Anyway, it looked like a common expectation on the (French) web forums I read. I mean, there was nothing to lose for most potential contenders of today’s stage if it was raced as breakaway/puncher race, tomorrow is not their race. And for smaller riders, there were plenty of jerseys/distinctions that could be gotten, more easily than in future stages.
What they got today is a glacial pace all day long, until Trek starting pulling in the last 30-40 km. And Trek couldn’t have pulled so long, and so accurately strongly in the final, if they had to chase for real during the race. By ‘accurately’, I mean that, in the end, Ciccone was pulling as strong as possible while keeping Pedersen and his launcher Vacek in his wheel. Before that, they could employ successively at least 3 other teammates, which could still be there and fresh because of the glacial pace and the lack of chase.
So all other teams/riders were leaving the victory to Trek/Visma, and the side classifications to (5 then) 4 breakaway riders, before a ‘neutral’ day. 2 of those teams ended up with the extra bonus of losing their leader.
So you’re an optimist, nothing wrong with that :D The stage went pretty much as I expected it to…
This is the first time I am being called so 😉
Anyway, it looked like a common expectation on the (French) web forums I read. I mean, there was nothing to lose for most potential contenders of today’s stage if it was raced as breakaway/puncher race, tomorrow is not their race. And for smaller riders, there were plenty of jerseys/distinctions that could be gotten, more easily than in future stages.
What they got today is a glacial pace all day long, until Trek starting pulling in the last 30-40 km. And Trek couldn’t have pulled so long, and so accurately strongly in the final, if they had to chase for real during the race. By ‘accurately’, I mean that, in the end, Ciccone was pulling as strong as possible while keeping Pedersen and his launcher Vacek in his wheel. Before that, they could employ successively at least 3 other teammates, which could still be there and fresh because of the glacial pace and the lack of chase.
So all other teams/riders were leaving the victory to Trek/Visma, and the side classifications to (5 then) 4 breakaway riders, before a ‘neutral’ day. 2 of those teams ended up with the extra bonus of losing their leader.