@WillieTheWaiter Yeah - George did an interview on TV the other night after Gino Mader died and said it was going to be difficult to very difficult for him to be fit in time for the TdF.
Fuck it - makes it significantly less interesting - and George is running out of racing years.
First stage down and the Yates brothers fought it out for line honours - Adam got the better of Simon.
Tadej picks up third and a four second bonus over Jonas.
Decent showing by Corbin Strong to finish 15th at the head of the second group and alongside some big guns (Bernal, Alaphillippe, Buchman, Bardet et al), who are all already 25 seconds down on Tadej.
Podium contenders Carapaz and Mas involved in a crash and both already out of the race.
@mariner4life I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what is TdF?
@Stargazer Tour de France
Lots of racing on Stage 2. Pog and Jonas sprinting for bonus seconds at the top of one of the intermediate climbs (Pog won) and Pog also picked up more by coming third on the stage. He's now 11 seconds ahead of Jonas.
Brilliant late attack by Victor Lafay nabs him the stage.
Adam Yates holds yellow, Pog and his bro both 6 seconds back. Then Lafay, Wout Van Aert, Vingegaard.
Alaphilippe and Pinot both around 3 minutes back now and won't be contending for the GC.
Though barring crashes it's a two horse race. 
@taniwharugby Ahh, thanks. Actually something I'm interested in haha, but I couldn't make anything of that thread title.
Don't think I've seen that too often, where not only does a guy go back to back in a stage, but the podium is the same 3 guys
Was there anything specific about that race track finish that seemed to mean more crashes at the end than usual? Or just random luck with everyone gunning it.
@Donsteppa I'm guessing smoother surface = higher speeds but less grip. Philipsen said the turns were tricky with everyone going full gas through them.
First mountain stage tonight (and another tomorrow night). Not a mountain top finish, but we might get an indication of any significant advantage in Jonas vs Pog.
We got a big indication! Nice to see Hindley doing well; he’s shaping up well for the podium.
Been a bit of a weird Tour. Normally someone like VdP might be in yellow. Instead he’s been anointed ‘world’s best sprint lead out man’
Ended up watching quite a lot last night.
I think Jumbo-Visma (and me) overestimated Jonas' advantage and paid for it. JV did plenty of work bridging across to Van Aert and then more when Wout left him to it. Pog sat in all the way and then launched.
Hindley did well to limit his losses on the final climb - ended up closer than I thought he would.
Is anyone else finding the highlights packages this year a bit crap?
I am on the SSNow app rather than the tv, when I last watched the tour. Are they a shorter package? About 18 mins each.
Quite frankly I cant understand wtf is going on.
At least today's package actually showed the map and profile. But still none of the 'narrative commentary ' we used to get.
The highlights is how I've always consumed the TdF. But I dont recognize anyone, cant tell what group they are showing . Etc
Cav abandons due to injury and that's it for him, based on stated plans. Does an ending like this leave him wanting one last crack?
Honestly, I'm kind of glad than Merckx's stage wins record holds for another year at least
Cav abandons due to injury and that's it for him, based on stated plans. Does an ending like this leave him wanting one last crack?
Honestly, I'm kind of glad than Merckx's stage wins record holds for another year at least
Dad, if have loved to see him get it. Merckx before my time, and Cav a Brit. I wonder too...
Cav abandons due to injury and that's it for him, based on stated plans. Does an ending like this leave him wanting one last crack?
Honestly, I'm kind of glad than Merckx's stage wins record holds for another year at least
massive ask.. 5 kids, another year of living like a monk, and in a sh*t team so already on the back foot (same with corban strong)
just change the narrative - it's not Merckxs record - it's his too.. already equal.
Then doesn't sound too bad - time to get on the beers and do some tv punditry
