Tour de la Provence 2021, France, February 11 - February 14

[wheresmybrakes]

Why would Remco care about an attack from Bernal 5 minutes behind him?

Think he would have to care if there was any descending to do in the ITT. I would think most other teams would make a much bigger effort in the mountains to try and gain lots of time on Remco, knowing his TT'ing. They could quite easily dismantle DQS leaving him exposed. But then again, he could go on to be a monster in the mountains over 3 weeks too. We'll just have to wait and see. I would still think he would care if he see Bernal attack 5 mins behind.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Tbf if DQS go all in on Remco in a GT, they can bring the likes of Alaphillippe, Almeida, Knox, Cavagna, Asgreen, Serry and Cattaneo as an example which would be very strong. It won't be Jumbo or Ineos level if you bring that to the Tour but that would likely be a stronger lineup in the Giro or Vuelta.

Add Masnada and on yesterday's showing, Vansevenant.

 

[titan31]

Add Masnada and on yesterday's showing, Vansevenant.

Yup and Bagioli. They have plenty of talent to build around him. Will depend on if they do give him a full strength team around him or split the team between GC help and sprint/stage wins guys.

 

[TomLPC]

I enjoy these heli views from 3k out, good view of the shifting dynamics

Looked like Bauhaus?

Nacer not happy with the deviation but it didn't look like much.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, the team's name came true.

 

[titan31]

If Alaphillippe hadn't lead out as much, he could have got a gap there over Bernal. He just faded too fast and ended up back in the main group.

 

[armchairclimber]

He was already ahead of Bernal I believe, thanks to time bonus. It was a quite awesome and selfless performance.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Messy sprint. It gets quite unpredictable when a load of lower level sprinters are fighting for the win. I can see why Bouhani was annoyed, given that they were up against the barriers but the deviation wasn’t big.

Very frustrating race for Demare. He botched the first sprint by going way too early when he was perfectly placed. He got dropped before the uphill sprint. Then he made a huge mess of the approach today. Very weird the way he repeatedly lost his teammates wheel.

Congrats to Bauhaus on a nice win.

 

[Orbit501]

Wonder why Demare was never in contention? Sat up quite early and never even contested the sprint.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Wonder why Demare was never in contention? Sat up quite early and never even contested the sprint.

He kept losing the wheel of teammates who were moving him forward. maybe there was a gear problem or something. The Eurosport commentary was even suggesting that it was nerves and that he just didn’t fancy taking chances, which seems a bit harsh

 

[titan31]

He was already ahead of Bernal I believe, thanks to time bonus. It was a quite awesome and selfless performance.

Bernal ahead of him on pcs after today anyway by a second.

 

[armchairclimber]

Bernal ahead of him on pcs after today anyway by a second.

Then even more selfless.

 

[Skalman]

If Alaphillippe hadn't lead out as much, he could have got a gap there over Bernal. He just faded too fast and ended up back in the main group.

I sincerely dont think he cared if he was 2nd or 3rd in the GC of this race, today was all about leading out Ballerini

 

[titan31]

Pcs has changed it now to Alaphillippe being 2nd

 

[Mayomaniac]

Messy sprint. It gets quite unpredictable when a load of lower level sprinters are fighting for the win. I can see why Bouhani was annoyed, given that they were up against the barriers but the deviation wasn’t big.

Very frustrating race for Demare. He botched the first sprint by going way too early when he was perfectly sprint. He got dropped before the uphill sprint. Then he made a huge mess of the approach today. Very weird the way he repeatedly lost his teammates wheel.

Congrats to Bauhaus on a nice win.

I kinda get where Nacer is coming from, if he was doing the same he'd probably get relegated.

 

[tobydawq]

I kinda get where Nacer is coming from, if he was doing the same he'd probably get relegated.

Yes, it was kind of the same move Démare made on Sagan in one of the Giro stages.

You can't keep a line that isn't parallel to the sides of the road... Or at least you shouldn't be allowed to.

 

[Netserk]

As per the rules, you can deviate all you want as long as it doesn't endanger another rider. As I recall it(!), the move Demare made didn't endanger Sagan.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I kinda get where Nacer is coming from, if he was doing the same he'd probably get relegated.

Yeah, a rider’s reputation seems to weigh heavily in these decisions

 

[tobydawq]

As per the rules, you can deviate all you want as long as it doesn't endanger another rider. As I recall it(!), the move Demare made didn't endanger Sagan.

Yes and that is how the rule is formulated but certainly not how it should be!

And if Sagan had persisted, they could both have crashed so I don't fully grasp how they measure the degree of endangerment.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

I don't think Bernal had the legs to win saturday. He was the whole day in the weels. He was in the wheels after the attack of Sosa (and the reaction of Sevenant). He was in the weels of Ala (and a short time also Poels). But in spite of this, he couldn't jump away from behind Ala's back. Though he tried. Only in the last 200 meters could he take a few seconds on Ala.

 

[Kazistuta]

I don't think Bernal had the legs to win saturday. He was the whole day in the weels. He was in the wheels after the attack of Sosa (and the reaction of Sevenant). He was in the weels of Ala (and a short time also Poels). But in spite of this, he couldn't jump away from behind Ala's back. Though he tried. Only in the last 200 meters could he take a few seconds on Ala.

So because one guy, from his own team, was better, he didn't have the legs to win? No, he probably couldn't have made an attack like Sosas stick, but I'm sure he would have been able to win by attacking somewhere in the last 2K if Sosa hadn't flown away.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

So because one guy, from his own team, was better, he didn't have the legs to win? No, he probably couldn't have made an attack like Sosas stick, but I'm sure he would have been able to win by attacking somewhere in the last 2K if Sosa hadn't flown away.

But in that situation, Ala was in a better position. Saturday, he had to push hard with Bernal in his wheel. Without the attack of Sosa, Ala could stay himself in the wheels. And counter an attack of Bernal. En Beat him in the last 200 meter, being more explosive than Bernal.

 

[BlueRoads]

But in that situation, Ala was in a better position. Saturday, he had to push hard with Bernal in his wheel. Without the attack of Sosa, Ala could stay himself in the wheels. And counter an attack of Bernal. En Beat him in the last 200 meter, being more explosive than Bernal.

I'm sure Bernal could have gone up the road if Sosa hadn't been there. He looked at ease.
Besides I don't want to see Alaphilippe drop a Bernal in decent form on such a climb, unless Bernal lets him go. That would be to clinical.

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm sure Bernal could have gone up the road if Sosa hadn't been there. He looked at ease.
Besides I don't want to see Alaphilippe drop a Bernal in decent form on such a climb, unless Bernal lets him go. That would be to clinical.

I thought it would be because you don't want Alaphilippe to get too many CQ points?

 

[BlueRoads]

I thought it would be because you don't want Alaphilippe to get too many CQ points?

Yeah, that's the selfish reason...

The other one is that I don't feel great with allrounders outclimbing the best climbers.