Tour '25

[stompandgo]

I'm concerned about Mateo. He's hanging on by a thread.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Race looks over...

 

[Rás Cnoic]

This Remco pull back is very impressive. He set his own pace and it's working - For a podium place at least.

Oscar Onley having a great ride.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Well that crash yesterday really took the wind out of Pog's sails...

 

[stompandgo]

Jonas dropping F bombs

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Pure despair for Jonas. No answer. It's a bit early for inquests but I keep wondering if that terrible crash has knocked 10% out of him. Like Bernal, like Alaphilippe and others who do amazing to recover but can't quite reach the heights they once did. Visma looked weak as well. But even strong, with Pog like this I don't think anyone can beat him.

Good to see Lipowitz and Onley doing well, the young guns.

But that was a statement. He blew everyone away.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Listening to the post race discussion. Questions about illness in Visma? And wondering why they rode like they did, all used up by the time Pog went.

 

[stompandgo]

Pure despair for Jonas. No answer. It's a bit early for inquests but I keep wondering if that terrible crash has knocked 10% out of him. Like Bernal, like Alaphilippe and others who do amazing to recover but can't quite reach the heights they once did. Visma looked weak as well. But even strong, with Pog like this I don't think anyone can beat him.

Why? That's the question I'd like answered. Did they do too much work on the flats? Are they sick? What happened to them? It's basically the same cast of characters. All great riders.

If the crash took 10% out of Jonas, then he would have been dropped on the descents, and he wasn't. He has talked a bit lately on what's more important to him, his career or his family. TP doesn't have that to be concerned about. Jonas' DS told him it was a mental game at around the -0:30 point. All signs that he may not be having a bad day, but something bigger.

3:31 isn't insurmountable with so much racing left, but you must have the legs. There's a mountain ITT tomorrow. We shall see.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Well, he just rode away again! But at least he looked like he'd actually won a bike race this time. He usually looks like he'd just come off a stroll in the park.

Liked his first interview. The guy's a class act all around.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

As a courtesy to the other riders, I think he should at least stand on the pedals till he's out of sight.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Why? That's the question I'd like answered. Did they do too much work on the flats? Are they sick? What happened to them? It's basically the same cast of characters. All great riders.

If the crash took 10% out of Jonas, then he would have been dropped on the descents, and he wasn't. He has talked a bit lately on what's more important to him, his career or his family. TP doesn't have that to be concerned about. Jonas' DS told him it was a mental game at around the -0:30 point. All signs that he may not be having a bad day, but something bigger.

3:31 isn't insurmountable with so much racing left, but you must have the legs. There's a mountain ITT tomorrow. We shall see.

I don't mean 10% mentally that he is more cautious on descents, I mean full recovery from trauma and physically just not as good as before. That's definitely the case with Bernal, though a much worse crash with 24 months recovery. It is puzzling. Watching Jonas on that Netflix series from last year, he had the benefit of doubt because it was a very fast recovery to ride the tour and he wasn't far off the pace. But this year he should have leapt beyond that back to winning ways or thereabouts. That TT blow up was extraordinary. That set all kinds of warning bells off. Why the other riders in Visma are not delivering I don't understand.

 

[stompandgo]

Right. It's the combination of the bad day ITT, and the rest of Visma being off. Sepp smiling during the post race interview pissed me off.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Wow, what a day!

Re Jonas, you have to sympathize with him… Tadej worked his ass off and blew everyone off the mountain, Jonas damn near killed himself and got worse than nothing for it. However, this stuff about his family vs. his career is a teeny bit irritating to me. That call from cycling took him out of the fish shop and has to have made him a millionaire many times over, which is not too terrible for the family. However, he certainly appears to be an honorable and standup guy, so I need to relax a bit on that one. And the race ain’t over yet.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Sepp smiling during the post race interview pissed me off.

Please elaborate.

 

[stompandgo]

Wow, what a day!

Re Jonas, you have to sympathize with him… Tadej worked his ass off and blew everyone off the mountain, Jonas damn near killed himself and got worse than nothing for it. However, this stuff about his family vs. his career is a teeny bit irritating to me. That call from cycling took him out of the fish shop and has to have made him a millionaire many times over, which is not too terrible for the family. However, he certainly appears to be an honorable and standup guy, so I need to relax a bit on that one. And the race ain’t over yet.

I can see your perspective, but I didn't mean it that way. He had a life threatening crash that ended his season. I've been through a few of them in my career. They can change your perspective on racing. Yes, he must have the means to retire right now, but I seriously doubt that he's in Tour '25 for the money. He wants to win as much as TP.

 

[stompandgo]

Please elaborate.

Watch the interview. Then watch the interview with Matteo, who also gave everything he had and it wasn't enough. If you can't see the difference, let's discuss it.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Just watched the Peacock clip of the Stage 12 finish. As Tadej crossed the line, we got a nice look at the Whoosh ad plastered across his butt.

Wonder what that ad space cost?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Healy knows he blew it.