Tour de France Tour de France 2025 Stage 19: Albertville-La Plagne (93.1k) ‚Historic day, magnificent racing‘ ~ Rob Hatch, probably

[Boehmand]

Status:

Podium locked down by Pogacar, Vingegaard and Lipowitz
Green locked down by Milan
Polka Dots locked down by Pogacar
White jersey locked down by Lipowitz
Team competition locked down by Visma

There is a theoretical chance on polka dots, but it would require Vingegaard taking all the points on stage 20 and 21.

There is a theoretical chance on the team competition (24:26 minutes), but Visma is sure to match UAE man for man in the break tomorrow - they are not letting 3 UAE guys get 8+ minutes

 

[Salvarani]

That's exactly what Pogacar has done a few times this tour, but it's not okay for Vingegaard to do it? I don't get why the reasoning changes when it's your own countryman - disappointment perhaps?

Countryman? Not mine.

Pog hasnt done that. And he has more than enough reason to not make it a race today.

If Vinge just didnt want Pog to win, stay on the wheel in the end. Keep your dignity.

 

[kingjr]

He makes two races more interesting (tops) and kills all intrigue in every other race. What a bargain!

The intrigue in this year's Tour was chiefly killed by two bad days from Vingegaard, which he said himself he normally doesn't have. Visma also seem to have found a way to get under his skin. If they leverage that, I think this bodes well for next year.

Sure... You're the expert, I guess!

It doesn't take an expert, a blind person can see it.

 

[bah]

Vingo is a phenomenal GT racer. I think the complaint is that he didn't push Pog at all today, after claiming yesterday that "the Tour isn't over." Maybe he will try again tomorrow or Sunday, but the strategy here seems to have been to sit on Pog's wheel and try to outsprint him, essentially an admission that the Tour is over.

He says what he's expected to say.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Vlasov NEEDs to disrupt the chase now. He's spent the whole season doing nothing but if he has one strength this year it's riding slowly uphill. So now they need to play for that. He needs to go to the front and slow the pace for Roglic

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Vlasov NEEDs to disrupt the chase now. He's spent the whole season doing nothing but if he has one strength this year it's riding slowly uphill. So now they need to play for that. He needs to go to the front and slow the pace for Roglic

Ummm, I have some bad news...

 

[RobertCrawley]

Lenny Martinez somehow managed to hang on to 11th on the stage.

"Hang on" might be too close to the bone.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Vlasov NEEDs to disrupt the chase now. He's spent the whole season doing nothing but if he has one strength this year it's riding slowly uphill. So now they need to play for that. He needs to go to the front and slow the pace for Roglic

This was supposed to be posted 4 hours ago . Whoops.

 

[kingjr]

Ummm, I have some bad news...

Hey, no spoilers!

 

[Copperberg]

The other wins were a time trial and two small group sprints.

I am not really a fan of this discussion but Yes Pogacar showed Determination to win those stages AFTER the heavy crash the days before. I have crashed myself and that has taken a whole lot out of me. I root for Uno-X though so I will keep quiet about the cause of the accident...'lol'

 

[Tim Cahill]

The great comedy of the stage is how Roglic completely giving up was what stopped Gall from pacing and ended up throwing the stage for the group.

 

[zlev11]

that stage would've been straight up garbage without the heroic long range attack of Primož Roglič

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

that stage would've been straight up garbage without the heroic long range attack of Primož Roglič

Give Primoz his flowers. Aggressive racing, no crashes.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Just watched the last 12k after several interruptions during this half-stage.
If the shortening of the stage wasn't already an anti-climax the 'grande finale' in the high mountains turned out to be.

However, I pretty much like the Arensman got his 2nd win, and a bit of tension for the final k.
Kudos! More Arensmen, please!

Edit: I see the poll missing Thymen, was looking for him his morning in the list. Though, luckily I got him on my Tour manager team, just in time, so not all that bad personally

 

[RobertCrawley]

I would be interested to know if Visma changes how Jonas trains for next year, given that this is about as good as he can go in his current condition. It this it? Has he hit his plateau at age 28, or can he find a little something extra? Tadej certainly did when he changed trainers from Inigo San Millan to Javier Sola.

 

[zorroz69]

Tour just went from a 3/10 to a 2/10 rating

Yeah, too many anticlimactic stages

 

[Red Rick]

I would be interested to know if Visma changes how Jonas trains for next year, given that this is about as good as he can go in his current condition. It this it? Has he hit his plateau at age 28, or can he find a little something extra? Tadej certainly did when he changed trainers from Inigo San Millan to Javier Sola.

If I could grasp at anything it's that they didn't deal with the fatigue well enough from a super hard Tour. Maybe too much focus on the hilly stages.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

that stage would've been straight up garbage without the heroic long range attack of Primož Roglič

And Thymen Arensman, not at least. The rider with the most up close attempt to invite the two aliens to a dance. ofc not at same level, but wise with possible stalemate game.
I would say that the last few kilometers, with crowds cheering for his heroic attempt to succeed, also saved the stage for me.
But yes, as a d Rogla fan, I am also very happy that he dies in the attempt
- instead of boring accountant driving until 500 meters before the line.

 

[dr.eve]

But that’s the point—neither Pogacar or Vingegaard went for the stage win—they just focused on neutralizing each other.

Well both wanted to win the stage, and both considered their best chances are if the other one worked more or spend energy attacking earlier. Neither did, so we had this outcome. Is that so difficult to understand?

I get Pogacar is annoyed, I get Vingegaard is annoyed, both probably feel they missed out on a great opportunity to win a stage.

This is cycling, the third one sometimes wins, this time Arensman. I think that's nice, since we actually got a winner that everyone wants here right? He went full out solo on the climb. Anyone else behind didn't and focussed on others near or behind them.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

If I could grasp at anything it's that they didn't deal with the fatigue well enough from a super hard Tour. Maybe too much focus on the hilly stages.

This!

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Of course we would be, but what does that have to do with anything?

I'm not a great singer, but if I hear a professional singer being painfully off-key, it is reasonable to criticise it.
I have never studied political science nor held public office, but if politicians make decisions that I consider detrimental to the general good, I am entitled to voice an opinion on it.
I am not a professional commentator, but when those that are demonstrate absolute ignorance of the rules of the sport, it is not unreasonable for me to call them out on that.

And if some believe that riders have underperformed, by poor tactics or by mismanaging their preparation and levels, that is what discussion in a cycling forum will deal with.

I wasn't talking about criticism per se but the nasty name calling of cyclists .
But you know that and yet feel you have the right to talk down to me like a boorish old school master.
[content deleted]

 

[Danskebjerge]

He's not killing cycling, he is killing your interest in cycling because your favourite riders don't get to win.

No sport (especially not the ones that mainly have to do with power and endurance) benefits from a situation where one guy or one team is dominating. There may be some fascination in it, but in the long run, the interest surrounding a sport needs some rivalry and suspense. That's why the organizers do all they can to avoid that the end result is evident early on. If the Tour organizers thought Pogacar dominance was cool, they would have placed some mountain stages earlier on in the stage race.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This was supposed to be posted 4 hours ago . Whoops.

Being able to travel back four hours could possibly be healthy for all of us.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Being able to travel back four hours could possibly be healthy for all of us.

As long as it doesn‘t happen right now and I‘m forced to rewatch that abomination of a stage, I‘d agree.

 

[Red Rick]

Hardest Tour ever, give me a break!

If you want a break maybe ask Pog's weak team.