Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets-Cambasque, 144.9k

[Trofonios]

I'm not implying it will happen, but there is of course a possibility that you mistime the peak slightly and even if the training has been planned for peaking at the tour and you feel things are right and according to the plan and that you can still improve, time might tell it's not the case.

We need to remember that cyclists are humans and not robots and even in todays scientific world of sport it's not given that you get the peak right.

Sure, I can agree with that, It is not a given that Vingegaard won't decline, maybe he peaked a bit early. Just don't see any good reasons to believe it.

 

[Kwibus]

Yes Vingegaard is most likely to dominate the TdF, but so far only 5 stages were raced. Far too early to make calls

 

[theyoungest]

Still can't believe they let Hindley get such a big lead before reacting let alone watching him go up the road in a break. After all he is a Giro winner.................

That depends. For Jumbo and Vingegaard it's perfect to have Hindley in yellow, with a manageable lead. UAE have definitely had a bit of a tactical nightmare yesterday, the only thing they did right was make sure Van Aert and Benoot couldn't really help Vingo anymore.

 

[topcat]

After yesterday, the tour can only go two ways: up or down. It can’t go up, so it’s got to go down.

 

[staubsauger]

Still can't believe they let Hindley get such a big lead before reacting let alone watching him go up the road in a break. After all he is a Giro winner.................

They know how strong they are. We're back to gifting Kivilev 13 minutes advantage!

 

[Rackham]

They know how strong they are. We're back to gifting Kivilev 13 minutes advantage!

It's FDJ who had the most head-scratching strategy yesterday.

Their entire season goal is the Tour podium (with Gaudu) & they effectively let their number one rival gain a couple of minutes for no reason whatsoever. All they needed to do was put Küng on the front of the peloton once the the break was established. He could have pretty much nullified most of their early advantage.

 

[staubsauger]

It's FDJ who had the most head-scratching strategy yesterday.

Their entire season goal is the Tour podium (with Gaudu) & they effectively let their number one rival gain a couple of minutes for no reason whatsoever. All they needed to do was put Küng on the front of the peloton once the the break was established. He could have pretty much nullified most of their early advantage.

FDJ gambles that Gaudu can make the same move either in the Alps or Vosges!

When he's far behind enough for Jumbo & UAE to not care at all, while Bora can't control him properly with only Konrad & Buchmann.

At least that's the only option that would make sense to me. The Breton can't race his own race inside the race now like last year.

 

[pelotonIQ]

If you're ever gonna watch a stage from start to finish, it's this stage.

 

[ppanther92]

Cycling is easy when your Vinge. You just pick a moment to attack and then ride away. UAE might have two leaders and try with 1-2 attacks, but that only works when you are dealing with equals opponents.

Thing in general tend to be easy if you are just better.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Sure, I can agree with that, It is not a given that Vingegaard won't decline, maybe he peaked a bit early. Just don't see any good reasons to believe it.

I wouldn't count on it, JV seem to know what they are doing with regards to preparation. Personally I don't believe there will be a shift in the power dynamic between Vingegaard and Pogacar. Anything could happen of course, but I can't help but think that the Tour is already over unless Vingegaard crashes.

 

[gregrowlerson]

If you're ever gonna watch a stage from start to finish, it's this stage.

Nah, that was stage 5.

This is the stage where you get your work night sleep catch up.

Unless you want to take me to the clinic.

 

[Rob5091]

No rain at the sign-in - UAE managed to implode yesterday and not go full USPS/Sky. Trentin dropped early and 2 guys in the break and Yates, Pogacar and Majka not doing pulls, does not leave a lot left. What happened to Majka? He or Yates should have been with Pogacar but .... Was Pogacar thinking of his "beautiful wife" on the final descent as he was not his normal self?

 

[RedheadDane]

Was Pogacar thinking of his "beautiful wife" on the final descent as he was not his normal self?

He was definitely thinking about her - well, she's his fiancée, don't think they've gotten married yet - after the finish. When he learned that he had crashed in the Giro and - as we learned later - gotten a concussion.
Though, I hope they didn't tell him about the crash while he was racing.

 

[Miha81]

No rain at the sign-in - UAE managed to implode yesterday and not go full USPS/Sky. Trentin dropped early and 2 guys in the break and Yates, Pogacar and Majka not doing pulls, does not leave a lot left. What happened to Majka? He or Yates should have been with Pogacar but .... Was Pogacar thinking of his "beautiful wife" on the final descent as he was not his normal self?

Even weather does not belive that it is Pogi's day

Rain shower predictions are postponed after 16 or late afternoon and reversed from heavy to light rain showers.

 

[KZD]

Think Jumbo will control today. No fancy tactics just reel the break in amd set up Vingegaard flr an attack in the final 5km

Agreed but I think that they will still try to do a very strong pace up to Tourmalet to see if Pogačar and Hindley are having a bad day and to make them more tired before the final climb as its not that hard at the end.

 

[Sciatic]

I guess there’s still time for thunderstorms to roll in, but right now it’s sunny at 3 Km to go on Cambasque. In fact I had to leave my spot temporarily to head for some shade.

 

[DNP-Old]

It's FDJ who had the most head-scratching strategy yesterday.

Their entire season goal is the Tour podium (with Gaudu) & they effectively let their number one rival gain a couple of minutes for no reason whatsoever. All they needed to do was put Küng on the front of the peloton once the the break was established. He could have pretty much nullified most of their early advantage.

They do not seem to view it this way, because yesterday on French television Gaudu said it was a good day, as he saw himself to be the best after Vingegaard and Pogacar. That a certain Giro winner finished a few minutes ahead of him must have slipped his mind.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Still can't believe they let Hindley get such a big lead before reacting let alone watching him go up the road in a break. After all he is a Giro winner.................

UAE didn't drill really hard, maybe they knew Pogacar wasn't at his best. OTOH JV let UAE do the work and were confident in Vinge and his ability to reduce the gap (which turned out to be true).

 

[Rob5091]

EF & Movistar in the break? Their GC men have gone home so go for it!

 

[danielovichdk2]

Pog cracks wide open today.

 

[HelloDolly]

Vingegaard and JV need to attack again today to keep Pog on the ropes and test Hindley after yesterday

If I were UAE I'd put someone , maybe 2 or more in the break to help Pog
And I woudnt ride at the front at all ..maybe get A Yates in the break

See WVA chatting with Hindley ...bet he is happy that its not Pog in yellow

 

[Salvarani]

Simmons crashed.

 

[glassmoon]

Simmons down again? FFS... it's not even been real start yet

 

[stetre76]

They do not seem to view it this way, because yesterday on French television Gaudu said it was a good day, as he saw himself to be the best after Vingegaard and Pogacar. That a certain Giro winner finished a few minutes ahead of him must have slipped his mind.

Not sure he rode the same stage as all the others then...
Not only Hindley was in front of him, but also Ciccone and Gall and Buchmann...

Ok, Gall has no ambitions for the GC, still, Gaudu didn't look like being able to follow...

 

[glassmoon]

JV needs to attack Pog again (i expect him getting better during the race) and also to try Jay after his breakaway yesterday.... should be fun race today.