Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne/Baiona, 193.5k

[Ilmaestro99]

Also the English commentators already talking that Lafay got an offer from Ineos and 5 other WT teams after his win.

Ineos was interested in Lafay before yesterday. He had good results the last 2.5 years. Giro stage winner, 6th in Fleche, winner Grand Besancon classic or whatever its called, stage winner and podium overall at Arctic Norway race, 3rd on a tireeno stage behind Pogacar and Vineggard, ahead of Remco, ciccone, tgh, Landa, kelderman, Yates, Hindley, Bilbao. And he was doing this on Cofidis without proper support, no altitude training camps. Put him in a team like INEOS and it could be another Laporte story.

 

[Netserk]

If Mads Pedersen wins the stage, he takes green with 1 point ahead of Lafay. If Philipsen wins the stage, Lafay keeps green by tie-break ahead of Philipsen, as both would then have won 1 stage and no intermediate sprint and the GC would settle it then.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Neilson (who is nice) must have seen an American in the crowd because he pointed and pumped his fist!

 

[danielovichdk2]

Staying in front of even a chilling peloton still takes a fair amount. Yesterday’s stage average speed was 44kph and he basically did that with 1-2 helpers for 180k.

Yesterday was slightly downhill for many kms.

 

[KZD]

Lafay can really finish in the green jersey top3 if he keeps this kind of commitment and shape.

 

[hayneplane]

Lafay can really finish in the green jersey top3 if he keeps this kind of commitment and shape.

Certainly possible if the bunch sprint wins are shared around rather than 1 dominant rider. Would probably need to drop in GC though to be given the latitude to go up the road on the lumpy days for intermediate points.

 

[ppanther92]

Riders from United States with the most KOM sprint wins in Tour de France since 1981.

#	RIDER	KOM WINS	BETWEEN YEAR(S)
1	ARMSTRONG Lance	15	1995-2005
2	POWLESS Neilson	10	2020-2023
3	HAMILTON Tyler	4	1998-2003

Powless at least on the road to glory with the most TdF KOM wins as an American with those pointless early stage attacks.

 

[Trofonios]

Will we see TJV setting up a high tempo on cat 3. Cote d'Orioko Benta to tire out some sprinters?

 

[VorstM]

Will we see TJV setting up a high tempo on cat 3. Cote d'Orioko Benta to tire out some sprinters?

They have the team to do so, with Benoot, Van Hooydonck and Vingegaard.

 

[solo80k]

After first 2 stages with GC guys in a serious actions, we can handle this one for sure.

 

[ManicJack]

Are there double points on HC climbs this year?

 

[Escarabajo]

A truce. I wasn't expecting this but I can't fault them, they must be tired after those 2 stages.

 

[Netserk]

Are there double points on HC climbs this year?

Yes, if they are the last climb of the stage.

 

[Lequack]

After first 2 stages with GC guys in a serious actions, we can handle this one for sure.

Yes, but imagine if this was the first stage on Saturday. Half the people would quit watching the Tour before it even properly started.

 

[ManicJack]

Yes, if they are the last climb of the stage.

Thanks, that's what I meant.

 

[Netserk]

Yes, but imagine if this was the first stage on Saturday. Half the people would quit watching the Tour before it even properly started.

No.

 

[Kwibus]

I didnt expect it to happen. Waay too far from the finish. It requires too much dedication.

Finale is quite tricky as well. Might be enough to tire some pure sprinters

 

[RedheadDane]

Yes, if they are the last climb of the stage.

Last climb, or if the finish is on the top.
I mean... If the finish is on the top, that would generally be the last climb, but the finish isn't always on the top of the last climb.

 

[Netserk]

Thanks, that's what I meant.

I just double-checked, and apparently only Loze is double points. Sorry.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Why is Vingegaard not cleaning Wouts shoes? Why does he have to wait for the team car?

 

[RedheadDane]

Van Aert with some... technical issues.

 

[Lequack]

Why is Vingegaard not cleaning Wouts shoes? Why does he have to wait for the team car?

They needed to refill his cleat oil.

 

[RedheadDane]

Hold on, is that weirdly light brown on Powless' (who is very nice) dossard the new "Red"?

 

[Escarabajo]

So they are going so slow that they have to stop on the road!

 

[Andre]

Just tuned in. Who win the intermediate sprint?