Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 9: Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme, 182.4k

[HelloDolly]

UAE want this stage for Pog , bonus seconds and all
Pog will want it but if they are smart they will let JV do the work

 

[Boehmand]

Jumbo and UAE still in a mexican standoff - both refusing to lead while looking at the other - who blinks first?

 

[RobertCrawley]

UAE want this stage for Pog , bonus seconds and all
Pog will want it but if they are smart they will let JV do the work

I agree. The cat and mouse for Jumbo and UAE today will be to figure out how to make the other work before the final 5k.

 

[HelloDolly]

I assume for mountain points. He can get the two Cat 3s and the Cat 4 points.

yes but surely they want to win a stage and a stage like today does not come round often

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is the best mountain stage to have a *** break on anyway. Satellite riders are practically useless here, there are barely any KOM points outside of the MTF, and the break being so weak decreases the chance they're still ahead in the final 4k and cause us to miss any attacks by Pogacar or Vingegaard.

 

[meat puppet]

Wout took a natural break so he's gonna get going after the intermediate sprint. Boneheaded, sure, but he can't help it.

 

[JohnWayne]

They don’t even let people hike up the trail to the top (on just any normal, non-TDF day) anymore? I guess it was ten years ago I did it, surprised if you can’t now?

They do, it is still allowed. I hiked up from parking this spring and descended to the other side. But there were signs saying not to step out of path, at least in some places.

So I can definitely understand why spectators are not allowed, in addition to the narrow road. Nature reserve, and the hill is actually quite small in area (relatively). Would be chaos all over with the masses of spectators.

 

[RobertCrawley]

yes but surely they want to win a stage and a stage like today does not come round often

I'm sure EF are hopeful, but their ambitions today are more realistic.

 

[Potomac]

How big will the gap get?

 

[Boehmand]

If this continues, the break can get a gap of 7-8 minutes, which means the GC riders won't ride for the win today.

 

[RobertCrawley]

They do, it is still allowed. I hiked up from parking this spring and descended to the other side. But there were signs saying not to step out of path, at least in some places.

So I can definitely understand why spectators are not allowed, in addition to the narrow road. Nature reserve, and the hill is actually quite small in area (relatively). Would be chaos all over with the masses of spectators.

It will make the race very Covid like, but appreciate the care of a nature reserve.

 

[Potomac]

I'm a blatant Powless fan. I want this gap to get huge.
But I'm also anti-KOM. My only interest is the stage win.

 

[HelloDolly]

I dont think its a weak break at all

Some very good climbers in the break

 

[Boehmand]

Riders already dousing themselvves with water now, the heat is going to be a huge factor today.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Interesting but sensible that Jumbo might let the break have it. Still without a stage victory but probably worried about Pogacar taking bonus seconds instead. Let's see if UAE is confident to burn their team again.

Break will surely also start playing games at some point soon. Not much incentive for plenty in there to arrive together at the bottom of the Dome just to get dunked on by Woods.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I'm a blatant Powless fan. I want this gap to get huge.
But I'm also anti-KOM. My only interest is the stage win.

That's cognitive dissonance.

 

[HelloDolly]

I'm a blatant Powless fan. I want this gap to get huge.
But I'm also anti-KOM. My only interest is the stage win.

The problem is he has been chasing KOM points and probably hasnt the energy to fight at the top

 

[hayneplane]

Jumbo and UAE still in a mexican standoff - both refusing to lead while looking at the other - who blinks first?

Nobody within 25 minutes on GC up the road so they can afford to do this for a long time

 

[RobertCrawley]

Interesting but sensible that Jumbo might let the break have it. Still without a stage victory but probably worried about Pogacar taking bonus seconds instead. Let's see if UAE is confident to burn their team again.

Break will surely also start playing games at some point soon. Not much incentive for plenty in there to arrive together at the bottom of the Dome just to get dunked on by Woods.

I'm trying to figure out who benefits more from making this race hard today, Pogi or Jonas? I think Jonas if they can isolate Pogi again.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Seb Piquet said there was a fall on race radio.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah maybe jumbo and UAE letting them go... makes it the more bitter for team like fdj who not really tried even. Madous or Pinot would be perfect. Arkea and Lidl also bad but they tried at least... like Soudal but that moves were typical Alaphilippe not waiting until the best point to attack. Ineos should be also represented.

No it will be a slow burn... hope htey don't be too slow so that I can't watch the finale and thats now a real possibility unfortunately.

 

[Scarponi]

I wish Sagan would at least try to do something this Tour.

I’m sure he will have a crack at the champagne if someone else wins on his team

 

[HelloDolly]

Is it a steady climb

I know he hasnt been up to much recently but Lusenko has De La Cruz and is a tough guy on a steady climb

 

[Boehmand]

Nobody within 25 minutes on GC up the road so they can afford to do this for a long time

Yep

Rolf Soerensen said the break could get 20 minutes today, with the way UAE and Jumbo are riding.

 

[Salvarani]

That spectator...