Tour de France 2026 ***Spoilers***

[mrushton]

Wiggins gave his opinion recently that Jonas may not finish this race. If the others sense weakness that 2nd place fight could be good.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Bernal out of top 10. Leapfrogged by Pidders

 

[Linuswordymann]

At the end of the stage..

Vingegaard: “My legs are getting better and better. I am looking forward to the longer climbs. Hopefully we can have some good weeks [at this Tour].”

 

[Dogtrousers]

I was "watching" on PCS and my assumption was that Jonas would put a modest amount of time, like 15s or something, into the rest by ignoring Pog and repeating his Giro MO

I wonder how much the Tourmalet took out of him. After all, if it wasn't for the guy up the road we'd all be saying what an incredible ascent he did.

 

[mrushton]

Every tour should have been a win for Jonas but somehow it hasn't. First time he has been caught by his rivals in the last 5(?) TdF. His ascent of Tourmalet broke the Record and Hautacam last year was great but he still has the Pog problem who isn't giving anything.

 

[Animo]

Sounds like he really has got it sewn up if the BBC report is to be believed!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well the average speed was 495 km/h
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tour-de-france-2026-spoilers.305503/page-95#post-7660190

 

[Blazing Saddles]

So, it’s only two and three quarter stages until the next meaningful climb.
Deep joy.

 

[mididoctors]

At the end of the stage..

Vingegaard: “My legs are getting better and better. I am looking forward to the longer climbs. Hopefully we can have some good weeks [at this Tour].”

Jonas did most of the pulling,.. his problem is he couldn't separate himself from the rest

 

[mididoctors]

Stage 11 Vichy>Nevers 161.3 km


Sprint . Let's see. If you want to win or even get in a break maybe these flat days are the new black . Cos trying in the hills is neigh on impossible . Rollout 13:50 CEST

Sprint twisty...not too far into the stage . Break should go no later than here or nearby cat 4 . Finish straight forward enough. Kink in the road at 500m to go round mini roundabout.

 

[Milzy]

Judging from Pidcock's interview, all that had happened was that one button stopped working on his shifter but there was (at least) one other that did work. So not catastrophic.

It is because you can’t sprint being over geared. Even a prime Sir Chris Hoy would struggle.

 

[Pross]

Well that pretty much went to script.
Chapeau to Evenepoel, who looked dead and buried on the final climb.

Lazarus like. Wasn’t impressed by all the other podium contenders sitting on Jonas from the time Pog attacked then jumping him. The gap was never big so if they’d all put some effort in they may have pulled him back. It feels like everyone has given up trying to win. The Lotto car wasn’t exactly inspirational when they effectively said ‘Pog’s said he wants to win the stage so we’re doomed but pretend you’re trying to win anyway’ (paraphrasing)

Really don’t get UAE keeping everything on a tight leash on these hilly stages, they’re more than capable of bringing back 4 or 5 minutes if they want. On top of the sprint teams doing it on flat stages teams are basically not going to bother forming breaks if they don’t at least have the illusion of chance to win.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Lazarus like. Wasn’t impressed by all the other podium contenders sitting on Jonas from the time Pog attacked then jumping him. The gap was never big so if they’d all put some effort in they may have pulled him back. It feels like everyone has given up trying to win. The Lotto car wasn’t exactly inspirational when they effectively said ‘Pog’s said he wants to win the stage so we’re doomed but pretend you’re trying to win anyway’ (paraphrasing)

Really don’t get UAE keeping everything on a tight leash on these hilly stages, they’re more than capable of bringing back 4 or 5 minutes if they want. On top of the sprint teams doing it on flat stages teams are basically not going to bother forming breaks if they don’t at least have the illusion of chance to win.

Came back to give Lipowitz a perfect lead out and he couldn't even follow his wheel.

Must wonder why he bothers sometimes.

 

[mididoctors]

Lazarus like. Wasn’t impressed by all the other podium contenders sitting on Jonas from the time Pog attacked then jumping him. The gap was never big so if they’d all put some effort in they may have pulled him back. It feels like everyone has given up trying to win. The Lotto car wasn’t exactly inspirational when they effectively said ‘Pog’s said he wants to win the stage so we’re doomed but pretend you’re trying to win anyway’ (paraphrasing)

Really don’t get UAE keeping everything on a tight leash on these hilly stages, they’re more than capable of bringing back 4 or 5 minutes if they want. On top of the sprint teams doing it on flat stages teams are basically not going to bother forming breaks if they don’t at least have the illusion of chance to win.

The argument short stages lead to.attscking riding came true but then it turned out strong tesns can control start to.finsh at insanely high tempos . That 235 km.giro stage makes sense now

 

[No Ta Doctor]

The argument short stages lead to.attscking riding came true but then it turned out strong tesns can control start to.finsh at insanely high tempos . That 235 km.giro stage makes sense now

Rick Chasey always used to say the same - short stages are fun, but you need an epic mountain stage of 250km in the legs from the day before to make it work.

As for the group dynamics when they were chasing Pog - it was actually working alright until Lipowitz blew the group up. He managed to drop Remco and make the Trek lads fear his legs. Up until then they'd worked pretty well together, and they were on the wide dual carriageway road pre the climb proper. Pog was at just over 20". Once Remco was gone nobody but Jonas pulled at all.