The underappreciated Teams competition is unusually competitive. The time gap between the top 4 teams at this stage in the race over the last 10 races is as follows:
2014 - 47:44
2015 - 36:07
2016 - 38:59
2017 - 70:50
2018 - 47:43
2019 - 36:22
2020 - 37:43
2021 - 32:02
2022 - 64:39
2023 - 10:22
Jumbo-Visma, Ineos, UAE and Bahrain are in a battle for the ages. And no-one cares.
doesn’t look able to crack
It generally only takes one day though. I'm still mostly expecting one to crack the other and take a minute or more on one of the later stages.
If that doesn't happen then every second counts. But I don't think that is plan A.
I predict a big breakaway to get away, probably with some climbers who are 10-20 on GC. They’ll get 8 minutes before Col de la Ramaz. The KOM battle will be unrecognisable.
The GC battle will spark up, and the last survivor of the break will be narrowly caught near the top of the Joux Plane but not near enough to catch back on and deny Pogacar the win.
Pidcock will chase like a madman down the final descent, but was already a minute down over the top so it won’t be enough.
Thank you. I'm here all week.
Not sure I agree that Pogacar needs time here, though I can very well imagine him taking some. I don't think the race will come down to ~4 seconds so I think the bonuses are a bit irrelevant.
I'm expecting Tadej and Jonas to take 1st and 2nd, but I don't think Jumbo Visma will chase a break today so there could easily be a surprise winner.
Good stage for Pinot and Martin to get themselves well positioned for the GC top-10.
Perfectly timed attack from Izagirre - never looked like being caught.
MvdP is still in the race isn't he? I've seen reports that he is a bit ill, but nothing about anything else.
SECOND WEEK AS IT STANDS
GC is a completely split race. Pogacar and Vingegaard are so close it is hard to pick a favourite. All to play for. There are then another 15 riders probably in contenion for a top-5/top-10. One good breakaway could move any of them up and they are all far enough back that JV and UAE won't chase them.
Points Classification looks wrapped up. Without something dramatic happening it is hard to see anyone closing the >100pt lead that Philipsen has. He obviously needs to get to Paris though.
The KOM competion has barely begun. Powless's points tally so far is insignificant compared to the points available in the Alpine stages to come. It is perfectly possible that it comes down to a battle between riders who are still on zero. Probably the bigger question is whether the breakaway taking the Puy de Dome sets a precedent or whether the Alpine mountain finishes are taken by the GC contenders. If the latter, then another year of the GC winner 'accidentally' winning the Polka dots too is certainly on the cards.
That's a good idea. Would you or anyone else like to be a mod and help with this. I've not much idea what can be done!
Smoked salmon looks "raw" largely because it is raw. It has never been heated.
Smoking the fish does indeed give a very different flavour to non-smoked fillet. That shouldn't be any great surprise.
Why is it safe? Well good quality raw salmon is also safe (see sushi). But the smoking does have an effect of preserving the fish and making it less of an environment where bacteria would thrive.
Pinot from the break? A man can dream.
Hot take: Fred Wright top-10. He's been pretty anonymous so far, but was on form at the British nationals so I think he's got a good effort in the legs. Bilbao top-10 too.