Tour de France 2020 | Stage 7 (Millau - Lavaur, 168 km)

retalivity

Straightforward looking stage today except it is apparently windy as hell so...... ECHELONS!!!!!

If not, or if QS prove their mastery at windy conditions again, looks like a stage for Sam to contest.
FDJ already giving interviews this morning indicating nervousness about losing time after getting caught out in crosswinds last year

MPFGLB

Is that it ???

De Bhál

Millau bridge, top class

keane2097

De Bhál wrote: »

Millau bridge, top class

That's ****ing amazing.

IAMAMORON

I must admit I love watching the tour every year, for the scenery alone. The camera work is really fantastic. It is like a postcard nearly every shot.

De Bhál

Sagan must be feeling good, pushing along and sprinters being dropped

MPFGLB

Bora making the climbs hard for sprintrs

De Bhál

hope Sam is stuck to him


nope, he's well back.

Ha that was mean nearly taking him back before before the KOM

Inquitus

Bennett hung on over the top just about, and Bora have knocked it off, surprisingly.

There 4 or 5 groups there now.

dastardly00

Just after tuning in... Groups scattered all over the road... le sh1t has hit le fan!

Mefistofelino

Inquitus wrote: »

Bennett hung on over the top just about, and Bora have knocked it off, surprisingly.

I expect they'll rinse and repeat at the next couple of climbs to completely break the sprinters.

De Bhál

Bennett 22secs behind according to the tracker

https://racecenter.letour.fr/en/

MPFGLB

Mefistofelino wrote: »

I expect they'll rinse and repeat at the next couple of climbs to completely break the sprinters.

Yes but need not to drop Sagan

dastardly00

Asgreen has been sent back from the 1st group to help Sam

Inquitus

Sam's back, but most of the rest of the sprinters are miles back.

dastardly00

Looks like Sam's group is going to catch the lead group

dastardly00

Inquitus wrote: »

Sam's back, but most of the rest of the sprinters are miles back.

He's not back yet

Mefistofelino

dastardly00 wrote: »

Asgreen has been sent back from the 1st group to help Sam

Looking like Sam will have to help Asgreen back instead

There must be what? 50 in the leading group?

De Bhál

great going by Bora in fairness

Chips Lovell

Who said Sagan was "undercooked and overfed" yesterday?

dastardly00

The gap is increasing at the moment

mhiggy09

Great seeing this type of fight for the green jersey after multiple years of Sagan dominance

ionadnapokot

This is more interesting today!

Come on Sam! 40secs off the top group
Waterfords finest!;)

TheBlaaMan

Bora are doing a terrific job here of trying to drop Sam but the gap is only c 15 sec - hopefully the second group latches back on. All the other sprinters are 90 sec further off

Brian Smith is very sharp - not much is missed when he is on the commentary

lennymc

De Bhál wrote: »

Millau bridge, top class

drover over it, and under it. seriously impressive piece of engineering in the flesh

Macy0161

The gaps are front of group to front of group aren't they? That stretched out, might not be as big in reality.

Mefistofelino

Only about 6km before they start climbing again - I don't think Sam is going to get back on

dastardly00

The elastic band is going to snap soon I think... Nearly all of Bora versus a couple of DQS.

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Brian Smith is very sharp - not much is missed when he is on the commentary

Totally agree

Macy0161

Have to agree, not sure I see him coming back as things stand, unless Bora burn themselves out and the front group sit up.

ionadnapokot

Macy0161 wrote: »

Have to agree, not sure I see him coming back as things stand, unless Bora burn themselves out and the front group sit up.

But only 30 secs?
Surely they can get that back?

dastardly00

ionadnapokot wrote: »

But only 30 secs?
Surely they can get that back?

It's 1'07" now

Mefistofelino

ionadnapokot wrote: »

But only 30 secs?
Surely they can get that back?

70 seconds now - thats not coming back

De Bhál

Nico in the third group

ionadnapokot

Mefistofelino wrote: »

70 seconds now - thats not coming back

Ok!
I wonder are they just looking for those points at the intermediate stage?
And then Sams group will catch them

De Bhál

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Ok!
I wonder are they just looking for those points at the intermediate stage?
And then Sams group will catch them

long climb after that intermediate sprint, probably just get worse

Chris871

Some effort from Bora tbf, great tactics.

Mefistofelino

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Ok!
I wonder are they just looking for those points at the intermediate stage?
And then Sams group will catch them

I don't think Bora would have burned so many matches just for the intermediate sprint

Itziger

Wow, the gap went from 35 secs to 1.40 in a few kms no? At work so can't follow as I would like.

Chips Lovell

No sauce on the pasta for Quickstep tonight!

El Tarangu

Any notable GC contenders that got stuck in the 2nd (or even the 3rd) group?

REBELSAFC

13:49:14 BST
The green jersey group is now more than two minutes down. Ewan's third group is at 4:20.

Speak Now

Second for Sagan in the sprint, 17 pts so back into virtual green.

Mefistofelino

El Tarangu wrote: »

Any notable GC contenders that got stuck in the 2nd (or even the 3rd) group?

Dani Martinez is probably the "GC-est" rider in the second group but hes over 4 minutes down on GC in any case

That puts sagan 5 points ahead of Sam now .

dahat

I can't see Bora letting this gsp close too much unless riders blow up.

MPFGLB

This is the issue I was referring to of having Allaphilipe and Sam in the same team ...divided resources

happytramp

I think it's fair to say this would be far more enjoyable if Sam had made the 1st group... 100k+ with no one to shout for.

Macy0161

happytramp wrote: »

I think it's fair to say this would be far more enjoyable if Sam had made the 1st group... 100k+ with no one to shout for.

Cross winds due later, the fun isn't over!