Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 12: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Nîmes, 159.4 km

[spalco]

Maybe dumb question: is the break gonna take this one?

Yeah.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Interesting talk in the TV2 studio, where Morten Bennekou (former DS at DSM) and Asbjoern Kragh are guests today.

They talked about the reputation DSM has, of being very "stringent" in their approach to cycling, where every tiny details is micromanaged by the team.

Bennekou and Kragh both said they mostly liked it a great deal, because everyone in the team knew exactly what to do and when, at any point in the season. They like how organised the team is in every facet.

Though they both conceded, that it became a little too much, when for instance the team wanted to decide the saddle height of each rider, to a millimeter.

Bennekou also made the point, that despite the criticism of ex-riders, it was worth noting, that hardly any riders improved after leaving DSM.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

He grew up with a single parent in charity flats and on a council estate I think. I get the feeling he more wishes he grew up in Salford in the 80s though.

Does he still live up north? Don't blame him as I also like pie, chips and gravy.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I'm not sure tomorrow will be an easier day.

True but last stage for Cav until stage 19.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Don't blame him as I also like pie, chips and gravy.

Doesn't everyone?

 

[Leinster]

So given that an Alaphilippe attack on the uncategorized climb is pretty much a given, does anyone think
a) that anyone can go with him.
b) that, if he does get away, the chase over the back side will be able to coordinate enough to reel him in?

As I type, Pollitt and Swift attack.

 

[trevim]

Really surprised Quickstep messed it up, all the remaining flat stages before Paris are above 200km and not easy to control.

Cav may have to join Van Aert and break to get a stage win in the Pyrenees

 

[sir fly]

Fairly early to attack the breakaway, yeah.
On the other hand, Mohorič rode away from even further out (I think).
...rode away, not attacked.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Really surprised Quickstep messed it up, all the remaining flat stages before Paris are above 200km and not easy to control.

Cav may have to join Van Aert and break to get a stage win in the Pyrenees

Cav pulling a Hushovd would be fabulous.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Why has Politt not yet gotten a personal Colgate sponsorship?

 

[spalco]

Really surprised Quickstep messed it up, all the remaining flat stages before Paris are above 200km and not easy to control.

Cav may have to join Van Aert and break to get a stage win in the Pyrenees

Yesterday was hard. There was a joke earlier about Cavendish being too tired to sprint so Van Aert will just take the stage again, but really, the stage was probably similarly exhausting for Cav as it was for Van Aert. Maybe he just didn't have it today to start with.

 

[sir fly]

Cav pulling a Hushovd would be fabulous.

Unbelievable.

So it was a sneaky move...

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Rolf Soerensen laughing out laud, while saying "Henao has got his work cut out for him, that tiny human, against all those big machines".

 

[RedheadDane]

Sweeny: Don't mind me... I'm just eating.

 

[Red Rick]

Alaphilippe being the death of a chasing group again.

 

[Gigs_98]

The front four got this. No way the guys behind work well enough togehter to bring back this much fire power

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Front 4 are gone.

 

[spalco]

Alaphilippe being the death of a chasing group again.

But he only pulls when he really has to. He's either not feeling super today or he's preserving his energy very well. I would really be worried about him if I was anyone else in that break.

 

[sir fly]

20 seconds.
Depending on the gap, every rider in the quartet will start thinking about his own chances.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm rooting for Sweeney here. He has a killer('s) name, it's his birthday tomorrow, and it would be his first pro victory.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

That group's gone, way too strong for the rest. Bissegger's the biggest engine who's missed out and he doesn't quite have it today. I wouldn't have a clue who wins from this group though. Super impressive from Sweeny to be up there in such strong company.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Certainly hard to imagine a better situation for the 4 in front with all the fast men behind

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Who is the fastest in that group, is anyone's guess.

My money is on Van Moer if they get to the line together, but I see all 3 big guys try to get away before the line.

 

[RedheadDane]

Who is the fastest in that group, is anyone's guess.

My money is on Van Moer if they get to the line together, but I see all 3 big guys try to get away before the line.

Isn't it Sweeney, the Lotto guy?

 

[titan31]

Who is the fastest in that group, is anyone's guess.

My money is on Van Moer if they get to the line together, but I see all 3 big guys try to get away before the line.

That's Sweeny rather than van Moer I think. No idea who takes it in thay group.

Echelon time in the peleton it looks like, or maybe not, no idea what they were doing there.