[Dr Watson]

Hi to everybody. Best race of the year coming up. 

Topic

[MinardiM189]

It appeared to be a very easy

It appeared to be a very easy stage today, a very weak break that was never allowed any time.

I was flying across Europe so missed it after the 2 hills.

I went for fast men who I thought might also challenge tomorrow.

Hopefully I managed to scrape a few points back but winning looks very difficult now.

[11waterloo]

Vista confirmed that WvA was

Vista confirmed that WvA was after today’s stage and two jerseys. My feeling is today will be wild so I’ve gone with strong riders. 

[MinardiM189]

Probably another break

Probably another break tomorrow now that Visma will not chase.

[11waterloo]

I did ok but would have been

I did ok but would have been so much better without WvA DNF. Even if he faded on last climb he would have had sprint points and the lead in the points and KoM competitions – a minimum 40 points and probably more. I think he still gets his 20 mountain points though. I had planned to leave him in till the end – 3 of last 5 stages were potential high scorers for him and he would have probably got decent mountain points in the others. Now I have to use an unplanned transfer as well….. 

[MinardiM189]

What a shame, out again.

What a shame, out again.

Disasterous stage for me. Nothing has gone right in the last week.

[11waterloo]

Not looking good for WvA

Not looking good for WvA. 

[MinardiM189]

Another day for the break …

Another day for the break ………

I mistakenly didn’t bring Vine in for today.

Why did Decathlon suddenly start pulling once the break was 10 minutes up the road ?

 

[MinardiM189]

I read/heard that Poole

I read/heard that Poole thought the break was going to be caught so decided to save himslef.

[11waterloo]

Someone started pulling in

Someone started pulling in the peloton (Soudal I think) so the initial break never quite got away. It briefly came back together after the first cat 1 climb and then the break went again with a lot of the same names but minus Poole. Not sure why he didn’t go second time round, maybe inexperience? 

[Dr Watson]

What happened to Poole a

What happened to Poole a couple of days ago? He was comfortably in the break whilst I was watching stage 15…until I went out to the shops then when I came back he’d gone.

Anybody know?

[11waterloo]

Don’t know but it put him out

Don’t know but it put him out of contention for anything other than a stage win. My suspicion would be he’s ill as there would be no logic in deliberately losing time when his focus should be on his team mate and defending the leader’s jersey. 

[MinardiM189]

Congratulations to O’Connor.

Congratulations to O’Connor.

He managed to control his natural impulse to follow the attacks today.

What happened to Gall ?

 

[MinardiM189]

Especially when you only have

Especially when you only have 6 transfers left for the final 6 stages !!

I find it hard to believe the peleton kept the gap to 2 minutes until the penutimate climb and then let it go out to 3 minutes before the final climb.

I suspect the break will win again on Tuesday now.

 

[11waterloo]

I spotted that. I would be

I spotted that. I would be inconsolable for days if it was me! 

[MinardiM189]

Watching that made me feel

Watching that made me feel sick. Chris Horneresque.

Fortunately for me someone removed him from their team for today.

 

[Author]

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