General race thread 2021 **spoilers**

Thought it was a rerun of a late 90's race when I saw those blue tyres on the JV bikes.

dublin49

I would imagine these sponsorships are billed as marketing expenses so don't directly come out of the pocket of the main company owners,Might be wrong.

Itziger

Old Man Valverde takes it!! Fair going at that age. And he's been consistent now for a long, long time. I know most on here hate the guy's guts, but I can't.

It's not as if the iffy jiffy premarital gains lads are saints. Or the Jumba for that matter.

Morris Garren

'VALVERDE TIMING IS EVERYTHING! YOU MIGHT SAY..... AN OLD HEAD ON YOUNG SHOULDERS. ALMOST.! OR .... IS IT T'OTHER WAY ROUND...?'

Do they have the equivalent of the Golden Raspberries for commentators? This could be up there for worst commentary in a leading role

Here's whats up with the blue tyres JV are using.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/heres-why-jumbo-visma-are-riding-blue-tyres-at-the-criterium-du-dauphine-2021

breezy1985

Brian? wrote: »

Oleg Tinkoff as well.

I often wonder what the cost/benefit breakdown of sponsoring a cycling team is. Jumbo is everywhere here, does sponsoring a team really bring in more customers? How many extra floors to Quickstep sell?

Ineos, is a real puzzler. They are a fracking supply company. Why are they the main sponsor of the team with the biggest budget in cycling?

Quickstep are sponsoring a team where the 2 biggest pastimes outside of beer and chips are cycling and DIY so I could see the sponsorship working well for Quickstep in goodwill and encouraging people to support their own

retalivity

Itziger wrote: »

Old Man Valverde takes it!! Fair going at that age. And he's been consistent now for a long, long time. I know most on here hate the guy's guts, but I can't.

It's not as if the iffy jiffy premarital gains lads are saints. Or the Jumba for that matter.

Once you get a ring on the finger, these are quickly taken away.

retalivity

Bernal tests positive for Covid before flying back to Colombia.
Can't travel now...wonder if he had it before the end of the Giro or got it since Sunday.

griffin100

Itziger wrote: »

Old Man Valverde takes it!! Fair going at that age. And he's been consistent now for a long, long time. I know most on here hate the guy's guts, but I can't.

It's not as if the iffy jiffy premarital gains lads are saints. Or the Jumba for that matter.

As much as I like to see an old man winning the fact he’s an unrepentant doper and was part of one of the biggest doping rings in its time means I can’t enjoy his wins. A bit like Vinokourov, I loved his racing style but was sick when he won Olympic gold.

Decuc500

Absolutely sick of Valverde. The sport will never be believable with this guy winning.

Macy0161

I've said before, I'm ambivalent about the unrepentant doper bit (it's only words for a lot of them) - I just never liked his tactics.

griffin100

Macy0161 wrote: »

I've said before, I'm ambivalent about the unrepentant doper bit (it's only words for a lot of them) - I just never liked his tactics.

True, but then you look at a rider like Dan Martin, who rightly or wrongly I like to think is clean, who has had I think 3 second place finishes in one day classics to Valverde.

retalivity

This final climb at the dauphine is great craic, constant attacking

Mefistofelino

Mas and Lopez doing sterling work to put Porte in yellow

bazermc

Can’t believe the state of the road they are climbing.

Mefistofelino

Mark Padun is all chat

Looks like Dunbar is in as a replacement for Tom Pidcock at Tour de Swiss tomorrow.

dastardly00

Seems to be another early finish for the last stage of the Dauphine. I tuned in too late for the live coverage today

breezy1985

dastardly00 wrote: »

Seems to be another early finish for the last stage of the Dauphine. I tuned in too late for the live coverage today

Same. I was screaming at the TV cause they were showing tennis on both Eurosports before I realised what had happened

Oymyakon

Patrick Konrad in the break with 30km to go, they have a 2'52" lead, Conrad has a 2'51 deficit to Porte. Highly unlikely he'll take it but makes for an interesting race.

retalivity

Padun still high from yesterday, dropping everyone else again!

No live coverage of Tour de Suisse today? All I see is highlights at 7pm on ES2

at1withmyself

Good to see Steve k on the attack but disappointing to see Nairo Q attack turn to nothing so quickly.

Also it seems Sky train is back to normal

retalivity

at1withmyself wrote: »

Good to see Steve k on the attack but disappointing to see Nairo Q attack turn to nothing so quickly.

Also it seems Sky train is back to normal

As are Movistar back to having mental tactics

retalivity

Thomas crashes, porte leaving gaps on the descent, this is getting interesting...

Kelderman is so annoying with his wheel hugging.

at1withmyself

retalivity wrote: »

Thomas crashes, porte leaving gaps on the descent, this is getting interesting...

As Brian Smith says, what a wasted opportunity to let Thomas back on!

Itziger

Snoozefest FFS.

Some of those lads wouldn't attack if you gave 'em a loaded gun.

That said, Having a TdF winner and a Giro winner pace you up the climb must be nice.

at1withmyself

Itziger wrote: »

Snoozefest FFS.

Some of those lads wouldn't attack if you gave 'em a loaded gun.

That said, Having a TdF winner and a Giro winner pace you up the climb must be nice.

Ya I think a race without Podge or Rodge is not worth watching. 2 grand tour winners pacing porte meant an attack was always going to be hard.

2nd place for Ben Healy today in the baby Giro. Only 1 second off the winner in the ITT.