Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 21: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Paris, 115.1k

[Volderke]

Groenewegen absolute imbecil for opening the door there

I applaud Groenewegen for leaving the door open. It shows he learned something from Kiatowice.

 

[awavey]

Seriously?

I guess he was focussing at Philipsen v Groenewegen but switches down after Meeus has already finished, just as Bol crosses the line, and brain immediately connects the wrong riders to the wrong name, he corrected it quickly enough, I dont think it was that big a thing

 

[ThisFrenchGuy]

I don't know how to break this to you, but... not all Germans have names ending in 'Mann'.

Legendary strikers like Jürgen Klins and Rudi Vollermann

 

[RedheadDane]

And the other half in two days for the REAL Tour De France, Ordiziako Klasika

And the third half, tomorrow for the continuation of the Tour de France Femmes and Tour de Wallonie.

(Yes, I'm dealing in three halves here! I don't do mathematical correctness!)

 

[yaco]

I don't know what to say! Mees never got close in any sprint finish and has somehow fluked the victory.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don't know how to break this to you, but... not all Germans have names ending in 'Mann'.

It‘s sad, if my name ended in Mann, I would likely become a pro cyclist.

 

[GroupDK]

The ranking are very clear: Pog is atm the greatest rider in the peleton, for 3 years straight i think. (maybe 4)

Sure buddy, and he won the tour de france in 2022 & 2023, huh?.
Last time I check'ed "Tour De France" ' is a stage race, and the context we are discussing, sximply because it is what we are watching.
as explained , different riders have different strengths and right now we are watching TdF and here Vingegaard is the best rider in the world with quite a margin, it seems he recover the best for these intense Grand Tours, not least in the third week, as we have seen for 3 years running in Tour de France..

Also why Pogacar & Vingegaard are ranked as nr1 in each catagory and have done it for quite a while.
If we watch a classic single day flat stage race, nobody would specify Vingegaard as the best, simply because he aint.
Its a joy for us viewers that we have these two fabolous riders to compete, as one without the other would be a shame for these grand tours..

As

 

[awavey]

Strange interview. I would be full of nostalgia if I in his shoes.

You are right though. He admitted sooner than he wanted to retire three years ago but he was too good.

he said pretty much the same stuff before the stage started, so I get why after the umpteenth time of being asked hes even less communicative about it.

he doesnt strike me as the kind of guy that gets nostalgic about things

 

[Ilmaestro99]

That's that, see half of you in 49 weeks

And the other half in two days for the REAL Tour De France, Ordiziako Klasika

Does Healy continue his mythical spring form and defeat 1.1 legend Hurricane Hirschi, or can newly crowned champions Lazkano and Velasco upset the apple cart? Find out next time.

Had so much fun watching that race last year. Spainish commentary calling Simon Yates' repeated attacks like he was contador dropping froome on lagos de covadonga. Actually it was more fun than watching most of the Tour, refreshing after watching the Jumbo visma show for 3 weeks. And typical Yates to look like ricco in a 1.1 before doing nothing in la vuelta.

Think also ajuso is there this year. Mathews too

 

[Tim Cahill]

And the third half, tomorrow for the continuation of the Tour de France Femmes and Tour de Wallonie.

(Yes, I'm dealing in three halves here! I don't do mathematical correctness!)

I'm sick of SD Worx and in office tomorrow so having a non-cycling day all to myself

 

[Volderke]

I don't know how to break this to you, but... not all Germans have names ending in 'Mann'.

Meussler.

 

[Reynard]

I don't know what to say! Mees never got close in any sprint finish and has somehow fluked the victory.

He was also never in a real position to sprint for the win. Leadout wasn't as good without Mullen there was a key link missing vor van Poppel to launch.

He has a contract for 24 and there will be a lot of change in the team. Will be interesting if he can add another good victory this year and get good chances next year.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I don't know how to break this to you, but... not all Germans have names ending in 'Mann'.

Greipelmann and Kittelmann have something to say about that.

 

[RedheadDane]

Greipelmann and Kittelmann have something to say about that.

Poor Polittmann the other day.

 

[awavey]

and so Eurosport decided to carry on interviewing Peter Sagan for the lols I guess

 

[Tim Cahill]

Had so much fun watching that race last year. Spainish commentary calling Simon Yates' repeated attacks like he was contador dropping froome on lagos de covadonga. Actually it was more fun than watching most of the Tour, refreshing after watching the Jumbo visma show for 3 weeks. And typical Yates to look like ricco in a 1.1 before doing nothing in la vuelta.

Think also ajuso is there this year. Mathews too

Yates did like 2100 VAM on that 3k 8% climb, I thought he was about to win La Vuelta, the clinic people would've gone mad but luckily only about 10 people were watching.

 

[yaco]

He was also never in a real position to sprint for the win. Leadout wasn't as good without Mullen there was a key link missing vor van Poppel to launch.

He has a contract for 24 and there will be a lot of change in the team. Will be interesting if he can add another good victory this year and get good chances next year.

The fact is that Meus was a surprise last minute selection for the TDF - He had never shown that he was at the level to win a sprint at the TDF which was reflected in his performances up to stage 21. There is no guarantee that he will win another GT sprint stage.

 

[Reynard]

The fact is that Meus was a surprise last minute selection for the TDF - He had never shown that he was at the level to win a sprint at the TDF which was reflected in his performances up to stage 21. There is no guarantee that he will win another GT sprint stage.

I agree that the WT wins are missing so far, but on the other hand he showed often enough that he can compete in those level of sprints that he can do it again in the future. I would be surprise if he can develop the top speed of a Groenewagen, Ewan, Philipsen and co but if you are talking about GT sprints in general i think winning at the Giro or Vuelta wouldn't be a big surpise. Already in 21 in his first GT he was close in the Vuelta + the sprinting field in the Giro is weak from time to time like this year. Tour sprint is another level - but that's posssibly not the right discussion for today

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Meeus hasn't had a lot of luck in sprints before today. On the motor racing circuit he was almost brought down but somehow kept it upright despite riding over Jakobsen's bike when he crashed. On another stage he was put into the barriers and again by some miracle didn't crash. At least this justifies the decision to leave Bennett at home

 

[IndianCyclist]

Sagan looks and sounds like a man who regrets not retiring sooner.

While Froome looks and sounds like a man who has no regrets not retiring.

 

[SHAD0W93]

It’s only fair that the Spanish national anthem is played when Vinge steps up for his win.

 

[Volderke]

Meeus nearly won the Belgian championships 2022, beaten by Merlier with a small margin. He has been close on occasions, seems like a solid sprinter missing the right lead out often.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

While Froome looks and sounds like a man who has no regrets not retiring.

Froome looks and sounds like a man who's only still in it because Israel have given him the dumbest contract in sporting history.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Great to see Campenaerts on the podium!

 

[Tim Cahill]

While Froome look$ and $ound$ like a man who has no regret$ not retiring.

Well $aid