Tour of Britain 5-12 September 2021

[Bonimenier]

Poor form not to name the poster you are criticising.

I also don't agree that Sagan is a clown on a bike in the same style as Alaphilippe. In fact, I think they race quite differently (aesthetically too).

I would argue that Sagan has been much more dangerous in sprints since his manoeuvres are done in full on bunch sprints. Van Aert probably thinks the same since last year's Tour.

 

[RedheadDane]

But Martin is clear, there is only one!

At least for the two in the (stage) top-10, they're easy to tell apart!

 

[Netserk]

I would argue that Sagan has been much more dangerous in sprints since his manoeuvres are done in full on bunch sprints. Van Aert probably thinks the same since last year's Tour.

A situation that showed how Sagan's great control of his bike meant that no crash happened despite the small space. I don't think I've ever criticised Ala for anything similar.

 

[Bonimenier]

A situation that showed how Sagan's great control of his bike meant that no crash happened despite the small space. I don't think I've ever criticised Ala for anything similar.

If the guy he does that to isn't a good bike handler like van Aert a crash would have happened, so that's a worthless argument.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1435587736132521984

View: https://twitter.com/jonicaninof1/status/1435587736132521984

 

[Wvv]

I also don't agree that Sagan is a clown on a bike in the same style as Alaphilippe. In fact, I think they race quite differently (aesthetically too).

Sagan is 50 times less the gentleman than Alaphilippe on the bike. The latter is sometimes questionable because of insouciance, while Peter often is dangerous on purpose. I've counted dozens of elbows and headbumps by him over the years, even cut-offs on the most hazardous occasions. The thing he did to Vantomme in Gent-Wevelgem, you will never ever see Julian do that.

 

[Sciatic]

I must have underestimated the amount of wives and girlfriends he stole, there seems to be whole bunch of left behind husbands and boyfriends on this forum.

I mean honestly, we know nothing about that story, do we?



Absolutely. I remember how I used to think myself that he was an aggressive, unpleasant person until I heard and read his interviews and saw how he didn't become arrogant or anything at all after his successful Tour (which I had in fact expected him to do), but obviously continued to work hard and be quite nice.

One view of him dancing in the bunny suit and you know he someone who doesn’t always take himself too seriously!

 

[Netserk]

Sagan is 50 times less the gentleman than Alaphilippe on the bike. The latter is sometimes questionable because of insouciance, while Peter often is dangerous on purpose. I've counted dozens of elbows and headbumps by him over the years, even cut-offs on the most hazardous occasions. The thing he did to Vantomme in Gent-Wevelgem, you will never ever see Julian do that.

So what?

I don't demand riders to be gentlemen. I will judge them aesthetically for how they ride their bikes, and how they are as racers.

It would be fine for me if Alaphilippe closed the door completely on Van Aert today, if he did so elegantly.

 

[Sciatic]

But Martin is clear, there is only one!

Ha, ha-ha. Nice catch!

 

[Mayomaniac]

Poor form not to name the poster you are criticising.

I also don't agree that Sagan is a clown on a bike in the same style as Alaphilippe. In fact, I think they race quite differently (aesthetically too).

Sagan's knees when riding seated are almost as bad as Pozzovivo's, I don't exactly see him as the posterboy for aestheticly pleasing riding styles in that regard.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Person A: We better put a 'J' in front of Alaphilippe, so people will know who we're talking about!
Person B: I think people have a general idea about who he is...
Person A: We must!

Person C: Wouldn't it make better sense to add initials to Dennis, the Martins and Donovan, so people don't think it's their first names or in Donovan's case, the old folk singer?
Person A: Jumbo-Visma fans may not be too clever, but their not that daft either. We just have to make sure they don't confuse him with Bryan.

 

[Rackham]

It was miserable, it sucked, it was terrible. Besides that it was fine.

I actually watched last year's world championships on France Television with the commentators (including his girlfriend Marion Rousse) screaming. So... on the "this sucks" scale, it did rank pretty high.

But Liège a week later made it worthwhile.

And for an added ironic twist the person who did bring it up is a huge Sagan fan, about whom very similar sentiments could be expressed. But how willing somebody is to overlook the former will often depend to at least some extent on the much more subjective latter. If you don't find the "fun" side of Alaphilippe all that entertaining, then you can't overlook, mitigate or downplay the other side so easily.

Tbh I think "swashbuckling" borderline questionable antics has pretty much often been a character trait of some of these one day experts/sprinters/puncheurs.

For example for all intents & purposes there are people out there who think Cavendish is a total b*stard. Sometimes riders cross the line, sometimes they come close (like Alaph today).

I'm indifferent. Why? Because sooner or later what goes around usually comes around. The road serves justice (as it did today).

 

[jmdirt]

Well that was an easy finish!

 

[Wvv]

You know it's been a good race when this is the post-finish shot of the two stars battling for victory:

 

[Red Rick]

You know it's been a good race when this is the post-finish shot of the two stars battling for victory:

When you realise Roglic would've stomped you had he been there.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Poor form not to name the poster you are criticising.

I also don't agree that Sagan is a clown on a bike in the same style as Alaphilippe. In fact, I think they race quite differently (aesthetically too).

Wasn't even meant to be that critical. The latter part (which was specific to Rackham's response) was what I was trying to emphasise, since the specific way I read Rackham's post, I think it's a very fair criticism of Sagan. He's shown the red mist to rise a good few times where he'll ride like a bull in a china shop in the sprint, or react like spitting at the medical car in the Vuelta.

 

[willbick]

When you realise Roglic would've stomped you had he been there.

Your pathetic whining after a fantastic gripping finish between 2 amazing competitors is frankly depressing.

 

[Red Rick]

Your pathetic whining after a fantastic gripping finish between 2 amazing competitors is frankly depressing.

ok.

 

[MrTea1976]

Well this is a fun thread now.

 

[glassmoon]

Alaphilippe went really, really deep...

and to the right

 

[wheresmybrakes]

While it's always pleasing to see Alaphilippe lose, I can't wait for the day he retires or at least is no longer elite.

I've been thinking the same about Valverde for years but he keeps carrying on just to annoy the life out of me.

 

[MartinGT]

Cav today?

 

[Valanga]

Cav today?

Or ... Wout

 

[Boes]

Or ... Wout

Well, his team manager said he woun't do anything crazy the next couple of days.
He needed to go deep the first 4 days of the tour to be in prime shape for the WC en PR.

So I don't think he'll take the risk to do any mass sprints.

 

[SafeBet]

Well, his team manager said he woun't do anything crazy the next couple of days.

These the same people who said he would go the Tour with zero prep for the mountains and then we saw him destroy the world on the double Ventoux?
Ok.