Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/03/2020 09:23 AM |
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At least for now....
Strade Bianche was great, for both the mens and womens races. Annemiek Van Vleuten had a storming ride, shutting down what seemed an impossible gap in less than 15km.
The mens race was a true hard man's race....a war of attrition. Tems were shelled with more than 50K to go, leaving only contenders to battle it out mano a mano. A great comeback win for WVA after his horrific injury in the TdF last summer.
Milano-Turino is Weds....dunno how many races we will get before everything shuts down again, so I am soaking in every minute. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/03/2020 12:10 PM |
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Best part was late finish allowing for some snooze time before tuning in.
The heat was such that any premature effort whether that was an attack or having to come back from a puncture or crash was instantly lethal, everyone was literally cooking themselves. WVA rode a smart race saving his gun powder till when it mattered. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/03/2020 09:03 PM |
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Oh an over yonder.
Bernal putting in his application for Ineos top dog. Froome on domestique duties. And Sir Bradley throwing some petrol on the Ineos leadership bush fire. I do hope we get to see this play out on road. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/03/2020 09:29 PM |
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| Froome played it smart today....no need for him to go toe-to-toe with Bernal right now. So he “showed” management that he is willing to play super-domesitque. Before he can try and win the Tour, he has to get picked for the team. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/03/2020 09:36 PM |
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| Agreed. Putting in domestique kms is also best training for him right now. Sometime in Dauphine he will need to show his nose up front in a finale though. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 08/03/2020 10:01 PM |
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Bradley needs his head checked.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/04/2020 09:36 AM |
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Agreed. Putting in domestique kms is also best training for him right now. Sometime in Dauphine he will need to show his nose up front in a finale though.
Yup...but he can still do the domestique duty and ride up front...last guy to pull Bernal up to the summit and let's him go in the last KM and still come in within 30".
Bradley needs his head checked.
He is just stirring the schitt against Froome....saying Froome can win inserts doubt into management about what Froome will want to do. pay back for 2012. LOL!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/04/2020 09:41 AM |
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| Exactly CK. Wiggins is being a naughty boy that’s all. Pretty sure his head is just fine. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 08/04/2020 11:09 AM |
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Ck, the serious question - can Froome come back. Does he have it to come back from that huge body slam? Both physically and in the head? Can he still descend fast enough to stay n contention. Froome went from a poor descender to a better than the average climber guy. Yes, some of that was his new position but a lot of it was in his head. Does he still have that?
I confess my attention to races Froome has done to date has not been good so he may have shown things I've missed.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/04/2020 11:14 AM |
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Ck, the serious question - can Froome come back.
I personally doubt it....his body took a massive hit (literally and figuratively) last year adn he is getting up there in age (for a professional athlete). INEOS knows his numbers obviously, so they will be able to answer that question before the Tour (for this year at least...)
And he hasn't really done any races yet (other than this week) so the speculation is pretty intense right now....as OC notes, the Dauphine will be the real "go / no go" point. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/04/2020 02:26 PM |
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| Wow...just saw that WvA won on a rim brake Bianchi on Saturday. That alone is a bit of a shock, but given his CX background, it is even more so! |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/04/2020 02:32 PM |
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I understand the runner up had rim brakes too.
I also read that MVDPs puncture caused him a bit of extra time because the team support was delayed and running discs it wasn't as simple as QR levers to get a spare wheel. Wonder if these guys carry an Allan key in their back pocket just in case. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 08/04/2020 02:53 PM |
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Wonder if these guys carry an Allan key in their back pocket just in case.
They probably should....no different IMO than the guys who know enough to flip the QR's and get the wheel ready for the mechanic. No need to stand there with your thumb up your arse, waiting for the team car. Be productive...
But most team mechanics have it down pretty quick....using cordless drills with allen keys on them to get the axles off quickly. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/04/2020 09:15 PM |
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Back to Froome, reading interview with Porte.
The fact that Froome was used before Tao Hart is perhaps telling. Typically you line them up to slowly ramp up climbing speed. That would put Froome as #4 guy in this race. Assuming Thomas is in form that would drop him at least down to 5 in pecking order at moment.
Maybe reading too much into that. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 08/07/2020 11:51 AM |
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Best part of today was seeing Dumoulin back at sharp end of things with a giant grin on his face.
The next two days should be more telling though as to where everyone is at. |
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