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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 10:33:08 GMT -8
I was somewhat surprised to see, this morning, that the stage results for #19 were not posted - still haven't been posted at this hour. The TdF, which seemed to have so much wide-open, real race stuff up until the disqualifications the other day, has really gone south in a hurry. They’ve posted the rankings now. www.letour.fr/en/rankings
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 26, 2019 11:51:57 GMT -8
How little I know about the TdF! I see that Bernal is still atop the white jersey rankings, but I guess you can't wear 2 jerseys at the same time?!?
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 11:55:19 GMT -8
Yes ,apparently it’s traditional that all the jerseys be present at all times so if a rider has two the “lesser” award is worn by the next ranking rider. (I’m guessing that’s because each jersey is sponsored and as advertising has to be displayed to fulfill the advertising requirements).
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 26, 2019 13:41:56 GMT -8
... And, now, it seems Stage 20 will be cut in half. Looks like the race is pretty much over for the French without a miracle finish by Alaphilippe, which I really don't expect. Tomorrow’s stage, the final competitive stage before the procession into Paris on Sunday, will end on a 33.4-kilometer climb. Bernal has a 45-second gap on Alaphilippe and over a minute on the rest of his rivals. Given that Alaphilippe has admitted he probably can’t put that much time into the leader, Bernal stands a great chance at becoming the first Colombian to win the Tour, as well as the youngest rider in the modern era at 22 years old. ... Update, 4:33 p.m. ET: Tomorrow’s decisive stage has been significantly shortened in response to a series of landslides. The race will be 59 kilometers instead of 130, and two categorized climbs have been axed from the course. The stage will still finish with a 33.4-kilometer ascent of Val Thorens. deadspin.com/tour-de-france-stage-abruptly-called-off-mid-race-after-1836730603 **There was a landslide on the stage 19 course, as well as others on the course for stage 20.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 13:50:09 GMT -8
That looks like the planned final climb with the intermediate climbs snipped out.
Really too bad, that short and the real competition that otherwise would have unfolded is all but eliminated. .
ETA: Otoh if other teams really want podium placement they can hammer right out of the gate. ANY distance that runs up to the final climb can ruin people if they’re even a little weak: it’s just a matter of being stronger. And even for INEOS the best way to ensure Alaphilippe doesn't regain yellow from them is to bury him, things happen and that last climb is a long one. There’s that runner saying: “run through the tape!”
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jul 26, 2019 14:48:32 GMT -8
The initial route included the HC climb and finish on Val Thorens, but had a Cat 2 and Cat 1 before it.
Actually, I think this will enable Alaphilippe to have a podium finish. Otherwise, I think Thomas and maybe KRUIJSWIJK would have passed him. Or even maybe Landa.
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Jul 26, 2019 15:12:55 GMT -8
And it all brings back the mantra from the race philosophy. Good things happen to people who stay in front...
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 15:28:40 GMT -8
The initial route included the HC climb and finish on Val Thorens, but had a Cat 2 and Cat 1 before it. Actually, I think this will enable Alaphilippe to have a podium finish. Otherwise, I think Thomas and maybe KRUIJSWIJK would have passed him. Or even maybe Landa. BUCHMANN is right on the heals of KRUIJSWIJK so it may be how Jumbo-Visma and Bora-Hansgrohe decide to play it out as Thomas/Ineos won’t attack their own and since INEOS has shown some flaws in their domestiques they might be shy of completely hammering it at the risk of isolating the Yellow Jersey unless forced to.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 15:37:46 GMT -8
Looking at the tight grouping even with the unanticipated curtailing of today's stage it’s really frustrating we’re not going to see what would have otherwise played out over these two days. Well, here’s hoping tomorrow doesn’t devolve into simply a pre-processional victory ride. The scenery is nice but I’d like to see more racing.
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jul 26, 2019 17:25:13 GMT -8
Looking at the tight grouping even with the unanticipated curtailing of today's stage it’s really frustrating we’re not going to see what would have otherwise played out over these two days. Well, here’s hoping tomorrow doesn’t devolve into simply a pre-processional victory ride. The scenery is nice but I’d like to see more racing. I think the die have been cast. I don’t think a single HC climb will be enough to shake it up. Maybe I’m wrong...
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 26, 2019 17:32:47 GMT -8
It’s the last real race day so the other two teams might decide the podium is worth going to full on hammering, no reason to save anything, there is no “tomorrow”. INEOS has shown flaws and Alaphilippe is vulnerable if pushed so... maybe not realistic for yellow but there’s two other steps on the podium....
Shrug.
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jul 27, 2019 6:00:59 GMT -8
I spoke too soon! Alaphilippe off the back with about 8 miles to go! Wow.
Starting the stage, Alaphilippe had :26 on Thomas and :38 on Kruijswijk (that's too hard to remember, so let's call him "Krusher.")
Poor France. Bardet cracked too. It is going to be a France-free podium this year, I hate to say.
Nibali going for the stage win. Amazed that he's in the Tour given that he did the Giro.
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jul 27, 2019 7:25:11 GMT -8
I’m really tempted to change my screen name to Off The Back
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jul 29, 2019 7:24:18 GMT -8
I just got caught up watching Stages 18-20. Holy crap!
Too bad they called Stage 18 at the top. If they would have taken the times in the village at the bottom, I believe Alaphilippe would still be in yellow, but just barely. Not that it would have mattered given that he "craked" in Stage 19.
Congrats to Bernal.
ETA: IMO, it was good to see the INEOS riders were human, unlike years past. Dominant, but human.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jul 29, 2019 9:09:37 GMT -8
BTW, assuming they're still under contract, how does INEOS strategize the 2020 TdF with Froome, Thomas, and Bernal?
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