Tour de France Tour de France 2024, Stage 13: Agen > Pau, 165.3 km

[Danskebjerge]

Like looking behind and drifting to the left while slowing down mid sprint?

Don't blame the victim. There will always be riders "slowing down" in a sprint. But when you come from behind and want to move further forward, you must assess which gaps are available. Van Gils had time enough to see that the gap at the barrier was too small. That he accellerated instead and tried to force his way through, should be punished severely.

 

[Samamba]

At the end of the day Van Gils tries to take a marginal gap and had no thought of aborting the move. In every sprint riders have been blocked on the barriers and I have yet to see one try to barge themselves when they are blocked.

Do you have an example of 2 riders where the speed difference is as big as here (at least 15km/u)? it's completely different when you are both kind of sprinting at the same time,. Here Capiot is going so much slower, it's already hard to judge given the difference, but it also means that you would have to pull the breaks fully, which is just dangerous there.

 

[Samamba]

Don't blame the victim. There will always be riders "slowing down" in a sprint. But when you come from behind and want to move further forward, you must assess which gaps are available. Van Gils had time enough to see that the gap at the barrier was too small. That he accellerated instead and tried to force his way through, should be punished severely.

When you crash it doesn't necessarily mean you're the victim. The gap was available if Capiot just hold his line, which he has to according to the rules. It's pretty easy to spot if you just watch yk. The gap only gets to small when he's already half besides him and when he simply can't stop anymore given the speed difference. He has to get through, Capiot also still keeps going more to the left, they collide. Van Gils puts his shoulder cause he knows there is gonna be contract, Capiot doesn't (he's relacing his muscles) cause he doesn't realize he's boxing someone in. So he crashed.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Tomorrow will probably be a GC snooze fest with a mountain sprint. Hopefully fireworks from the gun on Sunday.

If Tadej rides defensively (and I really question whether he can), I doubt Jonas will attack him in the Pyrenees. These aren't the mountains that suit Jonas.

But if Jonas senses that Tadej is having a bad day, he will drill it to find out, I'm sure. And vice versa.

 

[Brullnux]

I think there is definitely more than enough space for Van Gils to move here at this point - moving to the left by Capiot was a bit of a mistake. Van Gils then should have realised the gap was gone and reduced his speed, which was his mistake. But while neither rider comes out of it blameless, it was not some kind of psychopathic decision from Van Gils.

 

[ManicJack]

That he accellerated instead and tried to force his way through, should be punished severely.

Exactly. His defenders act as if he is the first rider to have the door shut on him in a sprint. Give me a break.

 

[Brullnux]

Exactly. His defenders act as if he is the first rider to have the door shut on him in a sprint. Give me a break.

He isn't, and he should have slowed down, but it was to begin with Capiot's fault.

 

[ManicJack]

He isn't, and he should have slowed down, but it was to begin with Capiot's fault.

✅

 

[Brullnux]

✅

I think it is harsh, though, to DQ a rider for incorrectly reacting to another's mistake. A fine is the correct call.

 

[Sciatic]

late.

In all seriousness, it is due to the Olympics. Starting on 26 July, no way the Champs stage could have been reasonably held in Paris this year. Too bad as it's such an iconic stage but it'll be an interesting change of pace with that last day TT..

Could work out especially well this year if Pogi and Vingegaard (and perhaps even Remco) are close in time. We could have some drama a’ la 1989.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

That's true in general but field sprinting in pros is a completely different game.

<Cory Williams entered the chat>

 

[Jack_89]

If Tadej rides defensively (and I really question whether he can), I doubt Jonas will attack him in the Pyrenees. These aren't the mountains that suit Jonas.

But if Jonas senses that Tadej is having a bad day, he will drill it to find out, I'm sure. And vice versa.

If Plateau de Beille doesn't suit to him, we can turn off everything right here right now. Isola 2000 and La Couillole are way easier

 

[Rob5091]

So a lot of energy used up for .... ? Well, Visma must be glad for keeping Jonas upright and WvA having a go at a sprint.
Oh well, Saturday's stage should shake things up a bit (and let's hope no more Covid).

 

[KZD]

Pogačar is playing with fire, he shouldn't be involved in these bunch sprints.

Monster sprint from Philipsen, Van Aert has no luck.

 

[Cookster15]

I think the sprinter’s teams will keep the breaks on a leash. One more sprint before the Tour really starts.

I’ll pick Jasper Philipson.

Nice to get one right. Happy for Philipsen.

 

[Cookster15]

And finally they will face headwind, and not soft..so today the stage is not likely to get 40 average, even if they go fullgas all day. As they start late, it is supossed to finish quite late.

Ended up crosswinds. By my calculator the average speed ended up at 48.9km/h (165.3km in 3hr 23min).

 

[RobertCrawley]

If Plateau de Beille doesn't suit to him, we can turn off everything right here right now. Isola 2000 and La Couillole are way easier

You are right. I would not put it past Jonas to sense a weakness and attack these climbs, but if history is any guide, he prefers the long, hot climbs of the Alps (Col du Gragnon, Col de la Loze) to grind down his opponents.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Dno why all of you are debating this so hard. I completely forgot the crash, there was so much more interesting stuff that took place today.. I don't even have an opinion on it apart from just punishing riders that does dangerous stuff as hard as possible. For example Demare and Phillipsen when they closed WVA, they get relegated, but what does Wout really gain? Nothing. So Im all for much more severe punishments so the sprinters will think one extra time when they do stupid ***. That also includes just disqualifying them from starting the next day if thats what it takes to make sprinters act somewhat normal.

 

[Lequack]

Sir Wiggo, Lance, and George Hincapie talk it out

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-YkNebY0A

 

[RobertCrawley]

Jonas Abrahamsen told Adam Gates to go back to the peloton because he was dooming the break!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1811787089605763355

View: https://x.com/itvcycling/status/1811787089605763355

 

[RobertCrawley]

Penalties and fines

STAGE 13 - AGEN- PAU

Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) - 1500CHF* and -60 UCI points for shoulder-barging Amaury Capiot during the sprint.
Luke Durbridge (Jayco-AlUla) - 500CHF, -25 UCI points for disposing waste outside litter zone
Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) - 500CHF, -25 UCI points for disposing waste outside litter zone

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I'm scarred head to toe from putting myself into the fray in hundreds of elite/pro races and most of those scars came from bad decisions, mine or others, like we watched today.

Link?

 

[RobertCrawley]

Sir Wiggo, Lance, and George Hincapie talk it out

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-YkNebY0A

I know they are a game changer, but I have all the ketones I'll ever need. Thanks.

 

[Taxus4a]

Ended up crosswinds. By my calculator the average speed ended up at 48.9km/h (165.3km in 3hr 23min).

I think no so high average, but close, and Verona confirmed that most of the day cross-head wind.

 

[ManicJack]

Link?

To what?