Tour de Luxembourg 2023 (September 20-24)

[Danskebjerge]

Søren Kragh feeling the downside to being in a relatively weak team with few riders to help him in the chase?

 

[Tim Cahill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1705243899994784100

Couldn't be arsed being Healy and having to stomach this guys rubbish chat.

 

[Leinster]

Am I the only one who doesn’t believe in Healy’s Lombardia chances at all? Passo di Ganda is almost 10k at over 7% with a seriously steep final section, that’s an entirely different kettle of fish than the terrain he’s impressed on all year. Yes, if he’s in the front group going into Colle Aperto he’s a dangerous individual, but surely the best actual climbers just put too much time into him on Ganda?

The last 40km of his Giro stage win is not dissimilar terrain, and he was putting time into the chasers all the way to the finish.

I can see it being a bit like Liege. Pog and Remco, if on form, will be a different class to the rest, but Healy could be best-or-thereabouts-of-the-rest, providing he doesn’t have to sprint against anyone for the line.

 

[Leinster]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1705243899994784100

Couldn't be arsed being Healy and having to stomach this guys rubbish chat.

Normally I like JV. I’d throw rocks at him for this, though.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Normally I like JV. I’d throw rocks at him for this, though.

Vaughters doing untold damage to the business prospects of the Irish branch of Education First.

 

[KZD]

I think Healy has the ability to get a result by making a move before the big favorites (so before Ganda in other words).

Maybe when it comes to Lombardia he will get dropped already before that or steamrolled by the favorites on the Ganda even starting with a gap, but right now it looks like he is in good enough form to make Lombardia more interesting.

That is a possibility but I am not even that convinced that Healy will get steamrolled by favourites on Passo di Ganda (maybe apart from Pogačar). He was arguably the strongest rider in this year's Giro stage 15 breakaway that went up the similar Roncola Alta climb and only lose the stage to McNulty a really strong rider over medium mountains. Plus we know from AGR and LBL that Healy handles the long distances well.

 

[yaco]

That is a possibility but I am not even that convinced that Healy will get steamrolled by favourites on Passo di Ganda (maybe apart from Pogačar). He was arguably the strongest rider in this year's Giro stage 15 breakaway that went up the similar Roncola Alta climb and only lose the stage to McNulty a really strong rider over medium mountains. Plus we know from AGR and LBL that Healy handles the long distances well.

There is a world of difference between a stage in a GT and a full on one-day race.

 

[Potomac]

oh god....that EF time trial helmet on Healy.

 

[Sciatic]

oh god....that EF time trial helmet on Healy.

The mushroom head is back!

 

[Sciatic]

Ullisi looks in good form for upcoming Italian races.

 

[theyoungest]

The mushroom head is back!

Somehow I'm always reminded of Super Mario when I see that helmet. On Healy it looks particularly bad.

 

[Red Rick]

That was the weirdest countdown I've ever seen.

 

[Samamba]

Looks like McNulty is winning it after all.

Campenaerts found his TT legs again, he's probably winning the TT. 1 sec ahead of McNulty.

 

[Landeirovic]

Looks like McNulty is winning it after all.

Campenaerts found his TT legs again, he's probably winning the TT. 1 sec ahead of McNulty.

Hirschi 15sec faster than Healy T1 but yeah Uae tactics was sooo bad yesterday. After this stage Uae will 1e and 2e gc

 

[Samamba]

Hirschi 15sec faster than Healy T1 but yeah Uae tactics was sooo bad yesterday. After this stage Uae will 1e and 2e gc

Good to know you're one hell of a petty dude.

I still think their tactics weren't ideal as they played with fire, but yes I can't complain if they turn it around.

 

[buddy buddy buddy]

Kragh used to be super close to a guy like Küng in every single time trial

is this mediocrity due to the team's equipment?

 

[Samamba]

Kragh used to be super close to a guy like Küng in every single time trial

is this mediocrity due to the team's equipment?

Alpecin doesn't care about TTs so it definitely has something to do with it but I also think he just stopped trainig on it last few years.

 

[KZD]

There is a world of difference between a stage in a GT and a full on one-day race.

Sure but Healy has already shown being able to handle long one day races and these Lombardia climbs so he is an outsider for the race.

Campanearts beating McNulty in 2023 is surprising, even though the margin was really small. Hirschi taking the leaders jersey from Healy by 3 seconds.

 

[Potomac]

So looks like tomorrow's stage will be interesting .

 

[QueenStagiaire]

What the hell, does UAE have the greatest TT setup of all time or why are they winning?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Quite like Campanaerts' accent, for some reason I've never heard him speak, seemingly the most Belgian man of all time.

 

[Samamba]

What the hell, does UAE have the greatest TT setup of all time or why are they winning?

Do not Disrespect the best TT team in the world, Lotto Dstny. UAE did not win!!!!!!

No seriously, UAE's setup is ridiculously good since they have that new bike. They are all flying.

 

[ppanther92]

What the hell, does UAE have the greatest TT setup of all time or why are they winning?

I think yes, since they have the new bike the whole team is so good in every ITT.

 

[magliaroz]

UAE is like discount Jumbo Visma in this kind of races.

 

[staubsauger]

The mushroom head is back!

If Healy had worn his EF skinsuit he would've looked like Jigglypuff with that helmet. It doesn't help that he kinda looks like a Brit Rock artist despite being Irish, since "Sing" seems to be a plausible move for him then.

McNulty lost the TT by avoiding that gully grating it seems?

Where did that TT by Koen Bouwman suddenly come from?

Hirschi surprisingly strong. Kragh Andersen surprisingly bad. Maybe not everything DSM has done was completely nuts?

Decent performance by Kluckers & Tudor. Nice to see Campenaerts getting a nice TT win once again.

Tomorrow should be quite interesting. Since Hirschi & Healy might sprint for bonus seconds, while McNulty maybe tries to sneak away.