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

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Surely he'd point out that Barbotto is actually 70k to go?

Remco and Pogacar to attack there and go all the way. :cool:
Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.
 
Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.
I could see something like this materializing at some point but maybe deeper into the race. Untraditional tactics and racing a GT like the classics might not be a bad idea for Remco.
 
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I could see something like this materializing at some point but maybe deeper into the race. Untraditional tactics and racing a GT like the classics might not be a bad idea for Remco.
Sure, but the point is that they could actually find each other, in a "classics style raid" in a mid mountain or hilly stage, Pogacar and Evenepoel. No real reason to try and drop each other there, they could be perfect allies to take out their respective direct competitors. The mountain stages will put them in their place compared to each other, so no reason to forfait a partnership on stages like this. If both had to chose, take 30 seconds on their rivals with a solo attack, or do a duo attack and take double that, while wasting less energy, it would imho make more sense to do the latter.
 
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Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.
I think Pogacar is up for it on stage 1, but Evenepoel is probably in “save energy mode” for as long as possible.

Apparently he also said this in other words to the press. Taking it easy the first week, mostly wants to follow so he can start stage 14 close to the top of the GC, and have more energy in the third week.
 
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Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.
Bora and Visma are no so strong like those 2 riders? Jorgesson, Van Aert, Hindley, Vlasov,...of course it would be great and it is not impossoble, but....
 
Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.
What a one-handed post.
 
Not sure if serious, but after giving it some thought, i could actually see something like that happen. Not necessarily on this stage and with 70k to go, but who knows. It would make a lot of sense for both of them actually. Doing a raid like this in the TDF makes more sense when you have a companion who is as strong as these guys, because doing it solo would still be a tough ask for either of them against a TDF peloton. They could both distance some rivals, and Pog knows he's going to drop Evenepoel in the mountains anyway, so there is no reason not to ride. A move like that could take out Vingegaard in stage 1 and make for a more relaxing 3 weeks for Pog. Evenepoel taking dibs on the white jersey and possibly already cementing a top 5 spot early on, with a better shot of making the podium in case he doesn't crack. I could see it.

Me neither. But the general scenario of them raiding together makes a lot of sense to me. Just looking at the profile this would be the stage to do it, yet of course it's stage 1 so it's also a little bit of a mad idea, but I could see a situation where they basically start following and end up ahead of the rest together and have to decide if they wanna try or not. Especially if Skeletor shows weakness.
 
Me neither. But the general scenario of them raiding together makes a lot of sense to me. Just looking at the profile this would be the stage to do it, yet of course it's stage 1 so it's also a little bit of a mad idea, but I could see a situation where they basically start following and end up ahead of the rest together and have to decide if they wanna try or not. Especially if Skeletor shows weakness.
They will have a wheelsucker tagging along.
 
Bora and Visma will 100% play it defensively. Roglic has never been the guy to risk much, you really think he's going to expose himself on a stage like this? No chance. Visma are in shambles and will be happy if they get through without losing time.
UAE will be the team to light it up. In theory they should go with Yates/Ayuso first but I'm pretty sure they'll just set up a train for Pogacar. They've never been a team that has played the second leader strategy card a lot and pretty sure Pog will demand a sole leadout strategy for him.
Remco is the big X factor. He doesn't have a team to make the race hard but the style of the stage should suit him a lot. I hope the team realizes that and has him race aggressively these first few days, if they're serious about a stage win and top 5 GC it's better to act early and play to his strength than wait for later where the stages suit him less. I have a bad feeling that they'll want to play it save tho.
 
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Remco is the big X factor. He doesn't have a team to make the race hard but the style of the stage should suit him a lot. I hope the team realizes that and has him race aggressively these first few days, if they're serious about a stage win and top 5 GC it's better to act early and play to his strength than wait for later where the stages suit him less. I have a bad feeling that they'll want to play it save tho.
Agree Remco first 4 days will tell alot to me regarding him, he should be agressive here, I believe he will too.
 
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This should be way too hard for sprinters like Philipsen, Pedersen, de Lie, Girmay. Even for MvdP the climbs shoud be too long. I don't expect a big attack from UAE but a high pace. Possibility for Aranburu/Lapeira? I hope on such (kind of) surprise as first yellow yersey leader.