Le Tour, 2021

AngryScientist · #1 06-09-2021, 09:17 AM

Let's get some tour talk rolling starts this month!

Who are the favorites?

I think I'm going to watch this year. I know a lot of people didnt think they were good, but i really liked the phil and paul show, especially when bobke joined them. they were the voices of US race coverage as far as i was concerned. comforting rambling voices.

anyway, willing to pay this year, what should i sign up for for US tour coverage?

GregL · #2 06-09-2021, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

anyway, willing to pay this year, what should i sign up for for US tour coverage?

Ad-free Peacock Premium Plus, $9.99/month. Figure I'll subscribe for that coverage during the TdF and in October for Paris-Roubaix. Otherwise, I'll stick with the $4.99 Premium coverage and suffer through some commercials.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showp...9&postcount=10

Greg

prototoast · #3 06-09-2021, 09:26 AM

Favorites: Pogacar, Roglic, Thomas/Carapaz.

Hard to imagine anyone else winning unless it's like the year Nibali won, when all the better riders crashed out.

To watch in the US, pay for peacock plus, the new streaming service from NBC.

AngryScientist · #4 06-09-2021, 09:26 AM

Thank you Greg. This is what I'll do.

soulspinner · #5 06-09-2021, 09:29 AM

Anyone think Thomas can win it this year?

prototoast · #6 06-09-2021, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulspinner

Anyone think Thomas can win it this year?

Yes. I'm certainly not going to say that's the most likely outcome, but he's won it before and honestly, he might have won it again in 2019 if not for the weird stage that was shortened due to landslides. It's easy to forget but Bernal attacked early in that stage, and Thomas wasn't chasing because it was his teammate. When the stage was canceled, Bernal had a 58 second advantage, which was almost the entirety of his 1m17s GC margin over Thomas in Paris. If that stage had been able to be completed, or Thomas wasn't Bernal's teammate, he easily could have been a two-time winner by now.

AngryScientist · #7 06-09-2021, 09:45 AM

who's the top american this year?

prototoast · #8 06-09-2021, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

who's the top american this year?

Sepp Kuss, though he will be riding as a domestique for Roglic.

I don't know if any other Americans have been officially announced to Tour de France teams yet. EF will probably have a few Americans, but none expected to produce any results.

AngryScientist · #9 06-09-2021, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototoast

Sepp Kuss, though he will be riding as a domestique for Roglic.

I don't know if any other Americans have been officially announced to Tour de France teams yet. EF will probably have a few Americans, but none expected to produce any results.

that's too bad. i hope in the next not too long we see some good up and coming real talent in the US.

Seamus · #10 06-09-2021, 10:18 AM

Brandon McNulty will be a mountain domestique for Tadej Pogacar on UAE as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

who's the top american this year?

prototoast · #11 06-09-2021, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

that's too bad. i hope in the next not too long we see some good up and coming real talent in the US.

Unfortunately, most Americans who get a shot at the world tour get it through Vaughters' team, which is the fastest way to derail a promising career.

ojingoh · #12 06-09-2021, 11:34 AM

I just watched Miguel Angel Lopez ride up Ventoux, twice. His form looks good.

I hope Movistar can not self-destruct and get a podium spot with either Lopez or Enric Mas. Soler should be rested from the Giro and Valverde is always down for an attack.

Agree on Pogacar and Roglic.

Hilltopwalters · #13 06-09-2021, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamus

Brandon McNulty will be a mountain domestique for Tadej Pogacar on UAE as well.

McNulty/Pogacar is going to be awesome to see. I sort of hope Roglic gets the win this year. No matter what happens I think this edition will be good pretty spicy.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

soulspinner · #14 06-09-2021, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototoast

Yes. I'm certainly not going to say that's the most likely outcome, but he's won it before and honestly, he might have won it again in 2019 if not for the weird stage that was shortened due to landslides. It's easy to forget but Bernal attacked early in that stage, and Thomas wasn't chasing because it was his teammate. When the stage was canceled, Bernal had a 58 second advantage, which was almost the entirety of his 1m17s GC margin over Thomas in Paris. If that stage had been able to be completed, or Thomas wasn't Bernal's teammate, he easily could have been a two-time winner by now.

Thought I saw some form coming back last stages he raced and hes always seemed a pretty cool guy.

KJMUNC · #15 06-09-2021, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototoast

Unfortunately, most Americans who get a shot at the world tour get it through Vaughters' team, which is the fastest way to derail a promising career.

haha....this made me laugh (sadly), as I share your perspective.

Meanwhile, Axel quietly develops and churns out some of the best talent into the pro ranks....maybe that's his sweet spot and he isn't interested in leading a behemoth WT team, but man I'd love to see him get some more love for the job he's doing.

Last year had so many great moments and standout performances: Wout dominating a couple early stages (and then playing a brilliant domestique), Marc Hirshi and a couple epic breakaways, that crazy stage up Cote de la Loze, and of course - Pogacar's epic (and technologically vacant) final TT.

I get hyped up for the Classics, but the TdF is my favorite time of year by far.

If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and go rent "Holy Tour" on Amazon. By far the best inside view of spectating at the Tour from the inside (and very French).