Tour de France 2024 - this time it’s personal

gmacww

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122336741#Comment_122336741

In that instance can any of us have an opinion on anything in the professional space? I've never raced a tour de france therefore do I have any valid opinion on the race? Jose Mourinho nor Arrigo Sacchi were ever professional footballers do they have an opinion on football at that level?

Sport is about opinions, it's what drives the conversation, it's what drives engagement. I played SH but even I can look at a scrum and tell you that Porter is not driving straight or that Ellis Genge is 9/10 the reason the scrum collapses.

Macy0161

Probably the most aggressive Cav has been in a run in in years I'd say. imo, more incidents several k out that may warrant a look than the actual sprint!

Absolutely chaotic sprint - it's easy to say Sam doesn't have the positioning, but Mads being behind him at that point says a lot about how messy it was.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122336430#Comment_122336430

He was, imo. He was coming up nicely with good momentum when there was a bit of messing just in front of him along the right hand barriers. He was passing Cav at that point if I recall correctly. He stalled and looked to switch to the left and surf the wheels there and then the same thing happened.

The other day he was well placed but just got boxed in.

There's a fine line between lack of tactical nous and bad luck… time will tell, but I get a better feeling with Sam this year than I have for quite a while.

dahat

Potential echelons today for stage 6 so hopefully a better watch than stage 5.

Reality_Check1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122337790#Comment_122337790

I thought I’d get to experience that this year but strong teams at our level just put it in the gutter - the lineouts still giving me nightmares 😂

lawrencesummers

The sprinter that finishes first takes the glory but guys like Morkov are as much a part of it. Anybody have the time patience and ability to see who cavendishes lead out man has been over the wins he has? Who is the unsung hero in all these wins

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122338301#Comment_122338301

Renshaw was his main man for years if I remember correctly. I think Robbie McEwan too.

happytramp

Sam showing the least interest in the sprint points of any of the main guys there.

Torrey

Why no effort there from Bennett at the intermediate sprint, he was in Pedersens wheel, he may as well have a go ffs

Mefistofelino

Why would you bother spaffing energy on an intermediate sprint when you're not in the running? Pedersen is second to Girmay in the green jersey so it's worth his while

Torrey

If he keeps chipping away at the intermediate sprints and gets a few podium finishes he will be well in it,Green jersey is wide open this year plus alot of sprinters might head home early with no finish on CE this year

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339146#Comment_122339146

But hard to see Mads and Bini going home early, and they'll probably pick up more points on breakaway stages. He did pick up a few points - I'd rather he save it for the final tbh on a sprint stage.

dastardly00

As amazing as Cavendish is in terms of his TdF stage wins, sprinting ability, resilience etc., he must be the biggest whinge-bag in the peloton? It appears as if the Commissaires were warning him about riding behind cars after he got dropped by the peloton, and then he spends the next while gesticulating and giving out 🤷‍♀️

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339315#Comment_122339315

Any rider would be giving out if pulled like that ,not just Cav

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339315#Comment_122339315

Personally I love his Zero F**ks Given approach to the spotlight.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339363#Comment_122339363

Its the inconsistency, you tried even 10% of the amount of riding a bumper in the Gorey 3 day without at least progressing through the peloton, and the Comms would throw you out, yesterday there were lads riding on them for 20km.

Mefistofelino

Thank fcuk there isn't a Eurosport "Cav" drinking game - I'd probably need a new liver after today's coverage

G1032

Agreed.

dastardly00

Nice Chateau

Probably cheaper than a four-bed terraced house in Ranelagh!

De Bhál

5Km to go

Fingers crossed for Bennett

Brian?

The most boring stage I’ve ever seen. Watching on and off for the last 120km. Complete masochism

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339588#Comment_122339588

Even the scenery was dull.

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339582#Comment_122339582

about 10th or 12th was he? was that even him. A hard jersey to spot I find

odyssey06

Couldn't follow that sprint at all with the shadows from the trees on the road…

De Bhál

Dylan Groenewegen wins with the stupid glasses

mewso

Philipsen to be relegated surely for impeding WVA

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339482#Comment_122339482

LOL! I'm giving audio a skip for a couple of days to allow them to calm down. Carlton I can take, he almost parodies himself at times that it's bordering on self-deprecating comedy… but Hatch… sorry but I'd develop a migraine within 5 mins. Hopefully they work it out of their system by Saturday…

CMcsporty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339610#Comment_122339610

Hope so. Not as if anyone else would mind!

Bennett? Saw him looking at the main bunch spring away. Boxed in again?

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122339600#Comment_122339600

He seemed to come through that chicane at 800 to go fairly well in about eighth place, think he rubbed shoulders with Groenewegen a couple of times. After that he just seem to go backwards.

Mefistofelino

25th place ..