Happy that everyone got through that, very very fast run in into that sprint. After Itzulia I've become a bit paranoid of losing GC riders now before theTour.
You are missing the point.It's irrelevant if he would beat Froome or Contador, looking to the evolution of his shape.
He improved a lot between Dauphine and the Tour, and he peaked in the last week on Hautacam, and that's the most smart thing to do in the Tour 2024..... achieve peak shape in the last week, since it’s super backloaded.
You are missing the point.
I am not saying he didnt improve.
But even if he did improve, would it have been enough to beat Froome and Contador? Doubt it.
Same as I doubt Remco will beat Pog, Vinge or Roglic unless something happens to them or that he can improve that much from Dauphine to the Tour if he is not competitive here. Others he could improve to beat. However, it is more likely that he could be great for the Olympics though.
Well I was talking about something completely different and not this. I am not disputing this... or that Nibali didnt improve, as I have said.It's not relevant if he could beat or not Froome or Contador. Nibali achieved the best version of himself in the Tour, after not being close to his best at Dauphiné. That's the point.
You can’t control if you beat the rivals or not. You just control yourself, and Nibali achieved the best possible shape for himself in the Tour.
Well I was talking about something completely different and not this. I am not disputing this... or that Nibali didnt improve, as I have said.
If anything, it is you that cant control yourself and again just had to insert yourself. Such a funny guy.
Did you see the gut on Mads when he donned the yellow jersey? Scandalous!Not this nonsense again 🙄
He didn't improve that much. In stage 2, Nibali was clearly the third best climber behind Froome and Contador. In the Tour was facing Pinot and Peraud, we will never know his level against Froome and ContadorLike Nibali in 2014?
He's been working on his belly breathing.Did you see the gut on Mads when he donned the yellow jersey? Scandalous!
Fat is OK if you are fast as Mads!! If you close your eyes in his post race interview when he says " horsepower " sounds like young Arnold Schwarzenegger. Guy is cycling's version of The Terminator!! Super talent!!He's been working on his belly breathing.
For me when I see how big, powerful and violent on the bike Pedersen is ,pretty convincing sales pitch for Trek. I am super skeptical of the seat tube cut out and I have owned 2 bikes w the over the top seat mast and the clamping mechanism has been an absolute nightmare on 2 brands!! If he can ride the bike and it doesn't break and he doesn't experience involuntary dropper post, good endorsement.Considering he has n't raced since Paris-Roubaix, a good win for Pedersen. Bennett the best of the rest. 2 DNF otherwise no GC hopefulls mercifully went home early.
After today's Sunday afternoon spin, Monday's nearly 2,500 meters of climbing in just 142 km (but nothing too brutal) should sift out a few guys from the bunch.
Not much, but he does have a habit of finding form quite suddenly.What has Cort done this year?
I actually don't see why Trek wouldn't try for Pedersen. It looks like the final few 2-300m flatten out too
The meaning has probably broadened without my noticing, but I thought sandbagging referred to something riders (or runners, or other athletes) did while competing—like fading off the back of a group on a climb as though sick or gassed and then surprising the others with an attack? I wouldn’t have called what riders say before a race—when they do it to decrease expectations or trick others as “sandbagging,” but rather blowing smoke or smokescreening, etc. Very Similar intent, but one is an action the other a statement.Not much, but he does have a habit of finding form quite suddenly.
Pedersen said this stage was too hard for him, although he could of course be sandbagging![]()