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Post by teenagefanclub on Jun 26, 2021 10:36:44 GMT
And they're off.
Gooarrrrrrn G
Although money firmly on Van Der Poel for tidays stage.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2021 11:56:30 GMT
I've gone for Alaphilippe today.
My TDF fantasy team is
Pogacar Alaphilippe Yates Stuyven Ewan Castroviejo Gesink Theuns
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2021 TDF
Jun 26, 2021 12:03:27 GMT
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Post by teenagefanclub on Jun 26, 2021 12:03:27 GMT
I've gone for Alaphilippe today. My TDF fantasy team is Pogacar Alaphilippe Yates Stuyven Ewan Castroviejo Gesink Theuns I like Alaphilippe, hopefully he has a few days in yellow again this year. Some really good riders this year and looks like being a great watch.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2021 12:06:55 GMT
Alaphilippe can have a few days in yellow but hopefully he won't be there at the end. Ideally I'd like to see Thomas (or Carapaz) win it (highly unlikely I think), or Simon Yates, but I reckon it's between Roglic and Pogacar.
Great to see the stage today - the scenery in Brittany looks lovely as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2021 16:25:04 GMT
Great first stage marred by accidents. Terrific win by Alaphilippe and nice to see G finishing in the following group just 8 seconds down, and Carapaz 5 seconds further back. Stage 2 twice up the Mur de Bretagne including the finish. I'm going for Alaphilippe again.
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2021 TDF
Jun 26, 2021 16:37:10 GMT
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Post by cobhamstokey on Jun 26, 2021 16:37:10 GMT
over in Surrey it feels like every days the TDF
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Post by liathroid on Jun 26, 2021 16:45:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2021 5:44:00 GMT
ASO the TDF organisers have said they are intending to sue the female fan who caused the first crash on stage 1. The authorities are currently trying to identify the idiot responsible for the crash, and hope it will send a message to make other fans think about how their actions may impact on the race. linkFour riders (currently) are already out of the race with doubts also over Chris Froome starting stage 2 after he appeared in serious pain after getting caught in the second crash and finished over 14 minutes down yesterday.
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Post by franklin on Jun 27, 2021 7:44:25 GMT
ASO the TDF organisers have said they are intending to sue the female fan who caused the first crash on stage 1. The authorities are currently trying to identify the idiot responsible for the crash, and hope it will send a message to make other fans think about how their actions may impact on the race. linkFour riders (currently) are already out of the race with doubts also over Chris Froome starting stage 2 after he appeared in serious pain after getting caught in the second crash and finished over 14 minutes down yesterday. They should be held to account its pure selfish idiots literally decimating the race.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2021 8:34:40 GMT
Looks like Froomey is starting stage 2.
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2021 TDF
Jun 27, 2021 15:45:07 GMT
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Post by teenagefanclub on Jun 27, 2021 15:45:07 GMT
I was only a day out for Van Der Poel, pity the bookies won't let me off.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2021 17:43:24 GMT
Terrific finish by Van Der Poel, he's one hell of a rider. It's started off nicely and looking to be a really entertaining and enjoyable TDF. There seems to be a definite change in the hierarchy now with the new "young guns" at the top of the GC at the moment. The time trial on stage 5 could/should re-arrange the order with Roglic and Pogacar currently not far behind VDP and it will be interesting to see how the mountain stages affects the GC.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2021 20:58:41 GMT
Stage 3 should be one for a sprint finish. It would be good to see Cav win but I'm going for Caleb Ewan.
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Post by teenagefanclub on Jun 27, 2021 21:11:16 GMT
Stage 3 should be one for a sprint finish. It would be good to see Cav win but I'm going for Caleb Ewan. Heart leading head head for tomorrow with a tenner on Cav at 15/2
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 6:42:29 GMT
Just seen on the news that French police are actively trying to find the idiot that caused the huge crash on stage 1 and confirmed they will be prosecuted when traced.
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 7:47:02 GMT
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 28, 2021 7:47:02 GMT
Just seen on the news that French police are actively trying to find the idiot that caused the huge crash on stage 1 and confirmed they will be prosecuted when traced. However severe the punishment is unfortunately there's still no known cure for rank stupidity.
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jun 28, 2021 8:31:35 GMT
Enjoying it so far. MvDP is such a classy rider it was nice to see him get a stage and the jersey.
I know its a long race and a lot can happen but Ineos are already so far down on GC can't see how they change it. Its pretty much Pogacar V Roglic
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Post by stokeuk474 on Jun 28, 2021 9:53:19 GMT
Enjoying it so far. MvDP is such a classy rider it was nice to see him get a stage and the jersey. I know its a long race and a lot can happen but Ineos are already so far down on GC can't see how they change it. Its pretty much Pogacar V Roglic Carapaz +8 secs Thomas +23 secs I wouldn't say they were that far down the GC mate! We know Thomas is a very good time triallist, and I would certainly expect him to put time into most of his rivals on the flat TT on Wednesday. Roglic is probably the best of the other GC contenders on the flat.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 10:07:41 GMT
I think Ineos are not showing their hand too early. Brian Smith on Eurosport said most riders don't want the yellow jersey so early in the race as it puts extra pressure on them and the team - post race interviews, the team has to ride on the front all the time, chase down riders etc. I think it ultimately will be between Roglic and Pogacar, but I think Thomas will (should) put time into most other riders in the TT (possibly excluding Roglic and Pogacar) and both he and Carapaz should be a threat in the mountains. Whether they can gain enough remains to be seen.
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 13:29:42 GMT
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Post by teenagefanclub on Jun 28, 2021 13:29:42 GMT
G down for a change ( not sure how lucky his luck glasses are )
Back in the peloton now though.
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Post by stokeuk474 on Jun 28, 2021 13:36:58 GMT
G down for a change ( not sure how lucky his luck glasses are ) Back in the peloton now though. He crashes too many times to just be 'unlucky'. He clearly has lapses in concentration. Good to see him back in the bunch though. Sounds like if he did indeed dislocate his shoulder, hopefully he can just get safely through to the finish today and tomorrow, and he should be feeling a bit better for a crack at the TT on Wednesday.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Jun 28, 2021 13:40:08 GMT
They've got to start moving the fans away from the riders somehow, it gets sillier by the year......
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 14:04:24 GMT
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Post by Bod on Jun 28, 2021 14:04:24 GMT
Enjoying it so far. MvDP is such a classy rider it was nice to see him get a stage and the jersey. I know its a long race and a lot can happen but Ineos are already so far down on GC can't see how they change it. Its pretty much Pogacar V Roglic Carapaz not dropping a huge chunk of time to the big two in TT will be key for me. Assuming that Thomas is competitive against the clock and stays close enough to the top of the GC to be a concern, if not necessarily someone who Roglic and Pogacar will lose sleep over, then a Carapaz/Thomas Ineos duo could at least make it interesting. For the sprinters, Ewan is the pick of the pure sprinters, but I won’t be surprised if Merlier and Demare pick up stages. If WVA gets interested in the green and has the freedom to go for it, then he is an absolute animal and will surely win at least one of the flatter stages, let alone a lumpier one.
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 15:29:54 GMT
via mobile
Bod likes this
Post by franklin on Jun 28, 2021 15:29:54 GMT
Chaos....
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 15:34:11 GMT
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Post by tuum on Jun 28, 2021 15:34:11 GMT
Ewan was on the ground for a long time (still on the tarmac apparently). Something must be hurting bad. Will he be able to continue?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 15:36:47 GMT
Another stage and yet more crashes - crazy.
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2021 TDF
Jun 28, 2021 15:37:00 GMT
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Post by Bod on Jun 28, 2021 15:37:00 GMT
Bloody sprint stages are always dull...
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jun 28, 2021 15:56:50 GMT
Another mental day. A sprint stage tomorrow as well
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 28, 2021 16:04:37 GMT
That did not look good.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2021 19:14:16 GMT
Ewan out with broken collarbone. Robert Gesink had abandoned due to an earlier fall. The teams and riders are not happy with the number of crashes in the Tour so far and ASO are taking a lot of flack tonight.
The riders have criticised the stage ending and before the stage started they had apparently asked ASO to take stage times 8 kms from the end due to the narrow roads leading to the finish. Numerous riders have been on Twitter since the stage ended.
Here's one from Andre Greipel: "Whoever designed today's stage of Le Tour should try to ride with 180 riders on a twisty five-metre wide road next to each other and pushing to the limits. Of course, we riders make the race at the end, but the riders also ask for an earlier time taking at 8km to go, which was refused."
Deceuninck-QuickStep rider Tim Declercq said after the stage that riders had requested before the stage start for GC times to be taken at eight kilometres from the finish, before a tight and technical descent towards the finish, but the request was not answered.
"I think it was something that we could've maybe expected," he said. "I knew from the riders that there was a demand to take the time at 8 kilometres to because we knew it was such a small road on the descent and a lot of chance for gaps to appear.
Former triple green jersey winner Robbie McEwen described the course design as "irresponsible", adding that the organisers showed a "total disregard for safety", with his Tweet retweeted by AG2R Citroën leader Ben O'Connor. "No pleasure in commentating on a Tour de France stage full of so many crashes resulting in nasty injuries, shattered hopes & riders out of the race," McEwen wrote. "Irresponsible course design, total disregard for safety & lack of respect for the athletes."
Cofidis leader Guillaume Martin said he had survived a 'slalom' through the crashes and added that there must be a reflection on what happened during the stage. Groupama-FDJ's William Bonnet wrote that the riders are always the last priority, while Ineos Grenadiers' Michał Kwiatkowski also took note of the conditions during the early stages of the race. "Phew! Arrived safely after a slalom event in the middle of the falls. A reflection must undoubtedly be carried out to avoid the chaos that we saw in the end," wrote Martin. "In F1 there's qualifying for a reason," wrote Kwiatkowski. "What would happen in the first corner if everyone was allowed to start from P1? Success at Le Tour changes people's lives, and we're allowed 184 riders to take yellow, win a stage, take a jersey on day one, but we all know that road is eight metres wide."
Rider unions, the CPA and the newly founded The Rider's Union both weighed in with criticisms of the stage and how it was planned.
"Whilst we want to acknowledge Tim Merlier’s win in this crash-marred race, our priority is – as it always is – rider safety. We are currently in direct conversation with riders. We will keep you updated via our website and social channels," wrote the CPA.
"The events of today are not incidents. There is something wrong with the choice of parcours and signing it off. Thinking more rules is the answer to greater safety is false. Common sense is. Racing has become faster – don't use it as an excuse, but as reason for better safety!" wrote The Rider's Union.
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