Tour de France Stage 18: Lourdes - Hautacam - 143.2km

retalivity

Last day in the Pyrnees, last day for Pog to take time back on Vingygo

Probably another 1-2 for Pog/Jonas the way things are going.

Of course, WVA attacks from km 0

Froome, Caruso and Erviti out with Covid.

Race radio saying Bjerg is being distanced and getting dropped. Not seen it on TV yet.

mewso

No particular preference for a winner overall but would love to see Pog get 90 seconds or so back so Saturday provides some excitement.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119367847#Comment_119367847

Disappointed for Froome, obviously not back to his heyday standards, but was nice to see him actually competing again

Squidgy Black

Those press bikes are an absolute scourge

Couldn't see how the DSM rider went off in front of that.

Kaisr Sose

That incident with the press bike would not be out of place on our own roads. Silly and obviously dangerous.

Off the race like the TV station car that took J Hoogerland out in 2011.

Bjerg is nearly 4 minutes out the back now. Leaves Pog with McNulty really who is probably hurting after yesterday.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368091#Comment_119368091

That was ridiculous

https://twitter.com/OosterveenAF/status/1550099495068860416

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368075#Comment_119368075

Press bike was in front of the DSM rider who squeezed through the gap alongside the team car, press bike pulls over to the side and brakes, DSM rider had nowhere to go but into the press bike, can see it here (sort of)

UAE car then jams on to prevent hitting him, and Bauer has nowhere to go since there’s a press bike squeezing him too

c.p.w.g.w

Is there any reason why the racing has been so aggressive all throughout this year's edition?

retalivity

Mas has gotten into the break, somehow

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368182#Comment_119368182

Proper GC battle and Jumbo refusing to let the breaks go

retalivity

The 2 camera bikes involved in that crash have been kicked out of the tour

MyDarkArts

Always seemed to be that there's much more vehicles in amongst the riders than is necessary. Has it ever been raised as an issue that the riders would like fewer vehicles on the road?

Squidgy Black

Absolutely stuck to his hip so far

Squidgy Black

I’d say his heart dropped there when Kuss rejoined

AxleAddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368628#Comment_119368628

Jonas Vingeglue

Squidgy Black

Wow wasn’t expecting that from Thomas

retalivity

Geraint Thomas attacking??? Bizarro world

Squidgy Black

Jonas caught sleeping for a second there? Or was he just having a drink etc and Pog went

Pinot here in the front but at the rate this is going he'll have no chance with the GC lads accelerating here rocketing passed Thomas there.

Dr. Bre

Nobody bothered by Thomas attack lol

Squidgy Black

Tenner bets says Pog attacks over the top again

Dr. Bre

Presuming the stage goes to Vin or Pog the winner will prob get the KM jersey

Squidgy Black

Jonas not confident at all descending

**** me

dastardly00

holy fcuk

neris

Pog off his bike in the gravel

dastardly00

I suppose does Pog not attack any more on the descent because Vingegaard has waited from him?

neris

some bit of sportmanship

Squidgy Black

Class act from Jonas to wait up for him, honestly don’t know if a lot of other race leaders would wait and not try create a gap

retalivity

Dunno what Rob Hatch is talking about, of course Jonas would wait, he has no need to attack. Allows WVA to get further up the road as well before being caught

Sigma101

Class from Vingegaard

I think they both think this is too dangerous now.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368754#Comment_119368754

I dunno, if he thought Pog was gonna be down for a while, he has Wout up the road, could’ve tried to extend a gap that’d mean the jersey is almost guaranteed his.

Mefistofelino

I think Pog backed off when Jonas had his near miss earlier - he seemed to look over his shoulder and ease up, so maybe just quid pro quo

Jesus bit of a rogues gallery Hatch mentioned having won up here on the Hautacam.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368762#Comment_119368762

Nah was the opposite from what I can see, he looked back under the shoulder and attacked, just Jonas caught up with him

McEwan spot on there I think.

retalivity

WVA could actually win the polka-dot jersey if he finishes first here, and Jonas finishes 3rd or worse

https://twitter.com/Cycling_Memes1/status/1550128899618512898

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368791#Comment_119368791

Had a listen again with the commentary turned off on GCN and all I could catch was Pog saying "I just want to leave the space"

keane2097

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368791#Comment_119368791

About Tadej telling the team car to eff off you mean?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368803#Comment_119368803

Yeah he didn't seem happy with them at all.

mewso

Well WVA concentrating on his sprint has paid off.

seaviewphotos

Really enjoying this, what a super stage.

Squidgy Black

Sepp Kuss has played a blinder to still be there at this stage considering all the earlier attacks

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119368779#Comment_119368779

You can't be giving Jonas any credit this tour - has to be all about Pog.

retalivity

This is mental by WVA, final mountain man for Jonas after being on the attack from km 0, green leading yellow and white jerseys, last 3 standing.

Dr. Bre

Looks like another Pog stage win

edit - maybe not!