2019 Tour de France: Spoilers!

[Marcus Aurelius]

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Bernal gets torn a new one for deliberately ignoring a direct order, as soon as the dust settles. That said, it did make for the best watching in a long long time.

[reohn2]

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Bernal gets torn a new one for deliberately ignoring a direct order, as soon as the dust settles. That said, it did make for the best watching in a long long time.

He was given the OK I don't think he would've done otherwise unless he had.

[Cyril Haearn]

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Bernal gets torn a new one for deliberately ignoring a direct order, as soon as the dust settles. That said, it did make for the best watching in a long long time.

He was given the OK I don't think he would've done otherwise unless he had.

Do pro cyclists constantly get told what to do? What if one disobeys? Wouldnae surprise me if they have a lot of mental health problems from being regimented, organised, shuttled about
Like footballers but not so lucrative

[cotterpins]

Whatever the result, you can never take away that "G" is the first ever British-born TDF winner!

[1982john]

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Bernal gets torn a new one for deliberately ignoring a direct order, as soon as the dust settles. That said, it did make for the best watching in a long long time.

He was given the OK I don't think he would've done otherwise unless he had.

Do pro cyclists constantly get told what to do? What if one disobeys? Wouldnae surprise me if they have a lot of mental health problems from being regimented, organised, shuttled about
Like footballers but not so lucrative

There have been a couple of pro riders quit due to mental health problems over the last year. But yes like any team sport cyclists have to do as they're told. Often they don't which makes great bantz (see Rohan Dennis).

[tony_mm]

Whatever the result, you can never take away that "G" is the first ever British-born TDF winner!

And not English but proudly Welsh!

[tatanab]

Whatever the result, you can never take away that "G" is the first ever British-born TDF winner!

Nicole Cooke might disagree, as she says in her book "The Breakaway". But of course I understand what you mean. She is Welsh too.

[mattsccm]

NC won event the ladies. Best that was on offer but not the same as the mens. On one hand its the first grand tour but in reality it wasn't a 3 week race which define a grand tour. I see why ladies races are not promoted, a vicious circle really but at the same time wonder why even one day races arebwatered down versions of the men's.

[geocycle]

The best Tour de France I've ever watched.
Egon Bernal is a most deserving and beautiful winner,his meeting with his younger brother and his mother brought a tear to my eye it was so beautiful
Julian Alaphilipe a great and gallant attempt.
Poor Thibot Pinot's injury.
Geraint Thomas a most gracious second!
Beautiful,beautiful,beautiful!!!
Words can't describe!

Yes! I think the rider personalities really came through with the panache of Alaphilippe, the bravado of Sagan, the humility of G and the natural brilliance of Bernal. We also had the tragedy of Pinot and the landslide that finished french hopes. Just missed the comic gendarmes this year -no motorbike incidents, they didn’t tear gas the peloton or even assault spectators. Actually there was the bit where one moved the barrier into the track of the sprint and took out a rider!

[Mike Sales]

There is talk about cyclists born and raised at altitude, the Columbians having an advantage cycling uphill.
Distance running is dominated by athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya.
So for there are a few cyclists from East Africa in the peloton. Should we be expecting more?

[reohn2]

The best Tour de France I've ever watched.
Egon Bernal is a most deserving and beautiful winner,his meeting with his younger brother and his mother brought a tear to my eye it was so beautiful
Julian Alaphilipe a great and gallant attempt.
Poor Thibot Pinot's injury.
Geraint Thomas a most gracious second!
Beautiful,beautiful,beautiful!!!
Words can't describe!

Yes! I think the rider personalities really came through with the panache of Alaphilippe, the bravado of Sagan, the humility of G and the natural brilliance of Bernal. We also had the tragedy of Pinot and the landslide that finished french hopes. Just missed the comic gendarmes this year -no motorbike incidents, they didn’t tear gas the peloton or even assault spectators. Actually there was the bit where one moved the barrier into the track of the sprint and took out a rider!

TBH I think the hailstorm and ensueing landslide were a blessing for Alaphillipe as IMO he'd have lost even more time on the last climb,though it may have cost Simon Yates another stage win and Bernal even greater time between him and G.Although G said he felt good that day,all supposition though

[reohn2]

There is talk about cyclists born and raised at altitude, the Columbians having an advantage cycling uphill.
Distance running is dominated by athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya.
So for there are a few cyclists from East Africa in the peloton. Should we be expecting more?

East Africa is a poor part of the world generally so the opportunities for bike racing are few whereas running has always been a cultural and perhaps necessary way of life,that and the light frame/build of East Africans is a bonus.

[Mike Sales]

There is talk about cyclists born and raised at altitude, the Columbians having an advantage cycling uphill.
Distance running is dominated by athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya.
So for there are a few cyclists from East Africa in the peloton. Should we be expecting more?

East Africa is a poor part of the world generally so the opportunities for bike racing are few whereas running has always been a cultural and perhaps necessary way of life,that and the light frame/build of East Africans is a bonus.

One hopes that the area will not always remain poor.

[reohn2]

There is talk about cyclists born and raised at altitude, the Columbians having an advantage cycling uphill.
Distance running is dominated by athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya.
So for there are a few cyclists from East Africa in the peloton. Should we be expecting more?

East Africa is a poor part of the world generally so the opportunities for bike racing are few whereas running has always been a cultural and perhaps necessary way of life,that and the light frame/build of East Africans is a bonus.

One hopes that the area will not always remain poor.

Whilst I agree I fear it may.

[geocycle]

The best Tour de France I've ever watched.
Egon Bernal is a most deserving and beautiful winner,his meeting with his younger brother and his mother brought a tear to my eye it was so beautiful
Julian Alaphilipe a great and gallant attempt.
Poor Thibot Pinot's injury.
Geraint Thomas a most gracious second!
Beautiful,beautiful,beautiful!!!
Words can't describe!

Yes! I think the rider personalities really came through with the panache of Alaphilippe, the bravado of Sagan, the humility of G and the natural brilliance of Bernal. We also had the tragedy of Pinot and the landslide that finished french hopes. Just missed the comic gendarmes this year -no motorbike incidents, they didn’t tear gas the peloton or even assault spectators. Actually there was the bit where one moved the barrier into the track of the sprint and took out a rider!

TBH I think the hailstorm and ensueing landslide were a blessing for Alaphillipe as IMO he'd have lost even more time on the last climb,though it may have cost Simon Yates another stage win and Bernal even greater time between him and G.Although G said he felt good that day,all supposition though

Agreed, it didn’t alter the result. In my view the top three would have pulled further away but that’s guesswork. It did add to the theatre though.