Tour de France Stage 6: Bayeux – Vire-Normandie (201.5k)

[Red Rick]

I asked a few riders earlier and they all are going for the break and expect a big battle for it.
Also saw some interviews, for example with Mohoric who made a goal out of tomorrows stage.
This stage was also the reason why some teams didn't try yesterday (I don't agree with that but ok).

Guess it makes some sense for stage 4? Like, I disagree completely that it wasn't worth trying, because if you get in a hopeless breakaway you can always bail out, but I can totally see why in the current meta riders thought that would be a day for the peloton.

 

[hayneplane]

Not sure, I think it could work out pretty good. It should keep the initial pace very high.

UAE with Pogacar tend to let the breakaway formation take care of itself as he enjoys the chaos so the most likely early control is Lidl Trek and Intermarche trying to hold it together for maximum points in the Intermediate Sprint with a break likely to form from riders involved in the sprint who continue the effort after the line.

I expect a break to win but the collective wisdom of the teams without the superstars has been virtually nonexistent so we can’t rely on them understanding that Gregoire/Healy/Plapp/Alaphillipe etc can win from a break but are zero chance from the group of GC favourites and MVDP.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Guess it makes some sense for stage 4? Like, I disagree completely that it wasn't worth trying, because if you get in a hopeless breakaway you can always bail out, but I can totally see why in the current meta riders thought that would be a day for the peloton.

Instead of creating 2 chances for themselves they prefer one chance and all out contest from 50% of the peloton. Thats classic

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Instead of creating 2 chances for themselves they prefer one chance and all out contest from 50% of the peloton. Thats classic

And on top of that because some teams will not make some escapes they'll chase down the breaks in order to get into the break, so the break doesn't go forever and in the end often enough the ones that do make it fail because it's not so close to the finish, that some big gun wants it after all.

 

[Cycling111]

I asked a few riders earlier and they all are going for the break and expect a big battle for it.
Also saw some interviews, for example with Mohoric who made a goal out of tomorrows stage.
This stage was also the reason why some teams didn't try yesterday (I don't agree with that but ok).

This makes sense because yesterday's stage was before the time trial, so some riders still didn't have any freedom.

With today's time loss, many riders will be able to enter the break without the peloton controlling it.
Aside from the fact that Pogacar has already won a stage, he doesn't have the same need he had yesterday.

The only way for the break to fail is if a dangerous rider for the top 10 gets in, and teams like Movistar or Bahrain control for Mas or Buitrago.
Or a team that doesn't put anyone in the break control it. This happened to Polti in the Giro. Let's imagine Total Energies doesn't put anyone in the break and controls it for that reason. We've seen these kinds of punishing situations.

Mohoric talks a lot with Pogacar, he probably knew that tomorrow UAE will let arrive the break.

 

[Monsi]

I swear I might break something if I don’t see more than 10 riders in the break tomorrow. Honestly, there should be a 30-man break tomorrow.

If the peloton fights for the win, well, it’s gonna be a Pogi stomp.

 

[CyclistAbi]

GC battle.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Guess Pog will want to win on Friday so tomorrow will be a slaughterfest getting into the break.

 

[dobrien]

GC battle.

I agree with this. I cannot believe Pog and UAE will not test Jonas HARD after today; that would be like a gladiator slicing his opponents arm open but then taking a time out to watch someone else be eaten by a lion. He inflicted a big blow today in the TT and I would be shocked if they don't try to really put some hurt on. Even if they can't drop him they can still drain more blood, offer him no respite at all, then you have the Mur the day after that. I predict a super super hard day.

Of course if I'm wrong I will delete this post and offer "I was dumb" as the reason, and disavow any knowledge of having posted it.

 

[Red Rick]

Instead of creating 2 chances for themselves they prefer one chance and all out contest from 50% of the peloton. Thats classic

Pretty much.

The peloton suffers from a collective case of learned helplessness that that would shock the rats that died in those experiments.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Little bit of news regarding the stage location funnily enough.

Cant wait to check out this tapestry, returning to its rightful home in one of our fine museums!!!

Bayeux Tapestry to return to British Museum on loan after 900 years

Bayeux Tapestry will be shown at the British Museum, which will lend treasures to Normandy museums.

www.bbc.co.uk

Cheers lads, we will give it back when we are finished looking at it.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I agree with this. I cannot believe Pog and UAE will not test Jonas HARD after today; that would be like a gladiator slicing his opponents arm open but then taking a time out to watch someone else be eaten by a lion. He inflicted a big blow today in the TT and I would be shocked if they don't try to really put some hurt on. Even if they can't drop him they can still drain more blood, offer him no respite at all, then you have the Mur the day after that. I predict a super super hard day.

Of course if I'm wrong I will delete this post and offer "I was dumb" as the reason, and disavow any knowledge of having posted it.

Rogla might take a dig too, suitable ramp.

 

[Sciatic]

Little bit of news regarding the stage location funnily enough.

Cant wait to check out this tapestry, returning to its rightful home in one of our fine museums!!!

Bayeux Tapestry to return to British Museum on loan after 900 years

Bayeux Tapestry will be shown at the British Museum, which will lend treasures to Normandy museums.

www.bbc.co.uk

Cheers lads, we will give it back when we are finished looking at it.

Thank goodness they’re doing the exchange because it’s sooooo hard for folks in England to visit Normandy.

 

[dobrien]

Rogla might take a dig too, suitable ramp.

Nothing would make me happier, but I'm barely seeing pulse a right now. It would be so great to see it though.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Van Aert takes off early in the break, Jonas attacks at the bottom of Côte de Mortain, catches Wout on ôte de Juvigny-le-Tertre, and they take back the time Jonas lost today.

Today was intentional, Visma are planning something.

My powers of prognostication are world renownd to be horrible, but I posted because even a stopped clock is right twice per day.

 

[stefank]

Little bit of news regarding the stage location funnily enough.

Cant wait to check out this tapestry, returning to its rightful home in one of our fine museums!!!

Bayeux Tapestry to return to British Museum on loan after 900 years

Bayeux Tapestry will be shown at the British Museum, which will lend treasures to Normandy museums.

www.bbc.co.uk

Cheers lads, we will give it back when we are finished looking at it.

Have the British Museum ever given anything back?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I agree with this. I cannot believe Pog and UAE will not test Jonas HARD after today; that would be like a gladiator slicing his opponents arm open but then taking a time out to watch someone else be eaten by a lion. He inflicted a big blow today in the TT and I would be shocked if they don't try to really put some hurt on. Even if they can't drop him they can still drain more blood, offer him no respite at all, then you have the Mur the day after that. I predict a super super hard day.

Of course if I'm wrong I will delete this post and offer "I was dumb" as the reason, and disavow any knowledge of having posted it.

I posted something even dumber, so you're safe.

 

[hfer07]

So
Poga putting another 1/2 minute on all the other GCs

 

[Ulfhednar]

Yosemite Sam for the win out of the break.

 

[dobrien]

I posted something even dumber, so you're safe.

Kind of like the old story of the two guys walking in the woods and all of a sudden a bear appears, one guy yells "Oh my god, we'll never be able to outrun this bear!!" and the other guy says, "Who cares, as long as I can outrun you!!" ;-)

 

[Rob5091]

Lots of guys have had 2 easier days so expect everyman and his dog in the break.

 

[Cagalitroso]

Vingo should try to make it into the breakaway now that he is no longer in contention for GC

 

[Pantani_lives]

Pogacar will suffer from the heat, having to wear three different jerseys.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Another Pogacar vs MVP vs Vingegaard finish or a breakaway day? Today (finish + stage difficulty) is better for Pogacar than tomorrow and he's #1 favourite. But will UAE bother to keep the breakaway on leash? Considering how good Pog's GC situation became, maybe they will save energy for the most important stages instead of fighting for bonus seconds and wins. If not them than who? Alpecin? Not sure, they know Pog would be favoured. Maybe a breakaway day after all (maybe MVP will try to get into a breakaway?)

 

[KZD]

Today's finish is perfect for a Pogistomp, but I don't think UAE will chase and Alpecin should probably put Van der Poel in the break instead, trying to take back the overall lead.

I think we will get a decently size break fighting for the stage with Onley winning, its a great finish for him.