86th Tour de Suisse (2.UWT) // June 11th - 18th 2023

[RedheadDane]

Looked like Connor Switft was going so fast he was both 1st and 2nd at the intermediate...

 

[Boehmand]

Neutralizing the past 2 stages screwed Remco as those stages favored him to at least get bonus seconds

I don't believe that to be true. Skjelmose is faster in a sprint than Evenepoel.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

WTF Asgreen.

I don't believe that to be true. Skjelmose is faster in a sprint than Evenepoel.

Two - three years ago, probably. Now, i very much doubt that. Also, there are more ways than one to gain time on a course like that of the past two days, even bonis. Remember how Evenepoel gained 1s in stage 2? He attacked 1km before the bonisprint.

 

[RedheadDane]

Connor switfter than Kragh.

 

[houtdffan]

I don't believe that to be true. Skjelmose is faster in a sprint than Evenepoel.

he hasn't been this race

 

[Landeirovic]

WTF Asgreen.


Two - three years ago, probably. Now, i very much doubt that. Also, there are more ways than one to gain time on a course like that of the past two days, even bonis. Remember how Evenepoel gained 1s in stage 2? He attacked 1km before the bonisprint.

Why wtf?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

he hasn't been this race

They have sprinted against each other a grand total of once this race, which was a sprint for 2nd from a 7-rider group. Not really comparable to the kind of sprint we would have had on the previous two stages. Not saying Evenepoel could not have won back time there, but it definitely wouldn't have been a certainty.

It was also the first time they had sprinted against each other since their junior days, which does not help in predicting who would have been helped more by the previous two stages.

 

[Danskebjerge]

And I don't like the photo op either. It's not correct to have one rider with the "tribute to Gino" headlines tonight, even when he's wearing the world champ jersey. This isn't a critique towards Evenepoel per se, i.e. the same would have occurred had any rider 'won' today's stage.

I agree. In fact, a rider winning a stage shouldn't "honour" anyone by referring to his win, unless he had a very close relation to the person.

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Well, next year, in the Tour. Let's have a stage in the northern cobble region. A not to long and hard stage (it's not Paris-Roubaix, but a stage in a grand tour). The finish line will be drawn 300 meters after the turn to the left, at the end of theTrouée d'Arenberg. On a very wide and safe road. A perfect legitime arrival, if I follow the train of thought of Red Rick and co...... Case closed.

This year, they used Trouée d'Arenberg in Paris-Roubaix. About 90km from the finish. Crashes all over the place.

 

[RedheadDane]

Asgreen new best time.
(Cabot had best time for a little while)

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Why wtf?

Because he was flying and then suddenly got overtaken again uphill by the rider he had just passed, it seemed like he was blowing up for a moment.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, next year, in the Tour. Let's have a stage in the northern cobble region. A not to long and hard stage (it's not Paris-Roubaix, but a stage in a grand tour). The finish line will be drawn 300 meters after the turn to the left, at the end of theTrouée d'Arenberg. On a very wide and safe road. A perfect legitime arrival, if I follow the train of thought of Red Rick and co...... Case closed.

Arenberg finish?

LETSGOOOOO

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Arenberg finish?

LETSGOOOOO

Please, no, it‘s like a queen stage finishing on the Zoncolan.

 

[Boehmand]

WTF Asgreen.


Two - three years ago, probably. Now, i very much doubt that. Also, there are more ways than one to gain time on a course like that of the past two days, even bonis. Remember how Evenepoel gained 1s in stage 2? He attacked 1km before the bonisprint.

3 years ago, Skjelmose was 19 and Evenepoel was 20, so that is not really a significant measure.

Skjelmose is very fast in a flat sprint, faster than most GC riders - and definitely faster than Evenepoel, despite him having improved quite a bit the past year.

 

[Salvarani]

Asgreen seems to be back to his normal standard again.

 

[Boehmand]

he hasn't been this race

Based on what?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Asgreen seems to be back to his normal standard again.

Let's see how the favourites go first. He was only 9 seconds up on Swift at T2 as well, had the latter descended better it would have been a slender lead.

 

[RedheadDane]

SPRINT!

 

[Netserk]

Arenberg finish?

LETSGOOOOO

Well, it wouldn't really affect the GC when a crash would active the 3-km-rule. It would be far more dangerous to have the finish 3.1 km after the sector.

 

[search]

Skjelmose is very fast in a flat sprint, faster than most GC riders - and definitely faster than Evenepoel, despite him having improved quite a bit the past year.

I don't think so. From what we've seen this year, I'd say Evenepoel is more or less at Roglic's sprinting level now - who himself used to be the quickest of the GC riders since Valverde turned old.

 

[Boehmand]

Asgreen seems to be back to his normal standard again.

On the flat, yes.

Juul-Jensen overtaking him on the climb, says he still needs a bit (obviously without pictures we don't know if Asgreen had a mishap).

 

[Jagartrott]

I'm annoyed by that last corner, 75 m before the finish. Why is that there? It's so much nicer to see the riders come straight towards the finish line, seconds ticking away. Now they cannot even sprint.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

3 years ago, Skjelmose was 19 and Evenepoel was 20, so that is not really a significant measure.

Skjelmose is very fast in a flat sprint, faster than most GC riders - and definitely faster than Evenepoel, despite him having improved quite a bit the past year.

They are both from the same year, 2000, Evenepoel January, Skjelmose September i think. That may have been significant back then, but not anymore after multiple years in the pro peloton. And it is now that we are comparing them. I very much doubt Skjelmose is faster in a flat sprint. And regardless, as i said, there are more ways than one to get a timebonus in hilly stages.

 

[Salvarani]

Let's see how the favourites go first. He was only 9 seconds up on Swift at T2 as well, had the latter descended better it would have been a slender lead.

Of course, didnt say he was. Only that he seems to be doing better again, judging by the last couple of races.

 

[Boehmand]

I don't think so. From what we've seen this year, I'd say Evenepoel is more or less at Roglic's sprinting level now - who himself used to be the quickest of the GC riders since Valverde turned old.

Sorry, but that's just crazy.

Evenepoel used to be quite slow in a sprint, but has obviously worked at improving that (and succeeded), but he is still not exactly a rocket.

I'd put him on par with someone like Vingegaard in a flat sprint, they are both fast, but not the level of Pogacar, Alaphillippe and Roglic.