Tour de France Tour de France 2025, Stage 18: Vif - Courchevel Col de La Loze(171.5k)

[Pantani Attacks]

I hope Pog buries them all for their inept tactics.

 

[kingjr]

Roglic dropping back in the group

 

[Samamba]

Oconnor at 80% or the backpack getting gifted the queen stage. Wild

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think today is more likely than tomorrow.

He is almost doing a 60 km TT today. He can be empty today and tomorrow he will pay the price

 

[Izzyeviel]

Why bother on Madeleine then at all? All they did was blow everyone up including their own team and then give up.

If you're going to half ass try it, just don't bother as all they did was chase their own guy on Jorgensen down when maybe he could have won the stage.

There's a reason we use the phrase... 'Rabofail'

 

[E_F_]

Stick some cobbles on the grass next to the ski jumping hill and have a stage finish there after doing Tougnetes and Loze.

 

[Gigs_98]

So is Visma just gonna keep pacing that entire 10km flat section? If yes they are essentially waving the white flag.

 

[iBanesto]

Poor tactical ride from FloLip as usual.

Kill yourself chasing on your own and now killing yourself on the climb for no real gain on the GC.

Then kill yourself for tomorrow.

 

[ontheroad]

Simon Yates dancing on the pedals but they've only taken around 30 seconds out of O'Connor and Rubio since the foot of the climb.

 

[dgodave]

This stage is just science fiction

That other guy said it was high fantasy.

Personally I think its a rom com.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Why bother on Madeleine then at all? All they did was blow everyone up including their own team and then give up.

If you're going to half ass try it, just don't bother as all they did was chase their own guy on Jorgensen down when maybe he could have won the stage.

They don't want to give Pogacar another stage win

 

[Escarabajo]

Stage too hard!!!

 

[D. Pecher]

I'm the only one to think Lipo can lose his third place tomorrow?

Even if he does. He wasn't expected to have it in the first place. No matter what happens, but that was a gutsy ride today. He's been riding an ITT since before the top of the Madeleine,

 

[yaco]

I though Lipowitz may cook himself in the valley and suffer on the climb. Very tactical in the GC group and it is possible they may not contest the stage as O'Connor and Rubio are riding well.

 

[dazaau]

Maybe, but that's the luxury RBH have. Even if he blows up, there's still Roglic to clinch the podium.

Sure, but what is lipo gaining here? He is not getting second. If he loses time to Onley (which I don't think so happen but it's a real risk) then he loses the white jersey.

Not really sure what the deal is here other than keeping Roglic away from 3rd 😅

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Yup, that‘s ultra-mega endurance O‘Connor for you

 

[E_F_]

I hate loving this sport.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Oh please, not a O'Connor's win

 

[pastronef]

go go go BEN! allez!

 

[kingjr]

I though Lipowitz may cook himself in the valley and suffer on the climb. Very tactical in the GC group and it is possible they may not contest the stage as O'Connor and Rubio are riding well.

There was zero reason for him to cook himself, given that he had a teammate in the group

 

[Danskebjerge]

Why bother on Madeleine then at all? All they did was blow everyone up including their own team and then give up.

If you're going to half ass try it, just don't bother as all they did was chase their own guy on Jorgensen down when maybe he could have won the stage.

The main purpose of domestiques on a stage like this, is to guard the captain from the wind on the flat sections. I know that in the Riis and Armstrong era we were told that domestiques were important on big climbs too - but they aren't when it's just a battle for first and second. The leader will be sitting in the wheel of the guy in second place. That's it. Teammates are only for bottles and safety.

(Of course, there are examples of good use of the team, too. Like today when Pogacar's group was caught. But that wasn't a significant GC move.)

 

[YavorD]

Even if he does. He wasn't expected to have it in the first place. No matter what happens, but that was a gutsy ride today. He's been riding an ITT since before the top of the Madeleine,

He was expected to be before Onley though.
And he was one of the main contenders for the podium even before the Tour.

 

[pastronef]

Oh please, not a O'Connor's win

oh yes! why not?

 

[titan31]

They don't want to give Pogacar another stage win

Tbf should probably just have thrown two of Kuss, Yates or Jorgensen up the road in a break and do no pacing at all then. Leave it all to UAE to control and just target the stage win yourself.

 

[scribers]

Visma now riding to consolidate their GC team lead