Tour de France *LIVE* *SPOILERS*

[ultraman6970]

I have to agree.. stage 20 is for all the marbles.

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by tony_mm

Alaphilippe is the new Thomas Voeckler for the French!

They love him for the way he is racing. And in France the way you race is more important than being on the podium 2nd or 3rd! Look at Thomas Voecker, Richard Virenque, or even Warren Barguil. Alaphilippe is French and rides like the French.

Froome and Thomas are British. Big difference. Also in their choice concerning the team they belong.

I personally like the way Alaphilippe rides. Even if he will sometimes make mistakes. Always riding in the safest way is not road cycling for me. It is more about trying and attacking. And learning then from your mistakes. Not only ability playing safe with the powermeter data.

Yeah but unlike Voeckler, Alaphillipe is actually talented and winning races that matter, not just hamming it up for the cameras endlessly to no point.

Voeckler would probably give one or two significant appendages to have Alaphillipe's palmares right as of today.

[denapista]

I can see him getting over stage 18, but back to back days could be his doom with stage 19, then stage 20 blowing him all the way up.

I find it entertaining that we're all just waiting when/if Alaphilippe gives up the jersey and who will take it. This race is such a toss up right now.

I keep getting surprised when I see that Bora jersey in the mix (Emannuel Buchmann)!

[tony_mm]

Originally Posted by denapista

..
I keep getting surprised when I see that Bora jersey in the mix (Emannuel Buchmann)!

...

Yep I am also really surprised to see him at that level!! Good for him!!

[peanutgallery]

So who is it that's malingering 30 seconds or less behind G Thomas? Pinot and Bernal, that is now the race. Pinot is the wildcard, with no more TT and 2 mountain finishes...he's the one to watch. Thomas has hardly put his nose in the wind and has been escorted to the important parts by a very good team, but when the hammer has been dropped...so is he. Any combo of Bernal, Pinot and Landa on the 2 mountain finishes in 3 days in the Alps is going to wreck a bunch of riders and have an excellent opportunity to provide our podium. When Bernal got up the road on Sunday, that settled Thomas's role on Ineos.

All that said, JA has ridden an incredible Tour and has been fun to watch

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

Yeah but unlike Voeckler, Alaphillipe is actually talented and winning races that matter, not just hamming it up for the cameras endlessly to no point.

I'll play...
Yeah but unlike Voeckler, Alaphillipe keeps his tongue in his mouth.

[Elefantino]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

[/COLOR]
I'll play...
Yeah but unlike Voeckler, Alaphillipe keeps his tongue in his mouth.

Except when he doesn't. And that's more often than you'd think.

[tony_mm]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

[/COLOR]
I'll play...
Yeah but unlike Voeckler, Alaphillipe keeps his tongue in his mouth.

But he was funny to see that he asked the French President E. Macron if he would offer the Champagne if one of them wins the TdF ! This guys knows how to joke!

Voecker was not known to be a brain but he was known to say what he thought w/o any PC language. Not like Froome and Thomas who are just soooo boring.

[galgal]

Haha, have to agree with Flash re Voeckler/Alaphilippe.

It's crazy but can we confidently predict how any of the contenders are going to do over 3 consecutive tough mountain stages, or if one of them can ride away from the rest? Ineos and Jumbo are the strongest teams, with Movistar in the mix, so that gives their leaders a leg up (sorry!) but Thomas has looked shaky, Bernal looks good but who knows how he will handle the pressure over 3 stages. Pinot looks great and has Gaudu in support but similar question mark on handling pressure. Might be good for him if JA can hold onto yellow for a day or even two, keep the weight of French expectations off him. JA is getting a free ride as far as those expectations go, won't be the case if they fall solely on Pinot, As for JA, I can't see him pulling it off with no team help whatsoever. Not without help or other teams/riders canceling each other out. Best case for him beyond that unlikely scenario is Pinot taking the jersey from him, which is something he has stated a couple of times now. In short, we might not know till the final climb on Saturday, crazy!

[galgal]

I know we're all looking ahead to the Alps but next two stages might not be straightforward. Forecast is for crosswinds tomorrow, hmmm. And looking at stage 17 profile, anyone care to wager if JA might just attack on the kick at the end and go for it on the descent?

[azrider]

Originally Posted by denapista

I can see him getting over stage 18, but back to back days could be his doom with stage 19, then stage 20 blowing him all the way up.

I find it entertaining that we're all just waiting when/if Alaphilippe gives up the jersey and who will take it. This race is such a toss up right now.

I keep getting surprised when I see that Bora jersey in the mix (Emannuel Buchmann)!

well done sir

[tctyres]

Originally Posted by galgal

I know we're all looking ahead to the Alps but next two stages might not be straightforward. Forecast is for crosswinds tomorrow, hmmm. And looking at stage 17 profile, anyone care to wager if JA might just attack on the kick at the end and go for it on the descent?

I think Ineos has enough dry powder that if Alaphilippe does that, they will be sure to counterattack to make sure JA gets burned. Rowe and Kwiato finished 28min down yesterday, despite little leading, suggesting they are conserving fuel. I was surprised Kwiato wasn't there at the final climb, as he is usually the guy who starts the climbs to burn the other teams in the peloton.

[pbarry]

4 minute gap by end of the stage tomorrow, between riders one and two Not picking the player, just the spread.

[Drmojo]

Originally Posted by pbarry

4 minute gap by end of the stage tomorrow, between riders one and two Not picking the player, just the spread.

all these confident armchair cycling fans
this rider will crack
that rider has the best team
this rider MUST be doping
that rider can’t ride in the heat
this rider looked really good on TV yesterday
that team is way more experienced
this team always wins 3 week tours
that rider looks done
this rider will drink champagne on the
Champs

comments on cycling weekly are amusing
Anglophile vs Francophile even split

but
everyone is an expert fortune teller...

[tony_mm]

Originally Posted by Drmojo

all these confident armchair cycling fans

this rider will crack
that rider has the best team
this rider MUST be doping
that rider can’t ride in the heat
this rider looked really good on TV yesterday
that team is way more experienced
this team always wins 3 week tours
that rider looks done
this rider will drink champagne on the Champs
comments on cycling weekly are amusing
Anglophile vs Francophile even split
but
everyone is an expert fortune teller...

Yepp that’s the «bistro» where people know better ...LOL