Pog third on GC at 2:22. Who would have predicted that? Going to make for an interesting 10 days.

Unexpectedly great ride by Quintana.

You called it

Now, can they keep it?

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

wow what turn of fate... Vingegaard has been going well but this is a complete new race! I feel bad for Pogacar, but it does seem to be something that happens to riders they just crack. I wonder how he will recover for tomorrow? and what the GC will look like then?

Yep, Alpe d'Huez will be intriguing tomorrow. Not just how the Pog recovers, but everyone else as well. Tomorrow could see another reshuffle of the GC.

A side plot at this point, but wonder what's up with Kuss. He's just not going well. Fortunately for JV, all their other guys are going well, and now Roglic is a great domestique as well.

Be interesting to see why that cost Jonas today, how he recovers for tomorrow. Roglic and Kuss looked in great shape coming over the line and Wout is Wout.

Thomas looked super strong, for Yates to get back towards the front and catch them bodes well for Ineos.

Guess we’re about to find out if having a strong team matters since UAE seem to be on the ropes a bit.

All things being equal from here, and if you discount Quintana and Bardet on the TT alone, it looks like it’s Pogacar vs Jumbo with Ineos lurking.

One thing I noticed with Jonas is he doesn’t look the most comfortable on the bike, he was scared when the crowd got close today (rightfully) and there was also the bike change incident the other day. I wonder if Ineos can outsmart him.

And I am wildly impressed with what a superb job Pidcock has done.

Wonder if Pidcock has the best chance of the 3 CX guys of doing well in GC.

I thought they’d just let him loose at the your to get the experience, but seems like he’s been a solid contributor to the team duties.

One thing that was interesting today was how calculating and ruthless all the riders were as they passed Pogacar. They all showed him a lot of respect when they got alongside him, making sure he was gassed, then leaving him when they were certain they wouldn’t pull him back. Fantastic racing.

there was a lot of early chatter about Pogacar making this a boring Tour... I think that talk is over for now and we have just reached the half way point of the race today. Things are getting interesting!

2 CX guys now, MdVP's had enough. But, of course, Pidcock is going to wipe the floor in CX GC classification.

Did not see that one coming at all. Glad to see he’s human after all and now there’s a true battle.

A few thoughts while I re-watch some of this with 2 more trainer hours to go.

Rog is class in how he has helped Jonas and also not complained or made excuses.

Also Soler was drafting a Movistar rider and Kelly chips something like, "Well of course he is attacking Movistar." lol

No change to Lanterne Rouge Anti-Podium, other than everyone moving up 2 spots on GC w/DNFs by MvdP and Naesen

159. Turgid Turgis
159. Ice Bjerg
157. Hirschi Syrup

"Randy ... why are you actually following the Lanterne Rouge?"
"Um ... because I'm weird?"
"OK, that makes sense ... carry on"

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Jonas did 6 w/kg for right under 36 minutes I think. After the rest of the day that is awesome.

That must have hurt!

DH mountain bikers are built different. Some of the falls these pros take and walk away from are hard to believe

Yikes, that's a lot of trainer time

I wish I could do that, but my knee (sometimes knees) starts bothering me at 75-90 min in...

But the last 75 km of today's stage will help make my own trainer session go faster as well

My brain starts bothering me at about 45 minutes.

Done quite a few long sessions since the baby arrived and they are extremely grim. Not many things as souls destroying as a long turbo session.

Pidcock said in an interview that he has been taking the piss!

Wife is riding the real world and the kiddo is napping. Sometimes I just have to do it.

I saw someone post this from WaWa. 5 w/kg weight avg power for his ride today. There are a few really small riders that I love to see on hard races. Bardet's Strade a few years ago ride comes to mind. He was insane that day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7462933785

Chastened.

Pride comes before the fall, some wise guy said. Tadej was mugging for the cameras in the valley pre final climb. You can be sure the JV car mentioned this to Jo Venga. This morning when asked if he were one of the others rider would he attack, T Po said, I wouldn't try it. Love the kid and he'll be back for sure but he got his ass handed to him today and will be even better for it.

Everyone needs an ass handing now and then.

Up 'til then it was some Bruce Lee shit by T Po, fending off all of those attacks. Now you're riding alone to the final climb surrounded by the enemy, and THEN have Wout come blasting through? If Pogacar had won again today that would have been almost too much.

GT so solid, Bardet too. So many stories. It will be fun seeing JV defend and Po go crazy aggressive. And not even Bastille Day yet.

Amazing racing.

Mine does just thinking about the trainer.

Looming question for Pog: did Covid drop him?

We will see, but I think he just got steamrolled and made too many moves of his own that were not wise.