Or… they already know that Jonas is empty and that was a defensive tactic to secure the 2 spot. Honestly, I’m placing my bet in this scenario, I don’t think these guys aren’t aware of Jonas’ capabilities today.
How does sending your best climbing domestiques up the road help him defend against attacks from remco?
If remco drops him he needs the pacing within the group, not as someone up the road to bridge to doesn’t he?
I don’t know either, but it’s crystal clear that Jonas is empty, and I can’t believe his team doesn’t know this.
just shows how much better the GC guys are than everyone else. To me Jonas looked cooked. Like totally done. Yet, as you said, even when he’s cooked he can still hang onto Remco and come in 6th.
That’s my reading/perception as well.
He looks done, and the long hug at the end shows that he was emotional, knowing his limits and that the fight was over, all the hard recovery he had, family, etc.
And yes, I’d be happy with his worse performance. It’s unbelievable that we’re discussing this while he is breaking records. Perspective, I guess.
1 Like
As a person that has driven one of the Izuzu bobtails for a year I would much rather decend down the mountain with hairpins than drive across a bridge with 50mph cross
winds
2 Likes
Satellite riders aren’t only an offensive tactic. The point of a satellite rider is to position a rider up the road above where they’d likely be if they remained in the GC group.
This can be to A) have someone to bridge to in an attack B) have a rider drop back and help pace you if you’ve been dropped or C) go for the stage if all else fails.
Discussion here seems to be fixated on A, but B is just as common if not more.
Visma tactics today made sense. At the start of the day you don’t know how every one will feel at the end. In the small chance Pog has weakness then you can exploit, you have the option to drop back, or in this case contrary to your point it was clear to VLAB that Pogi wasn’t cracking and Jonas was just hanging on, so they audibled to plan C which gave them a far greater chance of a stage win than any other strategy they could have taken today.
Alternatively they could just sit back and watch Pogi stomp them without trying anything? Makes no sense.
1 Like
This made me yell at my tv. I think they threw around the word “classless” because Pogi had the audacity to race for both the yellow jersey and stages. 
2 Likes
100% with you.
The part of the puzzle that doesn’t fit quite well is that in scenario “A” or “B” Jonas should be in good shape, which isn’t the case. Not to cover Pogacar. Or, they thought he was.
It seemed to me, after Pogacar Attached, that he was clearly racing to secure the 2nd spot.
Your reading is quite accurate, though.
1 Like
Sometimes you just need to play out the plans you developed and see what happens on race day…in order for “A” or “B” to work, they needed to send Matteo and Wilco up the road early in the day, likely before you have a good read on Jonas’ legs for the day.
And even if he initially felt bad, there is the chance he comes around by the end of the day…or by the time he told them his legs were no good, those two guys were already away.
3 Likes
Exactly, hindsight is 20/20 but at the start of the day you never know, even if it’s a small chance it’s better than no chance. What do they have to lose really. I was confident Jonas could hang on with Remco if he rode defensively and he did, but even if he goes to 3rd it really doesn’t matter for a former champion. First or bust.
2 Likes
No consolation for you guys that the Eurosport/Discovery (ie. GCN as was) coverage and studio analysis has been excellent.
Commiserations and sympathy!
2 Likes
“You have chosen to block the user @AldridgePrior ”
2 Likes
3 Likes
I made it to the top of the 3rd climb and they closed the road waaayyyyy too early at 1:40pm!!!
There was a serious accident involving a cyclist in the descend of the second climb. I lost 30 minutes there. Was able to keep going because we took advantage of a police agent being busy and went down with some Israel Tech guys with Tour credentials.
Extremely beautiful course, the climbs are not hard, just loooong and as predicted, the heat is insane, idk how the professionals deal with this, its impressive.
Sad not to finish, was on pace for a really good time. Good power and HR below 160 despite the insane temperature.
60g of sugar per hour.
I’m trapped here, until they reopen, going to try to find some good protein.
Cheers
13 Likes
Agree on the heat. We just watched the neutral and were out for about 4 hours just taking in the insanity. I drank a 1.5L of water and a 330mL Coke and am still down a kg from pre race - haha
1 Like
Sorry, bit outta tune this tour.
Carapaz just secured the polka dots, yeah?
2 Likes
Remco such a bonehead…attacking JV in the mountains when there is a time trial tomorrow and he’d be better off saving himself. He tried not once, but at least twice and then got counter-attacked by Vingego and is gapped. He still needs some maturing.
3 Likes
“Vinge is such a wheel sucker”. I see this comment often in comments sections but you can see why here. Unless you’re Pogacar, you need to race smart in order to have consistent results.
He needed to take time from Jonas today if he was going to overtake him on the podium….he was not going to take 2’ out of him in the TT.
5 Likes