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General Race Thread 2024 **spoilers**

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Comments

  • #662
    Dr. Bre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,733 ✭✭✭Dr. Bre


    well done Sam



  • #663
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,466 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    Thank f*ck for that!



  • #664
    TheBlaaMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,449 ✭✭✭TheBlaaMan


    Great to see him finally win for the new team and albeit not the strongest field, he had to work hard on his own at the end there. I still doubt the chances of him getting a shout for the Tour team? You'd think it might have been part of his contract negotiations, but he may not have been in too strong a position and that far our? I suspect it will come do to 'do AG2R need a sprinter at the Tour'?



  • #665
    seaviewphotos
    Registered Users Posts: 204 ✭✭seaviewphotos


    I guess it depends on weather they have someone for GC, would O'Connor do a giro / tour double. If not I'd say he has a good chance.



  • #666
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122142788#Comment_122142788

    Winning isn't everything.

    Style should always come first.



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  • #667
    Thud
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,636 ✭✭✭Thud


    great win, he’ll need to back it up with a few more wins to be in contention for the tour



  • #668
    dastardly00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,435 ✭✭✭✭dastardly00


    Great for Sam to finally get that first win for the new team. Good also that it was in a French race too. Onwards and upwards!



  • #669
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Felix Gall is their best chance of a top ten in the Tour. They’ll bring Godon and Cosnefroy too for sure. I’d guess Victor La Fay and one or both of the brothers. So if Sam goes, he’ll be going without anyone working for him. I’m sure he’ll be OK with that too

    I’d guess their main aims would be a stage win and even without Sam being at his best he’d still get them top 10s which French teams really seem to need/want



  • #670
    at1withmyself
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,540 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143772#Comment_122143772

    Declaton no longer fall into the bracket of chasing points, they're having a brilliant year with over 15 wins. I hope he gets selected but agree with comment on Gall being they're priority.



  • #671
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,352 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    The lack of a big Paris finish may count against bringing a sprinter to TDF

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



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  • #672
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,984 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    While I agree Gall will be their GC man if they are being realistic then it's a Tour of stage hunting and in those circumstances you bring Sam especially to justify the big signing but who knows.



  • #673
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143928#Comment_122143928

    I meant more about the exposure top tens get in French press. Others have spoke about it being a big deal for sponsors in the past

    They’re definitely flying this year



  • #674
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122145081#Comment_122145081

    Don’t think Sam could be classed as a big signing in fairness. The rumor was he was off to Tudor before this popped up



  • #675
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,466 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143772#Comment_122143772

    I know it's not confirmed, but Lucky Larry said on a Cycling Podcast that Cosnefroy isn't down to for any GT's this year. I'd think Sam is in with a good shout as they'll mainly be stage hunting imo.



  • #676
    Pudsy33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,792 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Back to back wins for Bennett



  • #677
    dahat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,812 ✭✭✭✭dahat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122145350#Comment_122145350

    I’d be stunned if the tour is not in Sam’s contract. It’s been 4 years since he rode it & not many years left to get another stage win.



  • #678
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,352 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122146106#Comment_122146106

    I was worried until I realised he was wearing pink (rider #51)

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



  • #679
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    I honestly don’t think he was in any position to make demands like that in his contract.

    Interviewer after todays win asked him can he win in a grand tour again and he said “that’s why I’m here, to show I can still do it”. Interviewer said stuff along the lines of “people thought you were finished” and Sam scoffed at “that’s just people on the internet”

    Strange sort of interview. Guy was trying to make it about a big comeback for Sam, but he seemed surprised by the line of questioning

    He looked strong today. Hopefully the confidence is back



  • #680
    Junior
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,218 ✭✭✭Junior


    I am somewhat surprised at Demare being so far off the boil/pace. He seemed to adapt to Arkea quickly last year, I expected him to be giving Sam a hard time here.



  • #681
    at1withmyself
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,540 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122145185#Comment_122145185

    Oh ya I agree, normally top 10 is a big deal but great to see AG2R doing well and to think Ben O'Connor almost couldn't get a contract, he was last minute for them and it's worked well.



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  • #682
    De Bhál
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,932 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    Just watched Sam's race from today. His lead out team did very well. Good signs. Fingers crossed now for him. It would be brilliant if he was at the Tour and contesting sprints.



  • #683
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,466 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    Yesterdays stage almost seemed routine, even down to the muted celebration.



  • #684
    Dodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,303 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    great sprint by Sam today. Nearly nicked the win from a solo attack who celebrated as Sam levelled with him. Inches from the win but a great effort as he was miles back



  • #685
    MangleBadger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 553 ✭✭✭MangleBadger


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122150138#Comment_122150138

    Indeed. If I was Sam I would be pretty happy with that effort. This event seems to be bringing his confidence back. He is being a lot more aggressive with his sprints than I have seen lately.



  • #686
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,984 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122150215#Comment_122150215

    Got his mojo back eh. By the by trailer/teaser is out for season 2 of Tour de France Unchained:-

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdNosghI3UI&pp=ygUYdG91ciBkZSBmcmFuY2UgdW5jaGFpbmVk



  • #687
    G1032
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,089 ✭✭✭G1032


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122151565#Comment_122151565

    I can't wait for this. Thought season 1 was fantastic.



  • #688
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    Wonder would Sam entertain the notion of trying to win the GC at Dunkerque. Hilly stage today but they are not massive, and he seems to better for the climbing/hard days than he used to be. He has 30s over most of the non-sprinters, and there is another sprint stage tomorrow that he could conceivably win and pick up another 10 bonus seconds.

    image.png



  • #689
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,714 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122152557#Comment_122152557

    It has been won by sprinters before but I can't see someone not attacking him hard enough to get time back.



  • #690
    at1withmyself
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,540 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    God that looks horrible but hope he can hang in for GC. Either that or save for the win tomorrow.



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  • #691
    Pudsy33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,792 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Never mind hanging on in there, he blew them all away! Serious riding from the team to be fair to them.



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