Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 13: Nîmes – Carcassonne, 219.9 km

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Jun 19, 2009
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Firing single riders off the front at this point is unlikely to work. Better for a team like Trek to have a couple of guys ride on the front to close the gap and then use that Cat 4
 
Jan 17, 2017
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Alpecin look like they have faith in Philipsen so are going to help DQS. Sprint looking a helluva lot more likely than yesterday but as a Cav fan, I daren't allow myself to be optimistic. It's the hope that kills you.
 
Jul 10, 2014
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It's anti racing. It's preventing others from actually racing.

Imagine UAE team doing that on a narrow climb. Just spread across the road, go slowly, noone can go by and attack. It's the same situation, except that would be frowned upon, and this is not.
 
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Apr 30, 2011
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Imagine UAE team doing that on a narrow climb. Just spread across the road, go slowly, noone can go by and attack. It's the same situation, except that would be frowned upon, and this is not.
That happens in every Flandrian classic.
 
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Sep 17, 2014
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I don't think there's anything wrong with Alpecin backing their guy, he's the 2nd best sprinter here and they have a better chance of winning the stage in a sprint than letting the break win.
 
Jan 17, 2017
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I don't think there's anything wrong with Alpecin backing their guy, he's the 2nd best sprinter here and they have a better chance of winning the stage in a sprint than letting the break win.

Exactly, what else are they supposed to do? Philipsen beating Cavendish is absolutely their best chance at a stage victory this tour. Even if Cavendish is the more likely to win, it is still their best chance at a stage victory. Anything can happen in a sprint, Cav could lose a wheel, suffer a technical etc, or he just doesn't have the legs today and Philipsen gets to the line first.
 
Apr 30, 2011
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Exactly, what else are they supposed to do? Philipsen beating Cavendish is absolutely their best chance at a stage victory this tour. Even if Cavendish is the more likely to win, it is still their best chance at a stage victory. Anything can happen in a sprint, Cav could lose a wheel, suffer a technical etc, or he just doesn't have the legs today and Philipsen gets to the line first.
Bank on the sprint, but don't chase. They already have a successful Tour, so they could easily sit back.
 
Jul 13, 2012
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I don't think there's anything wrong with Alpecin backing their guy, he's the 2nd best sprinter here and they have a better chance of winning the stage in a sprint than letting the break win.

Going for the sprint and going in a break aren't mutually exclusive, you can do both. Throw a guy in the break and not chase, and if it comes to the sprint, you still have a chance.
 
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