But about the crashy opening days, I found this from Sepp Kuss

“I don’t think it’s the fans,” he said. “Last year it was already pretty mountainous from the beginning and there was a natural election. This year it’s tricky and there are a lot more riders who can win each day. Everyone is taking a lot of risks, and everyone in the peloton wants to get through without losing time. It’s a hard combination.”

https://www.velonews.com/events/tour-de-france/sepp-kuss-three-stages-feels-like-six-on-tense-opening-days-of-tour-de-france/

mugwump said:

In the finale of today's stage, the overhead shots tell an interesting story.  Bouhanni is all shoulders and elbows to move up, gets to the front but can't get past Cav'.  Sagan much less so, starts from way back, and seemingly sprints faster than most everybody, but starting from way behind.

Probably not the most interesting story of the day 

Mark Taylor said:

mugwump said:

In the finale of today's stage, the overhead shots tell an interesting story.  Bouhanni is all shoulders and elbows to move up, gets to the front but can't get past Cav'.  Sagan much less so, starts from way back, and seemingly sprints faster than most everybody, but starting from way behind.

Probably not the most interesting story of the day 

Not suggesting it is.

But for trainspotters, it's good viewing.

@mugwump having a bit of fun with you 

By any definition Mark Cavendish and MVdP are cycling super stars.

While we all understand the nuance here, what is this race that literally brings them to tears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfpm6VtcPPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmPko2BKEQU

...

What's Trickster God of Cycling's real name Jules?

on cavendish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzIlWWZ_ZhQ

JohnMalcolmson said:

What's Trickster God of Cycling's real name Jules?

Pantagacar? Or just Drivingacar?

It's Myerson's nickname for MVP

Ho-ley f-ing hell.
Also, I've never seen Cav that articulate in a post-race interview.

DREAMS
(but also, that wasnt' that articulate )

I think this guys got a real future in cycling. 

eloy said:

DREAMS
(but also, that wasnt' that articulate )

Fair enough. Perhaps it's because we haven't seen him talking post-race since Obama was in the white house...



2008, 2011, 2021 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Looks like he slowly added a little hip attitude to his signature move over the years! Love it!

Check out his chain...

Cav' also seems to be the most prolific hugger in the peloton.  It seems that after he wins, he pulls over, hugs the soigneurs, then waits for every teammate to hug them, then hugs the directors, then the mechanics, then the managers, then any soigneur he missed the first go-round.  I bet he hugs the cooks, the drivers, don't know when he stops.

Nathan Haas spoke on "the cycling podcast" glowingly about how he is absolutely the best team mate / leader  ,the attention he pays to every member of the team sounded impressive 

The beauty and drama of this race knows no bounds, neither does the rivalry between Wout and MVdP

-- there are 180+ riders in the tour, and probably only one that MVdP would not want to relinquish yellow to. Loving the racing today.

Neilson Powells cyclocross style!

I guess we can surmise that Jumbo-Visma saw Roglic's demise coming.  They didn't have Vingegaard or Kruijswijck drop back with him.  

100%

As a cyclocross fan was so fun to see these two racing each other as always, but you know, now in the French roads at the tour! 

Also, omg, 250km -- this is a distance I can't even begin to understand.

mugwump said:

I guess we can surmise that Jumbo-Visma saw Roglic's demise coming.  They didn't have Vingegaard or Kruijswijck drop back with him.  

All the same, this day seems to have been so hard, so long, it's hard to know who will be going well over the three category one climbs tomorrow.

Very true.

my other big question at the moment is about Nibali.

Seemed like pretty savvy riding on his part today.  I initially figured he'd be conservative in the MVdP group, ride the wheels and let the others build up the gap for him.  But he tried to go with MVdp and WVA and couldn't.  Then his teammate Skuijns didn't seem to be leading the chase on his behalf.  

He's effectively second amongst the GC hopefuls, 29 seconds behind Pogacar.  

But if Skuijns wasn't riding for him today, maybe Nibali isn't thinking GC this year.  

mugwump said:

my other big question at the moment is about Nibali.

Seemed like pretty savvy riding on his part today.  I initially figured he'd be conservative in the MVdP group, ride the wheels and let the others build up the gap for him.  But he tried to go with MVdp and WVA and couldn't.  Then his teammate Skuijns didn't seem to be leading the chase on his behalf.  

He's effectively second amongst the GC hopefuls, 29 seconds behind Pogacar.  

But if Skuijns wasn't riding for him today, maybe Nibali isn't thinking GC this year.  

Nibali has the talent and experience, but I don't think he is currently in that level of fitness. Nibali Rode better than Yates, altho, ironically they both finished together. It was a sophisticated dynamic with Stuyven up the road and Skujins with Wout and MVdP.

I always wonder how and who makes these kind of decisions, by any measure Nibali has the better grand tour results, but yet today Trek appeared to prioritize the stage and Nibali to be at the service of the other two. Are these priorities set in the bus? on the road? It requires a level of honesty that is hard to understand. Or maybe it just happens naturally pedal stroke by pedal stroke, like life.

Similar with Roglic, altho that one is a little better to understand, as Roglic crash and injuries are more evident.

mugwump said:

my other big question at the moment is about Nibali.

Seemed like pretty savvy riding on his part today.  I initially figured he'd be conservative in the MVdP group, ride the wheels and let the others build up the gap for him.  But he tried to go with MVdp and WVA and couldn't.  Then his teammate Skuijns didn't seem to be leading the chase on his behalf.  

He's effectively second amongst the GC hopefuls, 29 seconds behind Pogacar.  

But if Skuijns wasn't riding for him today, maybe Nibali isn't thinking GC this year.  

I heard Nibali is targeting stages , his big objective is the olympics 

I'd completely forgotten Nibali was in this race.

Well, today was... impressive?