Tour de France Tour de France 2025 Stage 9: Chinon – Châteauroux (174.1k)

[ashhutch1997]

Don't get me wrong, this weekends stages are tragic, but I'd take this first week over any of the Jean Marie Leblanc routes. I don't think people realise how bad they were.

 

[cen]

Sad to see Jack Haig abandon, but he did a backstage pass of what happens that we don't see.
PS: Watch the Mohoric cameo @ 3:15

https://twitter.com/x/status/1944139703638438084

View: https://x.com/SBSSportau/status/1944139703638438084

Seeing Čokolešnik mentioned in a tdf clip was not on my bingo card for today.

 

[Gratemans]

I feel like if it was 21 straight stages of MT finishes and a few of them were not that hard/not raced flat out people on here would complain about that.

I don't easily complain about stages, and don't even mind a flat sprint stage. But putting two in the weekend certainly warrants some complaining imo.

 

[slim charles]

Seeing Čokolešnik mentioned in a tdf clip was not on my bingo card for today.

Holy s... That was random and a blast from the past. Didn't even know that was produced anymore 😄

 

[Peyroteo94]

It looks like there will be echelons.

Let's hope there are no accidents because all the teams will be fighting for position.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1944298769115148772

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1944298769115148772

In fact echelons reduce the possibility of crashes. Riders are more focused and the peloton will eventually split. My biggest fear is some mechanical in a real bad moment. We are so close to hit the mountains.

 

[Samamba]

In fact echelons reduce the possibility of crashes. Riders are more focused and the peloton will eventually split. My biggest fear is some mechanical in a real bad moment. We are so close to hit the mountains.

A whole day of stress cause of potential echelons does not reduce the chance over the whole race. It does reduce the chance in the final (sprint) cause there's either less riders left (if an echelon sticks) or it's a bit less chaotic cause riders are less fresh.

Chances we actually get echelons seem rather low too, will just be very stressful, wind is probably coming a bit too much from the back for the most part.

 

[tobydawq]

And as usual, there's pundits all gushing on social media about how it's been one of the greatest opening weeks in history, all while we get served one of the worst second weekends in the history of the sport, let alone the Tour.

It has been a great first week.

And as usual, LS twists it around to make it fit to her negative preconception from before the race.

 

[Kwaremonster]

For sure Visma will try something with the Echelons, but normally it's impossible to surprise pogi with this I think. Barring machanicals they would mostly effect some lower tier GC riders. Let's indeed hope there will not be gc caps due to bad luck.

 

[Peyroteo94]

A whole day of stress cause of potential echelons does not reduce the chance over the whole race. It does reduce the chance in the final (sprint) cause there's either less riders left (if an echelon sticks) or it's a bit less chaotic cause riders are less fresh.

Chances we actually get echelons seem rather low too, will just be very stressful, wind is probably coming a bit too much from the back for the most part.

It makes what you are saying but my personal experience as a spectator is echelons are good, specially because riders are not unfocused, like we saw in stage 3.

 

[Kwaremonster]

It has been a great first week.

And as usual, LS twists it around to make it fit to her negative preconception from before the race.

I remember the days of Erik Zabel and Mario Cippollini dominating the openingstages. I would read about them in the paper and then start watching when they reached the alps.

 

[Samamba]

It makes what you are saying but my personal experience as a spectator is echelons are good, specially because riders are not unfocused, like we saw in stage 3.

Echelons are good cause it's entertaining lol.

Also not sure what you mean by "focus". Why would riders be unfocussed in a bunch sprint or the leadup to it, they all are hyperfocussed.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Echelons are good cause it's entertaining lol.

Also not sure what you mean by "focus". Why would riders be unfocussed in a bunch sprint or the leadup to it, they all are hyperfocussed.

They are not, maybe in the last 10-15 km but not before. That turning point from a sleepy mode to a hyperfocused mode is a "killer". Of course I can be totally wrong though.

 

[Netserk]

I feel like if it was 21 straight stages of MT finishes and a few of them were not that hard/not raced flat out people on here would complain about that.

Some of us have slightly more sophisticated taste than that, but I guess those who would complain about getting served McDonalds at a wedding are just simply impossible to satisfy, so better just ignore all criticism.

 

[Red Rick]

Some of us have slightly more sophisticated taste than that, but I guess those who would complain about getting served McDonalds at a wedding are just simply impossible to satisfy, so better just ignore all criticism.

It's always the same in here

Spoiler

 

[CyclistAbi]

One would think this is sailing, considering on how dependant we are on the wind.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It has been a great first week.

And as usual, LS twists it around to make it fit to her negative preconception from before the race.

It's been an OK first week where the stages have largely delivered as anticipated, but with an appalling second weekend.

And as usual, Toby ignores the follow-up post which adds mitigation and nuance to the comment so he can be dismissive and belittling.

 

[Froome]

What a boring weekend in terms of stages.


Nevertheless, Gouvenou is way better than the guy who designed the Tours of the armstrong era.

 

[Samamba]

Euhm.... so there goes Van der Poel lmao

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is this about the green jersey he hasn‘t cared about so far or just random BS.

 

[ppanther92]

Bit weird to go for Green now when you waste points left and right like yesterday (MvdP)

 

[Tim Cahill]

Find a rider less suited to crafting a long Grand Tour campaign than Van der Poel

This is the kind of thing to do before you DNF the rest day

 

[Samamba]

Or they just hoped other teams (yk the like 12 useless teams here) would react if Van der Poel would go? But apart from the sprinterteams, Visma and UAE no one was at the front.

 

[ppanther92]

Find a rider less suited to crafting a long Grand Tour campaign than Van der Poel

This is the kind of thing to do before you DNF the rest day

I suppose he drops back after collecting the points at km 23

 

[AmRacer]

Find a rider less suited to crafting a long Grand Tour campaign than Van der Poel

This is the kind of thing to do before you DNF the rest day

He wants the sprint points

 

[ppanther92]

MvdP back in Yellow virtually