Lesser known races 2024 edition

[Taxus4a]

Yep, this is stage 20 of this year's Tour in comparison -

Last year's Mercan'Tour Classic had Carapaz, Gall & the two Lennys battling it out.

Today is longer, but that stagee is even harder. Lenny is at home an is for me the main favoutite. IPT has maybe the stronger team we will see who is the leader, ,and how is people becouse this year they compite very little. G. Martin, Gaudu, Formolo, Sosa, Sapulveda, C Rodriguez..are other important names to follow.

From my country as well Garcia Pierna, and the team of my land, Burgos BH which names as Mario aparicio or Jose Manuel Diaz can do it very well.
For froome there is no excuses here, a good race for him, close to home, good weather.... The only problem he has not compete from his injury at Tirreno, long time ago...and with Williams and Bennet maybe he has to work, but I hope in that cas, just at the end. if he is not to be top 20 here, he has difficult to be at le Tour. I dont say anythoing about my feelings, just hope good luck. It would be great to see him at a good level.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Only 94 riders in the Mercan Tour Classic today. What is this, the Olympics?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Only 94 riders in the Mercan Tour Classic today. What is this, the Olympics?

An absurd amount of duckery going on with other teams choosing instead to prepare for races like Dauphine and Suisse by training. There can only be one reason.

'Fully recovered, just come down from altitude'

This is the opening act in what should be a great summer of Dawgwatch

 

[Taxus4a]

Only 94 riders in the Mercan Tour Classic today. What is this, the Olympics?

A top 80 is not a good result

But to be top 20 is the same than any other race.

Latour on the break with another rider with 3 minutes at the first climb. TV coverage at 14:00

 

[Taxus4a]

Teams pulling in peloton

• Israel - Premier Tech
• Groupama - FDJ

Hope not Froome yet...
FDJ is more favourite, so they have to work more. Anyway 4 minutes is a good gap and they have to work hard.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Latour dropped on the descent… typical

 

[Taxus4a]

I was looking if somthing ahppend with him, but It is not normal so many time post in a descent..long an not an easy descent, but....They descent as crazy, that is true, at TV we dont apreciate, but it is a pity for him becouse he climb very well, and with that bad descent is quite limitating in pro cycling

 

[Taxus4a]

The route is different this year, didnt finish properly in a climb, so will afect of the result, bur I dont know exactly how. someone could win with more difference, or to be a small group sprint.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

So Latour attacked in the bottom of the first climb to bridge to the breakaway, and then immediately got dropped on the descent and was caught by the peloton? Incredible tactics

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So Latour attacked in the bottom of the first climb to bridge to the breakaway, and then immediately got dropped on the descent and was caught by the peloton? Incredible tactics

Maybe he wanted to stay in the Peloton, but overdid it a bit?

 

[Taxus4a]

It is FDJ who is working as is normal. Froome is 3rd position of the team..so no very good, but the route will talk. Gaudu lloks great, maybe is his day.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Will Jose Been please shut up about the improvement in field due to the TdF when there are as many WT teams and as many ProTeams as last year?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

"Finding the legs" today

 

[Taxus4a]

Froome is at the back now, maybe he went to the car or maybe he is going to drop early.

 

[Nick2413]

French Harry Potter will win.

 

[search]

just tuning in... looks like EF didn't get Quinn's jersey ready in time?!

 

[RedheadDane]

French Harry Potter will win.

Who?

 

[Earns1985]

Interesting will be, when Molard goes out.
Will Gaudu then pull for Martinez or will one of them attack?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Who?

With no Cosnefroy here, it must be Gaudi/u.

 

[Tim Cahill]

ISN wisely slowing things down with stop start attacking so Froome can set a metronomic tempo behind and get back on

 

[RedheadDane]

Martinez and Rafferty crash.

 

[Tim Cahill]

What is that joker Lenny Martinez doing crashing uphill and trying to take out Tour De France favourite Stephen Williams!!!

 

[Netserk]

Time for take-off, Riccitello!

 

[Samamba]

Martinez dumb crash

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is Lenny Martinez trying to match G Thomas?