Tour de France 2025 (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

[Blazing Saddles]

As it is, Adam Yates, Sivakov, and Soler are all well over 30 minutes down on GC. I don't recall any of them crashing, so you'd have to assume they'll be pretty fresh for what's to come. As a comparison, the only Visma rider that is so far down is Affini.

Campenaerts is over 30 minutes down.
Simon Yates should be pretty fresh, seeing he’s been rolling in with his brother on occasion.

 

[Legs]

Here's what you've all been waiting for, albeit a mini version of what's to come. Into the Massif Central we go, on a stage starting where we would prefer it finished. (well almost)

Date: 14/07
Stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy (165.3 km)
Vertical meters: 4307

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They're riding (in reverse) around most of the Circuit de Charade, which hosted four French Grands Prix in the late 60s and 70s. A very cool circuit, not dissimilar to the Nürburgring

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_de_Charade

 

[phreak]

Campenaerts is over 30 minutes down.
Simon Yates should be pretty fresh, seeing he’s been rolling in with his brother on occasion.

You wouldn't imagine Campenaerts will be much use in the mountains though, whereas Soler, Yates, and Sivakov should be.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Since Pogacar seemed to reach a new level at the start of 2024, has there been a single instance of a rival team using a domestique to attack him and force either him or a teammate to chase? I can't think of many, if any at all, and certainly nothing that actually worked.

Honestly, has any other team than Visma attacked him?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Now I'm home from France I've had a chance to sort through my pictures. Here's one of Biniam Girmay in the Caen TT.

 

[KingstonGraham]

Simon Yates went in the masterful gambit breakaway to hone his fitness.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

There's no MadsP, Allaphillipe hasn't been the same since his big crash a few years ago and MVDP was admitted to the asylum yesterday...

So who ought to be in the winning move of today's rollercoaster?
Jorge?
Healey?
Onley?
Wout?
Froome?

 

[Pross]

Honestly, has any other team than Visma attacked him?

Why would they? In all reality the main beneficiary would be Vingegaard, the only other possible contender is likely to be Remco and I don't see his team having the capability to do much attacking. The best hope for others is to try to follow and hope VLAB and UAE kill each other off.

 

[Pross]

There's no MadsP, Allaphillipe hasn't been the same since his big crash a few years ago and MVDP was admitted to the asylum yesterday...

So who ought to be in the winning move of today's rollercoaster?
Jorge?
Healey?
Onley?
Wout?
Froome?

Dunbar

 

[Lanterne Rogue]

Froome?

Having recently come a mighty 93rd in the final ITT of the Sibiu Tour, I think it's safe to say Froome is in neither the form for a stage win at the Tour nor, crucially, is he actually present to win said stage.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Dunbar

Didn't he abandon after the crash ~10Km from finish few days ago that cracked Pog's wingman's ribs and fingers?

Yes he did abandon.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Having recently come a mighty 93rd in the final ITT of the Sibiu Tour, I think it's safe to say Froome is in neither the form for a stage win at the Tour nor, crucially, is he actually present to win said stage.

He's sandbagging.

 

[Lanterne Rogue]

He's sandbagging.

Whilst I'd agree that not even being in the squad at the Tour guarantees the element of surprise...

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I'm not sponsered by Zwift, but just for your amusement, the hourly group portal rides today go up today's Col De La Croix Saint-Robert... Which the pros are descending!

https://zwiftinsider.com/portal/col-de-la-croix-saint-robert/

Three years ago, I might have got up the 3.5 mile 1135 feet cat2 in ~20 mins, but today it will be ~35mins if my legs are at home.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

ITV4 coverage starting!