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Alaphillipe has the same physique and weight as Contador, and although the comparison isn't flattering in terms of doping, he also TT'd amazingly well and climbed like a beast so I'm hoping he lasts the distance tomorrow. At 62kg you'd hope the weight isn't the issue anyways...
Was amazing seeing Alaphillipe and Thomas' form side by side earlier-Thomas looked faster and like he was smashing through every pedal stroke and by comparison Alaphillipe looked like he was taking a pedal down to the shops, really nice relaxed style.
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I agree, this has been a remarkable, captivating tour so far with so many ups and downs.
I’m also of the mind that Thomas rides for one of the most nefarious teams in history that’s headed by the king of the snakes, and thus today’s “on the ropes” interview was part of a wider plan to make JA think he can hang on until Paris and go into the red so badly that Thomas can plough a double digit lead into him and have it sewn up before Quickstep can say “how long until Omloop?”
mrJL
Scepticism is healthy and all but he’s not exactly melting faces on Hautacam circa 1999. He’s not doing that much more than Sagan would be doing if his bones weighed 10kg less.
And if he is on the gear he’s going to the nick if they can prove he did it on French soil once he gets caught which is far worse than most convicted cheats have dealt with so far.
He hasn’t dominated this tour any more than Simon Yates did last year’s Giro, and people didn’t seem suspicious of him? Or did they suspect him last year and then stopped doing so when he spectacularly choked on his own hubris this spring?
If he still swinging in the Alps then his transformation probably will be unbelievable, but until now he’s been marginally better than usual on punchy climbs and he’s been untroubled on flatter/rolling terrain, which for a guy with excellent pedigree on both those terrains who is moving into his prime years, with the huge psychological advantage of being a home darling in the iconic zenith event of the sport, is not really beyond reasonable doubt. Not for me anyway.