I think it’s more for the media exposure than anything else with certain teams, Vaulters basically states that is their primary aim in the Netflix series for example. Other teams too spend their entire grand tours getting in meme breaks just to be on the tv and get exposure for their sponsors.
Pro Cycling 2023
- Thread starter Suedesi
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I think it’s more for the media exposure than anything else with certain teams, Vaulters basically states that is their primary aim in the Netflix series for example. Other teams too spend their entire grand tours getting in meme breaks just to be on the tv and get exposure for their sponsors.
Exciting stage. Very clear plan and attacking riding by TJV and Vingegaard, very calm from Pogacar until his attack at the end. He surprised me a bit, not having shown anything before, but that was maybe the plan. I wonder if TJV attacked because Vingegaard felt strong, or because they thought Pogacar might be weak, either due to form or the injury. He's certainly not weak.
I think the gap to Hindley was about the same at the end of the stage and before the last climb, which means that he was as fast as Pogacar and faster than Vingegaard. That's pretty interesting. Either a very strong recovery, or maybe the Tourmalet attack was a bit too hard.
Edit: Yes. At the bottom of the climb the gap from Hindley's group was 2:39. They gained some time while WvA was pulling, down to 2:2x. After he dropped, Vingegaard pulled for a while and extended the gap again, and it was back at 2:39 when Pogacar attacked with 2.7k to go. At the finish the gap was exactly the same, 2:39, meaning they matched Pogacar and beat Vingegaard by 24s.
I think the gap to Hindley was about the same at the end of the stage and before the last climb, which means that he was as fast as Pogacar and faster than Vingegaard. That's pretty interesting. Either a very strong recovery, or maybe the Tourmalet attack was a bit too hard.
Edit: Yes. At the bottom of the climb the gap from Hindley's group was 2:39. They gained some time while WvA was pulling, down to 2:2x. After he dropped, Vingegaard pulled for a while and extended the gap again, and it was back at 2:39 when Pogacar attacked with 2.7k to go. At the finish the gap was exactly the same, 2:39, meaning they matched Pogacar and beat Vingegaard by 24s.
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Looks like a boring sprint stage today, so fingers crossed no one crashes in the final km. It's hard to look past Philipsen, but I hope Ewan finally gets one.
Disagree - Powless' profile as a rider means he'd have had a rather anonymous first week just like many others, but now he's one of the stories of the Tour so far, and has made EF as a sponsor extremely happy. It's just a fun thing to do if you have good legs, and no one can take it away from you that you've worn a famous jersey in the Tour either.
Cav
Totally unrelated but I just read the sad news that Sep Vanmarcke has to quit cycling due to a heart condition. His career has mostly been one of bad luck and disappointments, and now this. Always had a soft spot for him. I would've loved to see him ride one last really good Paris-Roubaix before his retirement, but it's not to be. Hope he has some better luck in the rest of his life.
His career has mostly been one of bad luck and disappointments, and now this. Always had a soft spot for him. I would've loved to see him ride one last really good Paris-Roubaix before his retirement, but it's not to be. Hope he has some better luck in the rest of his life.Fair enough
Cavendish almost had that.
I think it's time to give Philipsen a dsq. Completely blocks Girmay. Does he ever sprint straight?
Getting a bit annoyed with Philipsen wins. Would be more interesting with some variety in the sprints, but him and Alpecin are just better.
Maybe i am not too familiar with the norm in sprints but he also leaned into Mads Petersen when he was trying to pass. Seems like a bit of a dick
The only thing worse than having a lot of pure flat sprint stages is if the same guy wins all these stages. Not that I dislike him but a bit more variety please.
He was all over the place. Blocked the Trek rider initially and then over to the Intermarche rider.
A couple of Team Bosses making noise about it, and I think they are right to. There’s been something dodgy from Alpecin in all of Philipsen’s three wins.
Maybe they are just smarter and taking it all the way to the limit, but I hope someone else takes it tomorrow at least.
The more I think about it, the more I get annoyed by it. The UCI are clearly waiting for another big crash to do anything about it. They had a chance to draw a line in the sand but they just don't care.
It'll take another Groenewegen - Jakobsen for them to act like they care, only to stop pretending five minutes later. It's shameful stuff.
That's probably the last we've seen of Cav
Boring stage, meh.
Denmark can't stop winning
Nice sprint from Pedersen. He needs the right type of sprint and circumstances to beat someone like Philipsen, and he got that today. Hopefully not his last.
Absolutely gutted for Cav. It will especially hurt because of the near miss yesterday. He will know that he was actually capable of breaking the record, so this will really bite.
One more year?
One more year?
Just saw it was another absolute donut of a spectator that led to Steff Cras withdrawing. Unbelievable. How difficult is it to stay off the fecking road?
Haven't followed the Tour in a few years but might jump back in again. Just curious -is the Netflix doc about cycling worth a watch?
Puy de Dôme today should be brutal
Yeah, thought it was quite well-executed overall. Some faux drama and superficial elements of course but that's the whole idea. I thought it was a good binge.
I walked up the Puy de Dôme in the summer of 2016. The final part is every bit as brutal as the profile suggests.
Zero shelter from potentially scorching heat (as we had in 2016) and just an unrelenting gradient. It was exhausting enough on foot, I don't even want to think about cycling to the top.
Zero shelter from potentially scorching heat (as we had in 2016) and just an unrelenting gradient. It was exhausting enough on foot, I don't even want to think about cycling to the top.
That is so cool - I'm sure you'll be watching with extra interest
Have a feeling this will be Pogacars day.
Canada crushing USA
Michael Woods take a bow
Brilliant ride by Woods, but damn I feel for Jorgenson. So painful.
Feel sorry for Jorgensen - brutal last 500 metres
This climb looks absolutely brutal. Think I'd prefer the funicular up.
Hope Matteo gets combative points at least
Vingegaard almost in trouble, he's holding on pretty well so far. Let's see if he breaks.
Let's go POOOOGI
8 secs. Nice
Michael Woods is a fecking machine