Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 17: Muret – Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet, 178.4 km

[Red Rick]

Still 70k to the climbs.
Ridiculous.

The stage isn't all that ridiculous, but it's ridiculous that this is the hardest stage.

 

[staubsauger]

he won't be of much use there either

Yeah, now probably not. Is it because of his Covid-19 infection last fall?

Tolhoek looked way stronger in Switzerland than Kruijswijk did here in France!

 

[titan31]

Should have been scheduled for la Vuelta right away!

I wouldn't. If he's fit, send him to a smaller race like Poland or the Italian classics. Send someone like Bennett or Bouwman to the Vuelta as support for Roglic instead.

 

[Publiuszam]

Froome to win

 

[Oliver]

Weird break... Good for GC boys to go for the stagewin.
Israel riding now?

 

[sir fly]

At least the weather's not that horrid.
Pretty good viewing.

 

[BlueRoads]

What an awful break for a mountain stage. Even more so if we cobsider that Pogacar does not care about stage wins and breaks have high chances

Godon for the win!!

 

[staubsauger]

I wouldn't. If he's fit, send him to a smaller race like Poland or the Italian classics. Send someone like Bennett or Bouwman to the Vuelta as support for Roglic instead.

I meant he initially should have been rescheduled for the Vuelta after his mediocre Dauphine performance with either Tolhoek or Bowman who both looked solid in Switzerland taking his place!

Now you're correct of course.

He should built towards the 2022 Giro d'Italia from here onwards. Co-leadership with with Vingegaard. Maybe Bennett as super-domestique plus young guns like Foss, Bouwman, Tolhoek to have a solid squad in Italy!

 

[Bolder]

The stage isn't all that ridiculous, but it's ridiculous that this is the hardest stage.

I think backloading the trio of climbs at the end mean less chance for recovery. If you're gapped on Peyresourde you probably won't be getting back on. So it could be plenty hard.

 

[ruamruam]

Weird break... Good for GC boys to go for the stagewin.
Israel riding now?

Why are Israel riding?

 

[titan31]

Why are Israel riding?

Woods I guess. KOM and he's strong enough as a climber he could win if the main GC guys look at each other.

 

[Publiuszam]

No...Froomey is feeling good and he is going to start his comeback.

 

[MrTea1976]

Hay bales?

Gareth Bale(s)

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Froome to win

ISN pulling him

 

[sir fly]

Gareth Bale(s)

Haven't seen him around since the bicycle kick.

 

[Publiuszam]

is he not at the golf course? bale

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Haven't seen him around since the bicycle kick.

He did assist Ramsey's goal against Turkey and cry over the referee after the Denmark loss.

 

[sir fly]

He did assist Ramsey's goal against Turkey and cry over the referee after the Denmark loss.

Not around here...

 

[bob.a.feet]

Gareth Bale(s)

Bale
Peyresourde
Val Louron-Azet
Portet
Madrid.

In that order.

 

[sir fly]

Bale
Peyresourde
Val Louron-Azet
Portet
Madrid.

In that order.

From Kyiv?

 

[BlueRoads]

I think it would only be fair if the recent double winner of the Great French Cheese Race won a Tour de France stage on the fête nationale.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

He should built towards the 2022 Giro d'Italia from here onwards. Co-leadership with with Vingegaard. Maybe Bennett as super-domestique plus young guns like Foss, Bouwman, Tolhoek to have a solid squad in Italy!

Vingegaard will be a co-leader in the Tour from now on, I'm pretty sure. Jumbo is all about the Tour.

 

[BlueRoads]

Vingegaard will be a co-leader in the Tour from now on, I'm pretty sure. Jumbo is all about the Tour.

They really need to find a place for Wout, though. Either he should be co-leader in the Tour, and Vingegaard go for Giro or Vuelta, or you continue to use van Aert as a helper in the Tour, then he needs to get more support in the classics to balance things.

 

[titan31]

Vingegaard will be a co-leader in the Tour from now on, I'm pretty sure. Jumbo is all about the Tour.

Roglic is the only leader at the Tour (as long as he enters). The others work for him. Give Vingegaard lead opportunities at the Giro and week long races, or maybe the Vuelta. Once Roglic is at a race he's targeting, it should be everyone for him.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Look at ISN mowing the break down, The Dawg is about to be uncaged.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the second coming is at hand?