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Deschanel2017

Race thread: 🇫🇷 Tour de France 2025 - Stage 18 (www.letour.fr)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Deschanel2017 to c/procycling@lemmy.world

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Thursday 24: 12:10–12:20 → 17:10–17:50

This is the first of the 2 Alpine stages. There is not much true flat in the approach of the first climb, it's more often false flats. All 3 climbs are ranked 'HC', the last one (Loze Pass) is not particularly steep but is very long (and being the highest of the tour, it brings twice as many mountain points as other HC climbs). Its final part is irregular on a narrow asphalted track, however this side of the pass seems easier than the Méribel side which was climbed in 2020 and 2023.

The flat valley before the last climb may allow a bit of strategical play if a team has managed to send help in a breakaway, and managed to separate his leader from his opponent. But even so, would those 15 km (10 miles) significantly impact a race with 5,500 metres of elevation gain (18,000 feet)?

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[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago

Quite incredible that BORA have gone from a 2+ minute lead in third and the White Jersey to ~22 seconds in a single stage. Even more incredible that they managed this when the guy in fourth, Onley, was dropped early on. Whoever let Lipowitz ride by himself for so long today should be fired, absolutely insane tactics that may cost him a podium if he suffers from this effort tomorrow.

[–] Skyrocket0006@feddit.nl 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I missed a little but why did Pogi and Vingegaard stop and let the others catch up? And why's Soler in the front there?

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I missed the bit where Jorgenson attacked but I wonder if Visma tried to bluff a bit. By isolating Pogacar early, they made it risky for him to follow any moves from Visma riders, which allowed Jorgenson to get a big lead and go for the stage win unopposed by UAE. Unfortunately it seems like Jorgenson has blown up completely so now Visma are on the front again trying to close the gap to the leaders once more (and chase Lipowitz).

[–] Deschanel2017 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ilandar proposed a good motivation for Visma.

But a larger question is IMO: why didn't anybody pull? And by pulling, I simply mean a moderate pace, to keep the following groups significantly behind.

The 2 Bora, Roglitch and Lipowitz could secure and improve their GC position, versus Onley and Vauquelin;
Gall in order not to waste the efforts in the first climbs by Armirail and himself, and give himself a small chance to win;
Arensman with the same kind of reasons, but for the mountain points; he and Gall could also have joined the attacks, not sure if they tried.

[–] Deschanel2017 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Carlos Rodriguez (Inéos), 10^th^ place in GC, will not start today, after crashing twice yesterday (first time when Alaphilippe hit the hay of the road shoulder, second time in the final major crash).

Same fate for Barthe (FDJ), first man down in the final crash, who was also doing a rather good Tour (for his limited abilities).

[–] timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

Rough go for Carlos. I forgot he was in the first crash to begin with but yeah, that one at the end yesterday was gnarly.

[–] Deschanel2017 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Not a single attack before the Intermediate Sprint. All teams had agreed that Milan should take the green jersey...

Is this the revival day of Roglitch (🇸🇮 Bora)? He seems relatively easy; he's in the first group anyway.

Martinez (🇫🇷 Bahrein) scores best mountain points (+20) in front of the first group, after struggling all climb long. Arensman (🇳🇱 Ineos) contested them, and scores second best points (+15).

Martinez was completely dropped in the descent.

Arensman descended well on the contrary, but in the second climb the Visma acceleration and Vingegaard/Pogatchar joining the first group made him go backwards and he could only score the last available 2 points. While pogatchar scored 15 points.

Icing on the cake, apparently L. Martinez got a penalty for clinging onto a car. Minus 8 mountain points...

G. Martin (🇫🇷 FDJ) exploded. He was ranked 12^th^ this morning, and basically the last of the riders going for GC. He finishes the stage almost 30 minutes behind...