Tour de Suisse 2021 (June 6-13)

[Samu Cuenca]

Not really a coincidence since Ala doesn't usually participate in large bunch sprints in Poland

FTFY

 

[jaylew]

Doesn't matter if it is a bunch sprint - in principle it could be a heads up sprint.

You only have to put one guy into the barrier, to create the accident, so whether there are 50 other riders around or none, is besides the point.

I'm not saying it's ok to sprint erratically in a smaller group, I was responding to your claim that it was a coincidence for in JA's case which it's not. The chances of putting someone into a barrier are increased tremendously in a mass bunch sprint compared to the ones JA usually contests. I do agree that he needs to do a better job of holding his line.

 

[BlueRoads]

Are you done hating on Ala now? Yes, his sprints aren't great and often messy, but to compare them to Groenewegen who deliberately pushed a competitor into the barriers at high speed isn't fair.
And just because he now often loses to van der Poel doesn't mean he's done.

 

[Red Rick]

So we should just wait until somebody does to take action?

No.

They should clearly do something about it. He's *** reckless.

But I am merely stating why Groenewegen is a lot more hated than Alaphilippe

 

[Amazinmets87]

Must be incredibly frustrating to be Alaphilippe, after the emergence of MvdP.

The very weapons Alaphilippe used to use to win, are now being used against him, by someone who is both stronger and faster.

Ala is still the superior puncheur, no? I mean we're never seeing MvdP winning Fleche.

 

[Spine Concept]

Ala is still the superior puncheur, no? I mean we're never seeing MvdP winning Fleche.

He's lighter, that's about the extent to which he's better suited to Fleche than Mathieu. He was referring to Mathieu being stronger and faster. His acceleration/punch is also better on a shorter climb like he proved vs Alaf in this year's Strade. Never is a big word, especially when it concerns Mathieu.

 

[titan31]

Are you done hating on Ala now? Yes, his sprints aren't great and often messy, but to compare them to Groenewegen who deliberately pushed a competitor into the barriers at high speed isn't fair.
And just because he now often loses to van der Poel doesn't mean he's done.

Tbf, I like Ala but just he was reckless today again . It's at the stage where he either learns to sprint properly or he needs to be punished imo.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Was that a strange and unnecessary DNF of David Millar proportions by Frank there? Chatting cosily to a team support member, he waved the broomwagon past him with 100m to go, then handed his bike over the railings.

 

[staubsauger]

Was that a strange and unnecessary DNF of David Millar proportions by Frank there? Chatting cosily to a team support member, he waved the broomwagon past him with 100m to go, then handed his bike over the railings.

He already had been over the finish line before, 1.50 minutes behind Vanderpoel and was doing an extra round to greet his fans when the broom wagon passed him, just like Leclercq assumed!

 

[yaco]

Well when Impey crashed out Stannard in the last stage of the Ruta Del Sol, somehow BEX made Stannard apologise to Impey for his behaviour after the crash - And my understanding is Stannard received an internal suspension from the team - And we have heard nothing from the UCI about Impey's sprint violation - Anyway, Stannard is back tomorrow at Slovenia.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

I'm not saying it's ok to sprint erratically in a smaller group, I was responding to your claim that it was a coincidence for in JA's case which it's not. The chances of putting someone into a barrier are increased tremendously in a mass bunch sprint compared to the ones JA usually contests. I do agree that he needs to do a better job of holding his line.

I never called it a coincidence.

As for the Groenewegen comparison, he and Jakobsen was 10 metres out in front of everyone when they clashed, so in fact they risk was absolutely the same as today.

The difference obviously was Matthews didn't get put in the barrier, but with how erratic Ala is in a sprint, that may just be luck.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Ala is still the superior puncheur, no? I mean we're never seeing MvdP winning Fleche.

Probably not Fleche, unless he goes early.

But the way the rode Ala out of his wheel in Siena, tells me if the climb is not too long, MvdP in fact has more punch, even on steep gradients.

 

[Eeslliw]

Probably not Fleche, unless he goes early.

But the way the rode Ala out of his wheel in Siena, tells me if the climb is not too long, MvdP in fact has more punch, even on steep gradients.

I agree, no way Mvdp can win FW. Even though it's short, the gradient is to steep.

And about today, Mvdp was winning either way, but Ala didn't help himself with that 6km solo attack. Don't know what was he thinking there, probably felt he didn't have chance in sprint to Mvdp and tried something before.

 

[Velolover2]

Ala is a better climber but MvdP can properly beat him on most ramps below 1 km unless it's something really crazy like 800 m of 20%.

And then we get more into Woods territory.

 

[broppo]

can MvdP win 3 in a row? I kinda got the feeling that all the teams will be tired of pulling in the break just to have MvdP crush them in the end.

 

[woodburn]

Nice to see Dumoulin finish with the top group.

 

[Lequack]

Alaphillipe secretly helping Jumbo Visma

https://twitter.com/x/status/1402331446786859009

View: https://twitter.com/tds/status/1402331446786859009?s=20

 

[Blanco]

Must be incredibly frustrating to be Alaphilippe, after the emergence of MvdP.

The very weapons Alaphilippe used to use to win, are now being used against him, by someone who is both stronger and faster.

Yep, he ain't gonna win much with Van Der Poel around. I guess Valverde felt the same when Ala emerged on the scene.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Missed the entire stage.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Petition to give MVDP 90 ACC in cycling manager.

He already has 84 in the default database lol (85 is max)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yep, he ain't gonna win much with Van Der Poel around. I guess Valverde felt the same when Ala emerged on the scene.

Well he got world champion with VDP around. And he can still beat him on tougher hilly courses like LBL. Even stage 2 was on the limit for VDP. I wouldn't be so desperate. Alaph is a better climber. But he won't win on explosivity that's for sure

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ala is still the superior puncheur, no? I mean we're never seeing MvdP winning Fleche.

I wouldn't be so sure about VDP not winning Fleche after Strade Bianchi. That uphill punch is nasty. And he's a better climber than Sagan ever was. On LBL and similar like courses Alaph clearly has the upper hand imo. But FW is I think just within VDP's range... if he ever tries for that.

 

[titan31]

Thing is with the way the season is structured, VDP is not peaking for FW or LBL, he's peaking for Flanders and Roubaix. Whilst he could do it, in a normal year he's likely been racing hard at Strade, MSR, Flanders and Roubaix along with the other classics and not only do you have Ala, most years you're also going to be dealing with the likes of Pog and Rog and other puncheurs who are targeting these races and don't have a bunch of cobbled classics in their legs.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Yep, he ain't gonna win much with Van Der Poel around. I guess Valverde felt the same when Ala emerged on the scene.

I'm not sure abut the "ain't gonna win much" part - I mean, he IS wearing the rainbow currently

But 3 years ago, we all thought he would win everything for a decade - now the field is more varied.

Worlds this year is gonna be craaaaaazy, with the way the season is shaping up and how the route is.

You can realistically point out 15 "favorites", and another 25 that can win it on a good day.

 

[hayneplane]

Should just ban Alaphillippe from sprinting in a bunch. He was swerving all over the place there.

Definitely should have been relegated today for a clear deviation to block Matthews. At best Matthews would have got 2nd rather than 4th but JA should not still benefit from 3rd and the 4 bonus seconds for the GC.