Off Topic Tour de France thread

I don’t know much about Hirschi. Is he a star of the future? Will he be a GC contender in time or is he more of a domestique who has had a couple of days in the sun?

 

Me neither tbh. He’s fairly young and this is his first tdf so I reckon he’ll be chuffed to bits with a stage win. His team have probably told him to reign it in for the remainder of the tour I reckon. As for GC contender in the future, who knows. He may be the next Cristano Ronaldo or the next Freddy Adu.

 

He seems to have been fairly prominent over the first 12 stages of his first TdF, so I reckon he will be one to watch next year. One to keep an eye on. Roglic is looking good. My money is on Pogacar but at the moment I can’t see him clawing back 44 seconds unless something dramatic happens to Roglic. This weekend is going to be crucial!

 

Just out of interest, has anyone ever seen a Sunderland jersey in the spectators? Can’t say I have. Although on the year that me and Mrs K get to go over and follow it I’ll be wearing one every day.
Onto the race, unless I’m reading the tactics all wrong, Ineos look like also-rans this year. I wonder if they’re regretting dropping both Froome and Thomas? Jumbo-Visma look like the team to beat at the minute.
Today, Gogl is descending like a boss.

 

Bernal dropped by the main group now. Jumbo Visma giving a Masterclass, but as I type, Yates opens up a gap.

 

And won by Pogajar.

 

Can Pogacar recoup these 40 seconds on Roglic? Obviously anything can happen to scupper Roglic, but if they both avoid any unforseen disasters, like a crash or mechanical problems, I can't see it. It could all come down to the individual time trial and I'm not sure who is best out of those two at that.

And no, I've not seen a Sunderland shirt in the crowd either

 

I reckon Pogacar is more than capable of catching Roglic. Both are looking good. Roglic has a team behind him that as the tour goes on have been put together like Sky were a few years back to have a GC winner.
As for today, again Jumbo-Visma are dominant although Bahrain-McLaren are putting on a good show.
Nice to see Alaphillipe in the breakaway as well.

 

A tough day today but still Roglic hasn’t cracked. Pogacar has an even bigger job to do now. What’s he lost - about another 18 seconds?

 

He’s 45 seconds behind I think. That was a bloody tough stage and Roglic came through it pretty well. J-V look like a well drilled team, as each day goes by I have to say that they look like they’re getting better.

 

I agree, JV are controlling the race like Sky used to do. Hats off to them they are doing a good job and look strong going into the last few days. It’s Roglic’s to lose now I reckon. It’s a great race and fantastic spectacle though isn’t it?!

 

Gutted that I couldn’t watch the stage last night. But Pogacar did well by the reports I read. As Norman said, it was Roglic’s to lose and well, he lost it. He could always try and win it back on the last stage but if he did then it would be very bad form.

 

Well I didn’t see that coming! I thought Roglic looked so strong and in control. Even though I had a small bet on Pogacar I feel a bit gutted for Roglic - he looked crestfallen at the end as did his team mates as they watched it unfold! I don’t think he will attack today - apparently it’s an unwritten rule that the Yellow jersey is not challenged on the final stage - seems a bit odd to me but if that’s the tradition then fair enough

 

No chance whatsoever he attacks today.

The peleton wouldn't let him back in.

Short of a miraculous event... it is done.

 

So is the race winner the guy who is in Yellow before the last stage into Paris? I’ve often wondered what would happen if there was only a couple of seconds between first and second at the start of the final stage. Would they race for it then?

 

Yeah the guy who finishes the penultimate stage in yellow is always the winner.

The last stage is processional for the general classification riders and the big day for the sprinters.

I'm pretty sure the race is neutralised towards the end before the peleton starts splitting for the sprint.

 

Just read that the winner was only 21.. Amazing...

 

Sitting down sport...

 

Druggy sport...

 

What odds did you get on the lad ?