2025 Tour de France thread

[Ian F]

I watched the Flo high-light video on YT. Definitely exciting in spots - that sprint crash! 😳

 

[KenS]

Agree. And echelons!

For sure. It's insane how quickly people get caught out.

 

[ilnadi]

Love Chris Horner's pic

 

[krink]

For sure. It's insane how quickly people get caught out.

Yup there were riders who should have known better G, Remco, Primoz. Echelon splitting and the panic it creates is some of the coolest conditions because they’re so unpredictable.

 

[stb222]

Yup there were riders who should have known better G, Remco, Primoz. Echelon splitting and the panic it creates is some of the coolest conditions because they’re so unpredictable.

The irony of quikstep causing splits like that in the past and missing out on them now…

 

[stb222]

 

[Juggernaut]

Soooooo, UCI thinks handlebars < 40cm wide and cassettes with 10t cogs are “Dangerous”…. But sprint stages with multiple bends in the last 500m are A OK 👍 . F#cking A$$-Hats.

 

[Steve Vai]

Soooooo, UCI thinks handlebars < 40cm wide and cassettes with 10t cogs are “Dangerous”…. But sprint stages with multiple bends in the last 500m are A OK 👍 . F#cking A$$-Hats.

Except the main crash was on a pancake flat, straight road. They should just ban Roadies.

 

[John the Plumber]

Boring. The 1day races are better. Maybe when they hit the Mountain stages will be better. I only watched the first half hour and the last 45 minutes.

 

[stb222]

Except the main crash was on a pancake flat, straight road. They should just ban Roadies.

Can't save these riders from themselves:

Each ones tries to ride the other one into the barriers and than this. Could have at least been nice enough to just crash himself.

 

[Juggernaut]

Can't save these riders from themselves:
View attachment 264257
Each ones tries to ride the other one into the barriers and than this. Could have at least been nice enough to just crash himself.

True… but this wasn’t today…. Just say’n

 

[stb222]

True… but this wasn’t today…. Just say’n

Nor was your general statement applicable to just today

 

[Juggernaut]

Nor was your general statement applicable to just today

That is also true. But two stupid crashes during the sprint build up and lead out kinda underlines the point. No?

 

[stb222]

That is also true. But two stupid crashes during the sprint build up and lead out kinda underlines the point. No?

 

[Steve Vai]

I like it when there's a turn or 5 before the sprint, makes it interesting. These dudes watch POV footage of every finish on the bus before the start so they know exactly where they need to be to get the lead out right.

 

[Ian F]

I like it when there's a turn or 5 before the sprint, makes it interesting. These dudes watch POV footage of every finish on the bus before the start so they know exactly where they need to be to get the lead out right.

Well... yeah... but that also means 50 guys are all trying to be in the same place on the road...

I have zero desire to knock elbows with riders on both sides of me at 40+ MPH... in my underwear... those guys have way bigger balls than I'll ever have.

 

[stb222]

.m... those guys have way bigger balls than I'll ever have.

 

[serviceguy]

Well... yeah... but that also means 50 guys are all trying to be in the same place on the road...

I have zero desire to knock elbows with riders on both sides of me at 40+ MPH... in my underwear... those guys have way bigger balls than I'll ever have.

or, if you don't have the 'balls' it's good motivation to go faster and stay ahead of the peloton!

 

[Ian F]

or, if you don't have the 'balls' it's good motivation to go faster and stay ahead of the peloton!

That is what they are all trying to do... if were easy, we'd all be professional racers... these guys put out power numbers while cruising in Zone 1 that I can only dream of during a full sprint.

 

[Ian F]

Coincidentally, after I posted that I watched the GCN Show posted today and one of the stories was about the speeds and power numbers by riders over the first three stages. Absolutely mind-blowing.