Tour de France Tour de France 2022: Stage 12 (Briançon – Alpe d’Huez, 165.1k)

[gregrowlerson]

Disappointing stage in regards to the leaders, but I kinda expected it.
The gradient was too low to really take a toll on any of them.
They were all fresh.

I'd say the opposite. They weren't fresh at all (after stage 11) and that's why there wasn't much gc action.

 

[Cookster15]

Congrats to Pidcock and I am glad to see Froome finally get something.

But I think the theory Pog’s tactics yesterday of being overconfident chasing every move by Vingo and Roglic on the Galibier and then paying the price is now proven. It wasn’t his form or being overweight as some claimed. Great recovery by him today. He will keep trying.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Pidcock seemingly not living up to his potential all spring makes sense because he clearly has refocused himself as a GC rider rather than a Classics rider. Huge potential.

I agree. Pidders has real GC potential. He's also an excellent bike handler, having won the mountain bike gold in the Olympics. It's crucial skill that's missing from Roglic's game and has cost him dearly.

 

[red_flanders]

It’s the ages old question but what if Pogacar had a team like JV? He’s been horribly hampered by his team. its almost zero support.

Time to pull a Lemond/ADR masterpiece.

 

[GroupDK]

I had expected Thomas to take the lead when he managed to close to Jonas Wingfarm & Pogacar. after Pogacar had tested Jonas. at that point it was Thomas that had the most to win by setting a decent pace and gain distance to Bardet and Yates, Quintana, etc, and securing his top3 plateau, but he was likely on the edge and couldn't/wouldn't risk anything.'
The last thing you want is Jonas being the pace controller after Pogacar-move, as Jonas had fabulous Kuss in the back, and had a clear incentive in getting him back whenever he could..

 

[Moondance]

You can't just say "non EPO". It ain't that cut and dried. It's a really fast time, that's for sure. Particularly given the day's parcours and that it was ridden defensively in large part.

You're welcome to say which of the rides on spots 1-17 you think were unjuiced

 

[Tim Cahill]

I turned Eurosport over to ITV to try and escape Blythe.

Kennaugh and Deignan.

If I speak I am in big trouble.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Quite a few attacks, actually, they just didn't stick. Though I'm not sure what you mean "(Before the stage)".

I enjoyed watching Pidcock take that. Froome surprised me quite a bit. First even getting in a break, but making it stick that long? I'd have figured gone by top of the Croix de Fer.

It wasn't a serious statement, but the joke was that Vingegaard and Bardet didn't attack.

I actually think it was a fine stage. I had no idea who the winner would be before AdH.

I also think JV did the right thing in not going for the win, but if Vingegaard had anything left, he should have countered Pogi's second attack.

If Pogi had the team, they could attempt an ambush on the coming stages, but it doesn't look likely. Maybe INEOS will have the manpower, but JV would probably have to lose some riders for it to work.

 

[noob]

You can't just say "non EPO". It ain't that cut and dried. It's a really fast time, that's for sure. Particularly given the day's parcours and that it was ridden defensively in large part.

Wrong forum

 

[red_flanders]

You're welcome to say which of the rides on spots 1-17 you think were unjuiced

Not at all my point. Happy to discuss in the clinic.

 

[ontheroad]

You mean JV to strong for everybody

He would attack if he knew he can do some damage today.

Yes, that's what makes me think this tour is still not over yet. If Vingegaard felt confidently stronger than Pog I think he would have counter attacked him in the last 3-4 km to try and take more time. Or maybe he is just so confident in his ability to defend his way to Paris. But JV thought they had it wrapped up 2 years ago and anything can happen in bike racing. You take the time whenever you can.

 

[red_flanders]

Wrong forum

Agreed. As was the post to which I was responding.

 

[klintE]

Best lifetime result at the stage of anything for Louis Meintjes. At TdF Alpe D'huez. That's f...g something

 

[HelloDolly]

Pidcock is a potential Tour winner imo

Its just he is so good at everything

This is his first Tour !!!

 

[RobertCrawley]

You're welcome to say which of the rides on spots 1-17 you think were unjuiced

Not Carlos Sastre.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Best lifetime result at the stage of anything for Louis Meintjes. At TdF Alpe D'huez. That's f...g something

He won the Giro dell'Appennino a couple of months ago though?

I mean, yes, an argument can be made that 2nd on a TDF queen stage is better than that (it obviously is, actually), but a win's a win.

 

[bill1109]

GC

Pogicar rode a smart race today. Didn't lose time...didn't watch the stage but hopefully was eating a lot in order to get glycogen stores back up. Needs to recover from depletion like yesterday. Probably didn't have time to eat properly yesterday with all of the action by JV. And paid for it. Probably got a little overconfident trying to shut everything down...but if anyone thinks this is over they'd better think again. That guy is on another level, albeit with a weaker team but i still think he will win. I'm a Roglic fan, but I don't dislike any of these guys. I think Pogicar needs to wait for opportunities when it maybe isn't as hot and not as high altitude. Vingo didn't twist the knife today because he couldn't...plain and simple. Planets aligned yesterday, but Pogicar is still the strongest over this 3 wk race imho. Its a bike race though, not politics, so if wrong then so be it. i dont post much, but have been watching and following these races for many many years.

 

[Miha81]

Yes, that's what makes me think this tour is still not over yet. If Vingegaard felt confidently stronger than Pog I think he would have counter attacked him in the last 3-4 km to try and take more time. Or maybe he is just so confident in his ability to defend his way to Paris. But JV thought they had it wrapped up 2 years ago and anything can happen in bike racing. You take the time whenever you can.

Pogi has to get inside half of minute to stand a chance in ITT. And the way TJV is riding right now and no UAE support this is mission impossible in my books. Vigo is in top form and will be tested only when necessary (other attacks will be covered by his team).

 

[Red Rick]

The numbers say otherwise. This Thomas appears to be stronger than Tour winner Thomas and this Thomas only finished with the gruesome twosome because they kept stopping every time they dropped him because neither of them care about whether he’s there or not.

If you only look at climbing times you're just looking at overall population tendencies in climbing times.

It's like saying zomg the current #500 ranked tennis player is a greater player than Rod Laver.

 

[gunara]

The only thing that makes this Jumbo train feels less boring so far than the old Sky one is they have Pogacar to deal with, instead of Uran or Movistar mess.

 

[madthebad]

now I know why Carapaz is leaving Ineos....he's afraid of becoming Pidcock's domestique .

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Pidcock is a potential Tour winner imo

Its just he is so good at everything

This is his first Tour !!!

Yes, I mean he may or may not win one, but he came out of the egg with potential tour winner stamped on his arse

 

[KZD]

Pogi has to get inside half of minute to stand a chance in ITT. And the way TJV is riding right now and no UAE support this is mission impossible in my books. Vigo is in top form and will be tested only when necessary (other attacks will be covered by his team).

He doesn't need to be inside half a minute to stand a chance, the TT is 40km long and if Vingegård has a bad day he can definitely lose more than one minute to Pogačar there. Still Pogačar needs to take at least minute before the TT to have a realistic chance to win.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I turned Eurosport over to ITV to try and escape Blythe.

Kennaugh and Deignan.

If I speak I am in big trouble.

I steer clear from ITV4; the voiceover guy on the stairlift commercials has more charisma than any of the commentators.

 

[Sciatic]

Chapeau Pidcock! What a win for the palmares.

Yes, indeed; MTB & Cyclocross championship & ‘lAlpe d’Huez stage of Tour not very common