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

I think Pog was trying a bit of a rope a dope yesterday. After Yates went away and Rodriguez was in front he kept half dropping Jonas' wheel. I thought this was Jonas' time to go but in the end it was Pog who attacked. I think Jonas was also pretty close to his limit as we saw earlier this tour and last year if he can ride away he will.

Its probably fair to say that this year we have 2 incredibly evenly matched riders and it has been amazing to watch. I also don't think anybody can say with any level of certainty which way the ITT is going to go.

He had the power to respond to those attacks. Who knows what he had left in the tank of Pog had sustained his attacks for a bit longer. If you're on the limit you respond to attacks as best you can, but it would be an almighty bluff to then attack yourself at the risk of blowing up and seeing Pog go over the top.

I'm finding it fascinating to watch.

what bikes for the TT tmrw ? change at the btm of the second climb ?

normal/light road bike would seem the better choice...?

Vino moved up to 5th on the final day in 2005. He was 2 seconds behind Leipheimer going into the stage. He clawed back the 2 seconds during an intermediate sprint and then won the stage.

You’re responding to a post telling you the break won.

It’s “ceremonial” only because the winner is usually decided and the stage is short and easy. Teams have fought for green on the last day and of course the stage win isn’t ceremonial

If there’s (say) 2 seconds in it, the man in second will absolutely try everything they can to win

Some may remember Eddie Dunbar sprinting in the Giro final stage this year to ensure he didn’t lose 7th as only a couple of seconds ahead.

I think having bonus seconds for stage wins and climbs makes a huge difference to the racing. There's no more gifting stages with GC riders happy to allow other contenders take the stage as long as they get the same time. You can see how the race for bonus seconds has really got the top 2 riders and their team mates exorcised.

I wonder will we ever see a time trial finish on the champs in Paris again

No chance. I don't really like TTs as the last stage of the Giro but the last stage of the tour can be a bore

Very hard to disagree with this. Ya, I can see what you're saying alright

I think Vingegarrd has Pogacar's measure now.He will wrap it up next with one big day in the mountains.

And that’s totally as it should be. It is a race after all. All the posing with champagne and yellow bikes etc always comes across as a bit twee to me.

Stage 16

A short but brutal TT. The final 2 km are at 9.2%.

It's a two horse race for the win here I think with a very slight chance that Rodriguez could do it. Every little thing counts on this stage. If they change bikes and one loses a couple of seconds could that be the difference?

Vin and Pog have been so close all through this race that I'm expecting this to be really close.

I don't think there'll be anything between them on the final climb and I'm thinking it's what happens from the start to the foot of that climb that will be the difference. You just know that both will be well prepared for this. Pog has been an excellent TT'er all along but Vingegaard has become a top one too.

I honestly haven't a clue which way it will go but I'll give the edge in tactics to Jumbo Visma and pick Vingegaard for the win, just.