{"chain":[{"channel":"sports","content":"The first time trial is over, and the GC standings are recognizable.\r\n\r\nThey have been recognizable throughout; with cross-winds on day 1 and attacks by Pogacar/Vingegaard.\r\n\r\n# Tadej Pogacar - the odds-on favorite.\r\n# Remco Evenepoel - the odds-on favorite for third place.\r\n# Kevin Vauquelin\r\n# Jonas Vingegaard - the odds-on favorite for second place\r\n# Matteo Jorgenson\r\n# Mathieu Van Der Poel\r\n# Joao Almeida\r\n# Primoz Roglic\r\n# Florian Lipowitz\r\n\r\nother than Van Der Poel, that could well be the top 8 finishers. Other contenders for the top 8 include Oscar Onley (11th), Enric Mas (13th), Tobias Johannessen (15th).\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nNBC has Phil Liggett, *again*. I had heard he had retired; apparently not. He makes viewing the race less enjoyable.\r\n and, I would prefer \"listen-only\" to \"video-only\", much of the time.\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nThere have been no *mountains* of note, only hills. This is how the << rouleur ( A rider who excels at stages that are neither sprint-finishes nor high-mountains) >> of Van Der Poel is at the top of the standings.\r\n\r\nWout van Aert is not there. Partially because of bad-luck on the cross-wind ( Cross-winds limit the effect of \"drafting\" on riders, sometimes enough to stop the normal game-mechanic of the entire field coming in as one or two groups.), partially because of bad form, and partially because he doesn't want to be. ( https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/im-not-going-to-beat-remco-anyway-wout-van-aert-ponders-if-its-worth-trying-to-go-for-time-trial-result describes most of these)","created_at":"2025-07-09T15:55:15.807663","id":616,"is_target":false,"parent_id":null,"processed_content":"

The first time trial is over, and the GC standings are recognizable.\r

\n

They have been recognizable throughout; with cross-winds on day 1 and attacks by Pogacar/Vingegaard.\r

\n
    \n
  • Tadej Pogacar - the odds-on favorite.\r
    • \n
  • Remco Evenepoel - the odds-on favorite for third place.\r
    • \n
  • Kevin Vauquelin\r
    • \n
  • Jonas Vingegaard - the odds-on favorite for second place\r
    • \n
  • Matteo Jorgenson\r
    • \n
  • Mathieu Van Der Poel\r
    • \n
  • Joao Almeida\r
    • \n
  • Primoz Roglic\r
    • \n
  • Florian Lipowitz\r
    • \n
\n

other than Van Der Poel, that could well be the top 8 finishers. Other contenders for the top 8 include Oscar Onley (11th), Enric Mas (13th), Tobias Johannessen (15th).\r

\n
\n

NBC has Phil Liggett, again. I had heard he had retired; apparently not. He makes viewing the race less enjoyable.\r

\n

\ud83d\udca1 and, I would prefer \"listen-only\" to \"video-only\", much of the time.\r

\n
\n

There have been no mountains of note, only hills. This is how the rouleur \u2699\ufe0f A rider who excels at stages that are neither sprint-finishes nor high-mountains of Van Der Poel is at the top of the standings.\r

\n

Wout van Aert is not there. Partially because of bad-luck on the cross-wind \u2699\ufe0f Cross-winds limit the effect of \"drafting\" on riders, sometimes enough to stop the normal game-mechanic of the entire field coming in as one or two groups., partially because of bad form, and partially because he doesn't want to be. \u2699\ufe0f https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/im-not-going-to-beat-remco-anyway-wout-van-aert-ponders-if-its-worth-trying-to-go-for-time-trial-result describes most of these

","subject":"tdf: day 5/21"},{"channel":"sports","content":"after 11 days, the standings are similarly visible as they were after day 5.\r\n\r\n# Ben Healy - in the << breakaway >> ( a group of riders, not candidates to win the overall race, who go in front for one day, hoping to win the stage) twice, and thus in front for GC. for a variety of reasons, the other teams like that somebody with no chance to win is temporarily in first\r\n# Tadej Pogacar - still the odds-on favorite for first\r\n# Remco Evenepoel - still the odds-on favorite for third\r\n# Jonas Vingegaard - still the odds-on favorite for second\r\n# Matteo Jorgenson - the favorite for fourth ( not the \"odds-on\" favorite; as I use the term here it probably means \"at least 70% chances\". Jorgenson is more likely than any other rider to get 4th, but isn't *that* strong a favorite.)\r\n# Kevin Vauquelin\r\n# Oscar Onley\r\n# Florian Lipowitz\r\n# Primoz Roglic\r\n\r\nJoao Almeida (7th after day 5) withdrew from the race after a crash. But, the 8 riders here other than Ben Healy could still be the top 8. ( well, actually, maybe Ben Healy can stay in the top 8) ( pundits say Vauquelin is most likely to drop behind other riders.) ( Mathieu Van der Poel is now in 29th, which is about right) The next 4 riders ( Tobias Johannesson, Felix Gall, Carlos Rodriguez, Enric Mas) are also strong candidates for the top 8.\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nTomorrow is the << Hautacam >> stage. The first high-mountain stage; a << 13.5km @7.8% >> climb. Team tactics will hardly matter. ( it is almost certain that Visma LAB will try to use team tactics to attack Pogacar, it is also almost certain that it won't matter)\r\n\r\nAnd, Friday is a mountain time-trial.\r\n\r\nBarring injury, the GC should be almost set after those two stages.","created_at":"2025-07-16T20:31:25.034595","id":627,"is_target":true,"parent_id":616,"processed_content":"

after 11 days, the standings are similarly visible as they were after day 5.\r

\n
    \n
  • Ben Healy - in the breakaway \u2699\ufe0f a group of riders, not candidates to win the overall race, who go in front for one day, hoping to win the stage twice, and thus in front for GC. for a variety of reasons, the other teams like that somebody with no chance to win is temporarily in first\r
    • \n
  • Tadej Pogacar - still the odds-on favorite for first\r
    • \n
  • Remco Evenepoel - still the odds-on favorite for third\r
    • \n
  • Jonas Vingegaard - still the odds-on favorite for second\r
    • \n
  • Matteo Jorgenson - the favorite for fourth \u2699\ufe0f not the \"odds-on\" favorite; as I use the term here it probably means \"at least 70% chances\". Jorgenson is more likely than any other rider to get 4th, but isn't that strong a favorite.\r
    • \n
  • Kevin Vauquelin\r
    • \n
  • Oscar Onley\r
    • \n
  • Florian Lipowitz\r
    • \n
  • Primoz Roglic\r
    • \n
\n

Joao Almeida (7th after day 5) withdrew from the race after a crash. But, the 8 riders here other than Ben Healy could still be the top 8. \u2694\ufe0f well, actually, maybe Ben Healy can stay in the top 8 \ud83d\udca1 pundits say Vauquelin is most likely to drop behind other riders. \ud83d\udcad Mathieu Van der Poel is now in 29th, which is about right The next 4 riders \u2699\ufe0f Tobias Johannesson, Felix Gall, Carlos Rodriguez, Enric Mas are also strong candidates for the top 8.\r

\n
\n

Tomorrow is the Hautacam stage. The first high-mountain stage; a 13.5km @7.8% climb. Team tactics will hardly matter. \ud83d\udca1 it is almost certain that Visma LAB will try to use team tactics to attack Pogacar, it is also almost certain that it won't matter\r

\n

And, Friday is a mountain time-trial.\r

\n

Barring injury, the GC should be almost set after those two stages.

","subject":"tdf: day 11/21"}]}