Tour de France Tour de France 2024: Stage-by-stage analysis

[tobydawq]

Go nuts= only actually start dropping people 4k from the top, then already go back to softpedalling before the top so Bardet is coming back at the top, then keep on not pedaling until Van Aert has brought everyone you deem relevant (not Mas who was great on Alpe the next day) back. If you had Agnello or Loze or Montevergine doesn‘t matter. If you only ride arrhythmically for like 3 kilometers before sitting up, then everyone will come back.

What do you mean? Vingegaard, Pogacar, Roglic and Thomas separated themselves from the rest as soon as the Galibier started.

 

[KZD]

Great job like usual, @Devil's Elbow.

I think this is a good route overall that gives opportunities to almost all kinds of riders and should give us a nice GC battle. However I have a few criticisms.

- From stage 4 until stage 11 there is no mountain stage which is just too many stages without mountains even though we have the gravel stage and the first TT.

- Speaking about the first TT, given the last one is very hilly I was hoping that this is one was flat but its just 25k with a climb which is disappointing, I would have prefered if this was a 35k flat effort.

- After the beastly stage 19, I would have preferred stage 20 was more of a hilly stage like the one we usually have in the last day of Paris Nice instead of another real mountain stage and I agree with those that say stage 21 is almost too hard which might lead to an excessively conservative racing in the previous days.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

What do you mean? Vingegaard, Pogacar, Roglic and Thomas separated themselves from the rest as soon as the Galibier started.

They went ahead over the top of Télégraphe, did a bunch of attack and sit and then sat up and everybody (Marc Soler the GOAT as first) came back and the pace was lower and no gaps were made for a few kilometers. Overpacing and explosive riding was actually counterproductive for distancing the others.

 

[RedheadDane]

Can't wrap my head around the fact that it's the first time the race is starting in Italy.

It started in Denmark before it started in Italy!

 

[tobydawq]

They went ahead over the top of Télégraphe, did a bunch of attack and sit and then sat up and everybody (Marc Soler the GOAT as first) came back and the pace was lower and no gaps were made for a few kilometers. Overpacing and explosive riding was actually counterproductive for distancing the others.

Yes, but productive in tiring Pogacar and winning the race, so why does it matter that the others came back? We did get all the action we could have wished for.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Yes, but productive in tiring Pogacar and winning the race, so why does it matter that the others came back? We did get all the action we could have wished for.

Because Red Rick believes that other people think altitude is some sort of magic and is posing super-unrealistic expectations so he can tell us altitude is overrated.

 

[tobydawq]

Compare it to how many people came back after Joux Plane when they were holding hands. Just check how much damage Galibier did in 2017, it was like any regular HC descent finish. Check how much lasting damage Contador going nutso on Telegraphe did in 2011. Started Alpe d'Huez with a big group.

Now if you wanna say 'they can't attack half heartedly and stay away on Galibier', why would that be different on the Bonette? It's actually less steep in the final 8km.

Only significant Bonette attack you can potentially see is UAE setting up Pogacar when he's already 5 minutes up in GC and just wants to flex.

The question still remains: In what shape or form did the Granon stage underdeliver?

Slamming that stage really doesn't help your usual "Toby, it's easy to criticise me when you ignore all the times I say positive things" mantra because it certainly showcases how you can go out of your way to find something negative in even the best of stages.

 

[fbjim]

also surge-and-stop attacks are not "going nuts"

 

[Netserk]

Granon was good actually. I also really like Bonette/Isola 2000.

 

[Rob5091]

Dude I completely missed that 230km flat stages are back LETSGO

It'll be the one that everyone remembers.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Not sure if I'd even want stage 9 as is now, as the GC looks poised for a great battle. Would rather it be won in the mountains and time trials then possibly due to a rival getting a puncture.

 

[Unchained]

Tomorrow?

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7UhT6-GntcY

 

[Froome]

I agree about the first 13 stages, except the stage of Cote San luca and the stage 11 which i think is a really good stage. The stage of Galibier was also decent for a first mountain stage.

I would change 4/5 things to this route, to be a satisfactory route in my eyes.

1-The first ITT should have 55 km instead of 25 km.

2-No gravel stage.

3-another big mountain stage between stage 4 and stage 14. (Yeah, could be Ventoux).

4-Change the finish of Col de la Couillolle. After La colmiane finish on Isola 2000 instead of col de la couillolle.

5-After cime de la bonette, easy finish in the climb of Auron.

@Krzysztof_O

 

[Unchained]

Every seperation should be crashes and mechanicals. Aside from that it should just be a slightly reduced bunch sprints.

Separation will come from riders w and without that sunglasses nose piece.. if you don't have it probably going to get dropped

 

[Nick2413]

Wondering if stage 11 can end up having some GC action. 211km with over 4000m climbing and short punchy climbs toward the end.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

It has probably been asked already many times so apologies for asking again, but where does the assertion come from that Jonas will grow stronger as the tour goes? I’m no expert, but common sense would dictate he doesn’t have the foundation needed after his crash and subsequent recovery. Hence my thought is he not going to crack eventually?

 

[Berniece]

It has probably been asked already many times so apologies for asking again, but where does the assertion come from that Jonas will grow stronger as the tour goes? I’m no expert, but common sense would dictate he doesn’t have the foundation needed after his crash and subsequent recovery. Hence my thought is he not going to crack eventually?

There are indeed two theories. One saying that his base isn't wide enough and eventually might fade by the end. The other one is that he isn't at his peak yet, because he didn't have the proper preparation for it. So more room for improvement, and thus will get better over time.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

There are indeed two theories. One saying that his base isn't wide enough and eventually might fade by the end. The other one is that he isn't at his peak yet, because he didn't have the proper preparation for it. So more room for improvement, and thus will get better over time.

Interesting!

 

[Peyroteo94]

Interesting!

The second theory is more old school mentality. 30 years ago, GC riders were not in peak shape because routes were so backloaded back in the 90's. Nowadays, a rider can't get into shape if he wants to win the Tour. So the first theory is more valid in this new way of riding (probably since LA).

 

[AmRacer]

I can't wait for Sunday stage. Think it will be epic.

 

[Ulle97]

As regards the gravel stage tomorrow. Have we ever had a similar stage in the Tour so that we can get a reference for the type of damage it can create?

Does it end in a sprint finish or how could the attacks play out??
Is Remco able to attack or defend himself on such terrain?

 

[Ulle97]

We've had cobbles. And in my view cobbles are more selective than gravel, although gravel causes more punctures.

Do you see big gaps amongst GC?