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Tour de France (2023 from p54)

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  • Weight loss won't help your ftp, but it makes a big difference on anything above about a 4% gradient. The hills down there might not be long, but they're generally steeper than you'll find on the continent, and w/kg makes a bigger difference on steeper gradients. Closest we've got to a proper climb locally to me is Sheephouse Lane - it's less than 3km in length in total but my PB up there is a minute quicker at race weight than it is at current weight (7kg heavier) - and that's almost entirely due to the steep (12% or so) kickers at the start and in the middle 
    Got to stay of those Higos con Miel dude.


    I am a gordito so too late for me.
    OMG - I would KILL for those right now. Been on cardboard and leaves for three weeks and am so hungry I could eat my own arm 
    I think the Spanish only stay slim because it is so bloody hot most of the year, apart from ensalada mixta I can't think of anything slimming! Maybe the biscuits made by nuns as you can only eat one.
  • Fascinating Green jersey battle today. This is the best tour I can remember since I started watching 15 years ago. Great that there is only one Time Trial and it comes at the end. I would like to see time trials dispensed with altogether from the grand tours.

    Riders seem to have lost their ability to collect food bags and bottles. Don’t remember seeing so many failed attempts to pick up food bags and bottles. 
  • Fascinating Green jersey battle today. This is the best tour I can remember since I started watching 15 years ago. Great that there is only one Time Trial and it comes at the end. I would like to see time trials dispensed with altogether from the grand tours.

    Riders seem to have lost their ability to collect food bags and bottles. Don’t remember seeing so many failed attempts to pick up food bags and bottles. 
    Yup fascinating today. Last year was my favourite ever but this is up there so far. 

    Love the commitment from Bora and Sunweb. 
  • Tirreno Adriatico Simon Yates currently  leading, Geraint Thomas 3rd
  • stonemuse said:
    Tirreno Adriatico Simon Yates currently  leading, Geraint Thomas 3rd
    My mate's riding that 😁

    Good solid Wigan lad called Matt Holmes. Won a stage of his first ever world tour race this year on Wilunga at the TDU. Been a fixture of the racing scene in the NW the last few years but the racing in the UK doesn't really suit him as he's a proper mountain goat. Difficult for him to get noticed here as a result, but Red Lotto took a pint on him and seems its working out. He was in the break the other day and was last man to be caught after hitting out on the last climb. He might even get a go at the Giro, which would be mint in his first year as a world tour pro.

    His dad is a local coach, he's coached a few riders that I race with - and also pretty handy himself, national age group road race champ the last three years in a row.

    I hate skinny people 😏
    Nice one 
  • I’m beginning to think my pre-race prediction of a Pogacar podium finish has underestimated his capabilities! 
  • He's looking good
  • He's looking good
    Indeed, and has no fear 
  • Amazing that such a small country that is known much more for its skiing than its cycling should throw up a pair like that
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  • Still think Roglic will do him in the TT, but that isn't a foregone conclusion - Pogacar beat him in the nationals and it's a mountain TT. This week will be absolutely mint. Expect Kuss, Bennett and van Aert to put the hurt on Pogacar every day with him being isolated early on and see whether he snaps 
  • 'Car enthusiast and experienced adventurer'  Jim Ratcliffe's roaming advert is failing and his new SUVa 'no-nonsense 4x4, engineered to overcome all conditions and withstand the daily punishment you put it through' - is a polluting menace. 
    I feel a bit sorry for Egan Bernal.
  • Bernal withdrawn.
  • Great to see Kwiato get that 
  • Was quite emotional watching that.  Not sure the Movistar leaders would do that.  Great to see Kwiatkowski win.  He's ridden a great tour and been the main guy on the front for Bernal this year.  Hope he rides a top ITT, but shame he can't jump up much in GC.
  • I got quite nervous watching yesterday's finish - I thought in their celebrations they were going to mess it up! 
  • I got quite nervous watching yesterday's finish - I thought in their celebrations they were going to mess it up! 
    Must admit that it did go through my mind too 
  • Well that was an experience! Just watched the end today's stage on Danish tv. Listening to the commentators was reminiscent of that night Norway beat England 1-0 

    Not quite at the same level perhaps because it happens a bit more often (22nd Danish stage win apparently) but entertaining nonetheless 
  • Well that was an experience! Just watched the end today's stage on Danish tv. Listening to the commentators was reminiscent of that night Norway beat England 1-0 

    Not quite at the same level perhaps because it happens a bit more often (22nd Danish stage win apparently) but entertaining nonetheless 
    I can imagine! Another clever breakaway by Sunweb ... amazed they let him go after his previous stage win. 

    Good to see Luke Rowe up there and finish in top seven 
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  • I've got 3 basic choices for watching TdF live:

    1. Denmark TV2
    2, Eurosport Sweden
    3. ITV

    I started watching TV2 back in the day because ITV didn't have live coverage and Eurosport was cr*p. I know the pictures are the same but if you're going to watch live the commentary matters.

    This year's constellation is entertaining: 2 ex-pros Rolf Sørensen (who has been a commentator for years now. I think he's 55), Chris Anker Sørensen who is a bit of a country bumpkin but comes out with quaint phrases and who started giving long entertaining interviews when he was still riding Le Tour and a man called Dennis Ritter who is an amateur cyclist and for 11 months of the year a serious journalist who wears a jacket and tie and reads the news on TV.

    The chemistry is wonderful and for years now Dennis and Rolf have donned the lycra and ridden various climbs together  with the cameras on them.

    One thing that really struck me today was the enthusiasm of Rolf, who in his time also won a couple of stages, reacting to the achievements of a youngster.

  • Who said time trialling was boring? 😏
  • Something rather incredible seems to be unfolding.
  • What can I say? I'm impressed

  • Fuck me incredible
  • That young man has a future, I suspect.

    I admit to having  soft spot for Slovenia but all the same?
  • I hate Lance Armstrong for the thought that came into my head when Pogacar crossed the line
  • Roglic ain't right. Jour Sans on day 20 - yikes! 
  • Different times I hope
  • Me too, incredible achievement 
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Roland Out Forever!