Tour de France Tour de France 2024, Stage 2: Cesenatico > Bologne (Bologna), 199.2 km

[RobertCrawley]

So, guys, please explain to me, how Pog can actually win this tour? This was his terrain and the start of the tour where Jonas should not be 100%. Jonas is going to get better throughtough the tour whereas Pog will probably fade after the giro. I dont see any way how he could beat Jonas.

As someone else said, the race is won in the big hills.

This is just one test for Jonas. He passed with flying colors. He has other tests of his recovery in the coming days.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Yep, especially since Vingegaard has not been able to train on his TT bike since the crash.

That could be some Visman propaganda.

 

[Red Rick]

I mean, Pog attacked on like a 7% section and put a billion kilometers into Carapaz and Remco immediately while Victor Lafay was up there on a wall last year.

I shall tolerate no Victorious Lafay slander

 

[Sciatic]

I didn't follow cycling yet back then, but I remember this classic intro all too well. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... it was the freaking Wide World of Sports!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k1gajZeegg

Whenever I want to engage I have the full opening sequence with narration running in my head. But I guess I should give credit where it’s due, because watching that every Sat afternoon helped me develop my interest in many sports beyond mainstream American Leagues.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The first 23 are still within 21 seconds on GC, so there is a lot of racing still to be done before we can say anything definitive

Gee and Thomas are the only real casualties so far.

Buitrago

 

[Valv.Piti]

Buitrago

And Van Wilder the GOAT

 

[Low is rhe new high]

Only because Vinge refused to work in the end, not sure why, since they could both gain time. But they just let Evenepoel catch them.

Pog should have waited for Remco they could have worked togheter, Vinge has the advantage in week 3.

 

[Boehmand]

That is not true, we can't believe in everything Visma says.

Nevertheless, i believe Remco is the favourite for the first ITT.

Visma has 5 Flanders/Roubaix type classics riders - UAE has 2.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

And Van Wilder the GOAT

Didn't know he was going for GC.

 

[Low is rhe new high]

I may have an idea whose user he is

Mou?

 

[jono]

Visma has 5 Flanders/Roubaix type classics riders - UAE has 2.

Did you forget to count the only one who has actually won either race?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Potential GC-riders time losses outside top 23:
+1.11 Crass, De Plus, Buitrago
+1.22 Gee, Haig, Ilan
+2.31 Onley, Meintjens
+44.59 Gaudu

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Vaughters is wasting energy on GC, Carapaz is a good racer but a little out classed. If " Big Vaught" had any sense he would see that Ben Healy and Alberto Bettiol have form and exploit it.. If EF supports either they can get a stage. Ben Healy obviously has something, just doesn't know what to do with it and when.. Roglic falling in the toilet today probably has Vaughters little mind racing and yes Carapaz could draft off of Remco..but come on..

Vaughters is not wasting any energy, he sits in a car or at home or wherever.

And Carapaz is a GC rider, what else should he be doing. A Gaudu? Bettiol and Healy form, yes, having Carapaz riding for GC and let Bettiol and Healy chase stages is not mutally exclusive. Stage 1 didn't work out, having Healy go there was rather stupid. Today was always highly unlikely to be good for those 2, unless somehow they were allowed in the break.

 

[Lequack]

Pog should have waited for Remco they could have worked togheter, Vinge has the advantage in week 3.

Maybe the smart thing was seeing Vinge was still there, and stop the attack, and try something else. Maybe an attack with Adam Yates, etc. They have a strong team and should use it.

 

[slim charles]

So, guys, please explain to me, how Pog can actually win this tour? This was his terrain and the start of the tour where Jonas should not be 100%. Jonas is going to get better throughtough the tour whereas Pog will probably fade after the giro. I dont see any way how he could beat Jonas.

Why do people seem to take it for granted that Jonas will get better? If anything, it seems more likely he'll have more problems as the tour goes on due to lack of racing and preparation. The truth is, we do not know, and most likely he doesn't know either. To make definite conclusions after stage two is... Brave. Though not something I'd characterize as wise.

 

[Blanco]

Did you watch the race?

Did you?

 

[Netserk]

Yates, A.
Jorgenson
Vingegaard
Pogi
Evenepoel
Van Gils
Carapaz
Mas

Vlasov
Ciccone

Rogla
Yates, S.
Ayuso
Martin, G.
Landa
Gall

Pidcock
Grégoire
Bernal
Buitrago
Bardet
Hindley
Rodriguez
Romo
Bilbao
Almeida

 

[danielovichdk2]

Watching Vingegaard answer that attack was enough for me to understand that Pog is not getting anything for free.

Remco jumped with Richard was fine but not convincing. Like I have already said a year ago, Roglic is never winning another GC, and he will fade out of top 10 this year is my prediction.

And now Pog has the yellow so mandatory scene appearances, doping control etc. Tiresome daily activities.

UAE seemed off today as a team. Scattered and strange moves by Ayuso, probably tired and not on top. Yates looks like Mauro G before he died of drugs, then revived, in the 90s, jacked, pumped and ready to go.

 

[Boehmand]

Did you forget to count the only one who has actually won either race?

No, I was talking about team strength - positioning is going to be alpha and omega on that stage.

I have no doubt Pogacar will be there, but the 3 lieutenants are another matter.

 

[Boehmand]

Pogacar, Wellens and Politts are more than enough to not have any problem

As said elsewhere - I know it's not a problem for Pogacar

Almeida, Ayuso and Yates is another matter, when all the big classics guys start rubbing shoulders ahead of every section of gravel.

 

[Netserk]

Is the bottom-left rider one from Total? EDIT: Yes, Steff Cras.

Romo dropped a short while before this. From this group, only Buitrago and Cras didn't make it with the rest to the finish.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Looking familiar, isn't it? Top2 fourth year in a row? According to bookies two big favourites now (odds have changed noticeably following San Luca).

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I get the impression that some people are surprised by Vingo's performance thus far, and I cannot understand why. Did people really think the two-time defending TdF winner was going to show up in substandard form for battle with Pogacar?
I expected Vingo to be in excellent form and that he'll get better as the Tour progresses. He's still the favorite, IMO. I say this as a Pog fan.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is the bottom-left rider one from Total?

Uh, yes? Cras probably. Mysterious time loss, then

 

[Unchained]

Remco on the podium looking like he would like to fight someone

Funny completely different..You see the uncontrollable ear to ear smile, getting polka dots, green, and most combative.. Guy is genuinely surprised at where he finds himself. Remco is truly disappointed and thinks he should be achieving more..
And his brain is saying, had I jumped immediately, I could have beat both going down hill and for sure on flat ground!!
Remco's speed is amazing!!