MinnMan

If he's clean, he might be a different species. Certainly he's in a different league

MinnMan

So the TdF is reaching what should be its climax, and yet this subforum is quiet.....too quiet.

Pogacar's dominance kind of turns down the drama, does it not?

Friday should be Cavendish's record breaking day, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that van Aert and Teunissen are going to team up and steal it from him.

Go ahead, Manx Man. Prove me wrong.

gpsblake

Putting it in now, Pogacar makes a real serious effort to win Stage 21 or stage 19 with the sprinters to stamp his legacy. If he would do that, people would really remember this tour.

But I do think the White Jersey needs an overhaul, should change it to like a "rookie of the tour" award instead. It's almost like that competition doesn't matter anymore. (or even add a gray jersey, highest place finisher over the age of 35)

slcbob

This forum is downright deafening compared to its usual sleepy little backwater.

I'm sure the CPA is patrolling it right now and picking up all sorts of deeply thought, well researched, historically grounded, and not the least bit knee jerk constructive suggestions for reforming the sport.

slcbob

Cav for #35 and #36. Why not sweep it? It's been all fairy tale anyway. And then he and Peta and all the Cavettes lived happily ever after. After another year or two with Quick Step - Alpha whatever they'll be.

Is Kung still in the race for stage 20? Maybe he can sit in the hot seat for a few hours and stay there until the music stops this time.

DLBroox

With the mountain stages ending on Thursday what chance does anyone have to get the win away from Pogacar now? Seems very anti climactic to me this year.

MinnMan

That always happens during the Tour. It will go back to the usual half dozen to dozen of us afterwards.

MinnMan

Only if Pogacar crashes out. Otherwise the GC contest has been over since last week, except for who gets to keep him company on the podium

MinnMan

So, what will become of Pogacar now? Will he, llike Froome, organize his annual strategy around winning the Tour? With two under his belt at such a young age, he's got a reasonable chance to win 5+ in his career. Will he contest the Vuelta and Giro in future years? What other races will be his focus?

And will he stay with UAE?

Doge

Too soon to tell. There are some other youngsters not participating and some that are where a year or two can make a big difference. Remco was not performing well in the Giro, but before cracking his hip he sure was. If he really recovers, that might be something to see.

I think Pogacar should ride his next tour with a little more class and not try to take every stage win. The early stages where he and Primoz were sprinting looked a bit immature for GC guys (note I mentioned Primoz in there). If he spreads the wins around fans and riders will like him more and if he wants to win 5 tours, he should lay that groundwork sooner.

MinnMan

I don't agree. I like that he has gone for stage wins. The times when Froome just marked his competitors and stared at his powermeter were dull. And watching Carapaz or Vingegaard win with Pogacar spinning behind them, looking fresh as a daisy, would feel like watching a cheap gift.

gpsblake

Boy, what was THAT from Stage 19???? Seems the breakaway only competed to finish second with all the cat and mouse games by them. The peloton didn't even try.

slcbob

^ it's not run in a vacuum on a clean sheet. It is stage 19, after all. On the heels of a good chunk of the Pyrenees.

Eric F 

Personally, I love seeing the yellow jersey not just ride defensively, even with a significant lead. Pogacar has stamped his authority on the race, and left zero doubt that he is the very strongest rider. To me, that's exciting racing.

Doge

EricF and MinnMan - My point was not so much about what I like, but making friends in the peloton and with the French. I've heard a prior TdF rider state "The French don't like winners". Case being the very popular Indurain who only won the TT stages. If Pog will never need help from other riders, he may be doing it right. If he does, he needs to be known as a guy that can be worked with for his one goal - they yellow and not every stage along the way.

We may like him going after it each stage, but the last guy that didn't win 7 stages allowed others to win often and still provided lots of excitement.

Eric F 

Pogacar (or any other leader) will get help from riders on other teams when it also benefits those other riders. That's the way it always works. It's not about making friends.

vane171

This is how you make friends and become popular:

diphthong

and then it will be (yet again) my torch to carry in proclaiming the vuelta as the best gt to follow with anecdotally a fifth of the tour coverage.
whatever. there's no accounting for taste but many broken eggs...

Doge

There is the public spitting, throwing urine and punching thing.
When other riders are allowed to win - there are more benefits. This may translate to waiting if there is a mechanical to working in a group. By deciding you will always try to win, you are with one less bargaining chip.

Wildwood 

Stage 20 time trial. Chris Froome at the bottom of the Stage finishers and 5minutes down to winner.

Has he just given up trying to perform at this Tour.?
Has he given up the chance future of Stage Race victories?


or maybe the question should be - if the injury is so bad you cannot rehab in 2 years to near a prior level of performance, Can you improve in subsequent years? At age 36?

MinnMan

It seems he's done. Anybody knows how many years his contract with ISN runs? The salary is surely high, so maybe he'll stick around. But he shouldn't.

david101

If his salary is high, he totally should. I would.

MinnMan

He's already a rich man, but yeah, people are like that.

GrainBrain

Wout progressing into form - he's doing the Olympics right? My money is on him for gold. Vingegaard! He put two minutes into Carapaz today and lost just a little to Wout. What an absolutely incredible performance!

An incredible tour for JV after the early disappointment. This is how Ineos should have done the tour. After Pogacar wiped the GC table on stage 5 ITT and especially after that performance on stage 8 I would've said okay - let's get three stage wins.

Bora with two wins, trek and Ag2R with a win. Ag2R have had an incredible result with Ben O'Connor!

I've been watching LR and he made a comment on Froome chasing breaks, something like €5,500,000 euros to chase a rider at €34,000 euros

Mohoric and his celebrations - I didn't realize how controversial it was - but I would have some defiant celebrations after the French shook me down.

GrainBrain

Like getting body checked off the course or all night police partys?