Reno
@cyclingreno
Pro cycling, aiming to provide info or analysis not yet covered by the big cycling news accounts and just banter.
Joop Zoetemelk already said it, "In bed is where the Tour is won". Recovery is even more essential part of cycling these days, certainly with these heat waves. UAE partnered up with Eight Sleep, a company specialised in matras toppers that regulate matras+sheet temperatures for a good night's rest
Every country has such a divider, I am sure. We have the "Frites-border", of course much more vulgar than pain au chocolat!
12 years ago, this young lad reconned today's stage already. A top10 result would be decent enough!
Uijtdebroeks has had a difficult night, suffering from gastro-issues. Nomen est omen.
Also remarkable, more than 100.000 contestants in a Dutch cycling game. That's 0.5% of the population. I guess some people from abroad, but yeah, goes to show cycling is a common man's sport - or at least what the Tour is concerned. #scorito #viveletour
The Tour presentation is due at 18:30 CET. Available with HBOmax with the sports add-on and Eurosport-2 in some countries. NOS online also offering a stream for viewers inside the Netherlands or a Dutch IP-address (let me know if you need an URL)
From the SOQ press release, VPP says the KOM is a target. I can't recall VPP sprinting uphill, be he packs a surprisingly decent sprint in small bunches. One example pictured below.
But some protagonists will be caught out, maybe losing 15 to 30 seconds. There's also a chance a break away will contest the win, as the big teams aren't keep on having to defend the yellow jersey at this point. If not this stage, then certainly stage 4 to Foix has 'break away' written all over
Some interesting snippets as I have a closer look at the Tour de France route book. Stage 3 to the small village of Les Angles (pop: 600), the finish looks 'quick' for an uphill finish. There's a 200m section over 15%(max 27.6% acc to strava profile though. 1 km from finish, damage will be limited
Today's stage at the Tour of Slovenia, Novo Mesto, is the birthplace of Melanija Knavs, now first lady of the United States of America. Jakob Omrzel also hails from Novo Mesto, he'll be keen to show himself in the finale.
Aha, that explains a lot. Saw him ride backwards as soon as the pace increased in yesterday's finale at Tour de Suisse
Short on riders? He expressed low expectations in an interview last week, has been on the bike for three weeks or so.
Stage 14 up to Pila, the first stage I planned to watch start to finish. Interesting right from the gun with a 15.7k 6.2% climb with 4200+ vertical meters on this 133k stage. 👀 There's some question marks over several riders' fitness, Pellizzari, Hindley and O'Connor, so we'll see who is still /1
and at least have a more than decent chance to collect the pink leaders jersey and wear it a few days. It would be very cool if he'd won, that's for sure. But yeah, he's quick at the line, why take so much risk with some proper machines in the bunch that reel you back in.
Betting market for Fleche Wallone, quesque que c'est? oolala, les Francais sont la. 5/6 French nationality, VPP and Baudin also close near the front of the market.