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Tour de France 2023 ***spoilers*** Warning in OP

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13567…52

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    #62
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120781335#Comment_120781335

    Stickybottle seem to have read into it the same way as me.

    https://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/all-irish-cycling-champions-can-only-wear-this-one-new-design-or-face-fines/




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    #63
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    In race trim, the national kit doesn't seem as bad going on the Giro Donna photo I saw this morning...

    Capture.JPG




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    #64
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,772 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120781524#Comment_120781524

    Pity, I liked the Ben Healy TT suit or is it only the road champs jersey that is restricted?



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    #65
    Squidgy Black
    Registered Users Posts: 21,648 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120781524#Comment_120781524

    Maybe EF are paying the fines then for Ben Healys current TT suit because that’s completely different, and Vaughters has said on Twitter the jerseys going to something to look forward to.

    I know Townsend wore the shamrock kit, and Healy wore a similar one with trinity but just assumed that’s because they don’t bother designing kits really



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    #66
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Not that I needed any more reasons to dislike them but I just remembered Moscon is at Astana now.



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    #67
    Shedite27
    Registered Users Posts: 9,395 ✭✭✭Shedite27


    Anyone have a TDf fantasy competition league setup?



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    #68
    cunavalos
    Registered Users Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭cunavalos


    It's not the most interesting event in the world but the official team presentation from Bilbao is currently being streamed live on YouTube

    https://www.youtube.com/live/TgbIwEOAV_4?feature=share




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    #69
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,187 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120783599#Comment_120783599

    Oui.


    velogames.com


    league code 280607011

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




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    #70
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,962 ✭✭✭cletus


    I joined there, but I've no real idea what I'm doing 😂😂



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    #71
    eagle eye
    Registered Users Posts: 38,171 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Stage 1, a real stage to start the tour is awesome.

    tour-de-france-2023-stage-1-profile-n3-c3405fabea.jpg

    The last climb is short but brutal, it's 2km at 9.4% but it hits 18.8%.

    I was thinking about MVDP and WVA making a break with 30km to go but if anybody goes with them they might be in trouble on that last climb. Pele Bilbao would love to win this as a Basque rider. It'd be awesome for him to stand on the podium in yellow, the whole of the Basque would run wild with joy. He could do it.

    It's possible that this ends up in a GC battle, we all know Pog will race any chance he gets and it'd be a very interesting early battle between him and Vingegaard.

    I'm gonna pick the next contender for grand tour success to win it. He's not a threat this year and is likely to be let go in a break. That's Mattias Skjelmose. I think he'll be let go in a late break and he's got everything you need to win a stage like this.

    I can't wait for the Tour to start, I really won't be thinking about anything else for the next three weeks.



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    #72
    cunavalos
    Registered Users Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭cunavalos


    Hard to disagree with anything you have said there. It is a really intriguing stage where you can make a case for 10+ winners. I am not sure if a break with any established rider is let go this will probably be raced like a one day classic. Skjelmosse has the form and motivation to win the stage as the yellow jersey will mean he won't have to wear the stupid Lidl national champions jersey. I will be boring and go with Pogacar as I think it will be GC contenders and a few specialists ( WvA, Alaphillippe) at the end with my dark horse if Vingegaard and Pogacar stare each other down being Jorgenson.

    My final point on Skjelmosse is that Lidl-Trek could have an excellent tour and may even have 4 different stage winners Mads from a reduced sprint, Simmons/Stuyven from a breakaway, Ciccone on a high mountain finish and Skjelmosse from either a reduced GC group or breakaway if he ends up losing time and they could also contend for 3 classifications - White with Skjelmosse (if Pog doesn't make the distance), Polka dots with Ciccone and Green jersey with Mads.



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    #73
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,187 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    My money is on MVDP tomorrow. He’s had a quiet few weeks and this stage is made for him. Pogacar will definitely have a go too, if for no other reason pure mischief

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




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    #74
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    If it gets close to the line the big GC guys are gonna go for it. The classics guys really need to jump before the GC guys get any ideas.

    VdP, Ala and Pidcock will surely see an early yellow as the #1 goal for this Tour and should be talented enough to pull it off.

    Loads of French and Spanish climbers that I can see going for this but they are not at the level of any of the lads above.



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    #75
    De Bhál
    Registered Users Posts: 2,894 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    this climb with 10km to go should be good

    Cote de Pike

    image.png




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    #76
    retalivity
    Registered Users Posts: 14,238 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120785851#Comment_120785851

    Agreed, this has MVDP all over it. He destroyed everyone on the lumpy stage in the Baloise tour, now not as severe as this one, but it was undoubtedly training for this stage.



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    #77
    Brian?
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 21,187 Mod ✭✭✭✭Brian?


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120785872#Comment_120785872

    Yep. Hard enough to get rid of the sprinters. Not too hard for the classics men. Seán Kelly would have won this stage.

    they/them/theirs


    And so on, and so on …. - Slavoj Žižek




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    #78
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120786143#Comment_120786143

    Would be interesting to see the current Irish riders here with their Giro form.

    Or Dan Martin at his best.

    Personally would love to see Pinot ambush everyone but he never starts tours well (or ends them well)



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    #79
    lawrencesummers
    Registered Users Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    Pidcock won last year due to being underrated and his descending ability, i cant see him being left go in any early stages as he could be a GC contender, so his target for a stage win might have to come after a week or so and if IG are in (unlikely but possible) yellow he might not be allowed to go. Stage 5/6 or 10 might be a good target for him. I think if he is way off GC time by stage 10 and IG have nothing won he would be a good bet.



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    #80
    at1withmyself
    Registered Users Posts: 2,522 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    Wout VA is my pick for tomorrow.


    Podium selection for the overall:

    1. Pogacar

    2. Hindley

    3. Landa



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    #81
    billyhead
    Registered Users Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭billyhead


    Who do we think will win the most sprint stages? I hope Jakobsen does.



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    #82
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120786452#Comment_120786452

    I really don't think he is a GC contender.



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    #83
    dastardly00
    Registered Users Posts: 13,374 ✭✭✭✭dastardly00


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787136#Comment_120787136

    Do you think Vingegaard won't make it to Paris or that he will finish outside the top-3?

    He's been in amazing form for the last few races.



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    #84
    at1withmyself
    Registered Users Posts: 2,522 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787582#Comment_120787582

    Oh sorry, yep he has the form but I think either him or pogacar will have a crash or fall sick. I don't think they'll finish 1-2 this year, could as easily be pogacar who falls out of the top 3 but I'd prefer him to win 😊



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    #85
    lawrencesummers
    Registered Users Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787578#Comment_120787578

    I dont either, but he might be mathematically in contention for the first week or so and with no clear leader for Ineos he probably would not be left in a breakaway until he is down the charts



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    #86
    cunavalos
    Registered Users Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭cunavalos


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787572#Comment_120787572

    There is very little between them but I think Philipsen will come out on top in that battle. I also think Groenewegen and Grmay may also pick up a stage each.

    My other prediction is that we will see a controversial relegation in one of the early sprint stages.


    .



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    #87
    breezy1985
    Registered Users Posts: 25,707 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787758#Comment_120787758

    I don't think he will be left in a breakaway either and same for Ala. But they could get the jump on the GC guys close to the finish and grab yellow for a few days.



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    #88
    lawrencesummers
    Registered Users Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787795#Comment_120787795

    Ineos have some strong riders but no standout for GC so Pidcock and bernal will probably be allowed ride for GC and if they are out of contention for it the focus will shift quickly to winning a stage or two, but i would expect pidcock to be able keep pace with other GC riders for at least a week



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    #89
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,772 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787831#Comment_120787831

    I'd say Pidcock will only poke his nose out for stages he can win, if he gets yellow, while it could go one of two ways, the more strategic thing is to let it go really quick to get more stage chances. He is a phenomenal rider but he is no GC threat and the only ones who will treat him as such are those who also aren't GC threats.



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    #90
    lawrencesummers
    Registered Users Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787969#Comment_120787969

    He is a GC threat until he isnt, ineos have always been a GC team and they are probably hoping pidcock can build on last year and become a contender while also hoping bernal can ride his way back to form and stay in contention

    I dont see either being in contention over 3 weeks but they wont be let go anywhere near a breakaway until they drop down the rankings which will probably take a while.

    The team will ride together and keep their cards close for as long as possible.



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    #91
    retalivity
    Registered Users Posts: 14,238 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120787136#Comment_120787136

    Landa is a rare podium shout, I don't even see him in the top 10, he is in dire form.



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