Oh, geez - I clicked on it and now I'll never be able to unsee the flossing.


But back to bikes ...

Yeah, Cav got a contract and seems to be motivated. Also, I have to say it is good to see Gaviria back!

And over in Provence, the expected winner, but also a pretty nice ride by Hayter. He is full of surprises; will be interesting to see what he does this season.

A gorgeous race to watch, imo. Or maybe I’m just starved for racing. But it’s a strong field.

Watching :37 was a massive achievement. I didn’t make it out of the teens.

Great stage in Provence today. Ineos ,Quickstep etc attacking in the wind. Fun watch.

Viviani saved Ineos's blushes

That was slightly amateur hour toward the end. You'd think that Ganna could take on Bodnar in a sprint and should have just gone for it.

Sort of. Odd performances by their GC guys for a GC team. Hayter "Gonna Hate", I understand. You miss the echelon, you miss it. There's no waiting up. Carapaz cracking himself out of the lead group right at the end was weird. And I think those seconds could matter given he already didn't have a great prologue. You'd think the Rowe and Ganna were enough to take care of Viviani.

Nairoman was nails.

Mashing down on the kudos button for Matteo Jorgensen. Only Movistar guy to make the first group. Not a good look for Movistar.

I mean, Movistar has never done well on the cobbles or on the wind-swept stages. So par for the course for them.

They seem to have at least a few classics specialists now, though

Crazy stage; that was a really fun one to watch. The pack ended up 9:20 back, on a flat stage. GC contenders are down to a handful!

Yeah, Matty Jorgo looked super comfortable up there. Not easy making that first group. Looked like The Paz just got gapped off maybe. Smart Nairo riding doing sort of a “sprinter’s climb” to stay in at the end.

To that point, Ganna sprinting it out for 3rd behind Coquard-Monsieur and Alaphilippe. He could be a classics dark horse.

Especially for Paris Roubaix

Also, given that Carapaz has tested positive, that probably put his performance yesterday in context. Hope he recovers.
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Trivia time. Today's stage in Provence started in Arles. For what is Arles best known?

Oof. Does the whole team have to pull out?

Nice job by Cofidis today, shaking off a few sprinters to set up Coquard.

I think it's only Carapaz thus far; as @Carl mentioned, Ganna finished high on today's stage

Yeah. Just wondering protocols. He was appropriately hugging Viviani yeterday. Test everyone, another positive test and team out?

I wonder if Hayter is next? He did not look good at all today. Was doing a Zakarin impression for pack skills and descending. And then was straight dropped on a "climb" pretty far out from the finish. And I don't think it'd just be lack of fitness given his good performance in the prologue.

Anyday you outsprint Ala has to be reckoned a pretty good day. Coquard seems to be back after a few off years. It's interesting that he is flourishing at Cofidis, meanwhile Viviani leaves Cofidis and seems to be doing far better at Ineos.

So many great rides in Provence today. Ganna only a minute or so back from Nairoman on the climb? Sick.

Matty Jorgo. van Wildman, LFF, la Baller.

Man, he has a huge frame too, 6' 3". He hung tough in Roubaix early on last fall. He and Ganna might shake up a few spring races. Strade?

Too climby.

Flatter classics, perhaps

Yeah, probably right. Just thought if any, this is the hilly race where staying in saddle and powering over helps. Ganna looked darn good there last May.

We need to turn Nils van der Poel into the next Tractor. Great and easy ready on his training.


https://www.howtoskate.se/

hey thanks for sharing that - great reading

Running of the bulls: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ53tMKAHjJ/

I love how the race promoter sees a video of a customer getting tossed like a rag doll and uses it as a promotional tool complete with Rage Against references.

Not sarcastic. I do love it.

Bemusedly, it seems to me like the race's insurance provider will have a slightly different view of the situation. Anyway, I hope the guy who got tossed will be OK. He's lucky he walked (or rode) away.