Tour de France 2019

[thealmighty]

I had no idea Paul Sherwen had died. It isn't the same without him.


Bob Roll will need to tone down the crazy to fill Paul's shoes.

[Critch]

It wasnt the same without Paul Sherwen, but I was ok with Bob Roll stepping into the commentary box. Even if it did take them a solid minute after the race finished before they finally worked out that the winner wasnt Wout van Aert.

It was Chris Horner I was less positive about, he could do with keeping quite a bit more.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Even if it did take them a solid minute after the race finished before they finally worked out that the winner wasnt Wout van Aert.

Fwiw, the Dutch commentators are equally incompetent (although they actually noticed who was winning today, apparently). Belgian (Flemish) broadcasting quality is my choice.

[Critch]

I have two options:

1. NBC Sports which is approximately 50% commercials but has Phil Liggett/Bob Roll/Christian Vande Velde. The guys I always watch the Tour with.
2. NBC Gold cycling pass which is commercial-free but without the NBC commentary team. Some Australian guy and Robbie McEwen instead. They seem knowledgeable, but I havent grown to love them.

Cant decide.

[Critch]

Amazing performance from Alaphilippe, he's gone from being a one-day classics rider to being somebody who can destroy TT specialists in time trials, and then following it up by dropping climbers on mountain stages.

[AlexB]

What a race this is! Best in years - I think Pinot is favourite now, just!

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Amazing performance from Alaphilippe, he's gone from being a one-day classics rider to being somebody who can destroy TT specialists in time trials, and then following it up by dropping climbers on mountain stages.

I keep hearing and reading that, but Alaphilippe himself was already a proven time trial specialist. His ability to hang on in the mountains is surprising, I do wonder how long he will be able to maintain.

[Subby]

I have a feeling the three stages in the Alps this week are going to be Alaphilipe's undoing. Not a knock on him or anything, but he doesn't have the team to help him get to the finish. That said, he has had an inspiring tour so far. As far as who will win the GC, it's anyone's guess. I am pretty shocked at how mortal Team Ineos has seemed after years of disciplined dominance. Pinot looks crazy strong, but I'm not sure his boy David can pull for him like that every single day. Who knows what the fuck Movistar is doing. I'm sure they are happy that Quintana is leaving after this season. Maybe they can get sorted again and push Landa to the podium.

This week is going to be awesome.

[MIJB#19]

What to think of Julian Alaphilippe? I know, that's probably what journalists (with or without decent knowledge of cycling) in and around Le Tour are asking themselves and throwing at their readers, listeners or viewers. I'm no journalist, I'm rather one who looks at results, compare them and then try to make an educated guess on what closely resembles correlations.

Alaphilippe to me is a younger version of Alejandro Valverde. A complete rider, one that can do it all. Excels at steep and short climbs, but with a proven track record of being able to place himself between the elite sprinters, capable of hanging on in longer mountain stages, won one-day classics and if he's motivated capable of winning an individual time trial. Alaphilippe is riding everywhere, something all topnotch riders did prior to 2000's, prior to the specialists era we're in now. It seems he has the framework to ride all season long. Exceptionally well.

Do we know if he's capable of riding at the highest level in a grand tour for three straight weeks? Quite simply, we have no idea, neither does he, because Alaphilippe has never tested himself. In previous Tours and Vueltas he basically didn't try to compete for the General Classification (GC). All we can do is look at recent leaders at the end of the second week. I looked at the last 20 years (but if you look beyond that, you'll see Pantani, Ullrich, Riis and several Miguel Indurain Tour victories all set up by conquering the yellow jersey before the last week began).

2018 - Geraint Thomas - winner
2015-2017 - Chris Froome - winner
2014 - Vincenzo Nibali - winner
2013 - Chris Froome - winner
2012 - Bradley Wiggins - winner
2011 - Thomas Voeckler - 4th place; winner Cadel Evans
2010 - Andy Schleck - 2nd place; winner Alberto Contador, later awarded to Andy Schleck
2009 - Alberto Contador - winner
2008 - Fränk Schleck - 5th place; winner Carlos Sastre
2007 - Michael Rasmussen - did not finish; winner Alberto Contador
2006 - Oscar Pereiro - 2nd place; winner Floyd Landis, later rewarded to Oscar Pereiro
2005 - Lance Armstrong - winner, later rewarded to nobody
2004 - Thomas Voeckler - 18th; winner Lance Armstrong, later rewarded to nobody
1999-2003: see above at 2005

Most were the eventual winners, including Arsmtrong's six that got crossed out. A couple (A. Schleck, Pereiro) lost the jersey, but were later on awarded the victory after all. Of these names, many (Froome, Wiggins, A.Schleck, Nibali, Contador '09, Armstrong post '99) had a resume that included a top3 finish in Le Tour or in one of the two other grandtours.

Thomas' previous best was 15th, making him a surprise winner. Voeckler's previous best was 18th (Tour 2004) and 119th (Tour 2003), he crumbled both times. Rasmussen's previous best was 7th (Tour 2005), Fränk Schleck's was 10th (Tour 2006), Pereiro's was 10th (Tour 2005 and 2004), Contador's 31st (Tour 2005) and Armstrong's 4th (Vuelta 1998).

One could argue Geraint Thomas had proven himself as the Dauphiné 2018 winner. Yes he did, it showed he was in great shape leading up to Le Tour, he just hadn't proven to be a three-week GC rider yet. And that's where Alaphilippe deserves to be placed, for now. If Voeckler can finish 4th, there's certainly a chance for Alaphilippe to hold on to a top5 spot. Can he win the whole thing though? I would be tempted to put him closer to Fränk Schleck than Thomas in terms of GC potential.

So far he cracked but didn't crumble. He's enough of a world class rider (heck, he's the #1 in the world in several cycling rankings lists) to be able to do this. I'll be happily surprised if he does indeed holds on.

[Critch]

Today was building up to be great, pity about the way it ended. Nothing they could do though, that was some strange weather.

edit - and tomorrow's stage cut to only 59km, although the last 33km are up the side of a mountain.

[MIJB#19]

It was a weird sight, unusual ending, but it is what it is.

Originally Posted by Critch

edit - and tomorrow's stage cut to only 59km, although the last 33km are up the side of a mountain.

This could become an unusual, but exciting one. Still five riders still within 2 minutes of each other, this could be a frantic race. I'm not counting Alaphilippe out yet, while falling all the way back to 11th place is still a possibility as well for him. Egan Bernal looks much stronger than the rest though, under normal circumstances, he should be able to defend or even extend the lead on that long climb to Val Thorens.

[AlexB]

It’s not far being a group time trial up a mountain - could be really exciting as people must attack and empty their tanks.

[MIJB#19]

Time difference from yesterday's stage have been altered this morning. A matter of seconds here or there, the time gaps within the top 10 are all different from yesterday's results.

[britrock88]

This was an excellent edition.