Tour de France 2020 | Stage 2 (Nice Haut Pays - Nice, 186 km)

[Escarabajo]

So Daniel Martinez crashed twice. I missed the first one. From his interview the first crash hurt more than the second one. So he was already wounded. The Doctor cleared him to keep racing but he has pain on his knee.

“El médico ha dicho que todo está bien, tengo un poco de dolor en la rodilla” Daniel Martínez

Daniel Martínez no tuvo suerte este domingo en el desarrollo de la segunda etapa del Tour de Francia que se disputó con partida y final en Niza, al sufrir dos caídas que lo marginaron de llegar en el grupo de punta y ceder tiempo importante de cara a la disputa de la prueba. El corredor […]

www.revistamundociclistico.com

 

[Koronin]

So Daniel Martinez crashed twice. I missed the first one. From his interview the first crash hurt more than the second one. So he was already wounded. The Doctor cleared him to keep racing but he has pain on his knee.

“El médico ha dicho que todo está bien, tengo un poco de dolor en la rodilla” Daniel Martínez

Daniel Martínez no tuvo suerte este domingo en el desarrollo de la segunda etapa del Tour de Francia que se disputó con partida y final en Niza, al sufrir dos caídas que lo marginaron de llegar en el grupo de punta y ceder tiempo importante de cara a la disputa de la prueba. El corredor […]

www.revistamundociclistico.com

Thanks. I also had no idea he'd crashed twice.

 

[movingtarget]

Yes, and we've seen Alejandro Valverde animate countless smaller races before retreating into his shell in major ones. Richie Porte in a GT is about as beige as it gets, and as inspiring as Louis Meintjes under strict instructions to ride as defensively as possible, and the one time he ever added something to a Grand Tour, a motorbike brought it to a crashing halt after about 200m.

Meintjes is obviously Zubeldia's ninja protege. Porte applied for the training but was rejected for being too easy to spot.

 

[movingtarget]

They will most likely receive a fine and a time penalty, even if that dont really matter, out of principle.

Im glad he finished though. Hopefully he can manage and recover, so that he can be of service later in the race.

Yes he got some leeway because of his injury and race officials are never consistent so go figure. He was obviously in pain but he might survive and hang on till he starts to recover.

 

[Northerner]

Did anyone notice Barguil drop - bad legs, crash, purposely losing time to go in the break? He didn't look in 'losing 4 minutes on stage 2' shape at the Dauphine.

 

[yaco]

Pretty surprised to see Daryl Impey so far back today. GVA was there, Bettiol too, probably Van Aert if he didn't have to push-start Dumoulin. Normally you'd expect Impey to survive too then.

Impey is saving itself for week 2 and 3.

 

[BlueRoads]

I was thinking that too. Is it just English speaking media that still include him as a contender?

Yes. At least here nobody talks about him in that way.

 

[BlueRoads]

So Daniel Martinez crashed twice. I missed the first one. From his interview the first crash hurt more than the second one. So he was already wounded. The Doctor cleared him to keep racing but he has pain on his knee.

“El médico ha dicho que todo está bien, tengo un poco de dolor en la rodilla” Daniel Martínez

Daniel Martínez no tuvo suerte este domingo en el desarrollo de la segunda etapa del Tour de Francia que se disputó con partida y final en Niza, al sufrir dos caídas que lo marginaron de llegar en el grupo de punta y ceder tiempo importante de cara a la disputa de la prueba. El corredor […]

www.revistamundociclistico.com

I feel sorry for him. But to be honest he's also a bit prone to crashing. His bike handling or his estimation of situations does not seem to be the best.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I was thinking that too. Is it just English speaking media that still include him as a contender?

British bookies certainly don’t, he’s available to back at 125/1 for the win at the moment.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Did anyone notice Barguil drop - bad legs, crash, purposely losing time to go in the break? He didn't look in 'losing 4 minutes on stage 2' shape at the Dauphine.

He did that purposly on the first mountain stage when he won the polka dot jersey, so it is possible.

 

[gregrowlerson]

The Tour

21 stages where you can lose the Tour but can't win it, and everyone rides accordingly

"One does not simply win the Tour on one stage" - some train conductor

 

[gregrowlerson]

I just gambled a very small amount, Van Avermaet returns the stake x22. Go Greg!

Unlucky. Finished fourth, but actually WON the reduced bunch sprint!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Mercx is still around though. However he's now called Evenepoel

He's got plenty of bottle.

 

[memyselfandI]

British bookies certainly don’t, he’s available to back at 125/1 for the win at the moment.

And 7/4 for top10 finishing.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Is anybody excited by Porte? The other two, yes.

Me!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Worst Sacha Baron Cohen project ever,

You Madam, win the internet for the day.

Perhaps for the year.

Maybe even for all eternity.

 

[Bolder]

He did that purposly on the first mountain stage when he won the polka dot jersey, so it is possible.

Barguil is pretty resolute in not wanting to go for GC -- I suspect in his mind he wants to be Virenque rather than be compared with Pinot/Bardet. On his day he's at that level but only if there's no pressure and he's allowed to get in a break. Would he work for NQ if there's a podium spot on the line? I'm not convinced.

Still...he's one of those guys like Porte who if their goal was to finish 10th, it would be easily achieved by following wheels and dropping 30 seconds here and there.

I'm a bit mystified by WB -- he has definitely showed flashes of combativeness and high-level climbing, but most of the time he's more of a Meintjes -- I think someone described him as being present until he isn't...

 

[Earns1985]

just a small statistic, which might have a statement for the teampower for the coming mountain stages:

Team name	Riders finished in the first group
Trek - Segafredo	3​
Bahrain - McLaren	3​
Astana Pro Team	3​
EF Pro Cycling	3​
Team Sunweb	2​
Movistar Team	2​
Mitchelton-Scott	2​
BORA - hansgrohe	2​
Team Jumbo-Visma	2​
UAE-Team Emirates	2​
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2​
INEOS Grenadiers	2​
AG2R La Mondiale	2​
Groupama - FDJ	2​
CCC Team	1​
B&B Hotels - Vital Concept p/b KTM	1​
Team Arkéa Samsic	1​

 

[gregrowlerson]

Quoting your last date?

Were all cycling news forum members given a free sample of viagra during yesterday's stage? A lot of sexual innuendo. I'm never going to hear "that alien Froome keeps looking at his stem" innocently ever again!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Well, he could send you the video material so you can draw conclusions yourself, but I'm not sure you want him to do that.

We are on very blue roads indeed right now!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Doesn't have to be closeups. Just a series of videos of him falling over; if there is a loud, squeaky noise... I shall draw my own conclusions!

It will be like trying to see a tiny bottle....

 

[gregrowlerson]

Hold up, I know the Zubeldia meme and I have only watched highlights of 2007, but you are not telling me he finished that Tour 4th. Just no f*cking way. I couldn't have told you he was even in the race.

Kloden SHOULD have been ahead of him.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Pinot is serious rider, classy. Porte, not so...

Have we reached the vineyards already?

 

[gregrowlerson]

I'm not sure I've ever been this triggered in my life.

So it's Porte edging out Pinot for yellow in the ITT. That is the moment

 

[Leinster]

just a small statistic, which might have a statement for the teampower for the coming mountain stages:

Team name	Riders finished in the first group
Trek - Segafredo	3​
Bahrain - McLaren	3​
Astana Pro Team	3​
EF Pro Cycling	3​
Team Sunweb	2​
Movistar Team	2​
Mitchelton-Scott	2​
BORA - hansgrohe	2​
Team Jumbo-Visma	2​
UAE-Team Emirates	2​
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2​
INEOS Grenadiers	2​
AG2R La Mondiale	2​
Groupama - FDJ	2​
CCC Team	1​
B&B Hotels - Vital Concept p/b KTM	1​
Team Arkéa Samsic	1​

Gorka rolled in at 19s, 1 place behind LLS, so Astana effectively had 4 in the group.