationalist tardism, if he'd been a foreign rider the pitchforks and torches would be out.

 

[Red Rick]

KW?

Steven Kruijswijk/Crashweak/Loveboat/Coathanger

 

[Rollthedice]

Just realized Nairo is in the race though not sure which one, the good, the bad, the old or the young?

 

[sir fly]

Just realized Nairo is in the race though not sure which one, the good, the bad, the old or the young?

The good old young badass.

Great cycling terrain.

 

[Red Rick]

Just realized Nairo is in the race though not sure which one, the good, the bad, the old or the young?

This is confusing cause Nairo looks like he's aging in reverse

 

[Red Rick]

Jumbo driving the pace now. *** is gonna go down in the next 10km

 

[Red Rick]

Gesink turning back to times when he'd probably stomp Kruijswijk in training

 

[DNP-Old]

Massacre this. Interesting sight: Castroviejo staying on longer than Froome.

 

[Laplaz]

Aru gone, Conti still there

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Almeida wants to bridge.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Wilder as well. Bam.

 

[Red Rick]

The troll move is that all the front peleton are too deep into the red and Dumoulin is gonna come back and solo away soon