wow......at a loss here. @). Julian's first sign of weakness and he drops like a ton of bricks
Thomas +375
Julian +425 (race leader by 1:35 sec)
Bernal +550
Yes at first it looks ridiculous but once I looked closer at today’s results it seems more logical.Pinot took 1’16” out of Alaphilippe lead and there are still some brutal mountains to ride. I agree right now that Pinot looks likes the favorite based on his current form. I think Bernal is still a threat as we must remember that he actually was second best today and gained some good time on all the GC Contenders except Pinot and that includes Thomas.
I think one thing was clear today and that was that Pinot had plenty of help from his teammates! Team Ineos wasn’t dominating as they usually do.
Brailsford has some strong words of Thomas, taking a jab and the race aint over yet!?! ...not all is rosy at Team Ineos....;
Thomas may yet pay for the intensive training and dieting that characterised his buildup to his title defence. The defending champion’s well-documented lack of racing days and his need to lose weight quickly, the change of sponsor, the departure of Rod Ellingworth and the absence of Chris Froome as team talisman may all have derailed the efficiency of Dave Brailsford’s clinically run machine.
For all his easygoing demeanour – when George Bennett admonished French fans for booing the Welshman as he rode alongside the New Zealander near the summit of the Tourmalet on Saturday, Thomas tweeted “I think they were booing you mate” – he still does not appear to have the legs to win this Tour de France.
“He’s done a lot of work,” Brailsford said of Thomas at the first rest day, when final victory had seemed inevitable. “He’s come a long way since January.” But after an autumn spent at book launches, awards ceremonies and on Graham Norton’s sofa, @) it may prove to be too little, too late. popcorn-eatinggif
With the Alps looming, Ineos must surely move from plan G to plan B, in the wiry figure of Bernal.
“I don’t really mind who wins the race,” Brailsford said. “As a Grand Tour contender, Egan’s recovery and his ability to maintain his performance is one of his greatest strengths. The harder the race gets, the better he gets.”
Tactically, Thomas admitted he was stuck between a “rock and a hard place”, while Bernal remained diplomatic. “Geraint and I have good communication between us, and we are both honest,” the Colombian said. “We need to win the race as Ineos, not as Geraint or Egan. So we need to be honest.”
Thomas may yet pay for the intensive training and dieting that characterised his buildup to his title defence. The defending champion’s well-documented lack of racing days and his need to lose weight quickly, the change of sponsor, the departure of Rod Ellingworth and the absence of Chris Froome as team talisman may all have derailed the efficiency of Dave Brailsford’s clinically run machine.
For all his easygoing demeanour – when George Bennett admonished French fans for booing the Welshman as he rode alongside the New Zealander near the summit of the Tourmalet on Saturday, Thomas tweeted “I think they were booing you mate” – he still does not appear to have the legs to win this Tour de France.
“He’s done a lot of work,” Brailsford said of Thomas at the first rest day, when final victory had seemed inevitable. “He’s come a long way since January.” But after an autumn spent at book launches, awards ceremonies and on Graham Norton’s sofa, @)
it may prove to be too little, too late. popcorn-eatinggifWith the Alps looming, Ineos must surely move from plan G to plan B, in the wiry figure of Bernal.
“I don’t really mind who wins the race,” Brailsford said. “As a Grand Tour contender, Egan’s recovery and his ability to maintain his performance is one of his greatest strengths. The harder the race gets, the better he gets.”
Tactically, Thomas admitted he was stuck between a “rock and a hard place”, while Bernal remained diplomatic. “Geraint and I have good communication between us, and we are both honest,” the Colombian said. “We need to win the race as Ineos, not as Geraint or Egan. So we need to be honest.”
Looking ahead to the Alps tells me I have my doubts that Alaphilippe will be able to win this year’s Tour. 3 stages in the Alps starting with 18, 19 and 20 are just going to be too tough based on what I saw today. I think Pinot and Bernal should be the favorites now unless the rest day and flat stage gives Alaphilippe a second wind !
well, of the 3 stages in The Alps, the first stage is just fuckin' crazy. A climber's paradise. And perhaps the Stage that may further define this year's winner
fuckin' inhumane, cmon......
No doubt this stage is brutal ! Sometimes I tend to look at more than just the profile of a stage. Stage 18 follows a rest day, a very flat sprinters stage and of course stage 17 is also not all that tough unless they encounter the dreaded crosswinds. Although it’s just plain ugly, it is not a mountain top finish which might allow a great descender like Alaphilippe a chance to Play some catchup. Both stage 19 and 20 finish at the. Summit! Also stages 19 and 20 will follow immediately after a ugly stage 18. The 3 straight mountain stages is why I doubt Alaphilippe will still be in yellow in Paris. I suspect age might cause Thomas to falter to Pinot or Bernal. It sure seems like Pinot is the strongest rider but these last 3 stages can change things ?
Today is a rest day so I’ll just update the latest odds I see at 5 dimes. Pinot is not surprisingly a favorite at +128. Thomas is next at +340. Alaphilippe is next at + 420. Bernal next at + 475. Steven K is +935. Anyone see any value here ? I think it’s a wide open race this year which will make for an excitable finishing 3 days in the Alps. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the days to watch ! My money was on Bernal but now I’m thinking of making a cover wager on Pinot but I see no value at +128.
[FONT="]Video of Macron trying to improve his ratings by posing with today's heroes. Unfortunately they doesn't look like they'll vote for him in the next election
[/FONT][FONT="]Their facial expressions the moment Macron puts his arms around them are priceless: Pinot looks like he's touched by the grim reaper, and Alaphilippe looks like he feels a sudden stench of sulfur.
[/FONT][FONT="]Alaphilippe then tries to make Pinot laugh. Ala knows he can easily do it, Pinot knows it as well so he desperately tries to avoid meeting Ala's piercing eyes, constantly on the brink of laughter
[/FONT]
i hear ya, but it is a stage that a contender can be knocked out for all practical purposes (lose 2-3 min) . It is ridiculousy grueling and the bookies clearly are questioning Team Ineos ability to set the pace and crush the competition as in yesteryear. I think Pinot losing Bernal on the last stage has everyone excited and in belief.
still not pulling the trigger , have no monies laid, yet. May put some down after this stage. Alaphilippe doesnt have the patience fro strategy, imo. Thomas is a crafty chap, and was in great spirits after the last stage, stated he felt great!
a cracker of a Tour de France!!!!!!!!
2018 Tour de France winner, Mr Thomas;
“I feel motivated to get there and try and finish this Tour off well,” the defending champion said. “It’s been slightly up and down, compared to last year. I’m itching to go now. I much prefer the Alps. I’ve got a lot better memories of there.
“I finished the stage feeling really strong yesterday,” he said of the final Pyrenean stage to Foix Prat d’Albis on Sunday. “Halfway through I didn’t, but then I came through that. Finishing really well, as I did, was good for the confidence and I am really relishing the Alps now. It’s almost like the rest day is in the way.”
But Thomas then added: “Obviously, I want to be the one to win. The main thing is that we don’t race against each other and throw away the race. We’ve got to be honest with how we are feeling. If I’m on a really bad day and I just tell Egan to stay with me and we ride together and both lose a minute then that’s obviously not the way to go. I’m confident that we can keep that communication and honesty going.”
.................
the Mastermind at Team Ineos, here's Brailsford
“We’ve won this race in a similar kind of fashion where we get a lead and defend a lead,” Brailsford said. “It’s like defending a 1-0 lead, whereas this feels more like racing, which is why I loved the sport in the first place. It’s a different challenge.”
“Nobody, myself included, expected Alaphilippe to hang on this long into the race,” he said. “Everyone was thinking ‘We have to do something to get rid of this guy’, but we don’t want to overcook ourselves getting rid of him because we were thinking inevitably he was going to go anyway. Everybody has been caught in the middle waiting to see what everyone else would do which is why the race is so uncontrolled.”
With the time gaps between the main contenders so slim, Brailsford is not alone in predicting an Alpine cliff-hanger. “You can’t rule it out on the very final climb,” he said, of Saturday’s climactic ski-station finish to Val Thorens. “The last 800 metres, going up through the village there, you couldn’t rule out the race coming down to the finish on that very last mountain.”
“I feel motivated to get there and try and finish this Tour off well,” the defending champion said. “It’s been slightly up and down, compared to last year. I’m itching to go now. I much prefer the Alps. I’ve got a lot better memories of there.
“I finished the stage feeling really strong yesterday,” he said of the final Pyrenean stage to Foix Prat d’Albis on Sunday. “Halfway through I didn’t, but then I came through that. Finishing really well, as I did, was good for the confidence and I am really relishing the Alps now. It’s almost like the rest day is in the way.”
But Thomas then added: “Obviously, I want to be the one to win. The main thing is that we don’t race against each other and throw away the race. We’ve got to be honest with how we are feeling. If I’m on a really bad day and I just tell Egan to stay with me and we ride together and both lose a minute then that’s obviously not the way to go. I’m confident that we can keep that communication and honesty going.”
.................
the Mastermind at Team Ineos, here's Brailsford
“We’ve won this race in a similar kind of fashion where we get a lead and defend a lead,” Brailsford said. “It’s like defending a 1-0 lead, whereas this feels more like racing, which is why I loved the sport in the first place. It’s a different challenge.”
“Nobody, myself included, expected Alaphilippe to hang on this long into the race,” he said. “Everyone was thinking ‘We have to do something to get rid of this guy’, but we don’t want to overcook ourselves getting rid of him because we were thinking inevitably he was going to go anyway. Everybody has been caught in the middle waiting to see what everyone else would do which is why the race is so uncontrolled.”
With the time gaps between the main contenders so slim, Brailsford is not alone in predicting an Alpine cliff-hanger. “You can’t rule it out on the very final climb,” he said, of Saturday’s climactic ski-station finish to Val Thorens. “The last 800 metres, going up through the village there, you couldn’t rule out the race coming down to the finish on that very last mountain.”
Oh yes ! This is a great Tour ......so far. And therein lies the problem wagering wise. A convincing victory on that stage 18 by Pinot, we will not be getting any +128 on him. However that applies to any of these top 6. Stage 18 has 2 HC climbs that will really test and perhaps tell us who is this year’s champ.
Of course neither you nor I can be certain what the results will be ! I’m going with the younger legs and feel the winner will be either Pinot or Bernal realizing that neither one has won a Grand Tour ! There’s a first time for every Superstar right ? There was a time when Tom Brady was a backup QB.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head regarding stage 18. It’s so hard that somebody will most likely be eliminated but I wouldn’t be flabbergasted if there are several contenders still in the mix after the stage is history. I’m a big fan of mountain top finishes and I think stages 19 and 20 will be key stages ! We shall soon see as this year’s Tour is exactly as you already said “ Its a Cracker “ ! Gl
well kermit stage 18 (Thursday ) should be fun;
[FONT="]“The three stages are beautiful, I know the last two very well,” Pinot said of the [/FONT]three consecutive Alpine stages[FONT="] ahead in the final week.
[/FONT][FONT="]“The hardest, I think, is that of the Galibier [Thursday]. I do not have to choose, it will depend on my legs. If they are good I will go on the attack.”
Pinot is not worrying about his rivals, but time in the overall. It is music for the ears of fans who love an attacking race.
“I was never afraid of anyone, I wanted to win Saturday, it’s done. I thought about the general, yesterday [Sunday] but I did not calculate,” he continued.
“I’m here to take time, it’s the type of bike riding that I like, to attack without calculating.”
Pinot and Alaphilippe mania sweeps France. Every day, L’Equipe newspaper prints two-page spreads celebrating their home riders.
“If the pressure crushed me, I would not be here, I would not have won on the Tourmalet, the big cheers just encourage me, they give me wings,” Pinot said.
“It’s like in a stadium, we’re always stronger when it comes to playing at home, it also helps Julian. We rely on the support of the public to push us as high as possible.”
Already, Pinot placed third overall in the 2014 Tour de France. In the Vuelta a España last year, he finished sixth and then won Il Lombardia.
“We’ll see on Val Thorens on Saturday, I do not think about that, even though I showed some nice things this weekend,” he said of the possibility of winning the overall.
“I’m fourth in the standings, I learned not to get a big head, but just keep racing like I do.”
[/FONT]
[FONT="]“The three stages are beautiful, I know the last two very well,” Pinot said of the [/FONT]three consecutive Alpine stages[FONT="] ahead in the final week.
[/FONT][FONT="]“The hardest, I think, is that of the Galibier [Thursday]. I do not have to choose, it will depend on my legs. If they are good I will go on the attack.”
Pinot is not worrying about his rivals, but time in the overall. It is music for the ears of fans who love an attacking race.
“I was never afraid of anyone, I wanted to win Saturday, it’s done. I thought about the general, yesterday [Sunday] but I did not calculate,” he continued.
“I’m here to take time, it’s the type of bike riding that I like, to attack without calculating.”
Pinot and Alaphilippe mania sweeps France. Every day, L’Equipe newspaper prints two-page spreads celebrating their home riders.
“If the pressure crushed me, I would not be here, I would not have won on the Tourmalet, the big cheers just encourage me, they give me wings,” Pinot said.
“It’s like in a stadium, we’re always stronger when it comes to playing at home, it also helps Julian. We rely on the support of the public to push us as high as possible.”
Already, Pinot placed third overall in the 2014 Tour de France. In the Vuelta a España last year, he finished sixth and then won Il Lombardia.
“We’ll see on Val Thorens on Saturday, I do not think about that, even though I showed some nice things this weekend,” he said of the possibility of winning the overall.
“I’m fourth in the standings, I learned not to get a big head, but just keep racing like I do.”
[/FONT]
Apparently Geraint Thomas has decided to add a little color within the main GC contenders as he had taken a solo spill ! Weird as he was the only rider involved and it’s his third spill already in this year’s Tour. He seems to be OK but did take a new bike. I guess he got too close to a curb ? This can never be a good thing ! Sweltering heat today with temperatures around 100.
Tomorrow’s stage 17 takes us into the foothills of the Alps. Although it’s possible to see some action amongst the Yellow Jersey chase, I feel pretty confident that the main CG contenders will be content with cooling their jets in anticipation of the grueling next 3 mountain stages !
Today’s stage 17 Waas won by Matteo Trenton who was in the early breakaway group ! Perhaps the bigger news was the expulsion from the Tour Of Luke Rowe of Team Ineos and Tony Martin of Team jumbo-Visma. This puts Thomas And Bernal of Team Ineos plus Steven Kruijswijk of Jumbo-Visma at a shortage. It would seem like this would help the Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe. I will post more later.
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