Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 15: Céret – Andorre-la-Vieille, 191.3 km

[gregrowlerson]

Well, he has failed to make it across the gap.

Actually he did make it

 

[BlueRoads]

Vingegaard still has mountain goat Teunissen with him as domestique. The others are up the road.

That's a bit crazy. I get they don't want to put him under pressure, but how can you have such few believe in a guy who has had one of the best time trials and was able to attack Pogacar?
I would at least leave one guy with him to get some bottles or lend him a wheel in the mountains. Teunissen shouldn't last that long.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Vingegaard with men up the road!

 

[Earns1985]

That's a bit crazy. I get they don't want to put him under pressure, but how can you have such few believe in a guy who has had one of the best time trials and was able to attack Pogacar?
I would at least leave one guy with him to get some bottles or lend him a wheel in the mountains. Teunissen shouldn't last that long.

It could also mean exactly the opposite from what you wrote. Perhaps they plan a long range attack with Vingegaard. Three Relais stations are up the road...

 

[Pulpstar]

Can't work out if this is a massive statement of confidence or no confidence at all in Vingegaard by Jumbo.

 

[Eclipse]

That's a bit crazy. I get they don't want to put him under pressure, but how can you have such few believe in a guy who has had one of the best time trials and was able to attack Pogacar?
I would at least leave one guy with him to get some bottles or lend him a wheel in the mountains. Teunissen shouldn't last that long.

Just setting up his epic long ranger

 

[BlueRoads]

Okay, that would be great.

 

[dercuforever]

UAE should let sprinters team ride so that they aren't 30min down when the real climbing start.

 

[tobydawq]

That's a bit crazy. I get they don't want to put him under pressure, but how can you have such few believe in a guy who has had one of the best time trials and was able to attack Pogacar?
I would at least leave one guy with him to get some bottles or lend him a wheel in the mountains. Teunissen shouldn't last that long.

I would be a bit shocked if Kuss or Kruijswijk does not drop back as soon as the second group catches the front group.

Also, Valverde for the stage win!

 

[Netserk]

Bilbao has been really disappointing so far. It was a perfect break for him to sneak into.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Can't work out if this is a massive statement of confidence or no confidence at all in Vingegaard by Jumbo.

Rabofail, Rabofail never changes.

 

[Pulpstar]

UAE should let sprinters team ride so that they aren't 30min down when the real climbing start.

In UAE's interests to be as far back as possible (Paret Peintre is 24 min 44 behind), kills any stepping stone approach for Vingegaard.

 

[titan31]

There's some good options here for GC guys to attack and bridge across to teammates.

Everyone has an option here to bridge to. UAE probably know that so they'll stop and leave a huge gap that no one can bridge across to now.

 

[Netserk]

In UAE's interests to be as far back as possible (Paret Peintre is 24 min 44 behind), kills any stepping stone approach for Vingegaard.

It certainly telephones an attack coming if the riders in the break stop to a standstill at the top of the penultimate climb 20 minutes before the peloton comes.

 

[Red Rick]

I think this breakaway is really likely to fracture at some point.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I think this breakaway is really likely to fracture at some point.

At this size and with climbs coming thick and fast, almost certainly.

 

[Valv.Piti]

FINALLY!!!! I literally only watched the start of todays stage because I wanted Valverde to get in the break so badly.

Needless to say: Valverde for the win

 

[Vroome.exe]

I think this breakaway is really likely to fracture at some point.

No, almost definitely there will be a 32 riders sprint for the win.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It certainly telephones an attack coming if the riders in the break stop to a standstill at the top of the penultimate climb 20 minutes before the peloton comes.

It does, but at the same time they have to be able to react to it when it comes, à la Pajares 2005. Heras' big thing there was attacking over the summit of La Colladiella and descending it like a madman to get to his domestiques waiting, knowing descending was an area he held the advantage over Menchov. Menchov and the Rabo crew knew full well Heras was going to go for them that day, but they didn't know where and how.

 

[Red Rick]

It certainly telephones an attack coming if the riders in the break stop to a standstill at the top of the penultimate climb 20 minutes before the peloton comes.

Beixalis is hardest on the bottom, and it's probably a 19 minute climb for the fastest, sooo.

 

[Scarponi]

No, almost definitely there will be a 32 riders sprint for the win.

Wonder whats the biggest breakaway sprint finish ever lol

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nibali in the break from the break?

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali in the break from the break?

Outsmarting everyone in Andorra, where have I seen that before?

 

[Red Rick]

2nd group will get Valverded on the next climb.

 

[dercuforever]

Would be fun for WVA to attack and TT to the end, thus making several other sprinters OTL.