OT: Vive le Tour

[Hungry Jack]

2023 version off to a great start so far. Really hard to tell right now who will be in yellow come Paris. Will Cav get the stage win record? How good is Hindley? Is Jasper Disaster the fastest man on wheels? What does Sepp Kuss think about in those Cat 1 climbs?

Ride, you sumbitches, ride.

 

[NJCat]

A) No
B) Very
C) Yes
D) Hot Babes

Pogacar seems to be struggling from his April crash. Seeing Vingegaard ride away from him yesterday was sad. JV looks to repeat, as he has the strongest team.

 

[Hungry Jack]

A) No
B) Very
C) Yes
D) Hot Babes

Pogacar seems to be struggling from his April crash. Seeing Vingegaard ride away from him yesterday was sad. JV looks to repeat, as he has the strongest team.

Yeah, that UAE team just cannot match the pulling power of WVA and Kuss. It’s almost criminal that they can send Wout up the road to see if he can poach a stage (and get lots of pub for Jumbo), and then have him drop back to help Jonas on that last climb.

 

[NJCat]

Yeah, that UAE team just cannot match the pulling power of WVA and Kuss.

You would think that with the money available to them UAE could field a stronger team. That cost Pogacar last year and will do so again this.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Is there any danger of the Tour running into any of those French protests?

 

[Hungry Jack]

Is there any danger of the Tour running into any of those French protests?

I'd hate to be hit by a guy on a bicycle.

Seriously, I doubt it. If there is one thing you don't mess with in Paris, it's the final stage of Le Tour.

 

[Hungry Jack]

WVA is such an amazing cyclist. Best on the planet, IMO.

Wondering if Pidcock might reprise his incredible performance on Alpe d'Huez from last year. He's another amazing rider, as evidenced by his Olympic gold in mountain biking and his cyclocross world championship in 2022. That sumbitch can ride.

 

[FeralFelidae]

What is the premier race for recumbent bikes?

That would be something to see!

 

[mickbula]

How many of the bikers still abuse p e.d.'s?? How often are they tested??

 

[Hungry Jack]

What is the premier race for recumbent bikes?

That would be something to see!

This website claims that a team on a recumbent bike won the 2023 Race Across America (RAAM). However I find no record of the team in the results.

 

[FeralFelidae]

This website claims that a team on a recumbent bike won the 2023 Race Across America (RAAM). However I find no record of the team in the results.

I'm not a bike expert, but a bike enthusiast I used to work with claimed that recumbents will outperform upright bikes on flat paths (but NOT mountains/inclines) and are usually banned. If that's true, it would not surprise me that recumbents would outperform in a race across America, because large stretches of America are flat.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I'm not a bike expert, but a bike enthusiast I used to work with claimed that recumbents will outperform upright bikes on flat paths (but NOT mountains/inclines) and are usually banned. If that's true, it would not surprise me that recumbents would outperform in a race across America, because large stretches of America are flat.

I was riding the Hilly Hundred in Bloomington IN many years ago, and got passed on a steep descent by a tandem recumbent. They were hauling ass like nothing I’d seen.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Poor Cav

 

[mountaindrew]

Poor Cav

Yup. That was a tough one. When he came out of nowhere and blew by Philipsen, I thought, there it is, he's finally got the record.... but nope. Philipsen is so strong, he recovered and blew by Cavendish himself. Wow. Mario Cippolini and Erik Zabel he ain't.... yet. But WOW, Philipsen is impressive. Three days in a row, that's just amazing. His lead out team just dominated today, and set him up perfectly, even with Cav almost succeeding at commiting high way robbery.

Probably mostly wishful thinking on my part, but I'm predicting that Cavendish is going to get it done before this Tour is over. He just needs a couple breaks to go his way, but that burst he showed today... if he gets a little help, and Philipsen somehow is off his game one day... I think we're going to see it. The guy is ancient, and he's still near the top. Pretty amazing. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of his when he was dominating ten years ago, but now I'm rooting for him.

 

[NJCat]

Yup. That was a tough one. When he came out of nowhere and blew by Philipsen, I thought, there it is, he's finally got the record.... but nope. Philipsen is so strong, he recovered and blew by Cavendish himself. Wow. Mario Cippolini and Erik Zabel he ain't.... yet. But WOW, Philipsen is impressive. Three days in a row, that's just amazing. His lead out team just dominated today, and set him up perfectly, even with Cav almost succeeding at commiting high way robbery.

Probably mostly wishful thinking on my part, but I'm predicting that Cavendish is going to get it done before this Tour is over. He just needs a couple breaks to go his way, but that burst he showed today... if he gets a little help, and Philipsen somehow is off his game one day... I think we're going to see it. The guy is ancient, and he's still near the top. Pretty amazing. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of his when he was dominating ten years ago, but now I'm rooting for him.

Poor Cav indeed. Career probably over. Still, he is the co-holder of the TdF record for stage wins. That's an amazing feat.

The crash today was out of nothing. Just got caught up in the middle of the peloton, probably someone not paying attention and touched wheels. And like that, Cav is done.

 

[mountaindrew]

Poor Cav indeed. Career probably over. Still, he is the co-holder of the TdF record for stage wins. That's an amazing feat.

The crash today was out of nothing. Just got caught up in the middle of the peloton, probably someone not paying attention and touched wheels. And like that, Cav is done.

Just saw that news. That's tough. Have to assume that at his age, he only came back this year to try for the record, and this was his last go round either way. What a great career he has had.

The Tour rolls on.

 

[Hungry Jack]

INCREDIBLE two days for Vingo. Truly a champion performance. He has wiped out the field.

Tadej very gracious in the presser after a difficult stage. He is a credit to pro cycling.

 

[mountaindrew]

INCREDIBLE two days for Vingo. Truly a champion performance. He has wiped out the field.

Tadej very gracious in the presser after a difficult stage. He is a credit to pro cycling.

Its incredible that not only are these two already among the all time greats we've ever seen - certainly in our lifetimes - but they're both still in their EARLY 20s and will be battling each other for the next DECADE! Holy Sh***!! Its an incredible time to be a Tour de France/pro cycling fan.

And I second you, Hungry, on Vingo. What a monster. No bad days. He brings it at a higher level than anybody else in the world
every
single
day.

And especially in the clutch, on the high pressure days. The dude is amazing.

 

[mountaindrew]

WVA is such an amazing cyclist. Best on the planet, IMO.

Wondering if Pidcock might reprise his incredible performance on Alpe d'Huez from last year. He's another amazing rider, as evidenced by his Olympic gold in mountain biking and his cyclocross world championship in 2022. That sumbitch can ride.

Now that I've watched Pidcock every day of the Tour (wasn't really aware of him last year before Alpe d'Huez) this year, and seen him struggle to stay with the leaders on the big mountains, and drop out of the Top 10 this week, as a still young rider I gotta think he's going to be somebody to watch for the Top 5, possibly podium, next year. Not sure if he will bypass Rodriguez on Ineos as the lead dog, but look out - he's a stud.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

The Tour and upcoming women’s soccer are welcome relief to the daily drumbeat of bad news. I enjoyed cycling in my youth and tried to follow the Tour back in the day. Champs like Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil (yeah I’m *that* old to remember these guys!) were my heroes. I’ve always enjoyed the beautiful scenery esp the mountain stages and the crazy descents at speeds where they always seem on the knife’s edge on the curves. I tried road and track racing but I really I wasn’t competitive. I did enjoy riding in the countryside not too far from my home. Getting chased by farm dogs was always a thrill, except when they’d bite at my ankles. My cycling buddies and I used to do our own “tour” back then, the Tour of the Scioto River Valley which still continues to this day nearly 60 years later after I went on one of the original TOSRV rides.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

I guess this is on topic. I was in Carson City, Nevada last week where I went "Jeeping." As we climbed the mountain that separates Carson City from Lake Tahoe the off road bike trail that Lance Armstrong traversed in a recent competition was pointed out to me. It was definitely steep and challenging, portions of which extend on the side of the mountain looking down to Lake Tahoe. Even though off road biking is not his sport, he reportedly came in 8th. (Note Lance is banned from professional bike competitions so he competed in the amateur event.)

A portion of the trailn the Carson City side of the mountain:

Looking up from Lake Tahoe at the Tahoe side of the mountain:

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Alaska-when you return to San Diego I suggest visiting the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park. The museum was completely renovated during the pandemic, I enjoy the interior esp the ground floor and how art is integrated into the space. The new Artifact restaurant on the ground floor has a nice bar and outdoor patio and received a favorable mention recently by Michelin. The Mingei also incorporates beautiful wood furniture by George Nakashima throughout the interior. The San Diego Museum of Art across the Prado currently has an excellent exhibit of works by Henry Moore and Georgia O’Keeffe that runs until Aug. 27th. I know you must enjoy MOPA- it is merging with the Museum of Art.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Lots to be excited about in UCI with Vingo, Tadej, Pidcock, Hindley, Skjelmose, Gall, Rodriguez and others. Also fun to watch the current generation of American cyclists, especially Kuss and Jorgensen.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Yates brothers gonna be 3 and 4 overall. Pretty cool.

Poor Sepp. Hope he’s OK. He’s the best domestique on the planet. He deserves more than a bloody face to end the Tour.

 

[mountaindrew]

Yates brothers gonna be 3 and 4 overall. Pretty cool.

Poor Sepp. Hope he’s OK. He’s the best domestique on the planet. He deserves more than a bloody face to end the Tour.

Yes Sir. I don't really know how "free agency" works in pro cycling, but I gotta think Sepp will be offered a big pay day to be either the top GC guy on another team, or Jumbo will have to pony up to keep him being Mr. Supreme Domestique.

I'm a big fan of the Yates twins. Would love to see them get back on the same team again, but things are going pretty well for both their careers now. But imagine if Simon jumped over to UAE with Adam... if something happens to Vingo, we could see Tadej, Simon, Adam go 1-2-3, all from the same team! That ain't gonna happen, but that would be kinda fun. And if it did, I bet Phil Liggett would retire.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Vingo gonna ride the Vuelta with Roglic. Could be 1-2 in the GC!

 

[mountaindrew]

Vingo gonna ride the Vuelta with Roglic. Could be 1-2 in the GC!

Where was Roglic in The Tour this year?? Hurt? And he's riding with Jumbo now? Good gracious. Poor Tadej.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Pretty tough to ride the Tour and then the Vuelta, especially now that Roglic is in his 30s. He has won the Vuelta 3 times, and the Giro this spring.

As good as Roglic is, he is not in the same league as Vingo and Tadej. Having him sit out the Tour makes sense. If he falters in the Vuelta, Vingo is right there.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I guess this is on topic. I was in Carson City, Nevada last week where I went "Jeeping." As we climbed the mountain that separates Carson City from Lake Tahoe the off road bike trail that Lance Armstrong traversed in a recent competition was pointed out to me. It was definitely steep and challenging, portions of which extend on the side of the mountain looking down to Lake Tahoe. Even though off road biking is not his sport, he reportedly came in 8th. (Note Lance is banned from professional bike competitions so he competed in the amateur event.)

A portion of the trailn the Carson City side of the mountain:

Looking up from Lake Tahoe at the Tahoe side of the mountain:

I have been tempted to ride that pass up highway 50 from the Carson side. I have ridden around Lake Tahoe, and descended highway 50 from Spooner Junction. Fast ride down.

 

[NU Houston]

Turns out there's also a Women's Tour de France, as my wife and daughter got stuck in traffic behind it today. Who knew!

 

[Hungry Jack]

Turns out there's also a Women's Tour de France, as my wife and daughter got stuck in traffic behind it today. Who knew!

Week-long stage race through southern France. Beautiful area!

Today is a massive mountain stage with two huge Pyrenees climbs: Col d'Aspin and the famed Tourmalet for the finish.

Col d'Aspin climb in 8 miles, 2100 ft with an average gradient of 5%. Not horrifically steep but long enough to wean out the peleton.

The Tourmalet climb from the east is 11 miles and 4100 ft. That's about 7.5%, which is not easy. It maxes out at 12%.

It has been an eventful week. Two sprint stages saw successful breakaways steal wins from the peloton. The boss of the SD Worx team got kicked out for dangerous driving and some choice words for race officials after his reprimand. An SD Worx rider got a 20 second penalty for drafting off the team car.