Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 8: Oyonnax – Le Grand-Bornand, 150.8 km

[ice&fire]

Oh c'mon, no way Roglic is hanging with Pog today. Wait til we see the climbing times, going to be thermonuclear

Pogacar's climbing time for Romme has already been posted as about 10s faster than Schleck Bros & Co. 2009. If all other contenders are more than 1 min slower, we're clearly in a weak field race.

 

[Eclipse]

Best option is probably to take another day off tomorrow and reevaluate on the rest day.

I think he'll just chill and see how he feels. Maybe he can repay a favour or two and then duck out.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogacar might not have gone from that far out if Primoz had been on his wheel with 5 other Jumbo guys. Like last year.

But this was indeed a massacre which would require something special to contain.

He would have. He knows he's basically invincible and he doesn't have to give a crap who's on his wheel

 

[MartinGT]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1411329326348390406

View: https://twitter.com/richardmoore73/status/1411329326348390406?s=20


The replies. LOLZ

Seem to think the snorefest of Sky train dominating was 'fun'

 

[fbjim]

When's the last time we saw a total stomping like this, this is like when Fingon decided he'd win by ten minutes or something

 

[titan31]

Oh c'mon, no way Roglic is hanging with Pog today. Wait til we see the climbing times, going to be thermonuclear

Roglic was clearly in good form (don't forget he was beating Pogacar after the first two stages). Roglic covers Pogacar today easier than Carapaz does and at that point whilst Pogacar might eventually break him if he continued to ride like he did today, does he do that when he has Roglic sitting on his wheel. The two of them either work together or they stare at each other cos Pogacar doesn't distance Roglic without multiple long attacks and based on their performances today despite their crashes and lead in issues, Roglic had Vingegaard and WVA in that group if all are fit and on form so Pogacar is attacking the 3 of them riding together.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Jumbo dom beating Carapaz.

Carapaz paid for his effort to match Pog's ridiculous speed. Understandably he wanted to fight for the Tour victory but this costed him. If he had stayed with the group and attacked on Colombiere I think he would have gainen some time over the rest.

 

[titan31]

He would have. He knows he's basically invincible and he doesn't have to give a crap who's on his wheel

Was it stage 1 or 2 where one of them attacked, the other covered and they just looked at each other instead of distancing everyone else. That's pretty much what I'd think would have happened today if Roglic was there.

 

[Bonimenier]

Roglic was clearly in good form (don't forget he was beating Pogacar after the first two stages).

Not only is it ridiculous to make statements about one's form after 2 stages, but it's also just incorrect what you are saying. Pogacar took 1 bonisecond more than Roglic in the first 2 stages.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

I don't think Rog stays with Pog today, but I also think his presence could have changed the dynamics by quite a bit. Pog is insanely stronk but even he has to worry at least a tiny bit about a chase led by Roglic and Carapaz... at least that's what I hope.

 

[Escarabajo]

Who would have thought that the key moment of the race was when Colbrelli pushed Roglic into a ditch!

And the thought that Thomas or el Richie were going to challenge Pogacar makes me cringe!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Far be it from me to be cynical about the possibility that rules are being applied creatively, but do we know whether at 89 man gruppetto arriving together is an accurate representation of what happened, or have they swept some time gaps under the carpet?

 

[titan31]

Not only is it ridiculous to make statements about one's form after 2 stages, but it's also just incorrect what you are saying. Pogacar took 1 bonisecond more than Roglic in the first 2 stages.

Is it any more ridiculous than saying Pogacar would have beat Roglic by minutes today based on his form today?

I misremembered who was leading then, but my point still stands.

 

[Bonimenier]

Is it any more ridiculous than saying Pogacar would have beat Roglic by minutes today based on his form today?

I misremembered who was leading then, but my point still stands.

I would consider it more riciculous actually.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Far be it from me to be cynical about the possibility that rules are being applied creatively, but do we know whether at 89 man gruppetto arriving together is an accurate representation of what happened, or have they swept some time gaps under the carpet?

From what I saw, it looked like a grupetto of that size, was like the neutral zone at the start of a stage

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Who would have thought that the key moment of the race was when Colbrelli pushed Roglic into a ditch!

Do you know that for sure? I thought the circumstances of the crash were still unclear.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Far be it from me to be cynical about the possibility that rules are being applied creatively, but do we know whether at 89 man gruppetto arriving together is an accurate representation of what happened, or have they swept some time gaps under the carpet?

Thats more tinhat then cynical I think

The grupetto normally makes sure to stay together.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Many people are complaining about the GC now being boring, but at least today was really exciting. Probably the best mountain stage at the Tour since 2011. Even Pogacar destroying his rivals was entertaining; will he won the stage? how much time will he gain? And to witness a rider go for it on penultimate climb on the first day in the mountains is crazy in this day and age.

Even with the GC being done and dusted, this will still probably be the best tour in a while.

 

[Bonimenier]

Far be it from me to be cynical about the possibility that rules are being applied creatively, but do we know whether at 89 man gruppetto arriving together is an accurate representation of what happened, or have they swept some time gaps under the carpet?

The degenerate that I am, I watched till the grupetto crossed the line and it was indeed a massive group together.

 

[Netserk]

This was Armstrong Hautacam dominant.

Was Beloki (2'52'' after Armstrong) the best of the rest not in the break of the day?

 

[meat puppet]

Damn, went for a ride when they were at 80k to go. Judging by the commentary here it seems this was a piss-take to remember. Can't wait to watch it.

 

[titan31]

I would consider it more riciculous actually.

Any time they've gone head to head and raced, Pogacar has never shown he could do to Roglic what he did to everyone else today. Hell, Roglic lost 44 seconds in the time trial despite being half broken. I can't imagine him losing 3 minutes in a stage when fully fit

 

[Bonimenier]

Any time they've gone head to head and raced, Pogacar has never shown he could do to Roglic what he did to everyone else today. Hell, Roglic lost 44 seconds in the time trial despite being half broken. I can't imagine him losing 3 minutes in a stage when fully fit

He did to a lesser degree in the Vuelta 2019 stage 20 at age 19.

 

[Red Rick]

Was it stage 1 or 2 where one of them attacked, the other covered and they just looked at each other instead of distancing everyone else. That's pretty much what I'd think would have happened today if Roglic was there.

I don't think them being near equal in those 2 stages has super much bearing on the big climbs.

 

[starlord]

Among the riders who have finished 34min+ are winners of 11 Grand Tours, 16 monuments, 9 RR world championships and 4 ITT world championships. 12 riders, only 2 of them under 30, 7 of them 34+. Yesterday it was one of the strongest breakaways in recent years and today quite a grupetto.

Anyway, great stage.