Pro-cycling thread

Worth bearing in mind that, generally speaking, the speed of ascents is notably slower now than it was during the Armstrong heyday and the riders have much more sophiscated equipment and train regimes. Of course there is still doping, but unlikely on the industrial scale of yesteryear

They haven’t had the need to stifle the race so far. Let’s see how the next week plays out; my guess is that Ineos are back to their usual ways. I listened to Lances podcast yesterday and Bruyneel both said that any time Ineos needed numbers, their whole team was there working but other teams didn’t. Both of them reckoned Ineos are keeping their powder dry as they haven’t needed to race full gas so far.

Ticks double bill.

The weather forecast for next week is interesting, with temperatures in the high 30s/low 40s forecast for the south of France.

I did wonder about that yesterday.
Although couldn’t really come to any conclusions as to who that might favour.

The. columbians and Spanish who like it hot possible.

Not Thibaut!

Thomas said he was struggling with the heat yesterday...

Colombians*

Yep . conquistadors

This

I've been a member for years.
and
I don't want to annoy anyone on the forum

Don’t add up, you must be new here!

Same for Yates? He was very poor

There's not a lot of room at the top of the Tourmalet, will be curious to see where they fit all the infrastructure. Last time I was there it was in the back of a Lada. Probably get better weather today though.

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@staggy

Bro do you even forum?

I like Georges idea on lances podcast today that the french teams might start helping Alaphilippe as no one likes the ineos train, would make it more spicey

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.00806/full

I can't find the study but the latest I read was that they impair or do nothing for performance but assisted in recovery somehow. More work needs to be done.

Apparently some teams have spent up to $100k on them for the tour so they must think they do something as its a lot for a bad tasting placebo

Fog and cloudy as well today

If it does indeed help recovery then on a multi-day race that's as good as gold. My point was that the study eliminated or at least cast doubt on any performance improvements whilst riding, ie. necking a bottle ain't gonna knock 1min off your 25 PB.

It’s not going to happen. This idea that teams will collaborate to beat a rival is a myth. You’ll see occasional tactical collaboration, like on the stage to Albi where there was a chance to distance some GC rivals, but this idea that they’ll work together as a cohesive unit to defeat a stronger rival is a fantasy.

Bernal to attack today and let Thomas sit on Alaphillipe's wheel?

Possible but unlikely, it just isn't the Skyneos way to place their leading rider at risk.

The French teams won't collaborate, they would rather anyone else won than a rival French team.

no they wouldn't

Any idea what the protest is about?