Tour de France 2020 | Stage 5 (Gap - Privas, 183 km)

[SKSemtex]

My thoughts about Sagan:

He'll have a very difficult time to defend the green jersey this year. The way Bennett is going, I simply don't think he has a chance... This year is the worst I have ever seen him race, so far...

1. He is a bit over his "optimal" racing weight, 1-2 kilos... You can easily see it on his face and neck. I think that is due to the 2020 messed up racing calendar. Sagan clearly NEEDS solid and strong racing during Spring classics to arrive in shape for the Tour...

2. His position on the bike is off. I first heard it on "The Move" podcast and was watching him for the last few stages... He seems to move too much in the saddle looking for the best position like something is off, esp. when climbing, while in the past he was "glued" to the saddle he is one with it They speculated it might be saddle sores... Who knows???

3. Age, getting older, losing top level speed is pretty much given and with this new class of young guns who "smell" that Sagan is vulnerable this year it might be too much to overcome...

4. Psychological... Getting through his divorce, being separated from his son a lot and not being as hungry for wins anymore as he used to could also be a factor...

We'll see... I for one, I'm mostly of the opinion that it's a combo of 1 and 3. Number 1, especially, he really doesn't look fit enough for the Tour due to nonexistent racing in the Spring.

It is quite painful to be his fan this year. We have got too spoiled seeing him being among the best almost in each non-mtf stage for so many years.

As somebody said here before "races are won in winter, not in spring and summer". I think he lacks motivation and hunger for cycling. And you need a lot of it to push yourself more than others during the training time. He was on top of the game for almost 10 nonstop years.

I wish he can come back so we can see one or two more seasons when he will be on his best again (like Gilbert -QS period) but I am afraid he is quite different from Gilbert and much much richer.

 

[richwallone]

Sivakov looks quite relaxed through the feed zone... Hopefully, he is recovering well from his falls and saving his legs for mountain stages.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

At least Valverde can keep up.

 

[richwallone]

It is quite painful to be his fan this year. We have got too spoiled seeing him being among the best almost in each non-mtf stage for so many years.

As somebody said here before "races are won in winter, not in spring and summer". I think he lacks motivation and hunger for cycling. And you need a lot of it to push yourself more than others during the training time. He was on top of the game for almost 10 nonstop years.

I wish he can come back so we can see one or two more seasons when he will be on his best again (like Gilbert -QS period) but I am afraid he is quite different from Gilbert and much much richer.

I'm with you. I think it might do him good to lose the green this year and "free" him to focus more on the classics where he still can excel... At this point, he already has the record for ages, nothing to prove... He can have solid five years of racing at the highest level with his experience and smarts, if he really wants to!

 

[RedheadDane]

At least Valverde can keep up.

You could probably keep up, though you'd need to find your brakes!

 

[Jspear]

My thoughts about Sagan:

He'll have a very difficult time to defend the green jersey this year. The way Bennett is going, I simply don't think he has a chance... This year is the worst I have ever seen him race, so far...

1. He is a bit over his "optimal" racing weight, 1-2 kilos... You can easily see it on his face and neck. I think that is due to the 2020 messed up racing calendar. Sagan clearly NEEDS solid and strong racing during Spring classics to arrive in shape for the Tour...

2. His position on the bike is off. I first heard it on "The Move" podcast and was watching him for the last few stages... He seems to move too much in the saddle looking for the best position like something is off, esp. when climbing, while in the past he was "glued" to the saddle like he is one with it They speculated it might be saddle sores... Who knows???

3. Age, getting older, losing top level speed is pretty much given and with this new class of young guns who "smell" that Sagan is vulnerable this year it might be too much to overcome...

4. Psychological... Getting through his divorce, being separated from his son a lot and not being as hungry for wins anymore as he used to could also be a factor...

We'll see... I for one, I'm mostly of the opinion that it's a combo of 1 and 3. Number 1, especially, he really doesn't look fit enough for the Tour due to nonexistent racing in the Spring.

I didn't know he's getting a divorce....that's sad.

 

[PeterB]

It is quite painful to be his fan this year. We have got too spoiled seeing him being among the best almost in each non-mtf stage for so many years.

As somebody said here before "races are won in winter, not in spring and summer". I think he lacks motivation and hunger for cycling. And you need a lot of it to push yourself more than others during the training time. He was on top of the game for almost 10 nonstop years.

I wish he can come back so we can see one or two more seasons when he will be on his best again (like Gilbert -QS period) but I am afraid he is quite different from Gilbert and much much richer.

Yet he is still better than 2/3 of others who pretend to be sprinters in this tour. He's on par with the current Euro champ. So he's not total write-off as it may sound, yet. And Bennet's challenge for green is the best what could have happened for this jersey competition.

 

[SKSemtex]

I'm with you. I think it might do him good to lose the green this year and "free" him to focus more on the classics where he still can excel... At this point, he already has the record for ages, nothing to prove... He can have solid five years of racing at the highest level with his experience and smarts, if he really wants to!

I wish you are right but I am afraid that the guys who literally hate indoor cycling will have a very hard time being successful in spring classics nowadays.

 

[spalco]

This is kind of strange, did the peloton agree on a truce today or is that just how things turned out by coincidence?

 

[richwallone]

I didn't know he's getting a divorce....that's sad.

It was announced 2 years ago but it seems to have some lasting effects on him...

 

[perico]

My thoughts about Sagan:

He'll have a very difficult time to defend the green jersey this year. The way Bennett is going, I simply don't think he has a chance... This year is the worst I have ever seen him race, so far...

1. He is a bit over his "optimal" racing weight, 1-2 kilos... You can easily see it on his face and neck. I think that is due to the 2020 messed up racing calendar. Sagan clearly NEEDS solid and strong racing during Spring classics to arrive in shape for the Tour...

2. His position on the bike is off. I first heard it on "The Move" podcast and was watching him for the last few stages... He seems to move too much in the saddle looking for the best position like something is off, esp. when climbing, while in the past he was "glued" to the saddle like he is one with it They speculated it might be saddle sores... Who knows???

3. Age, getting older, losing top level speed is pretty much given and with this new class of young guns who "smell" that Sagan is vulnerable this year it might be too much to overcome...

4. Psychological... Getting through his divorce, being separated from his son a lot and not being as hungry for wins anymore as he used to could also be a factor...

We'll see... I for one, I'm mostly of the opinion that it's a combo of 1 and 3. Number 1, especially, he really doesn't look fit enough for the Tour due to nonexistent racing in the Spring.

He does look a bit heavier this year.

 

[Jspear]

It was announced 2 years ago but it seems to have some lasting effects on him...

Thanks. Man I'm behind on the personal lives of cyclist I guess....

 

[happytramp]

I wish you are right but I am afraid that the guys who literally hate indoor cycling will have a very hard time being successful in spring classics nowadays.

And Sagan was pretty vocal about not being interested in virtual racing.. So it's probably fair enough if he's not n the same shape as those who were.. He's earned a bit of a break if he wants it I'd say.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I would expect Sagan to start the Tour undercooked given that he is also doing the Giro

 

[BlueRoads]

Sagan is a real sprinter... not exactly comparable to Gilbert. Maybe it's just a break he's taking, but I would think he's really physically over his peak. Well, he has had amazing success, he's got money, and he can have a second career as an actor. And after all he can still win another important race when nobody expects him to anymore. Actually that might help him one day if he's not THE watched rider anymore. Or he really just quits one day, while still a great rider.

 

[virenque216]

Of topic, just watched finish of Tour de Hongrie a mountain top finish, where Valter(CCC) destroyed every one in the last KM. Simmons(Trek) and Howson(MS) came in 10s behind. Finally some talent from Hungary,actually there are few promising young ones - M.Dina and B.Peak emerging.Wonder will CCC give Valter a grand tour start this year

 

[Breezy1985]

It is quite painful to be his fan this year. We have got too spoiled seeing him being among the best almost in each non-mtf stage for so many years.

As somebody said here before "races are won in winter, not in spring and summer". I think he lacks motivation and hunger for cycling. And you need a lot of it to push yourself more than others during the training time. He was on top of the game for almost 10 nonstop years.

I wish he can come back so we can see one or two more seasons when he will be on his best again (like Gilbert -QS period) but I am afraid he is quite different from Gilbert and much much richer.

Sam is doing well and seems to understand the tactics for winning green better than some guys in previous years but Sagan is still favourite for green.

He's a little off but people are talking bout him like he's at Cav levels of bad

 

[spalco]

Sagan is only 30, maybe he lost his sprinter's edge (it happens), maybe he's just having an off-year (understandable), it's a bit early to write him off. Bennett, Ewan, Kristoff, etc. still have to get over the mountains too. Realistically Sagan is still the favourite to win the jersey.

 

[yaco]

Of topic, just watched finish of Tour de Hongrie a mountain top finish, where Valter(CCC) destroyed every one in the last KM. Simmons(Trek) and Howson(MS) came in 10s behind. Finally some talent from Hungary,actually there are few promising young ones - M.Dina and B.Peak emerging.Wonder will CCC give Valter a grand tour start this year

I am more interested in which team Valter will be riding in 2021.

 

[BlueRoads]

Heroic effort by Cosnefroy! Combativity prize today for sure.

 

[Gigs_98]

Those wind wheels not turning is not a good sign...

 

[Broccolidwarf]

I must admit, I don't get teams like UAE and NTT.

They have sprinters that could benefit from making the race hard, so that the heavier sprinters were gassed when they hit the climbs, and got dropped?

Edit: seems NTT is increasing the tempo now, at long last.

 

[Red Rick]

Those wind wheels not turning is not a good sign...

I am bored enough to read that alright

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Sep Kuss chain

 

[woodburn]

Jumbo on front as Kuss tries to get back.