2019 PRO thread

[flying]

I love this shot
The look on Elia's face

[flying]

They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. C’mon... someone had to say it.

On today’s ride I got really mad at some clouds.

Clouds or not Your right

Tube & Lug was as good as carbon ever was..... Oh I better say IMO

[ichobi]

Today stage was not flat. It has 3000m of elevation. Tough day not to mention the crosswind. And the finishing kms has some hills. Whoever design the route this year should get a raise. Just epic. I mean you dont drop gc contenders by two minutes in any mountain stage.

[Calnago]

How massively epic would it be if the Overall Classification on the final day came down to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées.

[ichobi]

How massively epic would it be if the Overall Classification on the final day came down to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées.

Has that ever happened sometimes in the past?

[Calnago]

Not that I know of. It’s usually mostly kind of a cremonial procession to Paris for the GC guys as the Overall Leader has already been decided barring some freak event where the GC guy can’t finish. But the sprint on the Champs is what I live for, and there could be potentially the green jersey up for grabs. I’ve certainly been on the edge of my seat at times over that. If it turned out that the GC guys also had to contest a sprint, well... wow! Mostly by then they just have to stay out of harms way. But if they had to sprint amongst themselves, even if behind the big boys battling for green jersey points, then it would be truly WOW! And mayhem amongst the pack I’m sure.

[Dan Gerous]

How massively epic would it be if the Overall Classification on the final day came down to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées.

Has that ever happened sometimes in the past?

I remember Vino winning the last stage, earning a 20sec bonus and jumping past Levi Leipheimer on GC in 2005, Levi wasn't pleased but it was for 5th place.

[Karvalo]

But the sprint on the Champs is what I live for, and there could be potentially the green jersey up for grabs. I’ve certainly been on the edge of my seat at times over that. If it turned out that the GC guys also had to contest a sprint, well... wow! Mostly by then they just have to stay out of harms way. But if they had to sprint amongst themselves, even if behind the big boys battling for green jersey points, then it would be truly WOW!

Sorry, but the scenario doesn't play out. The bonus seconds are only for 1,2,3 - and no GC contenders have a hope in hell of outsprinting enough of the big boys on that circuit to get 3rd or better. Even if the GC 1st/2nd time gap was under 10 seconds coming into Paris they're simply not going to get involved.

[Calnago]

I think most readers of my post would realize I was just flirting with fantasy for a moment.

[dgasmd]

Actually, in early years, breakaway wins did not appear uncommon. A surprising three straight occurred between 1977 and 1979. It has become very rare, lending an increasingly valued place in Tour lore to the few who have achieved it. Those are Frenchmen Alain Meslet (1977), Bernard Hinault (1979) and Eddy Seigneur (1994), Dutchman Gerrie Knetemann (1978), American Jeff Pierce (1987), and Kazakhstani Alexander Vinokourov (2005).

I also remember hearing a story about Mercks taking off like 70 miles from the finish once and having the entire peloton chase even though he was in yellow because he thought they should race all the way to the end. Don’t quote me on that last part though

[Calnago]

Good to know... The fantasy lives on

[flying]

How massively epic would it be if the Overall Classification on the final day came down to the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées.

Has that ever happened sometimes in the past?

I remember Vino winning the last stage, earning a 20sec bonus and jumping past Levi Leipheimer on GC in 2005, Levi wasn't pleased but it was for 5th place.

For me the closest thing was 1989 when Lemond Beat Fignon in final stage which was a TT into Paris & that was exciting !

[Calnago]

^Yes!

[tymon_tm]

yeah, but it was ITT not a sprint stage. fwiw I find ITT deciding upon final GC boring.. but so is the final parade in Paris. srsly, it's a waste of stage. I get it's a huge thing, almost a bank holiday for the French, but I'd really love ASO to introduce at least some kind of racing between the start and the finish line - like, why not start with few laps in Paris - for champagne and photos, then go on some loop where >something< might happen and come back for just one final lap on Champs Elysees

[Mr.Gib]

Anyone know what caused the DeMarchi crash. Just a touch of wheels? With those injuries you'd think he ran into a building.