The professional cycling thread

The professional cycling thread

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ferrisbueller

29,343 posts

228 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
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DeejRC said:
Stunning following it on bbc txt. Cant wait for the highlights this evening, must see viewing I think. It sounds like between Jumbo and Ineos they were absolutely brutal on him. Interestingly it looks like Primoz is out of contention now and will be riding domestique to Jonas?
Ineos didn't really do anything. Roglic and Vingegaard double teamed Pogacar repeatedly and softened him up and then Jonas just blitzed him on the final climb. WvA was up the road earlier in the stage which was a continuous threat for Pogacar to manage with very little team support. And Roglic wasn't really in contention for the win IMO.

Not sure how Pogacar can respond to this. Jonas and Jumbo just look too strong. The rest of the podium is up for grabs. G rode brillliantly today.

JayRidesBikes

1,311 posts

130 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
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Superb tactics by Jumbo Visma today, I think isolating Pogacer and making him close down attack after attack is the only way to beat him..

If he had a decent team he would be unstoppable though.

Donbot

3,946 posts

128 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
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TBH I thought Pog was going to be unstoppable with or without a team. I feel sorry for the guy but this certainly makes things interesting. Unless Jumbo are so strong they just shut the race down.

thegreenhell

15,406 posts

220 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
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Pog hasn't got much of a team left to fight back, so it's going to take a huge individual effort if he's going to bring it back now.

DeejRC

5,811 posts

83 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
DeejRC said:
Stunning following it on bbc txt. Cant wait for the highlights this evening, must see viewing I think. It sounds like between Jumbo and Ineos they were absolutely brutal on him. Interestingly it looks like Primoz is out of contention now and will be riding domestique to Jonas?
Ineos didn't really do anything. Roglic and Vingegaard double teamed Pogacar repeatedly and softened him up and then Jonas just blitzed him on the final climb. WvA was up the road earlier in the stage which was a continuous threat for Pogacar to manage with very little team support. And Roglic wasn't really in contention for the win IMO.

Not sure how Pogacar can respond to this. Jonas and Jumbo just look too strong. The rest of the podium is up for grabs. G rode brillliantly today.
Jumbo kept hitting him one two with left and rights in front whilst Yates and G Sky-trained him from behind, so he was basically fighting a 4 way battle and he got caught between being punch drunk and ground down. Those are brutal Peloton tactics Jumbo and Ineos knew exactly what they were doing. Everybody went all in today and it was he cracks or we crack.
I now think its very interesting that Jumbo accept Primoz cracking to crack Pogacar open a bit, whilst Ineos still have Yates and G up there.
Tomorrow is going to be a day of absolute suffering tomorrow - what does Jonas have in him to defend Jaune when the needle is in the red? What is Pogacar's recovery ability like, physically and mentally?

Best day of racing for yonks!

ferrisbueller

29,343 posts

228 months

Wednesday 13th July 2022
quotequote all
Ineos were there to pick up the pieces, I wouldn't credit them with doing any of the damage to Pogacar. They just profited when he blew.

Kermit power

28,683 posts

214 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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ferrisbueller said:
Ineos were there to pick up the pieces, I wouldn't credit them with doing any of the damage to Pogacar. They just profited when he blew.
Which is arguably the smartest tactic of all, no?

The commentators on the highlights must've said at least 4 times words to the effect of "Thomas is in trouble! They've dropped him!" only for him to be right there on the wheel again a couple of minutes later. That steady pace watching his own output must surely take less out of him?

Donbot

3,946 posts

128 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Kermit power said:
ferrisbueller said:
Ineos were there to pick up the pieces, I wouldn't credit them with doing any of the damage to Pogacar. They just profited when he blew.
Which is arguably the smartest tactic of all, no?

The commentators on the highlights must've said at least 4 times words to the effect of "Thomas is in trouble! They've dropped him!" only for him to be right there on the wheel again a couple of minutes later. That steady pace watching his own output must surely take less out of him?
So far this Tour it doesn't look like he has any other choice.

Skyedriver

17,895 posts

283 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Yesterdays attacks on Pogacar were good to watch as a spectator but I bet he was thinking "oh F" her we go again. Concerted team effort there.

Re TV coverage, why has Lizzie replaced Boardman on the 7pm highlights showing, have I missed something.

Master Bean

3,584 posts

121 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
Yesterdays attacks on Pogacar were good to watch as a spectator but I bet he was thinking "oh F" her we go again. Concerted team effort there.

Re TV coverage, why has Lizzie replaced Boardman on the 7pm highlights showing, have I missed something.
He'll be back for the final week.

BoRED S2upid

19,714 posts

241 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Donbot said:
Kermit power said:
ferrisbueller said:
Ineos were there to pick up the pieces, I wouldn't credit them with doing any of the damage to Pogacar. They just profited when he blew.
Which is arguably the smartest tactic of all, no?

The commentators on the highlights must've said at least 4 times words to the effect of "Thomas is in trouble! They've dropped him!" only for him to be right there on the wheel again a couple of minutes later. That steady pace watching his own output must surely take less out of him?
So far this Tour it doesn't look like he has any other choice.
Big TT at the end will suit G if he has anything left. They will have done the maths. Can’t see him winning it but podium is possible IMO.

Katzenjammer

1,085 posts

179 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Watching Eurosport. Who knew Quintana’s first name was “Nai-yo”

smack

9,729 posts

192 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Hadn't seen Pidcock ride the mountains before, the boy can descend pretty good!

thegreenhell

15,406 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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smack said:
Hadn't seen Pidcock ride the mountains before, the boy can descend pretty good!
Seems he can climb pretty well too.

ferrisbueller

29,343 posts

228 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Just hoping he can hold on. This is phenomenal thus far.

hyperblue

2,802 posts

181 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Pretty ridiculous to win an Olympic Gold in MTB and potentially get a stage win at the TDF… fingers crossed!

ferrisbueller

29,343 posts

228 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Wow!

Awesome.

thegreenhell

15,406 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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hyperblue said:
Pretty ridiculous to win an Olympic Gold in MTB and potentially get a stage win at the TDF… fingers crossed!
And not just any old TDF stage. It's Alpe d'Huez on Bastille Day!

ferrisbueller

29,343 posts

228 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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Fair play, Froomey. Great effort.

Pogacar isn't giving it up.

Digger

14,699 posts

192 months

Thursday 14th July 2022
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I'm guessing he didn't dare try his Superman finish this time? smile

Only 22 as well!