Tour de France 2019

[Salvarani]

Re:

Naesen confirmed yesterday in Vive le vélo what Alexandre B. says. Bardet is the leader who will go for gc obviously, but the others will get more freedom compared to previous years to do their own thing.

We will probably see Naesen, Cosnefroy, Gallopin and Gougeard get their own chances to go in breaks for stage wins. Outside of supporting Bardet when they can. Like Naesen will probably have Bardet on his wheel this first week. Or deliver Cosnefroy to a good position for the sprints.

Cherel, Vuillermoz, Frank to mainly stay close and look after Bardet in the mountains I assume.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

OMG... being a year-round fan can be… a little annoying when watching the Tour:
They're basically explaining things I think most of us already know!

Yeah, I was just about to write that...

"So, if you're wondering about this strange orange jersey that Van Avermaet is wearing..."

Good god.

All "July crowd" fans should be required to do some homework on basic stuff like what each team is called, and who rides on what team.

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

I count 7 teams with no other agenda than the GC:

Ineos
Astana
Mitchelton
Movistar
EF
AG2R
Groupama

Looking at the start list, with Ineos being a little weaker and the other 6 teams all bringing their a-listers, I think we are in for quite the battle.

AG2R will aim stage wins this year, it will not be all for Bardet and seven riders in line behind him.

Naesen said exactly the opposite during the presentation when they asked him.

I read exactly the opposite of your claim by Oliver himself.

I watched this morning the replay on Eurosport, the interviewer asked him about stage wins and he answered "we are all here for Bardet".

 

[Samamba]

Re: Re:

I count 7 teams with no other agenda than the GC:

Ineos
Astana
Mitchelton
Movistar
EF
AG2R
Groupama

Looking at the start list, with Ineos being a little weaker and the other 6 teams all bringing their a-listers, I think we are in for quite the battle.

AG2R will aim stage wins this year, it will not be all for Bardet and seven riders in line behind him.

Naesen said exactly the opposite during the presentation when they asked him.

I read exactly the opposite of your claim by Oliver himself.

I watched this morning the replay on Eurosport, the interviewer asked him about stage wins and he answered "we are all here for Bardet".

He's been saying the complete opposite to the Belgian press for weeks now.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

OMG... being a year-round fan can be… a little annoying when watching the Tour:
They're basically explaining things I think most of us already know!

Yeah, I was just about to write that...

"So, if you're wondering about this strange orange jersey that Van Avermaet is wearing..."

Good god.

All "July crowd" fans should be required to do some homework on basic stuff like what each team is called, and who rides on what team.

Or, you could just shrug, smile, and not let it bother you

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

OMG... being a year-round fan can be… a little annoying when watching the Tour:
They're basically explaining things I think most of us already know!

Yeah, I was just about to write that...

"So, if you're wondering about this strange orange jersey that Van Avermaet is wearing..."

Good god.

All "July crowd" fans should be required to do some homework on basic stuff like what each team is called, and who rides on what team.

Or, you could just shrug, smile, and not let it bother you

Always better to be a little annoyed.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

OMG... being a year-round fan can be… a little annoying when watching the Tour:
They're basically explaining things I think most of us already know!

Yeah, I was just about to write that...

"So, if you're wondering about this strange orange jersey that Van Avermaet is wearing..."

Good god.

Add announcers who are also very annoying anyway, plus at least half the time no one knows what they are even going on about. It would be less frustrating and annoying to watch/listen to it in a language you don't understand.

 

[cineteq]

GC (Stage 2)
1     MIKE TEUNISSEN
3     STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK    10'' 
7     EGAN BERNAL     30''
8     GERAINT THOMAS    30'' 
13     ENRIC MAS    31'' 
18     WILCO KELDERMAN    36'' 
21     ILNUR ZAKARIN    36''
25     TEJAY VAN GARDEREN    38''
26     RIGOBERTO URAN    38''
37     THIBAUT PINOT    42''
42     VINCENZO NIBALI    46''
51     ADAM YATES    51''
55     JAKOB FUGLSANG    51''
63     EMANUEL BUCHMANN    56''
81     TIESJ BENOOT    1' 09'' 
92     DANIEL MARTIN    1' 13''
95     NAIRO QUINTANA    1' 15''
97     ALEJANDRO VALVERDE    1' 15''
99     MIKEL LANDA MEANA    1' 15''
104     RICHIE PORTE    1' 28'' 
107     BAUKE MOLLEMA    1' 28'' 
108     ROMAIN BARDET    1' 29''

 

[gregrowlerson]

GC (Stage 2)
1     MIKE TEUNISSEN
3     STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK    10'' 
7     EGAN BERNAL     30''
8     GERAINT THOMAS    30'' 
13     ENRIC MAS    31'' 
18     WILCO KELDERMAN    36'' 
21     ILNUR ZAKARIN    36''
25     TEJAY VAN GARDEREN    38''
26     RIGOBERTO URAN    38''
37     THIBAUT PINOT    42''
42     VINCENZO NIBALI    46''
51     ADAM YATES    51''
55     JAKOB FUGLSANG    51''
63     EMANUEL BUCHMANN    56''
81     TIESJ BENOOT    1' 09'' 
92     DANIEL MARTIN    1' 13''
95     NAIRO QUINTANA    1' 15''
97     ALEJANDRO VALVERDE    1' 15''
99     MIKEL LANDA MEANA    1' 15''
104     RICHIE PORTE    1' 28'' 
107     BAUKE MOLLEMA    1' 28'' 
108     ROMAIN BARDET    1' 29''

Not huge gaps really. No need for Quintana, Porte, Bardet to panic just yet.

 

[Lequack]

GC (Stage 2)
1     MIKE TEUNISSEN
3     STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK    10'' 
7     EGAN BERNAL     30''
8     GERAINT THOMAS    30'' 
13     ENRIC MAS    31'' 
18     WILCO KELDERMAN    36'' 
21     ILNUR ZAKARIN    36''
25     TEJAY VAN GARDEREN    38''
26     RIGOBERTO URAN    38''
37     THIBAUT PINOT    42''
42     VINCENZO NIBALI    46''
51     ADAM YATES    51''
55     JAKOB FUGLSANG    51''
63     EMANUEL BUCHMANN    56''
81     TIESJ BENOOT    1' 09'' 
92     DANIEL MARTIN    1' 13''
95     NAIRO QUINTANA    1' 15''
97     ALEJANDRO VALVERDE    1' 15''
99     MIKEL LANDA MEANA    1' 15''
104     RICHIE PORTE    1' 28'' 
107     BAUKE MOLLEMA    1' 28'' 
108     ROMAIN BARDET    1' 29''

You forgot the great Fabio Aru, who will win this Tour.

 

[masking_agent]

anyone have better site for live streams ? Lately Tiz has been unreliable.

 

[klintE]

GC clique after today's effort:

Kruijswijk
Bernal 0:15
G.Thomas 0:20
E.Mas 0:21
Kelderman 0:21
Woods 0:26
Pinot 0:27
TJVG 0:28
Uran 0:28
V.Nibali 0:36
A.Yates 0:36
Fuglsang 0:41
Konrad 0:46
Buchmann 0:46
D.Martin 1:03
Bennot 1:04
Movistar 1:05
Porte 1:18
Mollema 1:18
Bardet 1:19
Aru 1:54
Zaka 3:46

 

[dusty red roads]

Re:

anyone have better site for live streams ? Lately Tiz has been unreliable.

Pay a coupla bucks and get a vpn for the month. Tiz drops out too often towards the ends of stages for me, so at that point I tune into the Aussie feed, who are light years better than Kirby.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

anyone have better site for live streams ? Lately Tiz has been unreliable.

Pay a coupla bucks and get a vpn for the month. Tiz drops out too often towards the ends of stages for me, so at that point I tune into the Aussie feed, who are light years better than Kirby.

The better VPN's have a 1 month free trial, so ideal for watching TDF.

 

[spalco]

Re:

anyone have better site for live streams ? Lately Tiz has been unreliable.

If you don't mind the French feed:

I almost hesitate to say, because I've been so happy with them, but it's stupid to be selfish when I'm just leeching anyway - google 'myfree tivi france 2' (or france 3 depending on the time of the day), very reliable, good quality.

 

[Salvarani]

Kinda hoping Bernal dont ride away with it on Thursday, for the sake of the rest of the race. He looks very strong though.

 

[Cookster15]

Does anyone know what happened to the extreme heat? Temps look pretty mild to me. Just checked the extended forecast for Paris nothing over 29C which is next Wednesday.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Kinda hoping Bernal dont ride away with it on Thursday, for the sake of the rest of the race. He looks very strong though.

Nobody can run away with it, before the 3 brutal stages in the alps.

Even on the last day, someone can easily lose 5 minutes.

 

[Salvarani]

Re: Re:

Kinda hoping Bernal dont ride away with it on Thursday, for the sake of the rest of the race. He looks very strong though.

Nobody can run away with it, before the 3 brutal stages in the alps.

Even on the last day, someone can easily lose 5 minutes.

ok

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Kinda hoping Bernal dont ride away with it on Thursday, for the sake of the rest of the race. He looks very strong though.

Nobody can run away with it, before the 3 brutal stages in the alps.

Even on the last day, someone can easily lose 5 minutes.

The alps stages are so overrated this year. The first one has a lot of climbing but the last climb, the galibier from this side is basically false flat until a few k to the top and nobody attacks early on downhill finishes with two mountain stages on the next two days.
The 2nd one has one hard climb and despite being very high there are way harder climbs than the Iseran. Tignes shouldn't even be first category imo.
Then the last one is quite hard I give you that (or at least the final climb is) but things will probably stay together quite long as the climb isn't very steep.
Sure those stages aren't easy but probably easier than your average final three mountain stages of the tour

 

[klintE]

Re: Re:

The alps stages are so overrated this year. The first one has a lot of climbing but the last climb, the galibier from this side is basically false flat until a few k to the top and nobody attacks early on downhill finishes with two mountain stages on the next two days.

Actually it's avg. 6.25% in last 16 km.
Not too steep but false flat it isn't too.
Perfect stage for Nibs.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Kinda hoping Bernal dont ride away with it on Thursday, for the sake of the rest of the race. He looks very strong though.

Nobody can run away with it, before the 3 brutal stages in the alps.

Even on the last day, someone can easily lose 5 minutes.

The alps stages are so overrated this year. The first one has a lot of climbing but the last climb, the galibier from this side is basically false flat until a few k to the top and nobody attacks early on downhill finishes with two mountain stages on the next two days.
The 2nd one has one hard climb and despite being very high there are way harder climbs than the Iseran. Tignes shouldn't even be first category imo.
Then the last one is quite hard I give you that (or at least the final climb is) but things will probably stay together quite long as the climb isn't very steep.
Sure those stages aren't easy but probably easier than your average final three mountain stages of the tour

Stage 18:
All 3 climbs are above 2000 meters, which makes a lot of difference for a lot of riders. - In the thin air, some will crack completely.
Galibier is not the steepest climb in the world, but from that side there is often a strong headwind, which makes it much harder.
It further ends in a 19 K decent, of which the first 7-8 k are very fast and technical - and everyone is on their limit.

Stage 19:
Col de l'Iseran is 2.770 m, which means at least half an hour in thin air, on steep percentages.
It is more or less downhill until the final climb to Tignes, which means it is viable to attack on de l'Iseran.

Stage 20:
The riders climb 2000 meters over 36 k on the last climb.

I think you can make huge differences on all 3.

 

[Gigs_98]

Headwind on galibier really isn't the best argument you could have come up with for why gaps could be big. I stand with my point, time gaps on that stage won't be big. We'll See who is right
Iseran is hard but not harder than the HC climbs you will see in every tour. The fact that there is barely any flat doesn't change anything for me either. That's again something relatively common
So the last stage is the only one where I can see huge time gaps but I don't expect attacks to start early on that final climb either.
As long as someone doesn't completely explode (in which case the guy would lose huge chuncks anyway) I don't see anyone gaining minutes in the alps

 

[Red Rick]

Headwind on galibier really isn't the best argument you could have come up with for why gaps could be big. I stand with my point, time gaps on that stage won't be big. We'll See who is right
Iseran is hard but not harder than the HC climbs you will see in every tour. The fact that there is barely any flat doesn't change anything for me either. That's again something relatively common
So the last stage is the only one where I can see huge time gaps but I don't expect attacks to start early on that final climb either.
As long as someone doesn't completely explode (in which case the guy would lose huge chuncks anyway) I don't see anyone gaining minutes in the alps

Val Thorens is a pretty horrendous climb. Yes it's long but that just mean they'll ride the first part suuuper slowly.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I descended most of the Galibier two days ago down to Le Clapier which actually is harder than the Briancon-side they are using. After the first 6-7 kilometres, it felt like false flat more or less. Add a strong wind (tailwind on the descent which I think is common - headwind on the ascent) and its a very, very hard place to attack. It only has one kilometre which average more than 7% which is the last kilometer. Its just not that good of a climb in my opinion. I adore the Galibier, but not from Briancon and not as the focal point of the stage. Also, and this is very subjective and maybe controversial, but I think the +2000 barrier is highly exaggerated after being in the Alps and climbing various different climbs.
The descend down to Valliore, on the other hand.... the first 8 kilometres will be pretty insane no matter what. They are just super scary (altho more scary going uphill....)