Thanks for suggestions. I thought about Abby but she's not into gravel (use-case here).

Appreciate everyone's input--the ST Cycling Thread collective wins again.

His commentary was horrendous. Bob too. When Howes changed bikes from the Shimano back to his Cannondale it was clearly the neutral service car who gave him the bike back, not his team like they were howling about. And crucifying primoz for his attack, he lost by a bike length basically. I bet that was his strategy, he knew Julian could outkick him in a short sprint,and he tried to go from way out. He damn near got it. I thought it was a damn good attack.

Paraphrasing but he gave no credit to Julian, just said roglic was strongest and gave it away with a dumb attack from too far out. I hope they can him, it was hard to listen to that.

Also, that was a helluva ride by Winder. She should be an outside fav for Liege.

Held off the chasing pack for quite a while, and it was solely the ridiculous steepness of the final climb that saw her reeled back. And she still managed to do better than some in that chasing group.

It's for reasons like this that hilltop finishes really should go at the classics: to reward attacking riding, as opposed to encourage people who just wait for a final charge up a hill.

Bilbao with a descending clinic at the Alps today. Nice win.

Great stage. Indeed, phenomenal descending by Bilbao. Less so by Dan Martin.

Yeah. D Martin is such a baller. Not pretty, though.
And Vlasov almost ate it trying to keep up with Rocky Bilbao.

Rocky Bilbao
9.9

It was funny watching Rocky Bilbao's body language. You can tell when Nibali or Sagan are ripping it. Rocky was obviously flying downhill but didn't look it.

Yeah, a couple times it looked like he overcooked it and lost a ton of speed braking to avoid kissing the railing. But nevertheless he methodically hunted down the two leaders. I sense that Yates could have turned the dial to '11' if he'd wanted to, but was playing it a little safe. Vlasov on the other hand...

Here goes one more time:
Roglic, Pogacar, Alaphilippe
Woods, Schachmann

Pogacar, Roglic, Mollema
Chaves, Barguil

valverde/woods/ala

chaves / barguil

Roglic, Woods, Alaphillipe
Vansevenant, Mohoric

Pog, Rog, Valverde
Ala, Woods

I like the Vansevenant pick. That kid is tough as nails.

Copy-catting here

Roglic, Alaphilippe, Pogacar
Carapaz Barguil

Pog, Rog, Ala.............Pog has a way of not losing.
Farmer Dan Martin and Schachmann.

Martin reminds of the great Irish golfer Paddy Harrington. Couldn't care less about the optics, just played great.

Would love to see Phil Gil be an instigator, maybe launches the Bar Hirschi and maybe the Bar has a good race thus ending the speculation.

Formolo, Simon Carr, and that crazy kid Mauri Vanchasebackon.

Should be a brawl. Racin' in the streets.

Dan Martin is sitting this one out, actually.

I don't think he has a one-day win yet, though. Not even the Slovenia national RR (granted, that race is no joke).

That's going to change, obviously, before the Pogi story is over. But, so far, he always looks a little uncertain of himself in one-day races.

Ala, Pog, Rog
Woods, Carapaz

Can't bring myself to take Valverde.

Sheeeeite. This is in Farmer Dan's wheelhouse and he looked good in the Alps, and would have done goodly works, but I guess it would be a big ask. Going with Woodsy then.
I'm with Senator Davis. No Valverde. But rooting for Matty Jorgo.

Roglic, Schachmann, Carapaz
Teuns, Gaudu

wouldn't surprise me if Gilbert has a real go at it today

His teammate is lobbing a Hail Mary

That's my line Jimmy!

I can't help but feel like the "Dan Martin as GC guy" thing is going to go the way of Fuglsang et al.