The first of two sprint stages this weekend. Today’s stage is flat in the totality but the finish is slightly uphill.
Pogačar 101: UAE worked hard all day with Nils Politt chasing the breakaway like a Rottweiler in pursuit of a burglar, with Visma-LAB stirring the race with an opening move from Wout van Aert. There was no subtlety here, UAE were going for the stage win with Pogačar. He delivered. With help from rivals, Visma-LAB shared the pace on the way to the finish, then Remco Evenepoel led up the climb. With rivals like these who needs friends?
The finishing circuit saw a crash among the lead group with around 6km to go that left João Almeida, Louis Barré, Santiago Buitrago and Jack Haig on the ground. Almeida finished with a cracked rib, over ten minutes down with his podium bid over. Haig came off worst, his race over.
The finish with Pogačar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel 1-2-3 at one point makes you wonder if the Pyrenees and Alps are necessary. Yes, but it shows what a week it’s been and the dense crowds yesterday were like a mountain stage.
The Route: 171km and 1,700m of vertical gain thanks to crossing many small river valleys. The route also passes through many towns and so there’s the usual polynesia of traffic islands and other paraphernalia.
The one climb of the day on the way out of Nuillé sur Vicoin could be harder for some to pronounce than climb, it’s just a regular road.
The Finish: flat and a run along the banks of the Mayenne river and some relatively narrow streets. With 4km to go the road climbs away from the river and then with 3.5km to the road picks up the big rocade ring road and crosses the river. It’s uphill during the final kilometre and all on a big wide road. It makes for an awkward finish, a long effort beginning before the flamme rouge.
The Contenders: it’s an uphill finish so does this mean Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has it harder? Not necessarily, with his ungainly upright position he might thrive if the speed is lower, or at least there’s give and take.
Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) won’t find it so easy, he’s just not as good in uphill finishes.
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) would almost need a steeper, steadier finish but he’s suited today. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) has a great chance today too, maybe the form isn’t as sharp but the finish suits.
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Milan |
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Groves, Merlier |
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Girmay, Penhoët, Van Aert |
Weather: warm and sunny, 31°C with a 15km/h breeze from the NE. Just after the intermediate sprint the course has a long section exposed to the crosswind so keep an eye out in case the wind is stronger than forecast.
TV: KM0 is at 1.25pm the finish is forecast for 5.15pm CEST. Given the calm conditions maybe this isn’t a stage to watch from start to finish, or just have it on in the background like the radio…
Postcard from La Mayenne
The Tour goes to Laval, capital of the Mayenne department, and France’s biggest commune that is also a palindrome. Trivia? Of course, the sort of thing commentators may need to fill the airtime today. This might not be a stage for the age.
The Tour is something you can have on in the background while doing something else. What better medium for this than radio? We might be witnessing the slow decline of TV today, although it works for live events. This is why the Tour has every stage show from start to finish, ot brings in audiences who’d otherwise not sit down to watch some daytime chat show or a detective series from the 1990s on repeat which is what fills the French schedules during those dismal 11 months of the year.
Radio feels ancient, but it works well for the radio coverage of the Tour de France. RMC, once Radio Monte Carlo, is probably the best station to tune into. It’s semi-dedicated to sports all year and during the July the Tour takes over, it’s certainly got the most live coverage in-between jangling guitar riff jingles. There’s coverage during the stage with a panel at the finish line for chat and a moto reporter – new this year is Maria Azé – to give live updates. Obviously it’s in French so not for everyone but if can you get by then this is an enjoyable way to follow the racing, especially on a lazy stage like today.
There are plenty of Tour podcasts these days too, pick your own; if you want a French one then L’Equipe’s daily L’Equipe du Tour is recommended. But radio still holds its own with post-stage analysis too. France Info is a 24/7 live news radio station and has snippets from the race and coverage of the finish each day. It’s also got a good Club Tour discussion to discuss the day’s events where their cycling reporter sits colleagues from the pressroom, whether someone from France’s regional press or a foreign reporter; this can be download as a separate podcast. As they say, it’s like TV only the pictures are better.
Pogacar and Vingegaard going 1,2 but Evenopoel going 6 th.
I was surprised Remco sat on the front on the steeper part of the finale, constantly looking back. Thought he should put in attack there and try to stay clear on the flatter top section (especially with his aero advantage). Sure, Pog and J. would still have followed and likely gone 1-2, but maybe Remco would’ve got 3rd rather than 6th?
I was surprised Remco sat on the front on the steeper part of the finale, constantly looking back. Thought he should put in attack there and try to stay clear on the flatter top section (especially with his aero advantage). Sure, Pog and JV would still have followed and likely gone 1-2, but maybe Remco would’ve got 3rd rather than 6th?
I assume he tried to control the pace in the steep part by riding in the front. This makes it more manageable for him.
By the way, a positioning masterclass at the bottom of the hill with UAE coming from positions 20+ and enter the climb 1,2 … While MvdP and Roglic are lurking at the back. The were almost 5s back when Wellens started to pull.
Quite right, had the image in mind of the three of them away on the climb before Vauquelin closed the gap. Fixed the text above now.
The usual Polynesia lol
As someone who actually lives in Polynesia, which is full of islands and awkward barriers. Possibly the best description of the flat roads on the tour I have ever heard.
What a weird Tour! Looks like a very straightforward weekend, although just surviving each stage has been an accomplishment. Really looking forward to stage 10 and beyond.
It’s been interesting to see Pogi embracing the “heel” role this Tour. He really talked some trash about Visma at the end of stage 7. Probably doesn’t matter, he looks invincible. But people do tire at some point, right? Maybe the old rules of physiology just don’t apply anymore…
I was thinking in terms of matches:
– Let’s say Tadej has 20 and Vingegaard only 10. Case closed, Tadej wins the Tour. He is stronger and can chase down Vingegaard anytime he tries something.
– So, Visma need a way to burn some (a lot) of Tadej’s matches without using up Vingegaard. Easier said than done, of course.
– But Tadej is out there sprinting against Van der Poel and chasing down Jorgenson… Maybe Tadej really is Super-Man. However, if he isn’t, he seems to be doing all the things Visma would want him to do early in the Tour.
How strange for well-funded INEOS to be so anonymous. I know they’ve lost Ganna but still. Is Watson their best sprinter for whom between fifth and tenth would be an achievement?
Admiring La France profonde today could provide more interest than the racing.
With (in my opinion) Milan >> Merlier > Girmay/Groves >>> all other sprinters, I don’t know why teams are not trying something different in these stages. As you say, no hope for the others like Watson.
Now watch Meeus win today.
It wasn’t Pogaçar – Vingegaard – Evenepoel 1-2-3, but Pogaçar – Vingegaard – Onley.
I follow most of the tour on the radio at work on Sporza Live, Flemish radio, with Sven Nys as analyst soon to be substituted by Sep Vanmarcke, both offer really valuable insights. It’s great to ease into my actual holidays. RMC’s after-tour show with Jerome Coppel and Jerome Pineau is quite entertaining too. I also enjoy The Cycling Podcast’s daily episodes, for me they still offer the best combination of sports analysis, couleur locale and all sorts of more personal perites histoires.
Quite surprised to read that Merlier is not so good in uphill finishes. He won Nokere Koerse 3 times in a row, when it ended on the Nokereberg (320 m at 4.7%)
For me it’s because of the old approach into the climb which carried a lot of momentum and he was expert in positioning on local roads. Today’s finish just goes on for longer. He’s still the third pick.
A long effort would once have suited Démare, now he – rightly – doesn’t get a mention. Even Arkéa seem to have forgotten him with all the attention on Vauquelin. I assume he is still by far the team’s best paid rider.
With the team set to stop he seems likely to retire, it’s hard to see where he could go. His win rate was slowing before moving but the recruitment by Arkéa was probably a contributory factor for the team’s demise, a bet that didn’t pay off.
One way to change all that is a stage win and today could suit if he can surf through KM10 to KM2 without trouble but that’s a big ask. He really wants a third Tour stage win, one was after Sagan and Cavendish tangled and the Slovak was thrown off the race, the other against Christophe Laporte in Pau with a third week feel of a diminished field.
As already noted a strange Tour, surely better to have had a flat sprint stage yesterday and then the Mur today (yes I know a longer transfer later). With the obvious exception of the TT Visma must be happy as things have worked exactly as they planned, difference actually on the road between Tadej Pogacer and Jonas Vingegaard is precisely zero. Both teams have put in a lot of effort but with the injuries to Joao Almeida (will he start this morning?) maybe Visma is in slightly better shape. Will this make any difference? Visma clearly think so. I get the feeling that there will be one decisive stage when one or the other will ride away
St meen le grand – hometown of louison bobet
I recommend “Demain on Roule” by his brother Jean..very good read …its available in English as well.
I’m guessing not a repeat of yesterday’s 54 km in the first hour, as a no breakaway of any size seems a possibility.
A fast and furious finsih to a sedate stage seems likely, although that 180 turn near the finish looks like a potential dangerous spot. Would be glad to see De Lie be there at the finish but he seems completely out of sorts at the moment.
These sprint stages generally turn into a nightmare for a rider or two with crashes, so hope no nasty crashes like yesterday’s.
I feel nobody can beat The Cycling Podcast for daily coverage, in English anyway. Especially since Lionel is back and I think it’s working well with him and Graham. I love their podcast for the way they blend the cycling with the food, drink, history and culture that goes hand in hand with it. All their quality books and the overall feel of proper qualified journalism speaks for themselves.
Some good KM0 episodes, thought the one with Dan Martin on safety explored the issues well and the one on the publicity caravan explained things well from the morning dance routines to get everyone pumped up to the sound of the caravan with the crowds and the bass lines of the music on the vehicles.
Agree fully. The Cycling Podcast is always a joy to listen to.
Though, I do still miss Richard Moore. He was… different (in the best possible way). His energy seemed to bring things to life.
Very glad that Lionel is back, and happy that he and Daniel have managed to keep the enterprise going.
‘Radio feels ancient, but it works well for the radio coverage of the Tour de France.’
In the UK we have Test Match Special, cricket on the radio and it is wonderful to listen to I have often thought that there are a number of TV commentators, on live cycling, that are just as good, even if I’m not watching the TV…..Doesn’t work with the ‘Shouty’ ones or the ‘Faux Accent’ ones….I understand that some of the ITV4 team will be doing a vocal, live commentary next year. Should be interesting.
“The Contenders: it’s an uphill finish so does this mean Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has it harder? Not necessarily, with his ungainly upright position he might thrive if the speed is lower, or at least there’s give and take.”
I thought that the other day on the stage Merlier won. It was into a headwind and for all the power he puts out Milan is an absolute wind sail. I bet he was putting out hundreds more watts than Merlier to go the same speed.
I don’t know… Pogačar has been winning them, but the actual difference to Jonas has been non existent. The fact that he seems keen on collecting bonus seconds and asserting dominance via wins makes me think if he’s actually feeling unsure about the high mountains. And now with Almeida virtually (and let’s see if actually) out, I wonder if this feeling does not grow inside Tadej.
I believe Pogačar is winning the stages because he enjoys racing his bike and winning.
As above, Pogačar has won two stages because he can, and his 12 additional bonus seconds over Vingegaard are incidental. I’m sure he’s feeling confident, though yes, Almeida’s injuries could well be a problem – difficult to predict how manageable bruised / broken ribs will be.
Visma will target certain mountain stages. Of course, Pogačar could potentially lose time in the Pyrenees or on Mont Ventoux. However, Stage 18, with 5500m of vertical gain and again featuring the Col de la Loze, is perhaps Vingegaard’s best hope for a repeat of Pogačar’s “I’m dead, I’m gone” from 2023.
“I’m gone. I’m dead.” (!)
Thank you for Radio and podcast recommendations!