Tour de France Tour de France 2022: Stage 5 (Lille Métropole – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 157k)

[Volderke]

The amount of nonsense spoken on here about Bettoil - a very experienced rider - beggars belief.
I thought his tactics were spot on and actually benefitted the break. On one of the sectors he drove on the front the gap was about 1 min 30 at the start of the sector, came down to 1 min 15 at the end of the sector but quickly went back up to 1 min 50 when they were on normal roads.
if you can get rid of the helpers on the cobbles then there will be a lot of looking around once you get off the cobbles as the riders who are left are those who do not want to put too much effort in.
What kills the break is a consistent chase, with bodies prepared to put a shift in. What benefits a break is constant changes in speed in the chase group.
Anyone who thinks Bettiol cost Powless Yellow today knows zero about cycling

Why is Bettiol pulling Pogacar from 1'30 to 1'15 on the cobbles, while Powless has to gain 50 seconds on Pogacar to win the yellow jersey?

The theory of disrupting the chase by drilling it is only realistic when you aren't pulling a direct competitor for the yellow jersey (Pogacar), when the group is small (the group Bettiol pulled was quite big with many helpers) and the time gap is big enough to the escape group (bringing back that time gap to a minute, which Bettiol helped to do, motivates EVERY rider in the chase group to attack / ride).

The only thing Bettiol had to do was to counter Pogacar's attacks, shepherd Uran and discourage anyone trying to reduce the gap with the front group by riding in the front but not pulling. What he did was 'paving the way' (pun intended) for Pogacar, upping the pace when it wasn't necessary, and thus effectively costing Powless the yellow jersey.

 

[Stringer Bell]

can we take a pause for moment to appreciate Nairoman…..never put a foot wrong all day long. Brilliant from the wee man

 

[kingjr]

Indeed it didn't
Although I'm really curious why Wout was so deep when - as shown in the end - he wasn't feeling that bad.

He said in the post race interview that he lacked confidence to fight for positions after the crash.

 

[Bonimenier]

Indeed it didn't
Although I'm really curious why Wout was so deep when - as shown in the end - he wasn't feeling that bad.

He said he didn't feel comfortable in the group. It was very hectic and there was a lot of street furniture and stuff.

 

[RobertCrawley]

He said he didn't feel comfortable in the group. It was very hectic and there was a lot of street furniture and stuff.

Yes, he did not like the narrow roads through the small towns. It must have been crazy out there.

 

[Stringer Bell]

Why is Bettiol pulling Pogacar from 1'30 to 1'15 on the cobbles, while Powless has to gain 50 seconds on Pogacar to win the yellow jersey?

The theory of disrupting the chase by drilling it is only realistic when you aren't pulling a direct competitor for the yellow jersey (Pogacar), when the group is small (the group Bettiol pulled was quite big with many helpers) and the time gap is big enough to the escape group (bringing back that time gap to a minute, which Bettiol helped to do, motivates EVERY rider in the chase group to attack / ride).

The only thing Bettiol had to do was to counter Pogacar's attacks, shepherd Uran and discourage anyone trying to reduce the gap with the front group by riding in the front but not pulling. What he did was 'paving the way' (pun intended) for Pogacar, upping the pace when it wasn't necessary, and thus effectively costing Powless the yellow jersey.

I am sorry but I really disagree with you. At the time Philpsen was still there, also Ewan before his crash, they had helpers, this was the biggest threat to winning the stage for the break. We can argue all we want but I thought’s tactics worked a treat. Pog had no help, Stuyven wanted to attack and didn’t have much team help either, they couldn’t catch the break. Job done. Powless a bit unlucky with his late attack.

 

[movingtarget]

Ewan can't take a trick in this Tour, one thing after another. Mixed stage for the Aussies. Clarke wins, Haig DNF and O'Connor's podium aspirations gone south.

 

[fbjim]

Powless lost the jersey because WVA went berserk and brought the leaders groups back together.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

God people having a go at Stuyven now. first Bettiol and now stuyven - I got a wee revelation for you guys…..Pogi is the best rider by a country mile and would still be whether those guys assisted him or not

Nobody doubts that. Question to you though - WTF were Stuyven and Bettiol thinking?

 

[75Driver]

I feel terrible for Roglic. He’s had terrible luck in the Tour and it bites him again. UGH…

 

[Big Doopie]

God people having a go at Stuyven now. first Bettiol and now stuyven - I got a wee revelation for you guys…..Pogi is the best rider by a country mile and would still be whether those guys assisted him or not

and i have news for you, dear friend:

absolutely NO ONE is arguing that.

the question is why bettiol clearly helped pog against his own teammates.

not sure i have anything against stuyven's ride. initially he wanted to catch the break to contest the win. and trek has absolutely no GC intentions. bettiol is a completely different thing.

 

[Salvarani]

Ewan can't take a trick in this Tour, one thing after another.

Been a weird season for him... a lot of bad luck. He is low on confidence but that could change with a win. Not looking good so far though. There are honestly not that many chances left for him in this Tour.

The emergence of De Lie might soon put him down in the pecking order as the top sprinter on the team.

He is contracted until 2024, but I would be surprised if it will be renewed after that if he does not get back to his best level.

 

[StryderHells]

I feel terrible for Roglic. He’s had terrible luck in the Tour and it bites him again. UGH…

Plenty of riders can claim terrible luck, if it keeps happening then maybe it isn‘t bad luck but just the position you put yourself in.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Plenty of riders can claim terrible luck, if it keeps happening then maybe it isn‘t bad luck but just the position you put yourself in.

I'll go out on a limb and say a stray hay bale on the route is bad luck.

 

[Volderke]

I am sorry but I really disagree with you. At the time Philpsen was still there, also Ewan before his crash, they had helpers, this was the biggest threat to winning the stage for the break. We can argue all we want but I thought’s tactics worked a treat. Pog had no help, Stuyven wanted to attack and didn’t have much team help either, they couldn’t catch the break. Job done. Powless a bit unlucky with his late attack.

We agree to disagree…

 

[Samamba]

Been a weird season for him... a lot of bad luck. He is low on confidence but that could change with a win. Not looking good so far though. There are honestly not that many chances left for him in this Tour.

The emergence of De Lie might soon put him down in the pecking order as the top sprinter on the team.

He is contracted until 2024, but I would be surprised if it will be renewed after that if he does not get back to his best level.

A weird year I would say as it all started with his crash in last years Tour. His crashed in last years Tour and this years Giro were mainly his own fault, the one today was pure bad luck tho. So annoying. He's still far ahaed of De Lie pure sprintspeed wise tho, but his mental is probably shattered.

 

[Billie]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1544702950215487489

They finished 4th and 5th from a 5 man group, ofcourse it will be interesting debrief

 

[perico]

Uran's form shows nothing why Bettiol would push it, Powless is better for GC imo.

Powless is hardly proven even over 1 week, much less 3.

 

[Oldermanish]

can we take a pause for moment to appreciate Nairoman…..never put a foot wrong all day long. Brilliant from the wee man

I've always been impressed by his tactical instincts and bike handling. He's won from crosswind splits (without team help) and can ride the rough stuff well. That's some MTB background mixed in with just being a smart racer.

 

[Oldermanish]

Powless is hardly proven even over 1 week, much less 3.

Perhaps true for 3 weeks but the guy is a seriously smart, disciplined racer that is finally getting his team's support, for what that may be worth. Tadej started the same way....in California!

 

[staubsauger]

I've always been impressed by his tactical instincts and bike handling. He's won from crosswind splits (without team help) and can ride the rough stuff well. That's some MTB background mixed in with just being a smart racer.

Still, somehow it's a wasted chance for Quintana as well as for Gaudu & Vlasov to gain over a minute on Vingegaard, Thomas, Martinez etc.

They were in a perfect position with 15 kilometres to go and threw it away!

 

[RobertCrawley]

Perhaps true for 3 weeks but the guy is a seriously smart, disciplined racer that is finally getting his team's support, for what that may be worth. Tadej started the same way....in California!

Exactly. Powless is in the early stages of his career. He's a great talent.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Quintana is a baller, most of the South American's are on unfavourable terrain.

 

[movingtarget]

A weird year I would say as it all started with his crash in last years Tour. His crashed in last years Tour and this years Giro were mainly his own fault, the one today was pure bad luck tho. So annoying. He's still far ahaed of De Lie pure sprintspeed wise tho, but his mental is probably shattered.

The sort of rider in that if he wins one he usually ends up getting a couple. In the previous stage he just got boxed in just as he looked a chance to win. Think he is frustrated more than mentally broken

 

[Oldermanish]

Exactly. Powless is in the early stages of his career. He's a great talent.

He's a pretty sharp, fast crit rider too. No doubt contributed to his ability to not crash today.