Good that the rest waited. An enjoyable stage all told. The steep climb towards the end didn't do as much damage as people expected.Let's see if the crash did any damage. He jumped up quick enough
That's lack of concentration which could be a result of tiredness.Let's see if the crash did any damage. He jumped up quick enough
He was looking in the other direction and crossed a wheel, wasn't concentration, it was the unexpected pack movement to the right that did it. Racing incident. It was right not to attack with him on the deck fighting with his chain.That's lack of concentration which could be a result of tiredness.
Good move by Visma not to exploit the crash. They'd have got about half a minute but motivated UAE and Pogacar in particular.
He was looking in the other direction and crossed a wheel, wasn't concentration, it was the unexpected pack movement to the right that did it. Racing incident. It was right not to attack with him on the deck fighting with his chain.
No one has eyes in the back of their head, he's one of if not the most gifted bike rider of his generation, tiredness and anxiousness? nah, he was caught out by a touch of wheels as the pack jumped right and he was taking care of his left. Fortunately he didn't do any significant damage. That he was back in the saddle and in the pack again (granted they rightly didn't attack) shows the strength and calmness of the man.That's just another way of saying poor focus and judgement - could be tiredness or could be anxiousness.
Pogacar is there to be shot at for the next 10 days. He knows it too.
No one has eyes in the back of their head, he's one of if not the most gifted bike rider of his generation, tiredness and anxiousness? nah, he was caught out by a touch of wheels as the pack jumped right and he was taking care of his left. Fortunately he didn't do any significant damage. That he was back in the saddle and in the pack again (granted they rightly didn't attack) shows the strength and calmness of the man.
On a side note, that everyone in the peleton is outstripping armstrongs best suggests to me a new designer performance enhancer is in play. Took 20 years for Bolt to catch up with Johnson. Flo jo still not bettered. It's there, but they aren't testing specific for something they don't know of.
If you'd been watching last week, there were at least two heavy falls, that were Heavy. Todays was a scuff and go. He knew how to fall and recover, hence no leading arm to break the fall and collarbone. Experience.Lack of concentration as Visma ask him question after question now. He's looking and sounding a bit rattled to me. And that was a heavy fall he took today, so let's see how that effects him.
He'll more than likely want to demonstrate tomorrow that the fall has had no effect. But I dont see him putting Vingegaar to the sword in any climb this TdF. And Ilm increasingly confident that JV and Visma have his number in the high category climbs to come. Will it be enough to get back the time Vingegaar surrendered to Pogacar in the TT? Maybe not. But Pogacar will know he's been in a bike race if he does prevail.
The rider who crashed into him has apologised, saying it was his fault.That's just another way of saying poor focus and judgement - could be tiredness or could be anxiousness.
Pogacar is there to be shot at for the next 10 days. He knows it too.
He said he went with the drift from left to right across the stretch of road. Pogacar crashed into him. He (Pog) was not tracking that body of riders in the group he was in. There must have been 10-15 riders ahead of him all moving left to right, but he was either looking down or the other way.The rider who crashed into him has apologised, saying it was his fault.
The road will ultimately decide. Today should give us an indicator of how things are. I'd imagine Pogacar will want to lay down a marker, both to show that he's not impacted by the crash and to put to bed the nonsense that Visma are crushing him mentally.He said he went with the drift from left to right across the stretch of road. Pogacar crashed into him. He (Pog) was not tracking that body of riders in the group he was in. There must have been 10-15 riders ahead of him all moving left to right, but he was either looking down or the other way.
I'd say that was lack of focus - especially 3kms from home when riders needed to be vigilant. If it had happened 50km from the finish in poor conditions then maybe there's an excuse.
Today may or may not be important. But some day soon the major attacks will come. Visma were softening up Pogacar yesterday and again he didn't;t like it. Ild say Visma not taking advantage of Pogacar yesterday underlines their confidence they can take him on the HC climbs to come.
I dont think there's any doubt he'll try and do that. That'd be a classic move from him to try. He's pretty thin skinned IMO.The road will ultimately decide. Today should give us an indicator of how things are. I'd imagine Pogacar will want to lay down a marker, both to show that he's not impacted by the crash and to put to bed the nonsense that Visma are crushing him mentally.
Sometimes those falls are worse. Less dramatic tumbles can deliver a lot of damage. Depends on the exact point of impact. Fall on the sharp edge of a hip and it can be very problematic.If you'd been watching last week, there were at least two heavy falls, that were Heavy. Todays was a scuff and go. He knew how to fall and recover, hence no leading arm to break the fall and collarbone. Experience.
The rest is pure projection, you'd be interesting casting mind reads on boris and truss, reckon you'd produce a few belters.