Tour de France 2020 | Stage 4 (Sisteron – Orcières-Merlette, 160.5 km)

[spalco]

It depends where he wants to take his career. If he goes the Valverde route, he should be able to get similar GT results as, well, Valverde, while also being (one of) the best in the more hilly classics. For a Tour win, all the stars would need to align though (didn't we say the same about Thomas though?). But he could also win every monument, probably bar Paris-Roubaix, if he doesn't. It's a shame he didn't get to ride Flanders this spring to see where his boundaries are on the cobbles, if he doesn't have it there, he should try for GTs imo.

"Similar" GT results could very well include a Tour de France win though. I mean, Valverde never won the Tour, but I think it would be nonsense to say he couldn't have been capable of doing so had he structured his career differently. Imagine Valverde joining Sky in 2012 or whatever - don't you think he would have had a shot?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Alaphilippe is a better rouleur and puncheur than Valverde ever was, and he's also heavier.

Valverde broke onto the scene and immediately finished 3rd in the Vuelta. And even Valverde never evolved into the multi GT winning climber a lot of people had hoped he woudl become.

We've seen plenty of great (and one less-great) riders evolve into GT winners over the course of their careers this decade. Even if they are different kinds of riders, Alaphilippe's Tour was very similar to Dumoulin's Vuelta (not seen as GC riders beforehand, taking time on the punchier climbs and the TT, sufficiently limiting losses in the high mountains before cracking near the end). Not sure if Alaphilippe's potential as a GC rider is the same obviously, but I wouldn't say last year's Tour was a fluke.

 

[Red Rick]

People aren't taking into account the possibility that next years tour is packed with hilly stages to suit Alaphillipe. Would make quite an interesting race as well imo

What are they gonna do. Have the Peyresourde as the hardest climb in the race?

 

[Red Rick]

We've seen plenty of great (and one less-great) riders evolve into GT winners over the course of their careers. Even if they are different kinds of riders, Alaphilippe's Tour was very similar to Dumoulin's Vuelta (not seen as GC riders beforehand, taking time on the punchier climbs and the TT, sufficiently limiting losses in the high mountains before cracking near the end). Not sure if Alaphilippe's potential as a GC rider is the same obviously, but I wouldn't say last year's Tour was a fluke.

Dumoulin , as an ITT prodigy, had a massive engine and a much more reliable weapon than Alaphilippe. He was also only 24 when he broke through.

 

[spalco]

Eh, poor Sagan, really bad luck there.

 

[BlueRoads]

People aren't taking into account the possibility that next years tour is packed with hilly stages to suit Alaphillipe. Would make quite an interesting race as well imo

That would be a great race... van Aert vs. Alaphilippe for the Tour win and then Evenepoel takes it.

 

[skippo12]

People aren't taking into account the possibility that next years tour is packed with hilly stages to suit Alaphillipe. Would make quite an interesting race as well imo

Wouldn´t be suprised if they do it. It´s pretty obvious that they are trying improve the chances of french riders. We had pure climber routes for Bardet and Pinot. Why not have a hilly edition for Alaphilippe.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

What - DeGendt spends lots of time at the front of races, especially when Ewan is riding in the race - He spent most of the first week at the front in the 2019 TDF.

You are now the second one saying that, so I guess I have to qualify:

First of all, it was just a tongue in cheek remark
Secondly, obviously the premise is a mountain stage, not a sprinters stage

 

[Big Doopie]

That would be a great race... van Aert vs. Alaphilippe for the Tour win and then Evenepoel takes it.

seems like Evenepoel could probably have taken it this year already based on the competition...

 

[happytramp]

Might be reading it wrong but are Sagan and bennett tied on points?

 

[Red Rick]

seems like Evenepoel could probably have taken it this year already based on the competition...

Yeah.

Also Novak Djokovic is incredibly lucky Evenepoel decided to become a cyclist. It is known.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

"Similar" GT results could very well include a Tour de France win though. I mean, Valverde never won the Tour, but I think it would be nonsense to say he couldn't have been capable of doing so had he structured his career differently. Imagine Valverde joining Sky in 2012 or whatever - don't you think he would have had a shot?

He's never come within 5 minutes of winning a Tour de France, although he probably would have in 2017 considering the route and how the race unfolded. I don't think he'd ever have started a Tour de France as team leader with Sky, his ceiling was just barely too low imo. Even so, he too could have won a Tour, but again, it would have taken the stars aligning to happen.

 

[Breezy1985]

Might be reading it wrong but are Sagan and bennett tied on points?

Yep just checked the calculations (Sean Kelly voice) and tied on 83 so is it man ahead on overall time wins ?

 

[happytramp]

Yep just checked the calculations (Sean Kelly voice) and tied on 83 so is it man ahead on overall time wins ?

Which is Sagan by about 10min.

 

[Brumdog66]

What are they gonna do. Have the Peyresourde as the hardest climb in the race?

Wouldn´t be suprised if they do it. It´s pretty obvious that they are trying improve the chances of french riders. We had pure climber routes for Bardet and Pinot. Why not have a hilly edition for Alaphilippe.

Loads of hilly stages with a weak first mountain block and then all the tough mountains backloaded would be quite interesting

 

[Breezy1985]

"Similar" GT results could very well include a Tour de France win though. I mean, Valverde never won the Tour, but I think it would be nonsense to say he couldn't have been capable of doing so had he structured his career differently. Imagine Valverde joining Sky in 2012 or whatever - don't you think he would have had a shot?

I have no problem believing Sky could have pulled Valverde over the line. He's a better GC man than Thomas or Wiggins

 

[broppo]

Yeah.

Also Novak Djokovic is incredibly lucky Evenepoel decided to become a cyclist. It is known.

messi is lucky evenepoel switched from football to cycling!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Dumoulin , as an ITT prodigy, had a massive engine and a much more reliable weapon than Alaphilippe. He was also only 24 when he broke through.

So Alaphilippe being a better rouleur than Valverde is evidence against him being the better GC rider, but Alaphilippe being a worse rouleur than Dumoulin is also evidence against him being the better GC rider?

 

[FjPavels]

Might be reading it wrong but are Sagan and bennett tied on points?

Taken from procyclingstats:

RNK.		RIDER	POINTS	POINTS SCORED TODAY
1	-	SAGAN Peter	83	4
2	▲1	BENNETT Sam	83	9
3	▼1	KRISTOFF Alexander	80	3
4	-	TRENTIN Matteo	61	7
5	▲1	NIZZOLO Giacomo	51	5
6	▼1	EWAN Caleb	50	-
7	-	COQUARD Bryan	43	6
8	-	BOL Cees	32	-
9	-	ALAPHILIPPE Julian	30	-
10	-	PEDERSEN Mads	30	-

 

[BlueRoads]

messi is lucky evenepoel switched from football to cycling!

Not Messi, but Mbappé.
But then I read Marc Hirschi was compared to Mbappé.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Dumoulin , as an ITT prodigy, had a massive engine and a much more reliable weapon than Alaphilippe. He was also only 24 when he broke through.

People will hate me for saying it, but Ala's Tour last year reminds me of 2005 Di Luca.

 

[Breezy1985]

Which is Sagan by about 10min.

Yep Sagan stays in Green. He's some man for wearing that jersey. He wears it when tied on points and he even wears it when not leading on points.

Maybe Sam will try drop him on the climb

 

[happytramp]

He should just get it tatooed on his back.

Could be a change of hands tomorrow though.

 

[BlueRoads]

Roglic with that almost full-face mask and the glasses and the cap... what will everybody say looking at these pictures in 15 years...

 

[Bardamu]

seems like Evenepoel could probably have taken it this year already based on the competition...

Yes the winner of the Tour of Poland is the biggest thing in everything, ever.