Tour de France Tour de France 2024, Stage 1: Florence (Firenze) - Rimini, 206.0k

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Apr 16, 2009
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Pogi to attack with one leg, saving the other for third week!

Small group sprint.

Unfortunately there are always crashes. the road is not that wide for everyone!
 
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Sep 11, 2016
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Look, we all know what's going to happen here...
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Arnold De Lie?
 
Mar 20, 2022
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? this is going to be one of the most nervous stages in years
You don't anything about safety. Of course the peloton will be nervous but after 1 or 2 climbs, some riders will be dropped and speed is lower in climbs so less crashes. This is obvious. Do you a want a flat stage with 170 riders together with 3 km to the finish?
 
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Jul 16, 2015
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The heat & length of the stage should help reduce some of the twitchiness & nervousness of the bunch.

There's a big prize at the end (first yellow) but there's a chance the race is so selective it'll reduce the likelihood of massive crashes.
 
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Mar 17, 2009
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the stage layout screams "breakaway heroes" BUT Is very likely that Poga will start the fireworks...
 
Sep 16, 2021
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How is Van der Poel approaching this Tour? I could see him being in the select group at the end or could he even get separation on the final shallower climb?
I expect MVDP to approach this Tour like last year, when he used the Tour as training for Glasgow. This year, he'll use it as training for the Olympics. So he'll be the last leadout for Philipsen in sprints and then we might see him in a few breaks.

So no, I don't think he'll be there in the select group, especially if some teams like UAE set a hard tempo on the tough climbs.
 

zlev11

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Jan 23, 2011
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You don't anything about safety. Of course the peloton will be nervous but after 1 or 2 climbs, some riders will be dropped and speed is lower in climbs so less crashes. This is obvious. Do you a want a flat stage with 170 riders together with 3 km to the finish?

i dont what about safety? i wasn't complaining about it, these are actually my favorite types of stages. but they are the most nervous stages they do all season. everyone wants to be at the front for the climbs at the end of the stage even moreso than on a flat sprint stage. especially when the yellow jersey is on offer.
 
Jul 7, 2013
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i dont what about safety? i wasn't complaining about it, these are actually my favorite types of stages. but they are the most nervous stages they do all season. everyone wants to be at the front for the climbs at the end of the stage even moreso than on a flat sprint stage. especially when the yellow jersey is on offer.

This is basically a medium mountain stage. If UAE drills the group will be strongly reduced and weakened so way less nervous than in case of the whole peleton fighting for positions.
 

zlev11

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Jan 23, 2011
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This is basically a medium mountain stage. If UAE drills the group will be strongly reduced and weakened so way less nervous than in case of the whole peleton fighting for positions.

i dont think the terrain is hard enough for that until Barbotto. the race for the front before that climb will be crazy. and all the descents after that will be as well.
 
Jul 7, 2013
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i dont think the terrain is hard enough for that until Barbotto. the race for the front before that climb will be crazy. and all the descents after that will be as well.

Sprinters groups won't take part IMO so less crowded than in case of easier stages (when both sprinters and GC groups fight for good positions).
 
Mar 20, 2022
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i dont what about safety? i wasn't complaining about it, these are actually my favorite types of stages. but they are the most nervous stages they do all season. everyone wants to be at the front for the climbs at the end of the stage even moreso than on a flat sprint stage. especially when the yellow jersey is on offer.
I Forgot to write know. But these type of stages are perfect to open a GT. Look to the Giro!
 
Feb 18, 2015
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I agree with the people thinking UAE will let one of their "co-leaders" attack with Pogacar potentially following, depending on the reaction by the peloton. The route is too backloaded not to search for every single weakness Vingegaard might have early on.