Tour de France *LIVE* *SPOILERS*

[galgal]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

You just have to appreciate every little thing they do. In position for echelons. Not chasing breaks. Not going for stage wins. Not trying to win green jersey or mountain points. Slowly bringing back GC breaks instead of chasing too hard. No desire to have yellow. Riders who work hard on climbs, get dropped and fight back on descents to do it again.

The only true GC team in the tour.

Jeff

The little things you mention are all very admirable, no doubt. But without wanting to diminish them or take anything away from Ineos/Sky, can one at least mention a big factor in the little things. Sky/Ineos has a significantly bigger budget than the other teams, which is why they can afford/pay a team of all stars that toe the line. They just signed Carapaz. They also made an offer to Alaphilippe who turned it down. Rather than "the only GC team", they are the only team with the means to be a GC only team, have the luxury to do so.

[weisan]

.

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by galgal

The little things you mention are all very admirable, no doubt. But without wanting to diminish them or take anything away from Ineos/Sky, can one at least mention a big factor in the little things. Sky/Ineos has a significantly bigger budget than the other teams, which is why they can afford/pay a team of all stars that toe the line. They just signed Carapaz. They also made an offer to Alaphilippe who turned it down. Rather than "the only GC team", they are the only team with the means to be a GC only team, have the luxury to do so.

Money talks. Look at Formula 1. The two teams with the big budgets dominate.

I remember seeing a few years ago that Sky took mattresses and pillows for each rider during the tour. They removed the mattresses and pillows from the rooms. Probably still do that. Edit: Ineos does not bring mattresses

But you also have to have a rider who has a strong chance of winning the tour to build a team that only focuses on GC. If you don't have that rider your sponsor will want you to win stages or be in breaks to get publicity.

Jeff

[Drmojo]

Originally Posted by galgal

The little things you mention are all very admirable, no doubt. But without wanting to diminish them or take anything away from Ineos/Sky, can one at least mention a big factor in the little things. Sky/Ineos has a significantly bigger budget than the other teams, which is why they can afford/pay a team of all stars that toe the line. They just signed Carapaz. They also made an offer to Alaphilippe who turned it down. Rather than "the only GC team", they are the only team with the means to be a GC only team, have the luxury to do so.

they can also aford the best doctors and lawyers
wink wink

[tony_mm]

Alaphilippe won the red dot polka jersey last year so let's that he can keep the pace in the mountains!

[weisan]

[Ruimteaapje]

Originally Posted by tony_mm

Alaphilippe won the red dot polka jersey last year so let's that he can keep the pace in the mountains!

Winning the Polka Dots by gathering points in early breakaways can't be compared with being able to follow when the big climbers unleach their demons.

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by Ruimteaapje

Winning the Polka Dots by gathering points in early breakaways can't be compared with being able to follow when the big climbers unleach their demons.

Correct. The most important thing to do early is lose a lot of time in a stage so the peloton will let you go out on mountain stages. Like Nibali today.

Jeff

[oldpotatoe]

Dennis and his exit form the TdF

World time-trial champion Rohan Dennis has wished his teammates well for the rest of the Tour de France but offered no insight as to why he quit the race dramatically, a day before a stage the Australian was fancied to win.

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/sport/othe...nce/ar-AAEyyTZ

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Dennis and his exit form the TdF


https://www.msn.com/en-xl/sport/othe...nce/ar-AAEyyTZ

Some are saying that Dennis suffers from severe depression. Apparently he voiced wanting to quit pro cycling at least a half dozen times just last year, and yesterday afterwards was crying in the bus. Maybe the pressures of the ITT, the climate around B-M, the Tour, etc. all affected him to such a degree. I hope he is OK.

[jlwdm]

Hmmm. Movistar works at the front all day and then drops Quintana.

Jeff

[Jaybee]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Hmmm. Movistar works at the front all day and then drops Quintana.

Jeff

That was really weird. Kept waiting for NQ to launch an attack and then he just goes out the back.

[Jaybee]

Sure would be nice for Jumbo if Bennett was still a GC threat...

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Hmmm. Movistar works at the front all day and then drops Quintana.

Jeff

Hmmm. Top climbers drop right and left while Alaphilippe resembles the freshest of daisies.

Movistar tactics were so odd, they destroyed Quintana. Why didn't Valverde go help him? It was all strange.

Originally Posted by Jaybee

Sure would be nice for Jumbo if Bennett was still a GC threat...

Yes. I hoping for Kruiswijk.

[kiwisimon]

my stream died with 500 meters to go, who won?