Maltaran Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 3 hours ago, Jeor said: Bernal came into the Tour with a back injury, so it may be that he's just not up to full fitness and it might be bothering him. Once he was no longer in contention, no need to keep going I guess. Yes, it’s a recurrence of the back injury that forced him out of the Dauphine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 Even though it's not a mtf day, everyone is probably feeling yesterday. If the other teams want to win, they need everyone from the teams placed 4-7 to drill it, and get rid of the jumbo domestiques (easier said than done, kuss and van aert are freaky strong) and hope roglic cracks. He is the best TT rider so he really about 90 seconds - 2 Mins seconds ahead of everyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibandar Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 There's a lot to be done today. Pogacar needs to try and close the gap with Roglic, he can't afford to do nothing and start the TT with 57 seconds behind, that's gonna be fairly hopeless then. Lopez is at 1:26 and gas a bad TT so he needs to do something to stay ahead of the rest of the pack and try and close on spots 1 and 2,. Landa Porte, Uran Yates and Mas need to take action here, obviously, otherwise Lopez or Porte will surely finish 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) That's the places pretty much settled barring crashes. Except 5 and 6 there should be no movers in the top 10. Unless Dumoulin pulls out a monster time trial. Edited September 17, 2020 by BigFatCoward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 (edited) Sagan finally likely to be beaten in green Jersey competition. He has been pretty underwhelming to be honest. Unless Roglic's bike bursts into flames he will win, he will probably win the TT or at least podium. Overall it's been a pretty underwhelming GC battle. Edited September 18, 2020 by BigFatCoward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmanion Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 (edited) Sagan was always up against it this year because of the schedule he put himself on. Basically came into the tour underdone because he is getting paid ALL of the money to go to the giro by the organisers of that race. Plus it might be the only grand tour where he hasn't won a stage? Edited September 19, 2020 by lmanion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 Pogacar taken half of the advantage off Roglic with the climb to come. And Richie Porte riding himself onto the podium, good for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 Jesus, Roglic has had a full meltdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 Holy fucking shit! 1989 all over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon AS Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 On 9/17/2020 at 6:01 PM, BigFatCoward said: That's the places pretty much settled barring crashes. Except 5 and 6 there should be no movers in the top 10. Unless Dumoulin pulls out a monster time trial. I hopy you didn't put down any money on that. Holy crap, that was an absolutely incredible final day for the GC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 That was one hell of a time trial by Pogacar. I was all nervous for Porte and he pulled out a phenomenal day as well matching Dumoulin only to not need it as Lopez completely self destructed anyway lol. Roglic didn't have a terrible TT, but Pogacars was just too good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 20 year old debutants arent supposed to do that. I think he is the first debutant to win since Fignon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 The Aussie commentators said how long it had been, I think it was since the 80s but don't recall the name. Even more impressive when your remember he was only behind Roglic due to the time lost in the cross wind split. Definitely deserves his polka dot jersey too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmanion Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 That was one hell of a ride by Pogacar! The look of disbelief on the faces of Dumoulin and Van Aert as Pogacar came across the line that far in front of their times said it all. Roglic full class after the disappointment barely gas his breath back and the first thing he does after getting up off the ground is go and congratulate Pogacar. Roglic hardly blew up he was 5th on stage but when the guy behind you at the start of the stage blows everyone away like that the performance looks far worse than it really was. So happy Richie Porte got on the podium matching Dumoulin in the TT is an awesome effort. His best years were ruined by crashes and bad luck and even this year got caught out by the crosswinds and then a puncture on the gravel. He's won quite a few stage races in his career but getting on the podium at the tour is so much bigger and an awesome reward for the effort over the years and being away from his wife who gave birth during I think the first week of the tour. One of the most exciting TT stages in a grand tour in quite a while especially finishing on a big climb like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 1 hour ago, lmanion said: That was one hell of a ride by Pogacar! The look of disbelief on the faces of Dumoulin and Van Aert as Pogacar came across the line that far in front of their times said it all. Roglic full class after the disappointment barely gas his breath back and the first thing he does after getting up off the ground is go and congratulate Pogacar. Roglic hardly blew up he was 5th on stage but when the guy behind you at the start of the stage blows everyone away like that the performance looks far worse than it really was. So happy Richie Porte got on the podium matching Dumoulin in the TT is an awesome effort. That was a shot for the ages, you could almost see them deflating. If you arent going to be home for the birth of your child, you need to bring home the bacon, very happy for Porte. Ineos must be watching this and wondering what they do next year, even if they sent their theoretical best line up Bernal, Thomas, Carapaz, Yates, Sivakov, Kwiatko, Porte (rumour) and Rowe, Pogacar has just shown he can do it by himself against a stupid strong team. I assume UAE will be in the market for better domestiques to protect their investment, Evanepoel in the mix makes the ineos/sky formula for success less likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Being away from home for the birth of their baby must have really sucked when it looks like they tried to time it for when he'd normally be back home - the delays to this season really messed with their planning. Definitely glad he's got something to show for it. Definitely concerning for Ineos if Pogacar can repeat that form, but younger riders aren't always as consistent and the mental resilience isn't as developed. He might find the pressure of defending the tour much higher than to win it the first time when he had supreme confidence he could. This could turn out to be the ride of his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 20, 2020 Author Share Posted September 20, 2020 Sam Bennett winning on the champs elysee wearing green, beating the world champion in a 2 up sprint. That's about as good as it gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 23, 2020 Author Share Posted September 23, 2020 Straight into the world championships. If he brings his tour form it's hard to see past Van Aert for the Road Race. Though Fuglsang had great form just after the lockdown. TT I cant see past Dennis, but Ineos have had a shit month so maybe it continues. in the womens races the Dutch probably win everything, and maybe lock out the podiums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmanion Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Haven't seen the profile for the world champs but heard there was a lot of climbing something like 7000m of altitude gain was the number I heard if that's the case it might be right on van aerts limit. Probably lean towards fuglsang who is coming into the giro rather than someone who has just finished the tour. Simon Yates had a win at in Italy in one of the lead in stage races to the giro as well. Be interesting to see how pogacar and roglic work together while riding for their country, if roglic goes in for pogacar he could be a possible winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 Well Dennis wasnt as strong as I imagined but I reckon Ineos would be very happy with that. World TT champ and G being bang in form makes him massive favourite for the Giro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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