Re: tOfficial 2020 Tour Dr France Thread..

[Nordic]

Just started today's stage and they flashed their Covid rules. If two riders from the same team test positive within 7 days the entire team is sent home. That's huge and could really impact the tour

[Robert J Sakimano]

Just started today's stage and they flashed their Covid rules. If two riders from the same team test positive within 7 days the entire team is sent home. That's huge and could really impact the tour

wait'll ya see the Peyreysourde. It looks like every other mountain stage with fans lining the roads, etc. Nice to see something looking "normal", but probably not advisable.

[Nordic]

Just started today's stage and they flashed their Covid rules. If two riders from the same team test positive within 7 days the entire team is sent home. That's huge and could really impact the tour

wait'll ya see the Peyreysourde. It looks like every other mountain stage with fans lining the roads, etc. Nice to see something looking "normal", but probably not advisable.

Just watched it. Props to the 75% that are masked up. Seriously, very impressed. But those that don't or have it pulled down so they can yell at the riders 

I mean the risk is probably extremely low and I generally don't gaf if you are non-mask guy. But fuck, on the odd chance it does happen, you can really fuck up a whole team.

[Nordic]

Roglic looks like the guy to beat. I assume he was prob the fav going in. He had no trouble with that climb and his team was strong.

[kingstonlake]

Foggy and wet for stage 9 in the mountains. Danger!

[Robert J Sakimano]

Foggy and wet for stage 9 in the mountains. Danger!

I know. Lots of potential for havoc. Luckily, everyone made it through clean it looked like.

Well-deserved rest day tomorrow.

[Nordic]

Oh man what a heartbreaker. 

Heavyweights sized each other up today.

[Nordic]

Tour de France riders face stressful rest day with coronavirus tests

Looks like we aren't going to see the results of the rona testing till a couple hours before tomorrow's stage. 

[Robert J Sakimano]

Tour de France riders face stressful rest day with coronavirus tests

Looks like we aren't going to see the results of the rona testing till a couple hours before tomorrow's stage. 

ugh.

Tuning in soon.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Christian Prudhomme (race director) tests positive. Haven't heard about any cyclists yet. Just tuned in from my run. Flat day, maybe the last day for sprinters before Paris.

Good day for a long breakaway though.

[Nordic]

All riders cleared. 4 team staffers sent home.

The 166 remaining Tour de France riders have been cleared to continue racing ahead of Tuesday’s Stage 10 after undergoing COVID-19 tests, but the race director is going home.

Tour organizers said that all the riders’ tests returned negative but announced that race director Christian Prudhomme tested positive along with four staff members from four different teams who have been dropped from the race bubble.

The four staff who tested positive work for Cofidis, AG2R La Mondiale, defending champion Egan Bernal's Inos Grenadiers and Mitchelton Scott, meaning those four squads were under the threat of being excluded.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/ap-top-news/2020/09/08/all-remaining-166-tour-riders-cleared-to-continue-racing

[Nordic]

Sagan loses the Green jersey 

[Robert J Sakimano]

Sagan loses the Green jersey 

yeah was watching this morning.

Like we've said, he's missing a step this year. Was happy for Bennett, though. A lot of emotion on the podium when they were interviewing him. It's easy to lose track of what a stage win can mean to a rider.

[Nordic]

yeah, watchung him lose it now

[Robert J Sakimano]

caught today's stage.. a bit of controversy on the finish.

(spoiler alert, Nordic)






Sagan was coming up to Van Aert's right on the finish.. he was caught between Van Aert and the barrier. Sagan leaned in with his shoulder and head and sort of pushed his way through. It was unclear if his line ever changed, but not a smart move by Sagan. Could've been dangerous. Van Aert was in contention but that disrupted his sprint.

some words and hand gestures clearly exchanged as they crossed.

I've always thought Sagan to be a good sportsman. Maybe it was his frustration coming through. Either way, he was relegated to the end of that group. I'd say he was pretty lucky - could've been a worse penalty than that.

[Nordic]

Hirschi

Was rooting for him a few stages ago. Got 'er done today.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Yep.

The Tour starts today. Wouldn't be surprised if there are 2-3 GC guys within a minute of each other on next Saturday's 36 K mountain TT.

These last 8-9 stages will be brutal days in the saddle.

[Robert J Sakimano]

some real battling going on out there today.

(spoiler alert Nordic):





Gotta believe that Cosnerfroy won't be wearing the polka dots this evening. He's off the back with only one climb to go.

[Nordic]

Gotta be over now, yeah? All hands looked like they were shown today.

BTW. Thanks for the spoiler alert. I know you watch before me. I try to stay outta this thread after 9am. But sometimes I forget and 

[Nordic]

Oh shit. The next four five stages are hell. 

[Robert J Sakimano]

I know.. Look at those profiles.

Like I said the other day.. the Tour basically began Friday. Two cat 1 climbs and an HC finish today.

Sagan cutting into Bennett's green jersey a bit but the window is closing (or has closed) on him wearing it into Paris.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Now THAT is what GC guys are supposed to do on the Columbier.

How about Sepp Kuss?

[Robert J Sakimano]

back in the saddle for stage 16.

another day in the Alps. Still think Roglic is in control of the race but I still think, barring anything insane, it'll come down to Saturday's mountain TT.

[Robert J Sakimano]

today's profile.



Bernal is out of the GC contention.. gotta wonder if he maybe dialed it back yesterday in hopes of getting a stage win at some point?

[Robert J Sakimano]

thoughts going into stage 19, the penultimate day before the mountain TT:

- Roglic is clearly in control. Jumbo-Visma is riding like well-oiled machine.

- Bernal abandoned. Trying to remember the last time a defending champion abandoned the TdF without being in a crash/injured.

- the future of American cycling, though small in numbers, is strong. Sepp Kuss and Neilson Powless riding very well.

- today's stage is a textbook edition of how a long breakaway may hold off the peloton. Out of the mountains, only one categorized climb, and the day before a 36 K time trial.

- it's been a great Tour with some monster stages. With the virus, I wasn't overly optimistic going in that the teams would stay intact the way they have. Major respect to each team for maintaining their health in the bubble.

- Tour riders are the toughest athletes in the world... not even close.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Insane day on the TT.

Is Pogacar gonna take yellow??

[Nordic]

[Nordic]

Brutal

[Robert J Sakimano]

back in the saddle for stage 16.

another day in the Alps. Still think Roglic is in control of the race but I still think, barring anything insane, it'll come down to Saturday's mountain TT.

In case NBCSN needs a fill-in on next year's Tour coverage.


Pogacar looked like a man possessed. Reminded me of the '89 Tour when Fignon lost yellow to Lemond on the last day.. a TT on the Champs-Elysses.

[tGreenWay]

Is this thing still going on? Seems like the only thing that lasts longer is an NBA season & playoffs, pre- and post-covid, of course.

[Robert J Sakimano]

Is this thing still going on? Seems like the only thing that lasts longer is an NBA season & playoffs, pre- and post-covid, of course.

they wrap it up tomorrow.

Then we can go back to people standing around throwing a ball back and forth.

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