July 9, 20241 yr 16 minutes ago, G650 said: Phillipsen again a total disgrace Even in a low stakes effort to collect some leftover bonus sprint points, he still just can’t seem to maintain his line. Must be in his DNA.
July 10, 20241 yr Author Just now, Whitewater Horn said: Holy shit. What a stage! I mean, winning the sprint?! Jesus
July 10, 20241 yr 2 minutes ago, G650 said: I mean, winning the sprint?! Jesus And Jonas initiated the sprint. So much for no balls and a supposed fear of Pogi.
July 10, 20241 yr 1 minute ago, G650 said: Man this emotion from Jonas is choking me up. I felt that. Real shit. I can’t imagine the crazy scope of emotions from injuries like that to clawing Pogi back and eventually starting that sprint and gutting it out for a stage win. That has to be huge for the confidence of Jonas. He still has a bit of a team problem, though.
July 10, 20241 yr 11 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said: Let those nuts hang, JV. We’re watching a cycling version of the tortoise and hare tale. Pogi keeps needlessly burning matches with that racing on instinct in the moment trying to be something akin to The Cannibal or The Badger. High risk, high reward, but also potential for high consequence. Jonas racing with intent and measured effort, with consideration that’s it’s a three week race with a hard third week. Gangster level confidence.
July 11, 20241 yr It’s a great rivalry with a ton of respect and for that I won’t hate Pogacar. The new Evinrude guy just got suckered into speaking up when he don’t know shit about fuck. In my triathlon group this morning during our run we were talking about Jonas not getting suckered into going out with Pogacar a few days ago and I said everyone of us would have said fuck the plan and went out. Jonas has incredible discipline and hasn’t stopped the poor mouthing about his fitness and now he has them where he wants them.
July 11, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, Clintonaldo said: The new Evinrude guy just got suckered into speaking up when he don’t know shit about fuck. He's young. It's his first tour. We all did and said stupid stuff when we were young. He's still second in the GC and lives to fight another day.
July 11, 20241 yr Tadej isn't as strong as he thinks he is, and Jonas is no where near as weak as expected. Tadej claims his training was optimized for the Pyrenees stages - we shall see. The Pyrenees always get written as these irregular climbs with ever changing gradient compared to the more steady alpine climbs. Outside of Hautacam, I don't think that's true. The Tourmalet is relentless but regular, as is Pla d'Adet and Plasteu de Beille. Unlike today, you're not going to find long stretches of double digit percentage gradients. Is Tadej fading or did he bonk? Jonas is certainly surging.
July 11, 20241 yr Author https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/L-equipe-totalenergies-cambriolee-onze-velos-derobes-et-150-000-euros-de-prejudice-estime/1481714
July 11, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, G650 said: https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/L-equipe-totalenergies-cambriolee-onze-velos-derobes-et-150-000-euros-de-prejudice-estime/1481714 Man, fuck thieves. Teams are going have to start hiring security or stand security watches on these big races since the organizers don’t seem to be helping with this.
July 11, 20241 yr Let's see if Cav can pull this out. It's funny how I used to not like Cav very much and thought he was arrogant and then Phillipson came along and now I'm all "let's go, Cav!"
July 11, 20241 yr Author 3 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said: Poor Roglic. Man, it's like death and taxes with him.
July 11, 20241 yr 1 minute ago, G650 said: Man, it's like death and taxes with him. I was impressed with Wout, too. He had to be hurting bigtime after that crash yesterday.
July 11, 20241 yr Author Just now, Hornius Emeritus said: I was impressed with Wout, too. He had to be hurting bigtime after that crash yesterday. Yeah, very close for him. His form is definitely improving even with that knock. Bini has been such a great story too. And Jasper only got 6th, big daylight in the points competition.
July 11, 20241 yr On 7/6/2024 at 2:28 PM, idigTexas said: Nice seeing a young rider from a country with no TdF history on a team that hasn't had much success doing well. Two Three down, 33 32 to go...34 33 if he wants the record outright.
July 11, 20241 yr 7 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said: I was impressed with Wout, too. He had to be hurting bigtime after that crash yesterday. He needs to quit trying to sneak up along the barrier. He got pinched off again today trying to do that, and probably wins if he takes a better line...easier said than done, of course.
July 12, 20241 yr 22 hours ago, Clintonaldo said: It’s a great rivalry with a ton of respect and for that I won’t hate Pogacar. The new Evinrude guy just got suckered into speaking up when he don’t know shit about fuck. I think those comments were pretty deliberate by Evenepoel. Trying to get Jonas to make emotional/poor racing decisions because it's needed for Evenepoel to have a chance. It won't work. 17 hours ago, Txzen said: Is Tadej fading or did he bonk? Jonas is certainly surging. Great question. Listened to a race recap podcast and they noted Pogacar eating on the podium afterwards wasn't common. I have no idea if this is true or not. If so, might indicate he didn't get his fueling right that day. Edited July 12, 20241 yr by Bodhi
July 12, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, Bodhi said: I think those comments were pretty deliberate by Evenepoel. Trying to get Jonas to make emotional/poor racing decisions because it's needed for Evenepoel to have a chance. It won't work. Great question. Listened to a race recap podcast and they noted Pogacar eating on the podium afterwards wasn't common. I have no idea if this is true or not. If so, might indicate he didn't get his fueling right that day. In his book, Lance talks about how, during the Tour, despite eating like 9000 calories per day, he's still lose 12 .lbs or so. The body starts cannibalizing muscle. Lance concludes that it's not a healthy endeavor.
July 12, 20241 yr What the fuck was Pog doing at the front of a bunch sprinit? I love the racer in this kid - no way his team coaches want him anywhere near the front in the final few kilometers.
July 13, 20241 yr 12 hours ago, G650 said: Can't help himself Pretty much. Headed to some of my favorite areas this weekend. The Tourmalet from the Luz side is glorious - long regular slopes with incredible views. The Hourquette is a lovely climb, the road seemingly carved in the side of the mountain with great views all along the way. Because I enjoyed it, one can gather its not that difficult (relatively). Then Pla d’Adet. The first few K are double digit agony, but it evens out soon after. Once can see the top of the climb almost from the start, but it seems to take forever to get there as the road turns away from the end so many times you never seem to make progress. Spoiler view from the first main bend at Pla d’Adet. Far in the distance, the finish is atop the green ‘bump’.
July 13, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, Txzen said: Then Pla d’Adet. The first few K are double digit agony, but it evens out soon after. Once can see the top of the climb almost from the start, but it seems to take forever to get there as the road turns away from the end so many times you never seem to make progress. Reveal hidden contents view from the first main bend at Pla d’Adet. Far in the distance, the finish is atop the green ‘bump’. Man, that is some truth. The start of Pla d’Adet is demoralizing. And I did it in my 20s when I still lived over there. My son graduates next year and I promised to take him to Europe to ride some famous climbs and scenic routes. The “Circle of Death” area is cycling Heaven and at the top of his wish list. That ought to be a different experiment this time at my age. I’ve been thinking about Stage 14, and here’s some questions hopefully we’ll see answered: Will the team strength of UAE contribute to any measurable damage to Remco or Jonas? Will Remco stay with Pogi and Jonas in the Pyrenees? Can Pogi gap Jonas on the climbs to gain time on the descents and make it stick? Will Jonas take back some time or pass and put time on Remco and Pogi? (The finish favors Tadej if it’s close) What an incredible route for today and tomorrow!
July 13, 20241 yr Questions answered. If Jonas can’t answer in kind tomorrow, or at least stay with Tadej, he’s gonna need one of those days where he gains minutes on a single stage. Perfectly executed by UAE and Pogi. Edited July 13, 20241 yr by Whitewater Horn
July 13, 20241 yr Author 56 minutes ago, Jerry Callo said: Great stage today. Absolutely. Nice counter punch landed by Tadej. Tomorrow will tell a lot. There can be a lot of minutes won and lost on Plateau de Beille.
July 13, 20241 yr I had my route backwards - we climbed the Hourquette from Acuns (they descended it). We kept going around and went down the Aspin, which was beautiful, technical, and scary. Had no idea what Tadej was doing in the sprint yesterday and am convinced he’s burning too many matches…and then he did what he did today. Hell of a kick. But man, Jonas is incredible given how his Spring and lead up to the Tour went. Monster stage tomorrow. Visma may have conserved some helpers today for the route tomorrow. Maybe they try to crack him but I’m not sure that’s going to pan out. There are many climbs in this area I’d like to do again (and have had some second chances). Plateau de Beille is not one of them. I recall it not only unrelenting but mostly so heavily forested that you had no payoff for the work (unlike that great final climb today). Only at the end do you emerge from the forest to a plateau with some modest views. Not even a good cafe at the top, some rather ugly modern station (and I understand it recently burned so there’s not even that now). I think the only thing that bears Tadej is Tadej. He races all heart, sometimes with reckless abandon. But if he can keep the tank topped off he’s got this one…I think!
July 13, 20241 yr 11 hours ago, Whitewater Horn said: Man, that is some truth. The start of Pla d’Adet is demoralizing. And I did it in my 20s when I still lived over there. My son graduates next year and I promised to take him to Europe to ride some famous climbs and scenic routes. The “Circle of Death” area is cycling Heaven and at the top of his wish list. That ought to be a different experiment this time at my age. I have no good recommendations for lodging in the valley on the side we finished today. But on the other side, just near Argeles-Gazost, can’t say enough about Pyrenees cycling lodge. Hautacam just across the valley, Aubisque, Solour, Spandelles nearby. Tourmalet, Luz Ardiden just down the road. Other lesser known rides, like the Cirque de Troumouse, abound. Gorgeous area. Spoiler a room with a view…
July 14, 20241 yr Another perfectly timed attack from Pogi. He waited for Jonas to get back in the saddle to settle and went. Jonas is cooked.
July 14, 20241 yr Author I give credit to Visma for shooting their shot. 3 stages left with GC implications.
July 14, 20241 yr So, I REALLY want this to be on the up-and-up, but Tadej climbed time Plateau de Beille 3:39 quicker than Pantani did in 1998. Things that make me say "hmmm...."
July 14, 20241 yr Author 4 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said: So, I REALLY want this to be on the up-and-up, but Tadej climbed time Plateau de Beille 3:39 quicker than Pantani did in 1998. Things that make me say "hmmm...." Yeah. Beat Lance's time on Pla d'adet too. It's pretty sus.
July 14, 20241 yr Jonas staying this close after a horrific crash and hugely disrupted training and very weakened team. Hmmm.
July 14, 20241 yr 2 minutes ago, TexPx said: Jonas staying this close after a horrific crash and hugely disrupted training and very weakened team. Hmmm. Agreed. Jonas did it more than 2:30 seconds faster than Pantani in 1998. Although, who's to say if the disrupted training didn't actually HELP Jonas? There's no way to say with certainty. Of course, with better equipment, better training, a deeper understanding of physiology and recovery etc ... better times are to be expected. Still ... Edited July 14, 20241 yr by Hornius Emeritus
July 14, 20241 yr 12 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said: So, I REALLY want this to be on the up-and-up, but Tadej climbed time Plateau de Beille 3:39 quicker than Pantani did in 1998. Things that make me say "hmmm...." 8 minutes ago, G650 said: Yeah. Beat Lance's time on Pla d'adet too. It's pretty sus. It’s pretty hard to know exactly what “on the up and up” is at this level of world tour cycling these days, and a rabbit hole of questions and doubt that can drive you crazy. A lot of these great performances certainly deserve examination and comparison to the filthiest era of the sport. Knowing that this sport, as well as all other athletic competitions with high stakes, are always looking for competitive advantages, both within and beyond the rules, I just can’t stop watching. I’m sure all manner of methods are employed, but watching these dudes go to battle like we’ve seen in this Tour so far messes with my “give a shit.” I promise to stop watching the sport if irrefutable evidence is revealed of pro cycling being actively involved in human trafficking or kicking puppies.
July 14, 20241 yr Agreed. Jonas did it more than 2:30 seconds faster than Pantani in 1998. Although, who's to say if the disrupted training didn't actually HELP Jonas? There's no way to say with certainty. Of course, with better equipment, better training, a deeper understanding of physiology and recovery etc ... better times are to be expected. Still ...I have no idea but it doesn’t seem like punctured lung, several broken ribs and a broken collarbone a couple of months before Le Tour could be helpful.If Pog wins won’t this be the first time since Pantani a rider won the Giro an TdF in the same year?
July 14, 20241 yr 2 minutes ago, TexPx said: Chips guy spent the night in jail. Good. Today I saw one fan on the side of the road try to kick the shit out of a jackass trying to run up the road between a rider and a moto.
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