Official Tour de France 2021 thread

[duke]

Chapeau Cav

[Marylandolorian]

What a come back, 31st victory on le Tour

[Biffer]

I'd love to see him find a few more to catch Eddy Mercxx

[dpedin]

Fantastic finish - so tense. Brilliant for Cav, he deserves every plaudit he gets!

[Sandstorm]

Did these clowns all stay upright today?

[Margin__Walker]

Got a huge kick out of his win today. Definitely one of my favourite sportsmen and his career to date has been box office. He was light years away from this last year and was basically finished.

[Insane_Homer]

vintage Cav today

that was beautiful

[Un Pilier]

I'd love to see him find a few more to catch Eddy Mercxx

Stage 6 maybe?

[Kawazaki]

Anyone know what gear ratios the sprinters will have to hand? I ask because Cavendish has, what looks to me, a remarkably low cadence when he's going full chat balls-out at the end of the stage. Do they have a sprinting gear that they only use at the end?

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Anyone know what gear ratios the sprinters will have to hand? I ask because Cavendish has, what looks to me, a remarkably low cadence when he's going full chat balls-out at the end of the stage. Do they have a sprinting gear that they only use at the end?

I would guess 53x11 for a flat sprint. A really big sprinter might has a slightly larger chainring but not by much.

Today's stage had a slight uphill finish which is probably why the cadence looks low. You aren't going to change gears in the last couple of hundred metres.

[Kawazaki]

Anyone know what gear ratios the sprinters will have to hand? I ask because Cavendish has, what looks to me, a remarkably low cadence when he's going full chat balls-out at the end of the stage. Do they have a sprinting gear that they only use at the end?

I would guess 53x11 for a flat sprint. A really big sprinter might has a slightly larger chainring but not by much.

Today's stage had a slight uphill finish which is probably why the cadence looks low. You aren't going to change gears in the last couple of hundred metres.

What kind of peak power will Cavendish be pushing out for that last sprint do you reckon, >1000watts perhaps?


Fuck me edit: Google tells me that sprinters can exceed 2000watts and get closer to an average of 1500watts for the sprint phase! And that phase happens after they've already cycled 120+Kms.

Bloody hell.

[Big D]

I watched the ITV highlights last night as I missed the early part of the stage. The lead out for Cav to sweep up the intermediate sprint points looked very easy and very good. He probably wouldn't say it yet but he must be fancying a real go at the green jersey this year which would be remarkable,.

[clydecloggie]

Anyone know what gear ratios the sprinters will have to hand? I ask because Cavendish has, what looks to me, a remarkably low cadence when he's going full chat balls-out at the end of the stage. Do they have a sprinting gear that they only use at the end?

I would guess 53x11 for a flat sprint. A really big sprinter might has a slightly larger chainring but not by much.

Today's stage had a slight uphill finish which is probably why the cadence looks low. You aren't going to change gears in the last couple of hundred metres.

What kind of peak power will Cavendish be pushing out for that last sprint do you reckon, >1000watts perhaps?


Fuck me edit: Google tells me that sprinters can exceed 2000watts and get closer to an average of 1500watts for the sprint phase! And that phase happens after they've already cycled 120+Kms.

Bloody hell.

Last time I looked into it, apparently around 1800 Watts would be needed for the final 300m to be competitive in a bunch sprint, with max values above 2000 Watts indeed. And those peak values would also be reached a few times in the last 10k when the fight for the right position is on.

Crazy values.

[Openside]

Unbelievable. Delighted for Cav, he deserves a final flourish to his career.

Indeed although I thought the guy deserved to make it! The peloton on the full throttle chase is a sight to behold...

[Dinsdale Piranha]

I would guess 53x11 for a flat sprint. A really big sprinter might has a slightly larger chainring but not by much.

Today's stage had a slight uphill finish which is probably why the cadence looks low. You aren't going to change gears in the last couple of hundred metres.

What kind of peak power will Cavendish be pushing out for that last sprint do you reckon, >1000watts perhaps?


Fuck me edit: Google tells me that sprinters can exceed 2000watts and get closer to an average of 1500watts for the sprint phase! And that phase happens after they've already cycled 120+Kms.

Bloody hell.

Last time I looked into it, apparently around 1800 Watts would be needed for the final 300m to be competitive in a bunch sprint, with max values above 2000 Watts indeed. And those peak values would also be reached a few times in the last 10k when the fight for the right position is on.

Crazy values.

That's the important bit. These are endurance athletes who can push 1500 watts after 5 hours cycling every day.

It's also important how long you can push close to your peak power. Cav is very good at this. He's also very small for a sprinter so doesn't need the same peak power as the larger guys.

[tabascoboy]

Tour de France spectator arrested over sign crash

French police say they have arrested a woman suspected of causing a huge crash during the Tour de France by waving a sign in the riders' path on Saturday.

The peloton was 45km (28 miles) from the end of the first stage, when her sign clipped German rider Tony Martin. He fell to the ground and caused dozens of other riders to follow suit, in what was one of the Tour de France's worst ever crashes.

French authorities say the woman, who is French, is in custody in Landerneau.

Following the incident, Tour de France Deputy Director Pierre-Yves Thouault said the tour would take legal action against the woman.

"We are suing this woman who behaved so badly. We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this do not spoil the show for everyone," he told AFP news agency.

[Openside]

Tour de France spectator arrested over sign crash

French police say they have arrested a woman suspected of causing a huge crash during the Tour de France by waving a sign in the riders' path on Saturday.

The peloton was 45km (28 miles) from the end of the first stage, when her sign clipped German rider Tony Martin. He fell to the ground and caused dozens of other riders to follow suit, in what was one of the Tour de France's worst ever crashes.

French authorities say the woman, who is French, is in custody in Landerneau.

Following the incident, Tour de France Deputy Director Pierre-Yves Thouault said the tour would take legal action against the woman.

"We are suing this woman who behaved so badly. We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this do not spoil the show for everyone," he told AFP news agency.

seems fair enough

[Marylandolorian]

I thought she was German, “ opi- omi” means grandpa-grandma.in german.

[Kawazaki]

Have they caught the stupid German bint yet?

She should face further charges for not handing herself in.

How do they know she is German?

Everyone has assumed she is German due to the sign she was holding but she could just as easily be French with German grandparents.

I thought she was German, “ opi- omi” means grandpa-grandma.in german.

[Marylandolorian]

^
Maybe, It’s a possibility, if the sign had been “ aitona-amaso “ I would have assumed she was Basque.

[Openside]

I thought she was German, “ opi- omi” means grandpa-grandma.in german.

Yes but Allez is go in French

[Kawazaki]

He's won again!

32nd stage win for Cavendish.

[Margin__Walker]

He's box office. Felt like he was rolling back the years. In those final few K you couldn't see anyone else taking it.

[SaintK]

He's won again!

32nd stage win for Cavendish.

Brillant.............so pleased for him after what he's been through the past few years

[Big D]

He's box office. Felt like he was rolling back the years. In those final few K you couldn't see anyone else taking it.

This felt like 2011 Cav, was never in doubt.

[Biffer]

Pogacar was terrifyingly good yesterday. Seems he just needs to stay upright for the next fortnight to win this now.

[Slick]

First day I've had a chance to watch any of this, this year, have been really looking forward to it!

FFS.

[Kawazaki]

What happened to Mathieu van der Poel? Just seen he's out!

[Dinsdale Piranha]

What happened to Mathieu van der Poel? Just seen he's out!

Quit to prepare for the Olympics.

[Blackmac]

First day I've had a chance to watch any of this, this year, have been really looking forward to it!

FFS.

I always get caught out by the rest days.

[Biffer]

Another day for the sprinters - is it possible Cav could catch Merckx on this tour? There's today, another 3 flat stages then the final sprint on the Champs-Elysees.

Aside from that, given the GC is over so long as Pogacar manages to stay upright, We might see some brilliant racing as teams pursue stage wins instead of the overall win.

[Biffer]

Cav does it again! Perfect job by the team, beautiful lead out, always in control.

1 short of Eddy Merckx, four or five shots at it in the next fortnight.

[Big D]

Cav does it again! Perfect job by the team, beautiful lead out, always in control.

1 short of Eddy Merckx, four or five shots at it in the next fortnight.

DQS put on a clinic. If you get this current version of Cav to 100m from the line in the lead he won't lose.

Wins another stage then beats the record in Paris.

[duke]

Chapeau Cav, surprised he’s still got it in his legs after Sunday’s stage

[dpedin]

Can and team made it look like a Sunday afternoon run, easy win - Boardman reckoned Cav only had to sprint for 14 pedal rotations! Chuffed for him.

[Slick]

Just out of interest, was Merck a sprinter as well or did he win other stages?

[Kawazaki]

Just out of interest, was Merck a sprinter as well or did he win other stages?

Merckx did it all. GC, KoM and Sprinting.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Just out of interest, was Merck a sprinter as well or did he win other stages?

Merckx won most sorts of stages during his tdf career but many of his stage wins were time trials - they used to have several. For example, 1969 he had 6 stage wins, 3 time trials and 3 mountain stages.

[Slick]

Thanks chaps

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Today's ITV4 commentary team has been joined by Alexei Sayle, which is adding a slightly surreal element to the whole spectacle. Sadly I have meetings, or I'd happily listen in all afternoon. Most entertaining!