2021 TDF

[Bod]

Winners

UAE - a crushing overall, 14 days in yellow, spent every day in the youth jersey, won the climbers jersey, took 3 stage wins and wasn’t in doubt since Pog took the yellow. A procession, so it has to be classed as a massive success.

DQS - 5 stage wins, a day in yellow, held the green jersey for the whole race (Cav held it for 18 days!) and Cattaneo performing really well. A consummate team performance.

Bahrain - 3 stage wins, contention for the mountains jersey, Bilbao finishes 9th. Plus, they were investigated by the police and nothing was found (yet.) if that doesn’t make them winners...

Alpecin - 2 stage wins and 6 days in yellow for a ‘second tier’ team. MVDP is just dynamite on a bike.

Jumbo-Visma

Took second place with a plan B leader and won 4 stages, including the ‘Queen’ stage. Vingegaard emerges as a real contender and WVA may be a cyborg.

BORA - 2 stage wins and Kelderman does a Kelderman and slides into the top 5 by being Mr Consistent.

AG2R - stage win and a great GC placing by O’Connor and a solid ride by Paret-Peintre

Losers

Ineos - Perhaps odd to think of a 3rd place finish as failure as for me before the Tour it was where they would likely finish , but it was a third which never looked like even threatening first at any point whatsoever. Put all their resources behind a challenge by Carapaz and Thomas (when Bernal was the logical choice, surely?) and regardless of Thomas crashing out, two of the key riders (TGH and Porte) were ridiculously undercooked or overcooked. Also, Thomas just crashes too frequently for it to be bad luck.

Astana - name one thing they did of note. A team of big (ish) name potential stage winners who underperformed. Lutsenko did what he could, but no way they can be satisfied with not taking a stage giving the riders they took.

Movistar - see Astana, but add in the abject failure of ‘Superman’ Lopez. Valverde just there for an Olympic training camp, only pushed himself really a couple of times in the mountains. Mas gets a 6th Place, but unlike Kelderman, Mas believes or has been told that he is the next big thing. He isn’t.

ISN. = WTF nation? Woods and Martin have Olympic fever and the rest may as well have not even been there. Big budget, nothing to show. Sponsors must be thinking they were royally stitched up when they signed Froome. Pleased for Greipel today taking 5th, but still losers.

Lotto - came hoping for at least two stages and a realistic shot at the points jersey. Left with 4 riders and nothing else.

Cofidis - last won a stage when Pogacar was still in primary school and we had just been promoted.

Overall - 6.5/10 and the majority of that is for Cav, WVA and MVDP.

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2021 19:22:34 GMT Bod said:

Winners

UAE - a crushing overall, 14 days in yellow, spent every day in the youth jersey, won the climbers jersey, took 3 stage wins and wasn’t in doubt since Pog took the yellow. A procession, so it has to be classed as a massive success.

DQS - 5 stage wins, a day in yellow, held the green jersey for the whole race (Cav held it for 18 days!) and Cattaneo performing really well. A consummate team performance.

Bahrain - 3 stage wins, contention for the mountains jersey, Bilbao finishes 9th. Plus, they were investigated by the police and nothing was found (yet.) if that doesn’t make them winners...

Alpecin - 2 stage wins and 6 days in yellow for a ‘second tier’ team. MVDP is just dynamite on a bike.

Jumbo-Visma

Took second place with a plan B leader and won 4 stages, including the ‘Queen’ stage. Vingegaard emerges as a real contender and WVA may be a cyborg.

BORA - 2 stage wins and Kelderman does a Kelderman and slides into the top 5 by being Mr Consistent.

AG2R - stage win and a great GC placing by O’Connor and a solid ride by Paret-Peintre

Losers

Ineos - Perhaps odd to think of a 3rd place finish as failure as for me before the Tour it was where they would likely finish , but it was a third which never looked like even threatening first at any point whatsoever. Put all their resources behind a challenge by Carapaz and Thomas (when Bernal was the logical choice, surely?) and regardless of Thomas crashing out, two of the key riders (TGH and Porte) were ridiculously undercooked or overcooked. Also, Thomas just crashes too frequently for it to be bad luck.

Astana - name one thing they did of note. A team of big (ish) name potential stage winners who underperformed. Lutsenko did what he could, but no way they can be satisfied with not taking a stage giving the riders they took.

Movistar - see Astana, but add in the abject failure of ‘Superman’ Lopez. Valverde just there for an Olympic training camp, only pushed himself really a couple of times in the mountains. Mas gets a 6th Place, but unlike Kelderman, Mas believes or has been told that he is the next big thing. He isn’t.

ISN. = WTF nation? Woods and Martin have Olympic fever and the rest may as well have not even been there. Big budget, nothing to show. Sponsors must be thinking they were royally stitched up when they signed Froome. Pleased for Greipel today taking 5th, but still losers.

Lotto - came hoping for at least two stages and a realistic shot at the points jersey. Left with 4 riders and nothing else.

Cofidis - last won a stage when Pogacar was still in primary school and we had just been promoted.

Overall - 6.5/10 and the majority of that is for Cav, WVA and MVDP.

I agree with most of that. However I would only give it an overall 5/10 as for me the sheer boredom greatly reduces the positives of Cav, WVA and MDP. I really can't remember a
Grand Tour (or any stage race) that I've enjoyed less.

[Deleted]

Not bad for a 36 year old last minute replacement. Green jersey, 4 stage wins and equaling Eddy Merckx's stage win record for TDF. Hats off to you Mark. Best sprinter ever.

[Bod]

Polka-dot and white jerseys on stands elevate that picture to a solid 10/10!

[Deleted]

Has there been any more news about the police raid on Bahrain Victorious ? I haven't seen or heard anything. Presumably the investigation is "ongoing".

[salopstick]

I’ve heard rumours of motor doping

[salopstick]

cyclingtips.com/2021/07/tadej-pogacar-responds-to-motor-doping-insinuations/

[thepremierbanksy]

Jul 18, 2021 19:22:34 GMT Bod said:

Winners

UAE - a crushing overall, 14 days in yellow, spent every day in the youth jersey, won the climbers jersey, took 3 stage wins and wasn’t in doubt since Pog took the yellow. A procession, so it has to be classed as a massive success.

DQS - 5 stage wins, a day in yellow, held the green jersey for the whole race (Cav held it for 18 days!) and Cattaneo performing really well. A consummate team performance.

Bahrain - 3 stage wins, contention for the mountains jersey, Bilbao finishes 9th. Plus, they were investigated by the police and nothing was found (yet.) if that doesn’t make them winners...

Alpecin - 2 stage wins and 6 days in yellow for a ‘second tier’ team. MVDP is just dynamite on a bike.

Jumbo-Visma

Took second place with a plan B leader and won 4 stages, including the ‘Queen’ stage. Vingegaard emerges as a real contender and WVA may be a cyborg.

BORA - 2 stage wins and Kelderman does a Kelderman and slides into the top 5 by being Mr Consistent.

AG2R - stage win and a great GC placing by O’Connor and a solid ride by Paret-Peintre

Losers

Ineos - Perhaps odd to think of a 3rd place finish as failure as for me before the Tour it was where they would likely finish , but it was a third which never looked like even threatening first at any point whatsoever. Put all their resources behind a challenge by Carapaz and Thomas (when Bernal was the logical choice, surely?) and regardless of Thomas crashing out, two of the key riders (TGH and Porte) were ridiculously undercooked or overcooked. Also, Thomas just crashes too frequently for it to be bad luck.

Astana - name one thing they did of note. A team of big (ish) name potential stage winners who underperformed. Lutsenko did what he could, but no way they can be satisfied with not taking a stage giving the riders they took.

Movistar - see Astana, but add in the abject failure of ‘Superman’ Lopez. Valverde just there for an Olympic training camp, only pushed himself really a couple of times in the mountains. Mas gets a 6th Place, but unlike Kelderman, Mas believes or has been told that he is the next big thing. He isn’t.

ISN. = WTF nation? Woods and Martin have Olympic fever and the rest may as well have not even been there. Big budget, nothing to show. Sponsors must be thinking they were royally stitched up when they signed Froome. Pleased for Greipel today taking 5th, but still losers.

Lotto - came hoping for at least two stages and a realistic shot at the points jersey. Left with 4 riders and nothing else.

Cofidis - last won a stage when Pogacar was still in primary school and we had just been promoted.

Overall - 6.5/10 and the majority of that is for Cav, WVA and MVDP.

Great post, agree with all* of that.

Got to feel for Lotto, even with Cav on that form I'd have thought Ewan would be nailed on for at least one stage if he'd not crashed. Guess that's the price you pay for completely backing one man.

Ineos, think you've nailed it in saying that third on GC was par for them, although we'd have assumed Roglic would have been one of those spots beforehand. From a fan's perspective I think a stage win would have been more satisfactory.

I suppose EF Nippo belong in the losers too, no stage wins (can't even remember them being close to one?) and Uran finishing 10th & 18 minutes down.



*Except I think you only take Bernal with the hindsight of his Giro win, and with that in the legs he's not going to win the tour as well and risk knackering his back again.

[neworleanstokie]

Jul 18, 2021 19:35:58 GMT @deesidestokie said:

Jul 18, 2021 19:22:34 GMT Bod said:

Winners

UAE - a crushing overall, 14 days in yellow, spent every day in the youth jersey, won the climbers jersey, took 3 stage wins and wasn’t in doubt since Pog took the yellow. A procession, so it has to be classed as a massive success.

DQS - 5 stage wins, a day in yellow, held the green jersey for the whole race (Cav held it for 18 days!) and Cattaneo performing really well. A consummate team performance.

Bahrain - 3 stage wins, contention for the mountains jersey, Bilbao finishes 9th. Plus, they were investigated by the police and nothing was found (yet.) if that doesn’t make them winners...

Alpecin - 2 stage wins and 6 days in yellow for a ‘second tier’ team. MVDP is just dynamite on a bike.

Jumbo-Visma

Took second place with a plan B leader and won 4 stages, including the ‘Queen’ stage. Vingegaard emerges as a real contender and WVA may be a cyborg.

BORA - 2 stage wins and Kelderman does a Kelderman and slides into the top 5 by being Mr Consistent.

AG2R - stage win and a great GC placing by O’Connor and a solid ride by Paret-Peintre

Losers

Ineos - Perhaps odd to think of a 3rd place finish as failure as for me before the Tour it was where they would likely finish , but it was a third which never looked like even threatening first at any point whatsoever. Put all their resources behind a challenge by Carapaz and Thomas (when Bernal was the logical choice, surely?) and regardless of Thomas crashing out, two of the key riders (TGH and Porte) were ridiculously undercooked or overcooked. Also, Thomas just crashes too frequently for it to be bad luck.

Astana - name one thing they did of note. A team of big (ish) name potential stage winners who underperformed. Lutsenko did what he could, but no way they can be satisfied with not taking a stage giving the riders they took.

Movistar - see Astana, but add in the abject failure of ‘Superman’ Lopez. Valverde just there for an Olympic training camp, only pushed himself really a couple of times in the mountains. Mas gets a 6th Place, but unlike Kelderman, Mas believes or has been told that he is the next big thing. He isn’t.

ISN. = WTF nation? Woods and Martin have Olympic fever and the rest may as well have not even been there. Big budget, nothing to show. Sponsors must be thinking they were royally stitched up when they signed Froome. Pleased for Greipel today taking 5th, but still losers.

Lotto - came hoping for at least two stages and a realistic shot at the points jersey. Left with 4 riders and nothing else.

Cofidis - last won a stage when Pogacar was still in primary school and we had just been promoted.

Overall - 6.5/10 and the majority of that is for Cav, WVA and MVDP.

I agree with most of that. However I would only give it an overall 5/10 as for me the sheer boredom greatly reduces the positives of Cav, WVA and MDP. I really can't remember a
Grand Tour (or any stage race) that I've enjoyed less.

I watched 90% of it on fast forward. Sprint finishes were the only real highlights other than Pod cranking it up that mountain hmmm

[Bod]

Jul 19, 2021 12:26:36 GMT thepremierbanksy said:

Jul 18, 2021 19:22:34 GMT Bod said:

Winners

UAE - a crushing overall, 14 days in yellow, spent every day in the youth jersey, won the climbers jersey, took 3 stage wins and wasn’t in doubt since Pog took the yellow. A procession, so it has to be classed as a massive success.

DQS - 5 stage wins, a day in yellow, held the green jersey for the whole race (Cav held it for 18 days!) and Cattaneo performing really well. A consummate team performance.

Bahrain - 3 stage wins, contention for the mountains jersey, Bilbao finishes 9th. Plus, they were investigated by the police and nothing was found (yet.) if that doesn’t make them winners...

Alpecin - 2 stage wins and 6 days in yellow for a ‘second tier’ team. MVDP is just dynamite on a bike.

Jumbo-Visma

Took second place with a plan B leader and won 4 stages, including the ‘Queen’ stage. Vingegaard emerges as a real contender and WVA may be a cyborg.

BORA - 2 stage wins and Kelderman does a Kelderman and slides into the top 5 by being Mr Consistent.

AG2R - stage win and a great GC placing by O’Connor and a solid ride by Paret-Peintre

Losers

Ineos - Perhaps odd to think of a 3rd place finish as failure as for me before the Tour it was where they would likely finish , but it was a third which never looked like even threatening first at any point whatsoever. Put all their resources behind a challenge by Carapaz and Thomas (when Bernal was the logical choice, surely?) and regardless of Thomas crashing out, two of the key riders (TGH and Porte) were ridiculously undercooked or overcooked. Also, Thomas just crashes too frequently for it to be bad luck.

Astana - name one thing they did of note. A team of big (ish) name potential stage winners who underperformed. Lutsenko did what he could, but no way they can be satisfied with not taking a stage giving the riders they took.

Movistar - see Astana, but add in the abject failure of ‘Superman’ Lopez. Valverde just there for an Olympic training camp, only pushed himself really a couple of times in the mountains. Mas gets a 6th Place, but unlike Kelderman, Mas believes or has been told that he is the next big thing. He isn’t.

ISN. = WTF nation? Woods and Martin have Olympic fever and the rest may as well have not even been there. Big budget, nothing to show. Sponsors must be thinking they were royally stitched up when they signed Froome. Pleased for Greipel today taking 5th, but still losers.

Lotto - came hoping for at least two stages and a realistic shot at the points jersey. Left with 4 riders and nothing else.

Cofidis - last won a stage when Pogacar was still in primary school and we had just been promoted.

Overall - 6.5/10 and the majority of that is for Cav, WVA and MVDP.

Great post, agree with all* of that.

Got to feel for Lotto, even with Cav on that form I'd have thought Ewan would be nailed on for at least one stage if he'd not crashed. Guess that's the price you pay for completely backing one man.

Ineos, think you've nailed it in saying that third on GC was par for them, although we'd have assumed Roglic would have been one of those spots beforehand. From a fan's perspective I think a stage win would have been more satisfactory.

I suppose EF Nippo belong in the losers too, no stage wins (can't even remember them being close to one?) and Uran finishing 10th & 18 minutes down.



*Except I think you only take Bernal with the hindsight of his Giro win, and with that in the legs he's not going to win the tour as well and risk knackering his back again.

Very fair points and on reflection I think there is an element of hindsight in my view of what Bernal could have done. Before the season started, I wanted Bernal to do the Tour this year, Carapaz to do the Giro again and have Yates at the Tour as well, as I don’t think Yates can win a GT but can play an excellent spoiler role for other teams to consider. Carapaz to do the Vuelta as a back-up plan if Italy had gone badly, but with TGH there too.

Agree about EF. I just blanked on them, but the last couple of days puts them in the losers column. No stages could have been just about forgiven if Uran had held it together, but he didn’t!

[thepremierbanksy]

Superb write up of the race by the masterful inrng.

inrng.com/2021/07/2021-tour-de-france-was-won-review/