Men's Road Cycling UCI World Tour 2023 (Tour de France)

[frantic13poland 55]

[frantic13poland 55]

[Grassmarket 3,403]

Flattest regular stage in any Tour except when you have a  opener.  Simon Gugliemi is the unlucky man nominated for a solo break - has already got over 7 minutes & is going to get more.

 

And of course as soon as I type it, everyone changes their minds & starts to chase a bit.

Edited July 7, 2023 by Grassmarket

[De_Gambassi 1,223]

The real heroes pf today's stage will be TV commentators around the world who will have to speak about nothing for about 4 hours. Chapeau 

[Grassmarket 3,403]

3 hours ago, frantic13poland said:

Pierre Latour conquers the Bordelais Matterhorn. 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Grassmarket

[Grassmarket 3,403]

Incredible how many teams haven’t researched these roundabouts.  

[Grassmarket 3,403]

Cavendish had absolutely the right tactic & placing, just not quite the timing!  

[dodge 1,024]

He had his best sprint in years. Just beaten by the best in the world 

 

Crazy commentary on Eurosport as Kirby didn’t seem to notice that Philipsen was in complete control 

[Grassmarket 3,403]

29 minutes ago, dodge said:

He had his best sprint in years. Just beaten by the best in the world 

 

Crazy commentary on Eurosport as Kirby didn’t seem to notice that Philipsen was in complete control 

I think most non- experts had Cav down as 7th or 8th-ranked sprinter in the Tour as of last week, so he has over-performed.  He always gets over the lumpy bits, so more chances are coming.

[heywoodu 15,135]

14 hours ago, dodge said:

He had his best sprint in years. Just beaten by the best in the world 

 

Crazy commentary on Eurosport as Kirby didn’t seem to notice that Philipsen was in complete control 

Although control is a bit of a tricky use of words in this case. Once again, Philipsen relied on shoving others out of the way in a manner which would lead to being thrown down the ranking if it didn't affect the stage result (like if you make the moves he makes, but you end up 15th anyway, then they might push you down to last place, but the judges don't have the balls to do that for someone in the top). Yesterday he just shoved Girmay towards the barriers to get into Cavendish's wheel for a second, which wasn't the first time even this Tour (although in Philipsen's case, endangering everyone around him has always been his way of sprinting).

 

It's a shame, really, since he really doesn't need all that incredibly dangerous riding - he is far and away the world's fastest sprinter right now, without all kinds of shenanigans.