Tour de France Tour de France Femmes 2023 (July 23rd-30th)

[RedheadDane]

Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) - For using the sidewalk for a short distance without taking advantage of it. Warning.

Okay, I know this is because even though she didn't take advantage of it, it's still against the rules. But, the wording kinda makes it look like she was given a warning specifically for not taking advantage of it.
"Marta. If you're gonna misbehave, do it properly!"

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Glory days for Tourmalet this year:
1) It had the best GC action in years at the men's Tour (opposite to usual dull passages)
2) It will decide the women's Tour (MTF)
3) It may decide the Vuelta (MTF)

 

[Andy262]

Nah - Pinot is a bold and attacking rider, while Ludwig sits on wheels, refuses to work in small groups and in fact is a negative rider. Ludwig makes Gerrans look an attacking rider.

Yes. There is a bold and attacking rider on FdJ but Cille isn’t the one.

Pleased for Kastelijn, was a deserved winner.

 

[Dk one]

Yes. There is a bold and attacking rider on FdJ but Cille isn’t the one.

Pleased for Kastelijn, was a deserved winner.

I agree that CUL has not been much of an attacking rider in recent years, I guess some people still remeber her younger years, not with fdj, e.g. how she was the one who started the winning move in flanders in 2019 when she podiumed.

 

[dobrien]

Just rewatched the finale yesterday; so pleased for Kastelijn, that was a wonderful ride and fun to watch. She's in good form and it will be interesting to see how she goes Saturday.

We are fortunate SDW's tactics sometimes suffer from "Too many cooks in the kitchen"; if they had actually ridden as a team yesterday they would have killed that race.

AVV looking more mortal (understandably) but thankfully looking good enough to put up a fight. I saw Demi gritting her teeth plenty yesterday; yes she took time but that hill is nothing like we're going to see Saturday.
I don't love the backloading but the MTF/TT combo is looking interesting for the weekend.

I really liked the stage design yesterday; I agree with LS the climbs seem badly over-categorized but as a whole the design worked to provide an interesting finale. Also liked the 177k distance. More of these, please!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I agree that CUL has not been much of an attacking rider in recent years, I guess some people still remeber her younger years, not with fdj, e.g. how she was the one who started the winning move in flanders in 2019 when she podiumed.

Or La Course with her solo move over Romme and Colombière, or the Czech race where she first came to prominence as a 20yo, and a lot of races back then. I think that apart from 2019 where she was with Bigla, however, she's retreated more into her shell as leadership pressure has risen, because back in the Cervélo-Bigla days they had Moolman-Pasio and Lepistö to get results so anything Cille banked was bonus. I had hoped that supplementing her with Cavalli and Brown would bring more of that side of her out as she would be under less pressure to shoulder the results for the team and therefore settle for placements, but this hasn't seemed to have been borne out in action, at least not yet.

We are fortunate SDW's tactics sometimes suffer from "Too many cooks in the kitchen"; if they had actually ridden as a team yesterday they would have killed that race.

They did select Lotte Kopecky for a race where she is not unquestioned leader, so it's kind of their own fault.

 

[awavey]

Lorena Wiebes non starter today,, has left the race due to stomach issues.

 

[Izzyeviel]

DNS: Rissveds

 

[Izzyeviel]

I think its Evita on the left.... thats how I felt listening to that pep talk.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Strong breakaway, but it seems like it won't get much of a gap.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Time to cry for Evita.... Abandon

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Time to cry for Evita.... Abandon

You can't float like a butterfly if you get stung by a bee.

 

[dobrien]

They did select Lotte Kopecky for a race where she is not unquestioned leader, so it's kind of their own fault.

Oh we definitely agree on this; to have too many cooks in the kitchen first requires management to put them there, and then proceed to turn them loose without clear objectives.

 

[Red Rick]

SD Worx team car almost being a physical problem in addition to a tactical one

 

[yaco]

Wiebes will definitely receive a fine and possibly a time deduction for that flagrant slip-streaming behind the car - No DSM at the front suggests they are not sure that Kool will make the final.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Balsamo group of around 15-20 riders near 7 minutes down... grupetto of around 8 riders near 10 behind

 

[Izzyeviel]

Wiebes will definitely receive a fine and possibly a time deduction for that flagrant slip-streaming behind the car - No DSM at the front suggests they are not sure that Kool will make the final.

hang your head in shame

 

[dgodave]

Aww theyre going through Najac. I bike toured through there way back in 2000.

 

[Red Rick]

It's so weird. Every hill the group looks like a group ride but after a 2km climb there's 30 riders left.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

There are a lot of tired legs after yesterday and the fast start today. The stage probably won't be decided in a sprint.

 

[Red Rick]

Surely this is just gonna be SD Worx trying to set up a 1-2 on that bonus sprint?

 

[RedheadDane]

Cavalli with a puncture after doing a lil bit of CX.

 

[awavey]

Evita Muzic abandons, been sick for two days apparently edit sorry you'd already covered that, I'm catching up

 

[Dk one]

Cavalli with a puncture after doing a lil bit of CX.

Things are certainly going well for fdj..

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1684571784379789313

View: https://twitter.com/BikeBlz/status/1684571784379789313