Tour de France 2020 | Stage 8 (Gazeres-sur-Geronne - Loudenvielle

[Eclipse]

Jumbo and Rogla aren't taking as much advantage on Ineos and Bernal as they might, imo.

JV are probably among the biggest losers of the stage in my eyes.

They played all their cards, burnt Dumo along the way, and then Roglic didn't convert that into hurting people who were clearly struggling. Bernal was there to put a minute or more into today and while I'm not sure I see him getting stronger if his legs simply aren't good you are just taking the risk

 

[Valv.Piti]

So Roglic is alone?
I wasn't expecting it. The situation changes everything now. He almost did like in the Giro 2019. He would only cover Quintana and nobody else.

One thing is tunnelling on Quintana (and I assume Bernal) which is fine considering Pog is still a decent amount behind, but not going all out and actually gaining time on Bernal, a rider who is notoriosly known for his 3rd week high mountain speciale and clearly undercooked atm is so stupid that I cant grasp it. He responded so, so easily to everything he wanted to and was clearly one of the best today.

 

[perico]

He's just another Enric Mas, right?

Mas did well enough considering how bad his season has been. In the Top 10 on GC. Much better than at the Dauphiné when he looked hopeless.

 

[huangho]

Ala arrives...

 

[Jacques (7 ch)]

Funny day. TJV seem to have burned everyone of their team bar Roglic, but for what overall gain - dropping Pinot as a rival? Where does that leave them tomorrow? I can’t help thinking they gave expended a lot of effort on the front this week but don’t have the lead to show for it that the Sky train would have got.

 

[IndianCyclist]

So Pogachar, Quintana, Roglic are the best climbers so far

 

[gregrowlerson]

Porte and Landa still outside chances for the podium after today.

Well, something would have to happen to Roglic, Quintana, Pogacar (amongst others) of course. But it's a long race.

 

[JosephK]

Nice to see Quintana looking strong today, too.

 

[DFA123]

Roglic is making me nostalgic for the sky train. At least Froome would attack normally.

I think Roglic's popularity despite being dull is the same reason for Dumoulin's - just a new face challenging Ineos dominance. Froome was, by a massive distance, the most entertaining GC rider of the last ten years; that will become more and more clear as other much more boring riders win using Sky tactics.

 

[huangho]

Aru +19:45

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Anyway, I think we can conclude Pogacar is definitely overrated after his 3rd place in an exceptionally weak Vuelta last year.

Lost 7 minutes to Peters today, doesn't get any more obvious than that. I'm kidding, it was just the Evenepoel scenario: "they let him ride".

Seriously though, i hope he doesn't overdo it and pays the price later on.

 

[Asero831]

Ala 18 mins down

 

[Red Rick]

He's just another Enric Mas, right?

The only thing where Pogacar is better than Enric Mas is the hairline

 

[SafeBet]

Kudos to Alaphilippe for his pointless attack which made the race explode.
I love pointless attacks. I truly do.

Pogacar looks like a Tour winner to me.

 

[75Driver]

So Bardets big attack earned him exactly 2 measly seconds.
Biggest non-surprise? Alaphil and Pinot having a bad result.

 

[Big Doopie]

bernal is not explosive. he always comes back at his speed. maybe he learned a bit from the froome yoyo.

not sure anyone was going to get rid of him here. they may attack away, get a gap, but he generally pulls back up.

i just hope he doesn't win like this. i already think last year was a bit of a fluke win. and there appear to be riders that are much more exciting and deserving.

 

[Brullnux]

Some people are impossible to make happy

I just dont know how you can watch Roglic today or in last year's Giro and go yes, there's an active, exciting rider. Last year's giro he had the excuse of not being that strong. This week? Had the opportunity to put time into Bernal, and has let it slip. It's passive, and it doesn't make for thrilling viewing. Engaging I guess, but only because it's giving other people a chance (a la Carapaz)

 

[Leinster]

So Roglic is alone?
I wasn't expecting it. The situation changes everything now. He almost did like in the Giro 2019. He would only cover Quintana and nobody else.

When he's on his own like today, it makes sense to watch for who's the strongest, and cover who you can cover. If he chases every attack, he'll blow up.

So right now, it's clear that Pogacar is strong, but he still has time to make up. Quintana is looking strongest of the other gc climbers, and Roglic doesn't have a time cushion on him, so is probably going to follow him constantly.

The great thing about today is that, for all JV's strength so far in the race, even after Dumoulin's turn they weren't able to dislodge ALL the leaders from all the other teams. So, if this continues, the top 10 should all be on relatively equal footing in the mountains the rest of the race, and teams who want to gain time are going to have to get creative.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The only thing where Pogacar is better than Enric Mas is the hairline

Mas doesn't have a hairline.

 

[Bolder]

I suspect JV are surprised a bit that Dumoulin wasn't a little stronger (guessing saving Kuss for tomorrow). I get criticism of Roglic for not attacking but I really think the third week is going to be absolutely decisive.

Really much more interesting Tour at this point than I thought it would be. Today was a fascinting stage.

 

[SafeBet]

bernal is not explosive. he always comes back at his speed. maybe he learned a bit from the froome yoyo.

not sure anyone was going to get rid of him here. they may attack away, get a gap, but he generally pulls back up.

Pogacar got rid of him pretty convincingly.
Others could do the same.

 

[roundabout]

I think JV would be better than this going ahead. I don't want it to happen, and I hope I'm wrong, but today was not the best they could do

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Congratulations Nose Peters.

Two wins, two Grand Tour mountain stages.

I mean, they're not Mikel Nieve level (first two wins, two memorable queen stages), but he does seem to have a bit of that air of "man for the big occasion" about him.

 

[Big Doopie]

kuss is clearly a huge loss to jumbo and rog, if he does not come back from today's bad form.

 

[Forever The Best]

There are also people who liked Roglic due to his ski jumping background but as others have said he is turned into a very passive rider and I wish he pays the price for it in the 3rd week.