Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 7: Vierzon – Le Creusot, 249.1 km

Page 36 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
agreed.

only problem is that now pog needs to make up time on van aert, so expect him to actually go on the attack (perhaps early) or go with attacks. at least over this weekend.

pog, i believe, will be flying well over the rest.

question is whether van aert is "just" Maertens (1976) or Bruyere (1978) or whether he is actually more...

will be fun, no matter -- at least this weekend, and then we will see better.
Van Aert lost an entire month in the middle of his prep and basically had to start from scratch. I love the guy but he isn't going to ride for GC and UAE know it.
 
Even if Movistar got it right: does anyone want to bet a single (insert currency here) on Mas making the podium?
Not impossible is it? He improved during the Tour last year.

Roglic is done, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Thomas lose big time in the Alps. Pogacar will be first, Carapaz the next challenger.
Who else is there to challenge for third - Uran, Latour, Kelderman, Alaphilippe, Mollema... Not a crazy field.
 
Even if Movistar got it right: does anyone want to bet a single (insert currency here) on Mas making the podium?
Why even if? They got it right. They have to race to find out what is possible. I think they couldn't care less in the world if anyone bets on them.

The better question would be HOW would giving the co-captain of the strongest team some free time against their own rider help them to get their guy on the podium.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Carols and perico
Sure. Carapaz is favourite to take the second step, after him it's between Vingegaard, Mas, Uran and the likes. Why not?
Supermán only needs one stage late in the race where he gets back to peak form, and he could easily win back a bunch of time. On his best days, he can climb at a level few can live with, and he's far enough down time-wise that Pog won't need to react immediately. If nobody reacts instantly and he gets a gap, he could definitely still have a role to play in that fight - plus of course with Soler injured and all of their top guns having lost time already, you'd also say that Supermán is their best chance to win a stage too. He is well out of the fight for the win, but 5 minutes from Pog isn't all that much for 3rd place to be at if he can climb at his best level from here on in.
 
Oh come on, if you have 5 riders available to pull, no way you dont do that. Urán's mates did the same... that it was Carapaz might have been a bonus, who knows, but they also buried Rogla and keep Wout on short leash.

Yeah, but that's what I thought the last time they did this as well.
They do it in a situation where you might say there might have been an advantage for them.

They might have their reasons for being upset, but really that's almost Lefevere level of pettiness.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Great ride by Mohoric! Kudos, first of all.

Everyone other than Pogi is racing for the second place. And I don't remember Pogi ever messing up (like the opposite of Rogi, the new unluckiest guy). I assume that Movistar didn't give up on the second place, so kudos to them as well.

And a prediction for the end: no Ineos in the top 3 at the end.
 
E5TKMv7XoAAeEYR
 
If you think doing the work for the race favorite is in their interest, it might as well be rocket science. Making their sponsor look like a turd is probably also not in their best interest.
Movistar has many objectives in this race and actually winning the GC is pretty far down the list. I hate that they chased Richie but let's be honest, it's the right thing to do. Distancing Rog (and Quintana? dont know where he was) and keeping other top 10 guys from gaining time.
 
Great ride by Mohoric! Kudos, first of all.

Everyone other than Pogi is racing for the second place. And I don't remember Pogi ever messing up (like the opposite of Rogi, the new unluckiest guy). I assume that Movistar didn't give up on the second place, so kudos to them as well.

And a prediction for the end: no Ineos in the top 3 at the end.
Maybe you can apply data analytics with 2 points!!! :D
 
Movistar has many objectives in this race and actually winning the GC is pretty far down the list. I hate that they chased Richie but let's be honest, it's the right thing to do. Distancing Rog (and Quintana? dont know where he was) and keeping other top 10 guys from gaining time.

actually very few teams left that will not be happy with podium or top five.

also riders often have a much clearer idea of who is strongest etc.

lemond used to say that there were really just 3 or 4 guys who could legitimately win the TDF at the start of the race...
 
Congratulations to Matej Mohorič for winning stage 7 and to do that in grand style. I always knew Mohorič has such stuff in him. It's just that Matej spent most of his career working for others. Slovenian won hence the mandatory tune:


Moh Rog Pog Tra ... thank you all for cementing Slovenia as the cycling super power. Some countries have nuclear arsenal we have our sport people.

The whole stage was really enjoyable to watch. Raced like another classic. Too many things to mention and not to leave something out. For me personally this was a bitter sweet stage. Mohorič won Roglič folded. As Roglič was my favourite i am happy it happened on today's stage. As this was a nice stage to say good bye of being actively involved in Tour 2021. Pogačar good luck to you and bring the trophy home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
  • Wow
Reactions: Sandisfan