WvA really not looking good until he had to ride, and then wow… He brought everybody back (nearly) to the front (nearly) by himself.
I hate Paris-Roubaix. So much happens with bad luck. Ok, you increase your chance by riding in front, having the good trajectories, but still…
He said he was not in it mentally after he went down…but once the fish boy was in trouble, that re-energized him.
Not really surprised4 days of constantly racing at the front takes a toll mentally…no shocker after taking a tumble he basically decided to mail it in for the rest of the day, especially since his primary goal (green) would still be well within reach.
But damn did he turn it on when they need it.
What was the “move”? I was Bettiol on the front in the cobble sections and I heard Robbie McEwen and Sean Kelly going on and on about it but I was this as just him staying safe. It’s better to be on the front on a cobble section. I didn’t see Bettiol pulling outside of the cobble sections.
I love this stage and I think it adds a great element to the Tour. Otherwise, the Tour GC competition just becomes who can climb hour long mountain climbs the best and who can time trial ok.
Pog is showing how he is a complete rider.
I only saw him pulling on the cobble sections as well, but the context surrounding was suspicious: https://twitter.com/LanterneRougeYT/status/1544754954396700673?s=20&t=-Z5WvDmmWM821FaqvAGdYA
Regardless, I agree, I love the excitement these stages bring. You have to be a complete rider, not just a HC climb threshold robot.
Roglic dislocated his shoulder and put it back by himself. No wonder he was not looking good on the bike after the crash.
Except with his teammates up the road, he should have been half pedaling to “block” the peloton / chasers, not pushing the pace.
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I’m going to disagree with the pundits. My understanding is that you have to ride the cobbles at a good clip so you ride over the tops of them and don’t end up between them. If he would have soft pedaled, he’d quickly end up in the back. I think his strategy was to just stay as safe as possible on the cobbles. The cobble sections are relatively short.
Did he reel in the breakaway? Nope.
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He didn’t need to reel it in, he just needed to help close the gap enough to prevent Powless from taking yellow….pretty clear he did that.
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Also he probably should have been protecting Uran.
That drama aside, is Powless a good enough climber to be the team leader of EF now?
I don’t think that’s what was happening personally. Did you watch the stage in full? There were several interactions between him and Pog which were curious, and Pog was following his wheel on several tarseal sections to move to the front.
Definitely seemed like something fishy. Whether it was cash, they’re good friends, or a future contract. It’s hard to not be cynical.
I’m just surprised Jonathan didn’t shout down the radio for him to stop.
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I still disagree about anything nefarious. Maybe the conversation was "I’m going to ride the front on the sectors. And Pog said “cool”.
Or maybe Vaughters said to give Pog some help because Jumbo was suffering?
Maybe.
There’s also a non-zero chance that Vaughters put him up to it, and then sent the Tweet about the debrief, to generate interest and clicks. I’d almost say that would be my expectation, except that EF have had such an incredible start to the Tour and they had two riders in such a good position in the break.
Ooh now that’s an interesting thought. It does seem like something he would do, although to your point, wouldn’t expect that on this day given the specific situation up the road.
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“Hey, go chase down our riders who have a shot at the yellow jersey so we can help out a guy on another team who doesn’t need help”?
Why would he do that?
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You forgot to add: and get us points we need to stay at the World Tour level
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IMO - The issue was not where the actual crash happened but the confined cobbled roads impacting the ability of individuals/teams to get back on. Particularly because there was so many cobbled sections in succession.
But that isn’t what happened…there were no team cars blocking Rog’s chase group and there were no large groups slowing him down.
He (and his teammates) could ride as hard as they wanted to / could to try and catch back on.
Just listening to JB². Johan immediately went to the same place I (and a lot of us) did, i.e. wondering if Bettiol hoped to get a contract lined up with UAE.
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No Thomas came down, Yates was held up
Maybe Bettiol’s contract has a break clause if EF stops being a World Tour team 
Then he could be looking for a new contract I suppose.