74. Tour de Pologne (2.UWT), July 29 - August 4

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Teuns won that race for two reasons: (1) Tejay. (2) his chief opponents stopping and looking at each other after they'd dropped him in BOTH of the last two stages.

The rest of them got what they deserved. They were stronger than the leader. They dropped the leader. They stopped riding and let the leader back. Then they did the same again the next day. Doing it the first time was bad enough but failing to learn and doing the same again the next day was just disgraceful stupidity.

Its too easy to armchair QB it. You could see they were on the limit when they got away and those situations are always hard in a race, its not as easy as you make it out to be.

It's not a complicated situation. If the leader doesn't stay gapped, none of them win. The only reason for any of the leaders not to pull and instead look at each other was an unjustified complete confidence that Teuns was dead and that therefore the only relevant opponents were in the group. That was an extremely rash decision to make once, given Teuns clearly demonstrated form and the already demonstrated strength of Van Gaarderen. Making that decision two stages in a row was beyond rash and right into idiot territory. He'd already shown them what would happen one day earlier!

I agree with you that it's easy to slate riders for getting a judgment call wrong, but "the yellow jersey is behind and I need him to stay there" is a pretty basic tactical issue.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

Teuns won that race for two reasons: (1) Tejay. (2) his chief opponents stopping and looking at each other after they'd dropped him in BOTH of the last two stages.

The rest of them got what they deserved. They were stronger than the leader. They dropped the leader. They stopped riding and let the leader back. Then they did the same again the next day. Doing it the first time was bad enough but failing to learn and doing the same again the next day was just disgraceful stupidity.

Its too easy to armchair QB it. You could see they were on the limit when they got away and those situations are always hard in a race, its not as easy as you make it out to be.

It's not a complicated situation. If the leader doesn't stay gapped, none of them win. The only reason for any of the leaders not to pull and instead look at each other was an unjustified complete confidence that Teuns was dead and that therefore the only relevant opponents were in the group. That was an extremely rash decision to make once, given Teuns clearly demonstrated form and the already demonstrated strength of Van Gaarderen. Making that decision two stages in a row was beyond rash and right into idiot territory. He'd already shown them what would happen one day earlier!

I agree with you that it's easy to slate riders for getting a judgment call wrong, but "the yellow jersey is behind and I need him to stay there" is a pretty basic tactical issue.

I wrote yesterday that it would be amusing if they let Jungels do that today and Jungels won the stage. Well, it was even worse than that

 

[BullsFan22]

I don't know if this has been shared here, but I just saw it for the first time just now.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XATdnP6g6j0


Smart fan! Knows to keep far enough from the riders to make it safe, and close enough to enjoy the experience! Chapeau!!

 

[The Hegelian]

Refreshing race. Very interesting parcours + good mix of quality talent.

 

[WheelofGear]

Very good parcours. Extremely hilly without being mountainous. Plenty of room for attacks.

The stage with a slightly easier version of Mur De Huy + the two last stages have been great. One of the best stages races this year along with Paris-Nice.

 

[barmaher]

The only thing ever over hyped about Majka is his time trial. People saying he us a good bet at 14/1 to podium a GT is hardly hype.

 

[Robert5091]

Is Poels trying to out skinny "Fat Boy" Froome? Chapeau Teuns!

 

[rick james]

the nerve Majka has asking the race leader to go to the front

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

The only thing ever over hyped about Majka is his time trial. People saying he us a good bet at 14/1 to podium a GT is hardly hype.

True, not to mention he already has a (albeit anonymous) GT podium under his belt

 

[railxmig]

Oh, thanks Majka for continuing Valverde's legacy. You earned your arbitrary 3rd place in Vuelta. His attack on the last ascent was very hard, but that was basically it for his race. Dylan Teuns was very weird. Maybe he lost touch before not because of his lack of strength or he has an unususally rapid recovery. I applause Poels, even if he looks more and more like Froome at times. At least he tried to do something and actually used his teammate.