Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 7: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux, 169.9k

[Didinho]

Lol, what a sprint by Mads. 500 metres...

I've come to the conclusion Mads can't read or doens't know what these numbers mean. I know he's benefitial with a long sprint but mainly after a hard stage, he's just dragging the rest with him time and time again.

 

[Boehmand]

I other news (for those that didn't catch it), Skjelmose has said the reason for his massive time loss yesterday, is severe back pain after his crash 2 days ago.

He said going up Tourmalet, his back hurt more than his legs.

On the day of the crash it felt like "nothing" (we all remember him giving the race doctor a thumbs up going past), but he woke up yesterday really feeling it.

Apparently today is even worse, and the team has flown in his usual physical therapist to work on him the next days.

Kim Andersen said the focus is now going for stages (if they can heal him up), and if a break results in a big time gain they might revisit the notion of riding GC.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Thats just a strawman argument. Were not arguing there shouldn't be sprinter stages, we are arguing you should look to minimize completely flat stages (especially early on where teams are compact, and thus contributes to a much more controlled race) in order to maximize your product and reason to actually watch the race for sporting reasons. Tomorrow, for example, is a sprinter stage, but a much more interesting one where you have some small hills to shake it up and the sprinter teams and sprinters actually need to work.

That is what I was saying indeed. Somehow it was interpreted as me saying I don't want any sprint stages whatsoever.

 

[Boehmand]

Lol, what a sprint by Mads. 500 metres...

I simply don't get the way he sprints.

Yes he is better at long sprints, but a prerequisite for that is, that you don't have a top sprinter in your wheel, so you just end up doing a lead out.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Sure, but I think how the modern peloton races these kind of stages is a farce. Contrast it to the day tomorrow which is still 'flat', but at least you have the illusion of a break succeeding due to the final being somewhat hilly. It just makes such a huge difference in how riders approach stages, and rightfully so, because theres no chance in hell anything will succeed today.

In short, I think you just wanna do anything to minimize stages like this and instead create some at least somewhat unpredictable finales - can the sprinters make it, are they gonna be tired, who's gonna control, can the break make it etc.? Thats why I tune in.

That would ultimately reduce the number of stages sprinters contest, and make it more difficult for them when they do indeed contest them.


The tour needs to incentivise elite sprinters to show up. Furthermore, sometimes I just want to see fresh sprinters at the height of their powers battling it out, not worn-down sprinters who've just dragged themselves over several cat 4 climbs by the skin of their teeth.

 

[Potomac]

Dog herding geese most excitement today

 

[Valv.Piti]

That would ultimately reduce the number of stages sprinters contest, and make it more difficult for them when they do indeed contest them.


The tour needs to incentivise elite sprinters to show up. Furthermore, sometimes I just want to see fresh sprinters at the height of their powers battling it out, not worn-down sprinters who've just dragged themselves over several cat 4 climbs by the skin of their teeth.

But do you need 7 or 8 of those stages?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I just missed what the commentators in Peacock were saying. What was Jakobsen fined and relegaged for yesterday?

 

[RedheadDane]

Dog herding geese most excitement today

Danish commentators had some discussion about what the technical term is.

I just missed what the commentators in Peacock were saying. What was Jakobsen fined and relegaged for yesterday?

Relegated? From almost-last to completely last? Don't they almost need photo finish to determine exactly what order the QS squad finished in?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

That would ultimately reduce the number of stages sprinters contest, and make it more difficult for them when they do indeed contest them.


The tour needs to incentivise elite sprinters to show up. Furthermore, sometimes I just want to see fresh sprinters at the height of their powers battling it out, not worn-down sprinters who've just dragged themselves over several cat 4 climbs by the skin of their teeth.

Yeah, me too...but can we make those stages like 50k...I mean, get to the point more quickly.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Danish commentators had some discussion about what the technical term is.



Relegated? From almost-last to completely last? Don't they almost need photo finish to determine exactly what order the QS squad finished in?

I may have misunderstood what they were saying...I though I heard them say he was fined and relegated for something, yesterday...

 

[RobertCrawley]

Danish commentators had some discussion about what the technical term is.



Relegated? From almost-last to completely last? Don't they almost need photo finish to determine exactly what order the QS squad finished in?

Phil mentioned the crash and making the time cut in the mountain stages. I didn't hear anything about relegation.

He looks to be riding well.

Jakobsen posted a picture on his Instagram of his broken bike but then deleted it apparently because it reflected poorly on Specialized.

 

[Rob5091]

But do you need 7 or 8 of those stages?

I think it also comes down to basic geography - to be more then just south and eastern France, then there'll be transitional stages.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Yeah, me too...but can we make those stages like 50k...I mean, get to the point more quickly.

No. Let the peloton drag themselves across France in the sweltering heat. It does have an impact.

 

[Amazinmets87]

But do you need 7 or 8 of those stages?

Maybe 6 or 7. I want balance.

 

[JosefK]

I other news (for those that didn't catch it), Skjelmose has said the reason for his massive time loss yesterday, is severe back pain after his crash 2 days ago.

He said going up Tourmalet, his back hurt more than his legs.

On the day of the crash it felt like "nothing" (we all remember him giving the race doctor a thumbs up going past), but he woke up yesterday really feeling it.

Apparently today is even worse, and the team has flown in his usual physical therapist to work on him the next days.

Kim Andersen said the focus is now going for stages (if they can heal him up), and if a break results in a big time gain they might revisit the notion of riding GC.

I'm bummed about Skjelmose. I thought he had a chance at a top 5 finish in this TDF. This just goes to show the unpredictable effects of crashing. The crash might not look terrible, but it might take a big toll on the rider. Other crashes might look really bad but the rider later recovers. Best practice is ... don't crash.

 

[RedheadDane]

I may have misunderstood what they were saying...I though I heard them say he was fined and relegated for something, yesterday...

I mean, if he'd been caught getting a slightly-too-long sticky bottle, I could understand a fine, and maybe docked some points, but relegating him just seems so... pointless.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Scenery is lovely even when the peloton isn't

 

[ManicJack]

Since there is no strategy to discuss today all the internet DS's have become internet race organizers. Imagine that.

 

[tobydawq]

I simply don't get the way he sprints.

Yes he is better at long sprints, but a prerequisite for that is, that you don't have a top sprinter in your wheel, so you just end up doing a lead out.

I think he may have used it as warmup as Rolf said. But I don't really think it will have that much to say.

 

[RedheadDane]

Scenery is lovely even when the peloton isn't

What do you mean they aren't lovely. I'm sure most of them are nice people!
Especially Powless, of course.

 

[Peyroteo94]

An active rest day. This will make riders sleepy and increase the risk of crashes.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

What do you mean they aren't lovely. I'm sure most of them are nice people!
Especially Powless, of course.

I live near his city in CA, and get to see him occasioinally (not this year, he stayed in Europe I believe, as no rides on Strava here) on rides. I think maybe Lachlan Morton stayed with his family some, this year, as I saw him a couple of times in the same areas, and he has several rides on strava, at different times this year, around here.

He does seem like a genuinely nice person. Maybe too nice. Lachlan seems pretty nice too.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Windmill!

 

[Rob5091]

Kerb to kerb and 50km/h - keep safe!