Beast of a stage. I can’t wait for this. Everyone needs to be on point. Have a bad day and your tour is stuffed.
Looking forward to seeing if B O’Connor has a bit more mongrel left in him.
1 Like
I’d say he’ll lose a couple of minutes at least on the good descenders if it’s blown apart at that stage. Some chance the GC guys all just roll up softly in a group and descend carefully, especially if wet.
Doubt that O’connor will lose much time on the descents in the GC group and the descent from Mt Ventoux is not technical. The bigger question is whether he has any team support after the first ascent of Mt Ventoux.
2 Likes
Surely someone thinking they can get on the podium will attack hard. Seeing the way the Colombians put 40+ seconds in him the other night you’d have to be a little concerned.
But if non-technical then it’s not so much a problem. Would seem odd that the race organisers make a finish at the bottom of the descent not a difficult descent though…
Assuming he follows the wheels of Carapaz (I would), team support is less important unless he has a mechanical.
1 Like
see if they send team mates up the road to get in the break aways so they can help o’connor when he catches them.
some teams have an uncanny knack of finding there GC leader half way certain climbs
Yes, that can work if you’re planning to attack on the stage.
I suspect that O’Connor will be more defensively minded tonight.
Lucas Hamilton is one of the replacement riders for the Olympics RR which means they don’t trust Porte to be a sole leader - Unsure if they will select a second replacement or use a mountain biker to ride 10kms.
Meyer’s withdrawal from the Olympics - His dad’s illness is a contributing factor but not the most significant factor - He returned from the Giro in late May - Had to complete two weeks quarantine with only an ergo for company - Then joined the track squad in Brisbane in the second week of June - Returned to WA towards the end of June because his Father is gravely ill - Problem is that there were cases in WA and QLD at the time which meant he had to self isolate, so could not use the velodrome in Perth - Wanted to return to Brisbane to join the track squad but quarantine/self isolation has stopped this from happening - So in effect he is unable to train - Have posted the inflexibility with quarantine is destroying the hopes of some Olympians - Meyer will be better off returning to Europe ASAP where he will be treated as a professional athlete.
2 Likes
That’s pretty sht given the flexibility they seem to show to the AFL
1 Like
O’Connor struggling already. Hopefully can minimise losses.
Sprint it out with Cav one day, solo tempo up Ventoux the next 
1 Like
Pogacar dropped 
1 Like
absolute freakshow
1 Like
Van Aert
1 Like
Descent finishes on multi-mountain stages interrupt the flow of the stage - They are a no no in my books - No surprise that Pogacar showed weakness as it’s rare that a GC leader goes through a 3 week tour in flawless form.
3 Likes
Now Sagan’s out injured
Politt
Bunch sprint finishes getting rare
1 Like
The break was going to take the stage after 15kms because when the echelons formed Quickstep had three riders at the rear of the race - They didn’t have the strength today to bring back a break - Same could happen tomorrow - Great ride by Sweeney but he showed his inexperience by working too much in the break.
1 Like
So good to see so many Aussies performing so well. Imagine if Caleb Ewen was still there. Reckon we’re punching well above our weight. Great ride by Sweeney.
3 Likes
Big crash with 60kms to go - Yates, Kluge and L.Hamilton abandon - TDF has been a disaster for Team Bike Exchange - Hamilton was a replacement for Meyer in the Olympic RR - Will they be able to field a team ?
1 Like