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The TdF is too predictable

Old 07-25-19, 07:32 PM
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Picked a bad year to start this thread.

You want less predictability, watch the classics.

As far as TDF’s go, this is one of the most wide open i’ve seen in 40 plus years of following the Grand Boucle
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Old 07-25-19, 07:54 PM
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Really, after Stage 18 today?

-Bandera
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Old 07-26-19, 08:45 AM
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Predictable eh?

Weather always something to consider.
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Old 07-26-19, 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by CyclingFever
Predictable eh?

Weather always something to consider.
You beat me to it. Hail storms and landslides.

OTOH, the result is SkIneos in yellow, just like they are every year. So that's sort of predictable.
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Old 07-26-19, 12:00 PM
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So much for predictable.
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Old 07-26-19, 12:38 PM
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The Ol' Hail and Mud Slide Trick!
Totally predictable.
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Old 07-26-19, 01:03 PM
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Does the OP still think this race is predictable? Who wears yellow into Paris?
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Old 07-26-19, 01:25 PM
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Ineos is looking good. But I would not say Bernal had the safest margin today.
Myself, I want to see Valverde vault up the rankings and into third place, and be on the podium!

Frankly, this year's contest could actually have a well-contested final ride to Paris! Ineos might have the edge at that point, and Movistar might fare well.

There will be some beat-up guys after tomorrow!
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Old 07-26-19, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by PJay120

Frankly, this year's contest could actually have a well-contested final ride to Paris!
No chance. GC is only contested on the final day when it's an ITT stage.
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Old 07-26-19, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by PJay120
Ineos is looking good. But I would not say Bernal had the safest margin today.
Myself, I want to see Valverde vault up the rankings and into third place, and be on the podium!

Frankly, this year's contest could actually have a well-contested final ride to Paris! Ineos might have the edge at that point, and Movistar might fare well.

There will be some beat-up guys after tomorrow!
No there won't. Tomorrow's stage is all but cancelled in name only. 59km.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/r...st-59km-432930


The GC contest is over at this point, unless Egan either crashes out, or gets a doping positive.
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Old 07-26-19, 03:33 PM
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I know it's too late but why not do tomorrow's stage as a double climb on the same mountain? They go up, down, and then back up again.

One thing though, it is going to be nuts racing tomorrow and potentially very exciting.
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Old 07-26-19, 03:55 PM
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Blood doping and motors destroyed the credibility of the peloton long ago. I'm sure it's still a huge fan spectacle however. I can't take the "winner" seriously however.
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Old 07-26-19, 04:10 PM
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Cool story bro.
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Old 07-26-19, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
Blood doping and motors destroyed the credibility of the peloton long ago. I'm sure it's still a huge fan spectacle however. I can't take the "winner" seriously however.
You forgot to also mention motorbike pacing.
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Old 07-26-19, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by radroad
Blood doping and motors destroyed the credibility of the peloton long ago. I'm sure it's still a huge fan spectacle however. I can't take the "winner" seriously however.

Then go away. Cheating in the TDF has been a problem since at least the second iteration more than 100 years ago.

if that’s too much of a problem for you don’t watch.

By continuing to comment, me thinks thou dost protest too mich
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Old 07-27-19, 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by gpsblake
I know it's too late but why not do tomorrow's stage as a double climb on the same mountain? They go up, down, and then back up again.

One thing though, it is going to be nuts racing tomorrow and potentially very exciting.
Because the sprinters will still be coming up when the climbers are going down. That and the spectators. Maybe they could take them down on the ski-lifts.
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Old 07-27-19, 11:21 AM
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Well , predictable it is.
Have a timed race when finish is stated
when predictable winner is in the lead .
Kinda “predictable”
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Old 07-28-19, 07:53 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Picked a bad year to start this thread.

You want less predictability, watch the classics.

As far as TDF’s go, this is one of the most wide open i’ve seen in 40 plus years of following the Grand Boucle
Yeah, I had to check the date of the OP; assumed it was from last year. : )
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Old 07-28-19, 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Caretaker
Because the sprinters will still be coming up when the climbers are going down. That and the spectators. Maybe they could take them down on the ski-lifts.
Duh... yea, your right. Roads are always narrow and a cyclist coming down at 50mph vs a climbing going 8mph would make for some nightmares and close calls. And of course, the fans who pack in the last kilomsters of a climb would really screw up the downhill.

Wasn't thinking...
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Old 07-29-19, 04:54 AM
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It ended up being predictable in the end.
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Old 07-29-19, 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Rajflyboy
It ended up being predictable in the end.
As in "The best climber with the best team won"?

I was only passingly interested in racing when Lemond won, so I can't compare this years tour to that year, but this was the most exciting Tour I've ever watched. Great performances from the sprinters, real battles in the mountains, an outstanding performance from Alaphilippe, weather uncertainty on the final two stages, and the unexpected departures of Wout van Aert and Thibaut Pinot all added real drama. Throw in the question of whether Thomas would have defended his title had he not had a couple of poorly timed crashes, and the first win by a (U23!) Columbian and it was a standout spectacle

I would have been perfectly happy to watch Froome and Dumoulin battle it out had they started, but this tour was much, much more exciting than that would have been.

I'll be intrigued to see how Ineos balances their old lions with the long term potential of Bernal. I suppose having three yellow jersey winners on one squad is a good problem to have, but it's asking a lot of Thomas and/or Froome to give up what could be their last opportunity for yellow for Bernal.
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Last edited by bbbean; 07-29-19 at 01:28 PM.
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Old 07-29-19, 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Rajflyboy
It ended up being predictable in the end.
That statement kind of contradicts itself. The journey certainly was not predictable and that's what makes events such as Tour de France great.
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