I don't remember this happening before.

I'm trying to figure out what ridiculous way Wout is going to win today. Maybe solo off the front, but instead of winning solo he posts up for a few fan photos as he waits for the sprinters to arrive then outsprints them for the win.

Agree re the Lantern Rouge 'number'. Both cruel and new I think. Combined with the Polkadot torture of Geshke, I'm surprised that they've not made Pogacar wear a giant felt cowboy hat with 'Loser' sprayed on in neon paint.

They said yesterday that this is the first year they're doing it, sponsored by lastminute.com - see the tie-in? - who are the providers/sponsors of the bibs (used to be LCL, I believe?)

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

Sat on crossbar waving to the rest of the field as he rides past them. I think this is the real reason they moved the finish away from the corner.

Anyone see Venga and Wout's bikes today? Pretty funny to print some of the terrible pronunciations that they have heard thus far.

Impressions....

Head says Philipsen, heart says Kristoff. Or Phil in a patented Phil Gil flyer where the peloton mysteriously drops its chains on the city cobbles, giving France stage #2 and the good teammate pro retires bathed in glory and Lotto survives the cut.

Orla came up with Wout the Actual F. Not bad.

A lonely 3 weeks for Joe D.

Quinn Simmons always seems to know where he camera is. Huge talent but reminds me of the guy in the group who thinks he's the alpha...and then there's the real alpha.

EF is a tight squad. Astana is not.

Matty Jo has to get off Movistar and go have some real fun.

I think Sagan has a shot here bc of the sort of technical finish.

Go Femmes!

Simmons has such talent. I hope he learns better racing tactics over the years so he doesn't waste so much energy. He's like a rampaging bull right now and there are times I wonder what the hell he is thinking. I will say though, when he is asked to do a job for the team, he does it 100% and does it well.

This is an amazing flyer up front!

Always Be Racing. Great stuff.

I want to see Pidcock pip the sprinters.

In all the predictions I didn't consider Wout may want to be off the back and ride across with Jonas and the rest of the team.

Jakobsen and Ewan were just out of gas....

Ewan was boxed in from Kristoff and stopped sprinting, though he still wouldn't have beat Philipsen.

Would Cav have been in the mix?

I like Bora's style. Beers on the Champs.

Cav is thinking, "Wout, this is the year you decide not to contest the Champ Elysees?"

Absolutely. I don't know if he could have beat Philipsen, but Cav has a nose for the biggest moments. Without Morkov and Asgreen he would have a hard go of it though.

That was classy

Agreed.

I'm happy Wout took the most combative prize as well.

They learned ONE thing from having Sagan on the team

"Never too early to make party"

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

well if he was racing it early pick would be for Matty Jo to sneak off and take San Sebastian but looks like he's off, probably cooked from all his efforts
where would be a good fit for him ?

Anyone but Movistar. If I were UAE I'd be looking for a rider with an engine like that. EF would be a natural fit too I think.

Movistar has him through next year, don't they?

Though it's not my favorite team, I'd bet he's on Lefevere's radar. And if MattyJo wants to learn to "close" and not come in 4th every time, Quick Step is "finishing school." (though they've not been terribly good at it this year by their own standard)

The Wolf Pack have been riding like Pound Puppies

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

Did anyone catch Nico's story about Gustav Eiffel and his Tower?

Nico said "He killed himself before it opened"
Ant "I never heard that"
Nico: "There was a big storm coming and he was TS sure it would survive, so he commuted suicide instead of seeing his creation collapse"
Ant "Are you sure? I never heard that story"
Nico "That's what I was told while I was younger"

SPOILER ---- not even close

The Eiffel Tower opened in 1889, Gustav Eiffel passed away in 1923

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