Five of the last seven stages are either tough or very tough. Each stage could bring big changes to the GC. If there is aggressive riding, things could change day to day or one or two guys that are feeling strong could distance the rest, but after today it's hard to tell. The top 10 is quite packed. Alaphilippe, who knows how long he'll keep the jersey and the two minute advantage, he could lose it all tomorrow or take it to Paris, I am not shocked at anything right now. Thomas had tough final two kilometers but he's not out of it. His form may be on a downward curve so he could bleed even more tomorrow then it could get really dangerous for Ineos, especially if Bernal doesn't have it either. I thought today was the last stage where Bernal may not attack, as an order from Brailsford just so they see how well Thomas is going. I don't think they'll keep Bernal on a leash for much longer if Thomas loses another 30 seconds tomorrow.
Visma was excellent today. I thought Crushweek was going to attack. Maybe he didn't want to, maybe he physically couldn't. He seemed fine to me so I am a bit disappointed he didn't try at least a little dig once Bennett peeled off. He was never going to win a group sprint to the line, but he did ride very well to limit it to 6 seconds to Pinot and stay with a much faster sprinter in Alaphilippe. If Visma keep this going then I suspect Crushweek is here to stay in the top 3 and looks good to challenge for the title, especially if Thomas's form keeps falling.
Pinot has had a strong tour. The only minus was the crosswind stage and those are so often up in the air, you never know what to expect and often just a momentary strategic error, bad placement can decide the stage and can potentially lose you a stage and the overall.
Movistar literally defeated themselves today. Landa is their leader now but he's not in the top ten on GC and he's too far back (IMO) to challenge for the win and even the top 3, but he looked solid today, despite losing a bit towards the end. Quintana, I am not sure what's happening to him at the tour the last few years. He's gradually gotten worse. He should be romping these tough climbs and distancing everyone or at least making surges. He's getting dropped by guys that he normally destroys (I am not talking about Pinot, Landa, Crushweek, Thomas...but other minnows).
Should be a fascinating last week of the tour!