Le Tour 2021

[foxy boxing]

It was his teuns for a stage win .

[Super_horns]

23 minutes ago, EastAnglianFox said:

I'll have some of what Pogacar is on up this climb 

Probably be the same tomorrow. 

[UniFox21]

On 03/07/2021 at 16:03, SouthStandUpperTier said:

I hate that this sport has made me so cynical that I find it hard to believe in Pogacar. The difference between him and the rest of the field is enormous.

I really, really hope that this isn't the case. He looked ridiculously strong compared to the rest. Maybe exacerbated by the fact the other contenders all had big injuries? 

[Super_horns]

Even under pressure he just made it look so easy getting back into the lead .

[SouthStandUpperTier]

52 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

I really, really hope that this isn't the case. He looked ridiculously strong compared to the rest. Maybe exacerbated by the fact the other contenders all had big injuries? 

It is possible that we are seeing a generational talent, in which case I feel sorry for him that his abilities are going to be doubted. But that is, sadly, what will inevitably happen if you participate in a sport that used up all its goodwill many years ago.

[UniFox21]

7 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

It is possible that we are seeing a generational talent, in which case I feel sorry for him that his abilities are going to be doubted. But that is, sadly, what will inevitably happen if you participate in a sport that used up all its goodwill many years ago.

I really hope it is the generational talent, and he goes on to challenge at the top for years. Similar to how Froome controlled for several years. 

But, you always worry with the cycling past that someone is hiding something. 

[EastAnglianFox]

Just shows how important having the right team around you can change an entire tour. 

 

Demare didn't make the time cut off and for me was Cav's biggest danger in an out and out flat sprint if they both made it to Paris.... Yet another rival sprinter out of the equation. 

 

 

[UniFox21]

51 minutes ago, EastAnglianFox said:

Just shows how important having the right team around you can change an entire tour. 

 

Demare didn't make the time cut off and for me was Cav's biggest danger in an out and out flat sprint if they both made it to Paris.... Yet another rival sprinter out of the equation. 

 

 

This tweet just sums up how important this race is to some cyclists. Just being able to compete in it is the pinnacle of their careers. 

 

 

19h after the start, and the rider wanted to finish to honour the tour. It's actually so honourable and admirable to see 

 

 

[EastAnglianFox]

That's incredible, thanks for posting those @UniFox21

[UniFox21]

2 minutes ago, EastAnglianFox said:

That's incredible, thanks for posting those @UniFox21

I find stories like this incredible. The sport focuses on the winners and those competing at the very top who, rightly, get most of the attention. 

 

But it's stories like this that I wish received more attention. Riders knowing they've been eliminated, but wanting to continue to the end to honour the sporting event. I don't think we see enough of that in sport currently. 

[Zear0]

Extraordinary from Cav what he's doing here.

[Super_horns]

Just now, Zear0 said:

Extraordinary from Cav what he's doing here.

Another win .

 

Number 33..

[EastAnglianFox]

That lead out though 

[foxy boxing]

So pleased for Cav,  back to his best, the record is well within his sights. A true British cycling legend.

[UniFox21]

Stars have really lined up for him this year. Great to see though

[Amin]

I love watching Cav bear down on the finishing line.

[Super_horns]

Survival day for Cav today.

 

Alaphilippe is pretty keen on this one by the looks of it up Mount Ventoux.

 

[enmac]

On 03/07/2021 at 16:09, EastAnglianFox said:

 

High on something

It's not hard to be cynical, but he was very good even as a young kid. Highly unlikely that he was taking stimulants aged 12:

"Andrej Hauptman, who is also head coach and head of selectors for the Slovenian national cycling team first saw Pogačar race in 2011 where he witnessed him pursuing a group of much older teenagers from 100 metres behind. Thinking that Pogačar was struggling to keep up with the older riders, he told the race organisers that they should provide some assistance to Pogačar: the organisers explained that the younger rider was in fact about to lap the group he was chasing."

 

[Zear0]

There is such grim satisfaction watching these guys drop off the back of the pack one at a time. 

 

In my younger days at the uni cycle club we leisurely climbed this thing (just the one ascent that day...) and it was absolutely brutal. 

[Super_horns]

Was Van Aert tipped to do well in this stage ?

Be pushing himself back himself up the GC at this rate .

 

Not as much as his team mate though !

 

Open up the GC..

Edited 7 July 2021 by Super_horns

[enmac]

5 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

There is such grim satisfaction watching these guys drop off the back of the pack one at a time. 

 

In my younger days at the uni cycle club we leisurely climbed this thing (just the one ascent that day...) and it was absolutely brutal. 

I don't understand why they have to ascend it twice this year. Seems almost sadistic. I've just been re-reading some stuff on Tommy Simpson who died near the summit in 1967. 

The organisers should hang their heads in shame. 

[EastAnglianFox]

21 hours ago, foxy boxing said:

So pleased for Cav,  back to his best, the record is well within his sights. A true British cycling legend.

 

Agreed that he really is without a doubt one of the greats of road cycling

 

Back to his best? no not really and I don't expect him to be at 36, as @UniFox21 has said the stars really have aligned for him this year with so much falling in his favour and thats not his fault as he can only beat the sprinters he's up against.

 

He was fed to the line yesterday and yet was still being rapidly closed down, again with his age its still remarkable what he's doing but without a doubt a Cavendish of 8-10 years ago with that lead out would have had his hands in the air 20 metres out

[Super_horns]

Number 34!

 

[foxy boxing]

Record equalling. The greatest Tour De France sprinter of all time he can only bear what's in front of him. Its not his fault there is a lack of sprinters on form. For him to sustain what he has over a number of tours is amazing. Well done Cav.

[yorkie1999]

On 07/07/2021 at 15:56, Zear0 said:

There is such grim satisfaction watching these guys drop off the back of the pack one at a time. 

 

In my younger days at the uni cycle club we leisurely climbed this thing (just the one ascent that day...) and it was absolutely brutal. 

You rode a  uni cycle up Mount Ventoux? Wow!