Criterium du Dauphine (2.UWT), 3-10 June

[Squire]

Re: Re:

No comments on Ackermann? That's a mightily impressive third place among those guys.

I was actually thinking the opposite. Yes, impressive he was there in the group, but I thought he'd be by far the fastest in a reduced sprint where Alaphilippe manages 2nd. Maybe I misjudged him as a pure sprinter, based on his performances in the lesser Belgian classics this year.

I agree. Didn't watch the stage, but he must've been pretty cooked or badly positioned to be beaten by Impey and Alaphilippe in a flat sprint.

 

[Laplaz]

Re: Re:

No comments on Ackermann? That's a mightily impressive third place among those guys.

I was actually thinking the opposite. Yes, impressive he was there in the group, but I thought he'd be by far the fastest in a reduced sprint where Alaphilippe manages 2nd. Maybe I misjudged him as a pure sprinter, based on his performances in the lesser Belgian classics this year.

I agree. Didn't watch the stage, but he must've been pretty cooked or badly positioned to be beaten by Impey and Alaphilippe in a flat sprint.

The sprint wasn't flat at all, it was something like 4% I think.

 

[MartinGT]

Re:

Impey?

 

[Valv.Piti]

So tomorrow, should be see something similar or are that stage easier? I like stages like this, sprinters shouldn't just being brought to the finish for free.

 

[sprints n stones]

Re: Re:

No comments on Ackermann? That's a mightily impressive third place among those guys.

I was actually thinking the opposite. Yes, impressive he was there in the group, but I thought he'd be by far the fastest in a reduced sprint where Alaphilippe manages 2nd. Maybe I misjudged him as a pure sprinter, based on his performances in the lesser Belgian classics this year.

I agree. Didn't watch the stage, but he must've been pretty cooked or badly positioned to be beaten by Impey and Alaphilippe in a flat sprint.

Was badly positioned and hitting his handlebars at finish. Was caught behind a fading Valgren on the barriers and by the time he got round him had lost several places. Then found himself having to veer towards the barrier again by Benoot moving across before getting passed him to finally sprint but too far back by then.

 

[MartinGT]

Impey for back to back stages? Although Ackermann looked decent today?

 

[Robert5091]

Chapeau Impey! (& MartinGT)

See if he can make it two tomorrow.

 

[Robert5091]

Tuesday's stage 2: Montbrison - Belleville 180.5 km start 11.50 TV from 15.15 CET (as today)

Final 5 km flat but a double roundabout just after the flamme rouge

 

[Robert5091]

Weather could be fun too -

Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 26C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Weather could be fun too -

Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 26C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.

About that: What actually happens in case of thunder? Do they just keep riding through it? That sounds ill-advised.

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

 

[Robert5091]

There was a thunderstorm at the Giro this year - you could hear the thunder on the TV coverage - but it was at the finish while the riders were still en route.

Edit - the UCI extreme weather rules would apply, I assume - http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/Rulesandregulation/17/30/54/ProtocoleEWP-E-20160101_English.pdf

 

[search]

Re: Re:

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

wasn't there some kind of thunderstorm in Poland a couple of years ago? Or was it just extremely windy that day?

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

wasn't there some kind of thunderstorm in Poland a couple of years ago? Or was it just extremely windy that day?

Not sure about that one but stages have been cancelled or shortened before because of gale force winds. When riders are getting blown off the road it's time to take a break.

 

[CTQ]

Re: Re:

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

wasn't there some kind of thunderstorm in Poland a couple of years ago? Or was it just extremely windy that day?

Yes, in 2014 https://youtu.be/VAlg-3NC4IM

 

[Robert5091]

Some nasty looking crashes yesterday - hope all recover ok & all come home safe today - especially if it rains.

Expect the sprinters to take their last opportunity for a win.

Edit - see Alexis Vuillermoz is a DNS today
https://twitter.com/A_Vuillermoz/status/1003899171047436288

 

[mosh1992]

I would just like to note that Thunderstorms are more common in the tropics and since lots of races aren´t here...Well that explains the lack of Thunderstorms, Especially since the Australian races are all in summer...

 

[memyselfandI]

Re:

I would just like to note that Thunderstorms are more common in the tropics and since lots of races aren´t here...Well that explains the lack of Thunderstorms, Especially since the Australian races are all in summer...

You mean in the Tropics?

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

I would just like to note that Thunderstorms are more common in the tropics and since lots of races aren´t here...Well that explains the lack of Thunderstorms, Especially since the Australian races are all in summer...

Sure but even in Denmark we have thunder occasionally, although most often at night time.

 

[Laplaz]

Break of the day:
Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Antoine Duchesne (Groupama-FDJ), Pierre-Luc Périchon (Fortuneo-Samsic) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)

 

[Robert5091]

http://live.cyclingnews.com/
As the riders near the 80km mark, the rain has started to fall.

Stay upright people! (David Gaudu in particular who looks like a moving billboard for medical supplies)

(Happy Grundlovsdag! to all the Danes)

 

[Arked]

Re:

I would just like to note that Thunderstorms are more common in the tropics and since lots of races aren´t here...Well that explains the lack of Thunderstorms, Especially since the Australian races are all in summer...

Thunderstorms in Europe during summer are very common.

 

[AnatoleNovak]

Re: Re:

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

wasn't there some kind of thunderstorm in Poland a couple of years ago? Or was it just extremely windy that day?

Yeah, I remember that. 2011, I think. I was told that an english rider was struck by lightning during this Tour of Poland and that he came out of it without a scratch and stronger than he ever was before...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re: Re:

But I actually don't think I have ever seen thunder in a race and I have been following the sport for more than 20 years. That seems a bit odd.

wasn't there some kind of thunderstorm in Poland a couple of years ago? Or was it just extremely windy that day?

Yeah, I remember that. 2011, I think. I was told that an english rider was struck by lightning during this Tour of Poland and that he came out of it without a scratch and stronger than he ever was before...

ho ho

 

[Robert5091]

Bahrain-Merida setting the pace - Nibs has a 25 km descent to try out

 

[Laplaz]

And that's the reason why Vital Concept has no wildcard for the Tour. Coquard dropping with 30 to go in a stage which suits him.