I support the notion suggested by others that this was a mid/underwhelming stage.
Pogacar at least stopped Jorgenson's attacks, Vingegaard was on the wheel all dayLenny looking like he's dying a thousand deaths while Pog and Vingo look like they're out for a coffee ride.
View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1944791745021010054
What happened to Lenny‘s arms and why does someone even make a post that says that the top two in GC aren‘t actually struggling to follow a breakaway rider finishing five minutes down?Lenny looking like he's dying a thousand deaths while Pog and Vingo look like they're out for a coffee ride.
View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1944791745021010054
It is a bit ironic, yeah. I think Visma had a deliberate strategy of getting Pogacar to fatigue himself, and I think it worked - in 2022 and 2023. Then in 2024 they had the same strategy, and it didn't work. As I recall it, they were convinced Vingegaard would drop him, simply by pacing. If they're still on the fatigue-train this year, I don't know what to say.Ironic. This sounds the opposite of what happened in 2022. Except then Pogacar attacked almost every day after Granon before cracking again on Hautacam.
For engagementWhat happened to Lenny‘s arms and why does someone even make a post that says that the top two in GC aren‘t actually struggling to follow a breakaway rider finishing five minutes down?
NosebleedWhat happened to Lenny‘s arms and why does someone even make a post that says that the top two in GC aren‘t actually struggling to follow a breakaway rider finishing five minutes down?
Visma achieved something.. Sent riders who are out of GC contention to contest the stage.Semi-controversial take: Visma wanted to achieve two goals today, i.e. a stage win and get Matteo Jorgenson higher up in GC because they want him on the podium. That's why they sent Sepp Kuss on the attack so Jorgenson could bridge over. It's what they attempted in any case.
I don't even think they were looking at Pog. I know that's not what fans want to hear but seriously it looked like those were their main objectives today.
Except that he can't take time on Pog on those stages...he has tried. Especially on the windy stages. Pog didn't lose time.He has to try to take time on those stages, because Pogacar will take time on him on all of the MTFs. It's easy to understand.
By the end, his non-stressed team was not there. I guess they were taking a smoke break?Visma did nothing to put fatigue into Pog today. Strictly nothing at all. It was UAE on the front controlling with their own tempo.
If the plan is as you say it is, they would have drilled the stage with their entire team on the front of the bunch wouldn't they? But they didn't. They sat behind a non-stressed UAE team until near the end and a few skirmishes.
Damn, who wrote that? Oh yeah, I did!Funny, I just thought Visma might try with Yates again.
That is a plausible explanation.Semi-controversial take: Visma wanted to achieve two goals today, i.e. a stage win and get Matteo Jorgenson higher up in GC because they want him on the podium. That's why they sent Sepp Kuss on the attack so Jorgenson could bridge over. It's what they attempted in any case.
I don't even think they were looking at Pog. I know that's not what fans want to hear but seriously it looked like those were their main objectives today.
That really is horrific to look at. I missed that Lenny had blood coming from his mouth, enough so that it's all over his arms. Pog and Jonas are like "Hey dude, you might have a doctor take a look at that, lemme pull out my phone and give you the number of a guy I work with."Lenny looking like he's dying a thousand deaths while Pog and Vingo look like they're out for a coffee ride.
View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1944791745021010054
Well at least he realised about that. He is not a GC contender, he struggles a lot and he always has one or two really bad days. He should be focused always in one week races, mountain classics and fight for wins in stage of Tour.Skjelmose was the most disappointing GC or semi GC rider today. The fact that he lost three minutes on the last few kilometers confirms that he's fragile over time. He actually said himself after the stage that he feels the fatigue. He added that after today he will not go for the GC in this Tour.
Many have said that, but then he ended 5th in the Vuelta last year and won the young riders' jersey.Well at least he realised about that. He is not a GC contender, he struggles a lot and he always has one or two really bad days. He should be focused always in one week races, mountain classics and fight for wins in stage of Tour.
Skjelmose is a GC contender.Well at least he realised about that. He is not a GC contender, he struggles a lot and he always has one or two really bad days. He should be focused always in one week races, mountain classics and fight for wins in stage of Tour.
Me. I told this before the stageWho had Ben Healy with the yellow jersey on the first rest day?
While it should be he is still showing he is on the ragged edge to hang with Pogacar. JV's strategy of driving tempo to prevent Pogacar's aggression is telling....and losing. Jonas will need a very serious stage 12-14 to be in the podium picture if he's not careful.Last year Vingegaard didn't have a restitution base due to his crash. You can't compare with this year, where his base should be much better.
I doubt any white jersey challenge is coming from Onley. Don't think he's good enough in the high mountains. But I'd love to be proven wrong.That challenge is Onley ...He is climbing better than Remco so far though Remco will do much better in the TT
Normally i don't agree with you, but i also hate breakaways, especially in mountain stages.This is why I hate breaks. We never see the peloton