Fantasy Tour de France 2020

[LM240]

Jimbo. said:

lauda said:

I know it’s a bit tedious to keep asking if Pogacar is the new Merckx but I actually think he is. Another incredible ride today.

Feel for Kamna though.

“Unbelievable”…just in the Greg Lemond context.

That was a brutal finish. You know when they are crawling up, grinding it out that it is horrid. The shot when Pog and Vin were just catching up with Kam on the bend, it really showed how steep the gradient was.

I’m pretty cynical, but I’d like to reserve judgement on Pog cheating in any way, just because he is next level at the moment. Even when he first appeared at the Vuelta it was clear he was special. Hopefully they’ll be no scandal in the future which throws that belief in the bin!

Edited by LM240 on Saturday 9th July 12:28

[lauda]

I swapped out Ganna for Michael Matthews today and made him my road captain. Except I had a total brain fart and bought Michael Woods instead. What a plank.

[Jimbo.]

LM240 said:

Jimbo. said:

lauda said:

I know it’s a bit tedious to keep asking if Pogacar is the new Merckx but I actually think he is. Another incredible ride today.

Feel for Kamna though.

“Unbelievable”…just in the Greg Lemond context.

That was a brutal finish. You know when they are crawling up, grinding it out that it is horrid. The shot when Pog and Vin were just catching up with Kam on the bend, it really showed how steep the gradient was.

I’m pretty cynical, but I’d like to reserve judgement on Pog cheating in any way, just because he is next level at the moment. Even when he first appeared at the Vuelta it was clear he was special. Hopefully they’ll be no scandal in the future which throws that belief in the bin!

Edited by LM240 on Saturday 9th July 12:28

Therein lies the problem: given these athletes are on the very cusp of what’s achievable by humans, and that there’s only the tiniest of differences between the main GC riders, to see Pog ride away from everyone and indeed be on another level, is just too suspicions. Especially when you see Vingegaard damn near collapse as he went over the finish line yesterday, yet Pog barely look out of breath. The last rider to make it look that easy was Armstrong.

[LM240]

Jimbo. said:

LM240 said:

Jimbo. said:

lauda said:

I know it’s a bit tedious to keep asking if Pogacar is the new Merckx but I actually think he is. Another incredible ride today.

Feel for Kamna though.

“Unbelievable”…just in the Greg Lemond context.

That was a brutal finish. You know when they are crawling up, grinding it out that it is horrid. The shot when Pog and Vin were just catching up with Kam on the bend, it really showed how steep the gradient was.

I’m pretty cynical, but I’d like to reserve judgement on Pog cheating in any way, just because he is next level at the moment. Even when he first appeared at the Vuelta it was clear he was special. Hopefully they’ll be no scandal in the future which throws that belief in the bin!

Edited by LM240 on Saturday 9th July 12:28

Therein lies the problem: given these athletes are on the very cusp of what’s achievable by humans, and that there’s only the tiniest of differences between the main GC riders, to see Pog ride away from everyone and indeed be on another level, is just too suspicions. Especially when you see Vingegaard damn near collapse as he went over the finish line yesterday, yet Pog barely look out of breath. The last rider to make it look that easy was Armstrong.

If there is any potion, the rest of UAE are getting any!

Though he has to be one of the most tested riders on the peloton.

However, any day you get someone putting in an outstanding ride when they don’t normally make much of an impact, are we to think they all on something special that day. The past is bound to make every educated spectator skeptical, I guess that can’t be helped. Which is a shame.

[anonymous-user]

Pog is winning a lot but Rog and Jumbo are doing their best to give these races away. Rog crashed last year and had to abandon and Vinegaard just wasn’t good enough…fast forward to 2022 and history appears to repeating itself…

Anyway, rest day tomorrow so here are some questions.

Are Israel-Premier Tech and Michael Woods even at this race?
Is G really a dark horse for the podium?
Who has been the biggest disappointment so far?
Who will be best Frenchman?
Could I the fight for yellow be over by this the next week?

[LM240]

pablo said:

Pog is winning a lot but Rog and Jumbo are doing their best to give these races away. Rog crashed last year and had to abandon and Vinegaard just wasn’t good enough…fast forward to 2022 and history appears to repeating itself…

Anyway, rest day tomorrow so here are some questions.

Are Israel-Premier Tech and Michael Woods even at this race?
Is G really a dark horse for the podium?
Who has been the biggest disappointment so far?
Who will be best Frenchman?
Could I the fight for yellow be over by this the next week?

There have been a few riders so far who I’ve been surprised just haven’t shown up despite good decent form. I’ve found the stages, especially the flatter ones, just haven’t gone as I expected though that has largely been a result of WvA. I also didn’t expect POG to be so aggressive before the mountains.

Still MVDP has probably been biggest disappointment during the race (especially as I’d wasted credits on him).

I think G is a genuine podium contender. He certainly seems to have the form.

Apart from VIN, I’m not sure who else can make up the time on POG unless he suddenly snaps.

I’ve left myself with two changes left. Less than I would have liked and quite limited with credits on who would be swapped out. Quite difficult to balance the next few stages, I think I’ll take a hit on a couple of the flatter days though the way things have been going perhaps the GC will continue to dominate. Stage 19 will be my final changes to cope with TT and final flatter stages. Before then, I’ll be weighting more towards GC and climbers.

[anonymous-user]

Forgot a few stages apologies

Today


Tomorrow - that’s going to split quicker than a first date on a college prom night


Friday - first climb is literally “a side of Brie”


Sarah Cracknell (because I was 14 when “you’re in a bad way” was released….)

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 13th July 11:17

[LM240]

Not watched stage 11 yet, but things look like they’ve got interesting for the race.

Bit gutted, nearly gave VIN stage bonus but thought it was silly with POG showing such great form.

EDIT…

Watched S11 now. Errrrrrr wasn’t expecting that and certainly not that sort of time gap!! Apparently a fueling error for POG, we will see on next big climb. Can POG come back?

(DS-JSY)

Edited by LM240 on Wednesday 13th July 20:09

[LM240]

Bonus on VIN, so I know what will happen, POG will come back and destroy everyone!

[JayRidesBikes]

Had bonus on Vingegard yesterday, I thought Jumbo would attack Pog yesterday and try and crack him and I was right. I think Pog will come out fighting today though and take a bit of time back.. Bonus on Pog for today.

[LM240]

JayRidesBikes said:

Had bonus on Vingegard yesterday, I thought Jumbo would attack Pog yesterday and try and crack him and I was right. I think Pog will come out fighting today though and take a bit of time back.. Bonus on Pog for today.

It’s a tough one, we’ve not really been here before.

Is VIN just very strong (in combo with the Jumbo teamwork), is something up with POG longer term or was it simply just a bad day for POG with mis-fueling being mentioned.

I can’t believe POG is broken, so will likely find he’s smashed everyone up today and back in yellow! Either way with the bonus, I’m sure VIN won’t be too far behind fighting for GC.

[okgo]

For me he let his ego get the better of him, following everything like a new puppy, attacking over the top a couple of times with 60k to go, then leading JV up the final climb early doors. He did far too much and paid for it. And of course got worked over also.

[Matt_N]

Tom Pidcock, chapeau.

[anonymous-user]

So nearly stuck double points bonus on Froome today, I just thought he’d go well as brits tend to like AdH for some reason….

I think Pog can put the time on Vin in the TT next week, it’s 40kms but it will be close. G should go well too and secure third

[LM240]

pablo said:

So nearly stuck double points bonus on Froome today, I just thought he’d go well as brits tend to like AdH for some reason….

I think Pog can put the time on Vin in the TT next week, it’s 40kms but it will be close. G should go well too and secure third

That’s unlucky after being brave enough to select froome on your team.

I thought pidcock might go for a stage but didn’t quite expect this performance, so giving him the bonus yesterday never occurred to me. Played safe with a GC contender.

[anonymous-user]

Stage 14 Saturday. The final 5kms sees them gain 350m of altitude which could be really painful


Stage 15 Sunday. This could be good, a break may top that last hill with a good time advantage but it’s still 50kms to the end

[anonymous-user]

Tuesday - break


Weds - nope


Thurs - nope

[LM240]

Here we go, final week. It’s a big gap for POG to make up but excited to see what he can produce to try and beat VIN.

Need to keep my eye on the ball amongst a busy schedule this week in terms of fantasy team. (Anyone been to ‘look mum no hands’ cycle shop in London? Around there on Sunday and looking at website it looks like it might be good fun to watch final stage with a few drinks).

I’ve got two more moves to make and have an idea which way to go for the final three stages. As ever, not quite enough credits to do the ideal selection.

Happy so far how it has gone, no major errors. Gruffy ready to snatch yellow at any moment!

[JayRidesBikes]

A day for the break away for me, both UAE and Jumbo have depleted squads I'm not sure they will be able to control the break. Going for Powless as captain today. I think Pog will attack Vingegard again but won't get the stage win.

[okgo]

LMNH is a good atmosphere for sure.

Re Pog, I think he will need to be within around 1 minute of Jonas V by the TT to win so about 80-90 seconds to find on him ahead of that - could happen given Jumbo have lost a number of their domestiques, but likely the only stage hard enough will be Thursday?