eloy said:

Just making sure we are not missing on this gem.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anti-doping-agency-and-french-police-in-communication-over-bahrain-victorious-tour-de-france-raid/

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/police-raid-bahrain-victorious-hotel-at-tour-de-france/

50 police officers is a little army, and regardless of doping or not, it is certainly an exaggeration 

Not to mention they raided the *wrong team*

on a lighter note:

Cav is all heart these days. Talk about a blast of sunshine!

Mark Taylor said:

I got a real sense from the JV interview, that he was afraid to unnerve his owns sponsors 

It's a striking sense.  I think you're right that he probably doesn't want to stir the pot.  At all.

Here's JV's twitter description of himself: "I've dedicated my life to professional cycling, anti-doping, and aggravating people with no sense of humor."

Guess he must be aggravating himself a lot these days.  

He tweeted far more about Lachlan Morton's ride than the team's.

Where I'm kind of lost is what Vaughters real role is these days.  He went from owning the team to being a functionary.  I think his influence on the team's day-to-day operations and riders probably started waning in 2008, and now it's probably close to zero.  I've heard he's largely a figurehead.  It looks like he's someone who is doing PR but not technically a PR person.  

Mohoric's gesture today sure wont help quiet any of the speculation

We're one crucifixion victory salute away from a goddamn remake at this point...

you’ll likely need to understand spanish to get this, Uran, signing a bottle for a fan that filmed him and asked him about the race at the start today... and I just kinda love it...
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRYu2YzqBbC/?utm_medium=copy_link

contrast:
https://youtu.be/MW5p5jqArOE

eloy said:

you’ll likely need to understand spanish to get this, Uran, signing a bottle for a fan that filmed him and asked him about the race at the start tosay... and I just kinda love it...
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRYu2YzqBbC/?utm_medium=copy_link

Rigo is a legit star.

https://mobile.twitter.com/itvcycling/status/1416414058866151425

touching story 

I want cav to win tomorrow because what a story it would be, but kinda want to see WVA win tt, sprint and mountain stages

Matt Budofsky said:

I want cav to win tomorrow because what a story it would be, but kinda want to see WVA win tt, sprint and mountain stages

I agree! Seems like no matter what happens we're going to be both elated and crestfallen ... not sure how that's going to work

you go be crestfallen, other than Pogi winning the stage tomorrow or Cav crashing out... it is gonna be MEGA AWESOME.

If Pantani 2.0 Pogacar crashes out it might improve the tour, although I don't wish harm on him.

I want a surprise on the Champs.

Like the Green Jersey changing owners.  Say Matthews getting in a break that takes all the places and he wins.

Or some of the lower-placed top-ten riders going on a raid and taking a place or two.  

Or Greipel winning.  Well, maybe not that if it's a bunch kick, but yes if he's in a break.

Or Gaudu spirting a break and winning solo.  

Agree, JP, that's what I mean, Wout, Greipel, Matthews specially would be amazing! and if Cavendish, well, amazing awesome too. BTW, I believe the finish has been moved and it is at a different location, hard to predict who it benefits, Cav is still full on the fave.

Everyone repeat after me

Required watching imho

HEAR ME OUT: Cav clearly threw the stage knowing that if he broke the Merckx record this season, Pat L would not offer him a worthwhile contract next year. DQS would say he should be headed for retirement and not cough up a contact worthy of a 35x stage winner in (apparently) his prime. 

Blip on the radar, but how the tour is mentioned in "the mainstream": MN senator Amy Klobuchar was on an NPR interview this morning and before they got into politics (voting rights) she mentioned Pogacar winning the tour and her slovenian heritage and pride and similarities in family name pronunciation.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1017774031/sen-klobuchar-is-in-georgia-to-get-evidence-from-voting-rights-discussions

The move to leave Cavendish off the TdF squad doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless they think he needs to the stress to perform at his best, and it's an elaborate play to get him fast enough.

The PR from him going after Merx's record alone would be enough to justify it even without any wins. Is Lefevere really so petty he want to keep Cav (and Cav's bonuses) down?

Reports are that Bernal broke his femur in a training accident which would mean he won’t be challenging Pog at the tour. 

PatrickGrehan said:

Reports are that Bernal broke his femur in a training accident which would mean he won’t be challenging Pog at the tour. 

He was on a TT bike. First Froome, then Pidcock, now Bernal. Ineos should not let it’s riders near TT bikes 

https://www.velonews.com/news/road/breaking-egan-bernal-in-the-hospital-following-crash/

James Reeder said:

PatrickGrehan said:

Reports are that Bernal broke his femur in a training accident which would mean he won’t be challenging Pog at the tour. 

He was on a TT bike. First Froome, then Pidcock, now Bernal. Ineos should not let it’s riders near TT bikes 

https://www.velonews.com/news/road/breaking-egan-bernal-in-the-hospital-following-crash/

Wow. Just... shit man. 

Update from Ineos on Bernal. Some pretty heavy injuries

It's over for him, tragically.

PatrickGrehan said:

Reports are that Bernal broke his femur in a training accident which would mean he won’t be challenging Pog at the tour. 

He was on a TT bike. First Froome, then Pidcock, now Bernal. Ineos should not let it’s riders near TT bikes 

Not that having a little more muscle would make a difference while hitting a bus,  but am I the only one shocked by how skinny some of these riders are? It looks very unhealthy. 

Especially when I compare them with the pictures of Hinault, Indurain...

That's a two season injury at the very least. I mean look at Froomey. Poor guy. 

Hinault is not a big guy, never was. Indurain was riding on a hamatocrit of 60…

TT is crazy town technical, and the results are coming in strong.

I encourage you all you join us in the "race-watch-party" slack channel.
https://kissena.slack.com/archives/C01HB4PM4US/

Where we can discuss and fan out on all races in real time