Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 15: Les Gets - Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, 179.0k

[StryderHells]

I dunno. I think that tactic looks odd enough that it causes you to question things more than if Yates rode an easy tempo and buys you time then. To me it looked bad for Pogacar but I can get why you'd question it. I think it was clear Pogacar wasnt good after Rodriguez caught back up and then his attack was so normal, Vingegaard should have gone then.

Again Vinge might have been on his limit or timing his peak for the last week

 

[RobertCrawley]

One thing that’s a little different today is that Jonas never looked like he was in trouble. He controlled the last few hundred kilometers, and brought it home again.

 

[RedheadDane]

Snooker can be quite thrilling, too. However I've never seen an electrical fence at a tournament yet (even though some fans could deserve corporal punishement), so it may not be the right sport for you.

Maybe I'd like to follow a sport without pendant for idiot spectators.
You make it look like I want to hurt people!

 

[ciranda]

I really think Pogacar did not look good. Left some weird 1-2m gaps to Vingegaard behind Rodriguez and for the first time also couldn't gap Vingegaard for even a second.

So even if the Yates move was intentional, Vingegaard might have wasted an opportunity by being too passive.

Super tough, actually impossible, to tell because the coverage was only heli shots. Pogi's rhythm and body language looked normal.

 

[titan31]

Again Vinge might have been on his limit or timing his peak for the last week

He covered Pogs attack completely seated. Not sure I've ever seen a rider on his limit do that and Vingegaard does get out of his saddle when in trouble.

 

[JosefK]

Good ride by Sepp Kuss, considering his crash. But it did seem to affect him in the final few kilometers.

 

[Boehmand]

Maybe I'd like to follow a sport without pendant for idiot spectators.
You make it look like I want to hurt people!

FYI:

View: https://youtu.be/GddXzAOshGY

 

[Gratemans]

Vingegaard pure cowardice not at least trying

In retrospect, I think this is very true. Pogacar launched his trademark attack at the last couple 100 meters, but Jonas followed easily. Pog already was looking pretty exhausted at that time already tbh.
It really looks like that even when Jonas is feeling better than his opponent, he's still too scared to attack.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

GC battle aside, I'm (1) really glad to see Poels win the stage and (2) continually impressed by what an extraordinarily well-rounded cyclist Van Aert is. I can't think of anyone who can challenge in the high mountains, Tour of Flanders, and Roubaix. Van der Poel can do the latter 2 but he's off the back on the serious climbs.

 

[dobrien]

A little worrying from Pog today to be honest; I know it's only one day but every day counts and he lacked sharpness at the end with Jonas countering in the saddle (as well as being able to hunt him down yesterday.) Pog is fortunate his team is good; he's really going to need them Wednesday. So hard to say how they are going to come out of the rest day, but to me Pog is looking like he's starting to get tired rather than getting better. Whether due to lack of base fitness coming in, Jumbo riding hard, who knows. Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be fascinating..if my life depended on picking the winner today I'd have to go with Jonas; I think Wednesday might be a bridge too far for Pog. Hope not.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Ciccone in the polka dots now, well done!

Powless should quit being so nice now, the race for the polka dots is tight.

 

[Tim Cahill]

In retrospect, I think this is very true. Pogacar launched his trademark attack at the last couple 100 meters, but Jonas followed easily. Pog already was looking pretty exhausted at that time already tbh.
It really looks like that even when Jonas is feeling better than his opponent, he's still too scared to attack.

Make hay whilst the sun shines, we can only guess but if Vingegaard had the legs to attack and didn't because they're waiting for Loze then they have learnt nothing. I don't think Pogacar has it in him to pull off some big-brained bluff strategy but even if he was the risk/benefit of trying to attack him was favourable to Vingegaard, if he gets countered he won't lose much at all really that near to the top.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I dunno. I think that tactic looks odd enough that it causes you to question things more than if Yates rode an easy tempo and buys you time then. To me it looked bad for Pogacar but I can get why you'd question it. I think it was clear Pogacar wasnt good after Rodriguez caught back up and then his attack was so normal, Vingegaard should have gone then.

That's possible too. I'm at a loss here. I totally expected Vingo would counter after Pog bridged to Yates.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I dunno. I think that tactic looks odd enough that it causes you to question things more than if Yates rode an easy tempo and buys you time then. To me it looked bad for Pogacar but I can get why you'd question it. I think it was clear Pogacar wasnt good after Rodriguez caught back up and then his attack was so normal, Vingegaard should have gone then.

Vinge tried at the end, Pog finished ahead of him.

 

[StryderHells]

He covered Pogs attack completely seated. Not sure I've ever seen a rider on his limit do that and Vingegaard does get out of his saddle when in trouble.

I’ve seen it plenty of times in the second week of a GT, why bury yourself when your rival will.

 

[titan31]

GC battle aside, I'm (1) really glad to see Poels win the stage and (2) continually impressed by what an extraordinarily well-rounded cyclist Van Aert is. I can't think of anyone who can challenge in the high mountains, Tour of Flanders, and Roubaix. Van der Poel can do the latter 2 but he's off the back on the serious climbs.

Pogacar can probably do all 3 tbf.

 

[StryderHells]

Well played Petit getting through todays stage 😍

 

[RobertCrawley]

UAE has been great at team tactics this year. Impressive. They haven’t paid off yet, but we have a long way to go.

 

[Rackham]

I have to admit it would be pretty funny if Pog was genuinely not feeling well & Grischa was on the radio screaming at Jonas "don't trust Pogi! He's bluffing!".

It could be a double bluff where Pog makes it look like he's really not feeling well so Jumbo think he's playing games... when in fact he's really not feeling well.

4D chess, TdF style.

 

[HelloDolly]

In retrospect, I think this is very true. Pogacar launched his trademark attack at the last couple 100 meters, but Jonas followed easily. Pog already was looking pretty exhausted at that time already tbh.
It really looks like that even when Jonas is feeling better than his opponent, he's still too scared to attack.

Dont think he is too scared to attack ...did it yesterday

Team have a plan just like last year to tire Pog out and then pounce. And Vinge has made no secret of the fact he think the last week is his battleground

 

[gunara]

If Pog had been in trouble, no way would Yates have ridden away.

Yes, but perhaps that's too simple a conclusion for some who like to imagine more layered situation.
I didn't know if I was right, but after the Yates dummy at that time I felt Pog exaggerated his tiredness in many ways possible - swerving, losing wheel - but he couldn't fool Jonas, who in the end just become more - maybe even too - cautious

 

[Põhja Konn]

Vingegaard missed a big chance today, completely incomprehensible passivity from him. Pog was there for the taking, an he did not even try to test him once. Sure, Vinge was close to his limit as well, but if you see your main rival clearly showing signs of weakness, you at least give him one proper test to see, if he plays games or is ripe for picking.

Yesterday Jumbo went all in for Vingegaard, but he did nothing but defend in the end. Today, it was a real chance to reap the benefits of yesterdays work and again he did nothing. Maybe he will murder everyone on Loze or in the TT and todays missed chance doesn't matter at all in terms of end result, but the kind of negativity shown today sticks with him and turns neutrals against him.

 

[StryderHells]

Pogacar can probably do all 3 tbf.

I’d love to see Pog for Roubaix but he’d have to not target the Tour that year, big difference between Ronde and Roubaix

 

[pelotonIQ]

Imagine if Adam Yates podiums, he has looked stronger than Rodri despite also doing heavy work. How is Rodri at time trialing?

 

[HelloDolly]

Plus why would Vinge attack on the final slopes when he knows Pog is faster to the line than him

Smarter to follow Pog and wait for the chnace to attack or at least not lose time