Pro-cycling thread

Theory:

Quintana's "failure" in the breakaway he was in in the Pyrenees was a way of making everyone think he didn't have any legs and reassure them that he was safe to be allowed in a breakaway in a stage that he knew he could win back a chunk of time on.

Movistar meant it all along, and played their tactics superbly in that stage and today.

They were pulling the peloton earlier in today's stage, despite having three men in the breakaway, to thin out the GC contenders' trains to make sure they could get enough time off them.

Landa actually loves Quintana and found it really hard to blank him in that stage in the Pyrenees to sustain the myth of the "broken trident" as he sailed past, sharing the other teams.

I think Stranger Things might just have a more credible plot than that.

Aha the old Quintana classic three-airfinger-quotes for extra irony about his moment! We all should have spotted it and known Movistar are a brotherhood

I nearly added "And Valverde's actually an honest, good guy" but I knew that was stretching it that little bit too far.

Thomas should be docked two minutes for those glasses.

Who do you think Froome is rooting for from his hospital bed?

Someone french, so nobody throws piss on him next time he goes out in public

These kids are all in team kits I’m seeing at the tour. Maybe give aways or from merch. Stands?

I think the stage tomorrow won't be as dramatic but val thorens will be a do or die suffer extravaganza

Well, fuck.

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That was cray cray

G to Wout, “Bro, do you even Galibier?”

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-standings-geraint-thomas-egan-bernal-ineos-latest-news-2019-a9021206.html

I think tomorrow is going to go a bit weird. Quintana will not be allowed in the break. That long drop off the l'Iseran is could turn in to a war of the descenders which won't produce much and that comparatively short hack up to Tignes will be the stage of some ineffective tactics. Alaphillipe to lose maybe 30s.

My money would be on Bernal to win what will effectively be a royal rumble on the way up to Val Thorens.

Don’t see a huge shake out tomorrow. Bernal to nudge a bit further in front of Thomas maybe.

Saturday will be very different though. Quintana could go well up Val Thorens with it being long and steady.

It will be far too long for Alaphillipe who I fear will drop off the podium.

val thorens is not steep enough for drama

Your not steep enough for drama

It's the length that will do for the weak, not the steepness. Plus the accumulated tiredness.

I am half asking Iseran goes on forever and really high but is never crazy steep. There are looonng stretches of easy gradients. Right ?

Wout looked like he was really suffering up there. There was one part where it showed him eating a gel looking like it was absolutely rank and then getting on the radio like he was telling the team he was fucked.

Whatever Sky were putting in the bidons, the guys are really missing it.

Off topic, but where has David De La Cruz been all year?

Alaphilippe = Disc Brakes Are Great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV2EE_s1EEw

and tubeless !

also stop echoing Lance before @Fox listens to the podcast!

Didn't he break a collarbone earlier in the year? Anyway, he's about to start the Tour of Wallonia tomorrow.

before Fox listens to the podcast!

Not gonna happen. But if historical doping allegations about Lionel, Richard, François or TV's Daniel Friebe emerge I'm screwed :)