There’s pretty much always a break. If there isn’t a break, there will be some riders trying to form a break. If the peleton doesn’t let a break get away at least a bit, the pace stays stupidly high as riders repeatedly attack off the front. The reason for this is that it’s a race and people are trying to win it. Various teams may have differing opinions of whether a given break has an acceptable makeup, and so some teams might refuse to let a break go and instead stay on the front trying to reel it back in immediately.
On a stage like today’s, the teams with the best sprinters are going to be intending to control the pace in the peleton in such a way as to make absolutely sure that they can catch the break before the line so their sprinter can contest the stage win. On a mountain stage later in the race, on the other hand, a break with a bunch of people way down in the GC might be given 10-15 minutes because the teams controlling the peleton only care about the GC and not the stage win. So, on a stage that’s almost guaranteed sprint like today, the sprint teams want 1) a break to get away quickly so that the pace doesn’t stay stupid high for the first hour and a half, 2) the break to be relatively small so that it’s easier to pull back, and 3) to keep the break on a relatively short leash so that pulling them back isn’t too huge a task. They pretty much got all that right, and still almost flubbed the stage because van Moer is a beast.
It happens so often that the break is allowed to go until the last mile or less of the finish. But it’s always crushing to see a rider within shouting distance of the finish line get swallowed up by the onrushing head of the peloton.
I’m a little bit late to the party, since I’ve only been following the TDF for about four years, and I spent last weekend glued to the livestream of the Western States Endurance Run; but was that the biggest crash in the race’s history? I mean, in terms of number of riders involved. It was certainly the biggest I’ve seen. Stupid fan.
No. It was big, but there have been many crashes of that magnitude in various races. I think it only resulted in 2 abandons? Any time someone goes down near the front of a tightly packed peleton the following riders all go down like dominos.
Yeah, I’m just here to b.s. with fellow fans. Still have a job to do most weekdays so can’t be watching it live. Viewing it recorded in the evening let’s me fast forward through the commercials while I carbo-load, which is a much nicer way to see it anyway.
Now… today’s stage is Cav’s to lose, I think. Bring on the 32nd waterworks!
I repeat myself, but I am still surprised at how high van Aert is in the overall standings. I don’t think anyone will give him an inch if he tries for a break. Certainly van der Poel will be doubly motivated to respond. And we know that he can.
This is going to be no ordinary day of racing. Huge mistakes already made and huge advantages to be gained. Among the unexpected is the decision made by Cavendish. Smart way to gain mid stage sprint points. Long as he stops waving his arms around and hangs in.
Who here has fallen victim to the onslaught of product placements in the grand tours?
I admit to having a couple of pairs of Castelli cycling shorts and back when Festina was the official timer I bought a TdF watch with the yellow dial, that I still love and wear during the cycling season.
I’d dearly love a Pinarello Dogma but I don’t ride nearly enough miles anymore to justify the expense.
Check this out… They’ve got a model called “FRED”!
I propose we lift the moratorium on open comments for this weekend, effective tomorrow. If you want to watch and comment sat & sun, have at it. What say all?
I’m ok with it. By the way, I was very busy for the last week and today was the first stage that I was able to follow fully. And it didn’t disappoint, great excitement on a stage with an interesting profile.
