Tour de France Tour de France 2024, Stage 18, Gap - Barcelonnette, 179.5k

[RobertCrawley]

I just wish he would ride like he wants a stage, instead of letting more aggressive riders determine who will win the stage.

If he could, he would. He's not in his best form.

 

[scribers]

Front group starting to play around a little bit. Who’s going to do the least amount of pulling?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Today is the kind of day where I'm glad I never decided to change my avatar.

 

[Colombiano Cadence]

Didn't he won MSR versus Sagan and Julian A. ? I think he knows well how to sprint but anything can happen.😜

Sure, that’s why I said a few years ago. But I haven’t seen him sprint in a long time

 

[Gigs_98]

I'm having a very hard time seeing this end any way other than Kwiat completely smoking the other too.

 

[Finn84]

This would be a career result for vercher

If he wins it's interesting how his career goes on. There are some riders with one career win, that being TdF stage.

 

[Colombiano Cadence]

Are the front 3 cooked?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Come on Vercher sit on these guys. Problem is 3rd would be a brilliant result for him so he wants it to stick.

 

[red_flanders]

Everybody knows Wout badly wants a stage.
(that's why he got cheated in the break).
With such an important stage as of tomorrow I read it as a less confidentWvA that he will be able to participate making the difference in the upcoming days and has spoken to the team about it. I almost expect that, as every man must be completely fresh for the next few days so that there will be any chance to test the cracks that Jonas has not yet given up on finding at Pogi.

But okay you might be right, and it comes down to much simpler things: It's Wout.

...aah just in time finally time for 100% stagd watching!

Yeah, I mean this has come up before. Visma (Jumbo) got a ton of criticism on this board for supporting Wout when he was flapping his Red Bull wings, etc. But they were strong enough to win both the GC and some stages for Wout. They're just not that strong this year.

But the dude is a big champion, and he wants his chances. Pretty hard to say no to a guy who wins as much as he has, who gets paid what he does.

 

[scribers]

Are the front 3 cooked?

Vercher is starting to pull less
And the gap is shrinking

 

[postmanhat]

Imagine Vercher winning this out of this group.

You, me and all of France.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I just don't think he has the form. Certainly not like the days when he was winning stages over Ventoux.

It looks like this is correct, because there have been times when Wout was not just strong enough to sprint in a small group, but strong enough to drop everyone before a sprint.

This does not bode well for the Olympics or WC's...because Mathieu may be whining about not having stages to win, but he will be sharp for those races.

 

[Penninepeddler]

If he could, he would. He's not in his best form.

7 TdF Podiums in a row without a win right now...

insane the amount of 2nd and 3rd places he has had the last 2-3 years vs wins.

Like the opposite of Cav's record on podium.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Can't see any trout in that river either.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I'm having a very hard time seeing this end any way other than Kwiat completely smoking the other too.

Campenaerts couldn't finish his dinner and can safely be ruled out while also ensuring nobody makes it back. Vercher is decently quick, but to do it in this situation?

 

[Netserk]

They are close enough to the finish to race against each other up front.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

If he could, he would. He's not in his best form.

I guess...but this also feels like Wout just isn't willing to dare to pour all of his effort into the race, finishing completley wasted, but having tried. He likes safety too much.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Might even be the best GT breakaway win since Madrazo won that Vuelta stage if he pulls it off.

 

[Devrann]

Come on Victor..

Imagine Vercher winning this out of this group.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1813955485621690678

View: https://x.com/faustocoppi60/status/1813955485621690678

 

[Samamba]

You, me and all of France.

Well not me ofc, I need a Campenaerts win but Vercher winning would be quite funny. Total horrible all season long and then they win the gravel stage with Turgis and this stage with fricking Vercher lmao

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Nothing against Kwiato but I hope he doesn't win, Ineos have ridden a pathetic TdF, can't keep getting away with random stage wins.
Also not a fan of Campenaerts so Vercher it is please.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Didi with a chalkboard!!

 

[scribers]

Kwiatkowski wins this easily. He looks the most comfortable in the bike at the moment.

 

[Nick2413]

Vercher and Camp need to not do anything. Make Kwiato do all the work.

 

[RobertCrawley]

40 seconds, 4 kilometers.

No catch today.