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Post by stokeuk474 on Jul 2, 2021 7:45:14 GMT
I think today's stage is going to be a really interesting one.
Will the break make it all the way to the finish, or will it be the GC men? Certainly the 249km will affect the outcome, that is a hell of a day in the saddle. On paper, the profile looks very much suited to the break, but it could be one of those days where the climbs end up being much tougher than the profile suggests. I understand the Signal D'Uchon has never been tackled before but it has some sections at 18%!
I think perhaps a small group(from the original break) will fight it out for the stage, but then behind, the GC battle will get going as someone will inevitably have a go on those steep sections.
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Post by Bod on Jul 2, 2021 8:40:41 GMT
I think today's stage is going to be a really interesting one. Will the break make it all the way to the finish, or will it be the GC men? Certainly the 249km will affect the outcome, that is a hell of a day in the saddle. On paper, the profile looks very much suited to the break, but it could be one of those days where the climbs end up being much tougher than the profile suggests. I understand the Signal D'Uchon has never been tackled before but it has some sections at 18%! I think perhaps a small group(from the original break) will fight it out for the stage, but then behind, the GC battle will get going as someone will inevitably have a go on those steep sections. Agree completely. Sometimes the stages which are touted as epic with a mass of 1st and HC climbs are tame as everyone is terrified and nothing happens until the end. Whereas the profile for today should be set up for attacking riding with a number of people who could potentially look to pull back a little time or put some time into rivals. Really looking forward to it and all the backloaded climbing means I should be home for the interesting part but I bet it will be carnage to try and get into a break so the flat start could be a bit brutal too.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Jul 2, 2021 14:07:10 GMT
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2021 TDF
Jul 2, 2021 15:07:14 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Jul 2, 2021 15:07:14 GMT
Great stage.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2021 15:13:09 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed today's stage which had almost everything. Looking interesting for the GC and the mountains stages will obviously now have a big impact. Surprised to see Nibali so high up, looks bad for Roglic. Hoping Carapaz can have a good couple of days to put him in with a chance. After having made a couple of transfers in my fantasy team due to injuries I actually got a 1-2 today with Mohoric and Stuyven !
Should be a cracker tomorrow with 3 Cat 1 climbs including the col de la Colombiere close to the finish. I'm undecided who to go for just at the moment.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2021 22:30:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2021 23:08:52 GMT
I see ASO have withdrawn their intention to sue the fan who caused the big crash on stage 3. Tour director Christian Prudhomme said the "story has been blown out of all proportion", but he hoped the message about fan behaviour and rider safety had been made clear to everyone.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2021 15:23:17 GMT
Incredible performance from Pogacar today - just crushed the other GC contenders. Is that the yellow jersey for him all the way to Paris ? If he doesn't have any crashes or mechanical problems I can't see anyone else coming close.
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2021 TDF
Jul 3, 2021 16:24:57 GMT
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Post by yes on Jul 3, 2021 16:24:57 GMT
Incredible performance from Pogacar today - just crushed the other GC contenders. Is that the yellow jersey for him all the way to Paris ? If he doesn't have any crashes or mechanical problems I can't see anyone else coming close. Never watched TDF properly before this year. Looks like I may have made a mistake, should have watched a few average years first.
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2021 TDF
Jul 4, 2021 7:27:06 GMT
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jul 4, 2021 7:27:06 GMT
Incredible performance from Pogacar today - just crushed the other GC contenders. Is that the yellow jersey for him all the way to Paris ? If he doesn't have any crashes or mechanical problems I can't see anyone else coming close. Yeah you’d think so. I would imagine the only other way would be if he cracked. It’s still a decent way to Paris and the other GC teams need to work on isolating him as early as possible for as many days as possible. He’s still only 22 so the lack of experience of being in the race lead might catch up with him. Absolutely incredible ride though. He also made it look really easy as well
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2021 9:04:50 GMT
Incredible performance from Pogacar today - just crushed the other GC contenders. Is that the yellow jersey for him all the way to Paris ? If he doesn't have any crashes or mechanical problems I can't see anyone else coming close. Yeah you’d think so. I would imagine the only other way would be if he cracked. It’s still a decent way to Paris and the other GC teams need to work on isolating him as early as possible for as many days as possible. He’s still only 22 so the lack of experience of being in the race lead might catch up with him. Absolutely incredible ride though. He also made it look really easy as well I think he's genuine but a ride like that, seeing the way he just blasted past the other riders almost made me think there's a hidden motor somewhere, he was that good !
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2021 14:32:32 GMT
Roglic a non-starter today, and lousy weather conditions.
Another stage, another terrific performance ! Chapeau Ben O'Connor !
Pogacar yet again on a different planet to tge rest of the GC contenders - it's turning into a bit of a foregone conclusion already isn't it !
Edit : Special mention as well for Sonny Colbrelli who amazingly finished third today !
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Post by marylandstoke on Jul 4, 2021 15:47:25 GMT
What a day!
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2021 TDF
Jul 4, 2021 18:42:56 GMT
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Post by Bod on Jul 4, 2021 18:42:56 GMT
Watching Carapaz’s attack and Pogacar’s response brought two things to mind. The first was ‘You shouldn’t have poked the bear’ and the second was ‘It was the equivalent of firing a peashooter at a tank.’ In fairness though, it had the desired effect on a few others in the group. I hope the fireworks of the first week don’t give way to a dull remaining two weeks.
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2021 TDF
Jul 4, 2021 19:16:59 GMT
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Post by stokeuk474 on Jul 4, 2021 19:16:59 GMT
Is it just me, or does Pogacar look 'too' good at the moment?
Something just doesn't sit quite right with me when someone is that far ahead of the rest of the field. I suppose it was similar for Bernal at the Giro? Now that would be a fantastic contest if he was at the tour.
Are there any days where he could be put under pressure ie crosswinds? He lost time in crosswinds last year I think.
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2021 TDF
Jul 4, 2021 19:28:24 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Jul 4, 2021 19:28:24 GMT
Another great stage. The GC seems done already.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2021 19:48:41 GMT
Is it just me, or does Pogacar look 'too' good at the moment? Something just doesn't sit quite right with me when someone is that far ahead of the rest of the field. I suppose it was similar for Bernal at the Giro? Now that would be a fantastic contest if he was at the tour. Are there any days where he could be put under pressure ie crosswinds? He lost time in crosswinds last year I think. I'm not saying there is any "skullduggery" going on with Pogacar, but to be so far ahead, so easily, and so early in the race does make me wonder HOW ? Yes he's most probably the outstanding rider in the race but he is up against top class riders and is just leaving them in his wake. Is he the next 5 times ()or however many) winner to follow in the wake of Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain ? Bernal won the Giro by 1 minute 29 seconds at the end of 3 weeks whereas Pogacar is already 2 minutes 1 second ahead after just 9 stages although compared to previous TDF's that list of riders doesn't seem as strong. I can't see O'Connor maintaining 2nd place and Uran in 3rd place is already more than 5 minutes behind Pogacar. I think unless Pogacar has a crash he's alrwady won it, the only question is by just how much. GIRO D'ITALIA 2021 FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 86-17-28 2. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, at 1-29 3. Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange, at 4-15 4. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech, at 6-40 5. Daniel Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7-24 6. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at same time 7. Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, at 8-05 8. Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo, at 8-56 9. Tobias Foss (Nor) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 11-44 10. Dan Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation, at 18-35 TDF 2021 AFTER STAGE 9 GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Tadej Pogačar 2. Ben O'Connor +2:01 3. Rigoberto Uran +5:18 4. Jonas Vingegaard +5:32 5. Richard Carapaz +5:33 6. Enric Mas +5:47 7. Wilco Kelderman +5:58 8. Alexey Lutsenko +6:12 9. Guillaume Martin +7:02 10. David Gaudu +7:22
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2021 TDF
Jul 4, 2021 20:01:59 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Jul 4, 2021 20:01:59 GMT
Plus cav made the cut off today
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2021 TDF
Jul 5, 2021 2:54:52 GMT
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Post by tuum on Jul 5, 2021 2:54:52 GMT
It's a real shame that Pogacar's performances to date will always provoke the question 'is he clean?'. I almost felt guilty for asking this question in my head. However, I was talking to a good friend about the TdF and he came straight out and said the same thing. Stunning performance.. if clean! It seems everyone who watches cycling has this question. I wonder how many cycling journalists are currently snooping around the bins at the back of Pogacar's hotel? 🤔
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 5:34:57 GMT
It's a real shame that Pogacar's performances to date will always provoke the question 'is he clean?'. I almost felt guilty for asking this question in my head. However, I was talking to a good friend about the TdF and he came straight out and said the same thing. Stunning performance.. if clean! It seems everyone who watches cycling has this question. I wonder how many cycling journalists are currently snooping around the bins at the back of Pogacar's hotel? 🤔 I felt exactly the same ! I had always thought and hoped that all of Team Sky's wins were clean. I'd read the book "InsideTeam Sky" by David Walsh (who exposed Lance Armstrong). He was embedded in Team Sky for the 2013 TDF and he concluded that as far as he could ascertain Team Sky were 100% clean - then the Wiggins jiffy bag questiions from 2012 came years later. Froome seemed and still does IMO seem clean, even though there were the salbutamol questions later. Thomas's and Bernal's victories seemed clean, and also still do IMO. Last year seemed clean with Roglic all set to win until Pogacar's anazing race winning time trial on stage 20 overturned the result when he hadn't previously shown such prowess. Serious questions were raised about the nature of that astonishing performance. This year already we have seen several examples of Pogacar's utterly incredible and dominant performances - that ride on stage 8 was just amazing. He was on the big ring, on the steepest of climbs, still sat down, and he just swept past his main GC contenders without any apparent real effort. The other big question for me lies with his team management at UAE Emirates - Alexander Vinokourov and Iban Mayo. When Pogacar climbed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 8 he took 45 seconds (3%) off the record set by........Vinokourov and later equalled by Mayo, both of whom tested positive for EPO during their careers. The other camp thinks we are witnessing the early stages of the next TDF great champion who could even surpass the 5 victories acheived by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain, after all Pogacar is still only 22. It may be that the GC contenders (except Roglic) are not in the same league as Pogacar this year (the names in the current top 10 seems to support this), but in my opinion Pogacar's dominant performances do, sadly, raise doubts as it all looks "too easy".
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Post by salopstick on Jul 5, 2021 6:08:46 GMT
It's a real shame that Pogacar's performances to date will always provoke the question 'is he clean?'. I almost felt guilty for asking this question in my head. However, I was talking to a good friend about the TdF and he came straight out and said the same thing. Stunning performance.. if clean! It seems everyone who watches cycling has this question. I wonder how many cycling journalists are currently snooping around the bins at the back of Pogacar's hotel? 🤔 I felt exactly the same ! I had always thought and hoped that all of Team Sky's wins were clean. I'd read the book "InsideTeam Sky" by David Walsh (who exposed Lance Armstrong). He was embedded in Team Sky for the 2013 TDF and he concluded that as far as he could ascertain Team Sky were 100% clean - then the Wiggins jiffy bag questiions from 2012 came years later. Froome seemed and still does IMO seem clean, even though there were the salbutamol questions later. Thomas's and Bernal's victories seemed clean, and also still do IMO. Last year seemed clean with Roglic all set to win until Pogacar's anazing race winning time trial on stage 20 overturned the result when he hadn't previously shown such prowess. Serious questions were raised about the nature of that astonishing performance. This year already we have seen several examples of Pogacar's utterly incredible and dominant performances - that ride on stage 8 was just amazing. He was on the big ring, on the steepest of climbs, still sat down, and he just swept past his main GC contenders without any apparent real effort. The other big question for me lies with his team management at UAE Emirates - Alexander Vinokourov and Iban Mayo. When Pogacar climbed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 8 he took 45 seconds (3%) off the record set by........Vinokourov and later equalled by Mayo, both of whom tested positive for EPO during their careers. The other camp thinks we are witnessing the early stages of the next TDF great champion who could even surpass the 5 victories acheived by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain, after all Pogacar is still only 22. It may be that the GC contenders (except Roglic) are not in the same league as Pogacar this year (the names in the current top 10 seems to support this), but in my opinion Pogacar's dominant performances do, sadly, raise doubts as it all looks "too easy". It amazes me after Armstrong and everything how anyone would even consider it in these days
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 6:14:43 GMT
I felt exactly the same ! I had always thought and hoped that all of Team Sky's wins were clean. I'd read the book "InsideTeam Sky" by David Walsh (who exposed Lance Armstrong). He was embedded in Team Sky for the 2013 TDF and he concluded that as far as he could ascertain Team Sky were 100% clean - then the Wiggins jiffy bag questiions from 2012 came years later. Froome seemed and still does IMO seem clean, even though there were the salbutamol questions later. Thomas's and Bernal's victories seemed clean, and also still do IMO. Last year seemed clean with Roglic all set to win until Pogacar's anazing race winning time trial on stage 20 overturned the result when he hadn't previously shown such prowess. Serious questions were raised about the nature of that astonishing performance. This year already we have seen several examples of Pogacar's utterly incredible and dominant performances - that ride on stage 8 was just amazing. He was on the big ring, on the steepest of climbs, still sat down, and he just swept past his main GC contenders without any apparent real effort. The other big question for me lies with his team management at UAE Emirates - Alexander Vinokourov and Iban Mayo. When Pogacar climbed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 8 he took 45 seconds (3%) off the record set by........Vinokourov and later equalled by Mayo, both of whom tested positive for EPO during their careers. The other camp thinks we are witnessing the early stages of the next TDF great champion who could even surpass the 5 victories acheived by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain, after all Pogacar is still only 22. It may be that the GC contenders (except Roglic) are not in the same league as Pogacar this year (the names in the current top 10 seems to support this), but in my opinion Pogacar's dominant performances do, sadly, raise doubts as it all looks "too easy". It amazes me after Armstrong and everything how anyone would even consider it in these days I agree but something does "feel" right about Pogacar's performances. We saw it again yesterday, it's just as though he flucks a switch and zooms away without any apparent increased effort.
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Post by stokeuk474 on Jul 5, 2021 9:16:29 GMT
It's a real shame that Pogacar's performances to date will always provoke the question 'is he clean?'. I almost felt guilty for asking this question in my head. However, I was talking to a good friend about the TdF and he came straight out and said the same thing. Stunning performance.. if clean! It seems everyone who watches cycling has this question. I wonder how many cycling journalists are currently snooping around the bins at the back of Pogacar's hotel? 🤔 I felt exactly the same ! I had always thought and hoped that all of Team Sky's wins were clean. I'd read the book "InsideTeam Sky" by David Walsh (who exposed Lance Armstrong). He was embedded in Team Sky for the 2013 TDF and he concluded that as far as he could ascertain Team Sky were 100% clean - then the Wiggins jiffy bag questiions from 2012 came years later. Froome seemed and still does IMO seem clean, even though there were the salbutamol questions later. Thomas's and Bernal's victories seemed clean, and also still do IMO. Last year seemed clean with Roglic all set to win until Pogacar's anazing race winning time trial on stage 20 overturned the result when he hadn't previously shown such prowess. Serious questions were raised about the nature of that astonishing performance. This year already we have seen several examples of Pogacar's utterly incredible and dominant performances - that ride on stage 8 was just amazing. He was on the big ring, on the steepest of climbs, still sat down, and he just swept past his main GC contenders without any apparent real effort. The other big question for me lies with his team management at UAE Emirates - Alexander Vinokourov and Iban Mayo. When Pogacar climbed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 8 he took 45 seconds (3%) off the record set by........Vinokourov and later equalled by Mayo, both of whom tested positive for EPO during their careers. The other camp thinks we are witnessing the early stages of the next TDF great champion who could even surpass the 5 victories acheived by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain, after all Pogacar is still only 22. It may be that the GC contenders (except Roglic) are not in the same league as Pogacar this year (the names in the current top 10 seems to support this), but in my opinion Pogacar's dominant performances do, sadly, raise doubts as it all looks "too easy". Sadly because of the sport's history, these questions will always crop up. The difference between Wiggins and Froome's victories were that they weren't just riding away from the rest of the field by minutes, their wins were by much smaller margins. You could argue that Wiggins wouldn't have won without the time trials. Pogacar could just turn out to be one of those freak athletes who is just simply gifted, but we will only know further down the line I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 9:22:19 GMT
I felt exactly the same ! I had always thought and hoped that all of Team Sky's wins were clean. I'd read the book "InsideTeam Sky" by David Walsh (who exposed Lance Armstrong). He was embedded in Team Sky for the 2013 TDF and he concluded that as far as he could ascertain Team Sky were 100% clean - then the Wiggins jiffy bag questiions from 2012 came years later. Froome seemed and still does IMO seem clean, even though there were the salbutamol questions later. Thomas's and Bernal's victories seemed clean, and also still do IMO. Last year seemed clean with Roglic all set to win until Pogacar's anazing race winning time trial on stage 20 overturned the result when he hadn't previously shown such prowess. Serious questions were raised about the nature of that astonishing performance. This year already we have seen several examples of Pogacar's utterly incredible and dominant performances - that ride on stage 8 was just amazing. He was on the big ring, on the steepest of climbs, still sat down, and he just swept past his main GC contenders without any apparent real effort. The other big question for me lies with his team management at UAE Emirates - Alexander Vinokourov and Iban Mayo. When Pogacar climbed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 8 he took 45 seconds (3%) off the record set by........Vinokourov and later equalled by Mayo, both of whom tested positive for EPO during their careers. The other camp thinks we are witnessing the early stages of the next TDF great champion who could even surpass the 5 victories acheived by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain, after all Pogacar is still only 22. It may be that the GC contenders (except Roglic) are not in the same league as Pogacar this year (the names in the current top 10 seems to support this), but in my opinion Pogacar's dominant performances do, sadly, raise doubts as it all looks "too easy". Sadly because of the sport's history, these questions will always crop up. The difference between Wiggins and Froome's victories were that they weren't just riding away from the rest of the field by minutes, their wins were by much smaller margins. You could argue that Wiggins wouldn't have won without the time trials. Pogacar could just turn out to be one of those freak athletes who is just simply gifted, but we will only know further down the line I suppose. I agree about Wiggins and Froome, plus Ithink the opposition was better. With Pogacar time will tell (as with Armstrong !), but for me with Vinokourov and Mayo as his team management there will always be a strong element of doubt.
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Post by Bod on Jul 5, 2021 9:30:49 GMT
I think that at least Pogacar was a prodigious talent as a youngster who didn’t suddenly develop the ability to climb and time trial as was the MO of countless riders in the 90’s and 00’s. He had shown that ability, rather than going from being a sprinter who could climb a bit, for example, who was then storming through the mountains with a cigar on (Hincapie always springs to mind.) Looking at it with a cynical eye though it has a very definite whiff of ‘Extraterrestrial’ about it but maybe he is just that good? Then again, my favourite era was the 1990’s (big gears and thick blood) and so I’d be a hypocrite to say I don’t enjoy seeing someone put in performances like he is.
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jul 5, 2021 10:05:16 GMT
I suppose if Roglic was still in the race Pogacar's attacks might have seemed a little less impressive as I suspect Roglic would have been able to follow for at least a bit.
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jul 5, 2021 10:08:17 GMT
On a slight side note I've started watching the XC mountain biking on Redbull TV. I find it a very enjoyable watch. The races are relatively short (circa an hour - 1.5 hours) and there seems plenty of drama and you get womens and mens race pretty much back to back.
Hopefully once the world gets back to some form of normality I'll get the opportunity to go and watch one of the worldcup rounds.
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2021 TDF
Jul 5, 2021 10:11:38 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Jul 5, 2021 10:11:38 GMT
The most likely cause is the current crop of GC riders are either aging so on the wane or still young.
Guys who were challenging ineos a few years ago seem nowhere now
That makes the odd good guy look better than what he is
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2021 TDF
Jul 5, 2021 10:12:25 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Jul 5, 2021 10:12:25 GMT
This tour is all about Cav winning stages now
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 11:45:15 GMT
The most likely cause is the current crop of GC riders are either aging so on the wane or still young. Guys who were challenging ineos a few years ago seem nowhere now That makes the odd good guy look better than what he is Ineos have had a shocker so far haven't they.
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