Tour de France 2021

[sizbut]

The example yesterday of all out watts going through 3 pairs of those wheels in the last 2k of the race would suggest it's not a significant issue.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I have built a lot of wheels over four decades and have an engineering degree and I’m not following that line of thought.

[rogerzilla]

Something about increased compression forces. I read it somewhere but I can't find it. Wheelbuilders put in more tension on a clincher rim, all other things being equal. I think.

Eta: Cav also broke spokes the day before yesterday.

Tubs constrict onto the rim and reduce spoke tension a bit but that's not really a good thing.

Up to the 1990s, it was fairly common to find 36 spoke wheels on top race bikes, often plain gauge.  It wasn't for strength - it was so that a wheel with a broken spoke didn't have to be changed if a spoke broke, because a plain gauge 36h wheel stays true enough to be ridden with only 35 spokes.  Spokes are vastly better now.

[T42]

That has to smart a bit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQsz1Oopuqa/

Warning - contains naked Slovenian flesh with lots of dressings.

"Novocaine makes me smile"

Yeah. I did about half of what he did on my very first 100k and was Tyrannosoreass Wreck for a fortnight afterwards.  I made myself an annular cushion out of a yoga mat to keep the pressure off.

[Solocle]

errrm, if he crossed a wheel (as opposed to tripping over a speed bump - which I have also done) how comes nobody else was affected until they hit his wreckage?

Without wishing to defend the commentators making stuff up with an air of authority, that's how crossing a wheel works. Look at Ewan's crash - he crossed a wheel and as soon as Merlier moves sideways a touch Ewan is toast.

The Lantern Rouge youtube report points out that one of the Ineos riders actually does a signal to say there's a speed bump. Without conclusive proof, I reckon he crossed whees and then as they came off the speed bump the rider in front moved sideways a touch.

In terms of the course, that finish was a guaranteed crash. 3 right angles and then a sweeper before a really short straight? In some ways they were lucky all the crashes had thinned the bunch - imagine that final km with 3 trains and 10 sprinters, instead of 1 train and only 5 sprinters.

I've crossed wheels in a race. Neither of us crashed - it was a little unsettling for me, but it was my back wheel. Keeping it upright is much more difficult for the rider behind.

[L CC]

I've touched wheels from behind a couple of times and both times the front bike rode off into the distance whilst I hit the deck painfully.
However, I have 0 skillz. I'd expect pros to handle it a bit better.

[T42]

Loved seeing Cav get his stage yest, BTW.  Thought he was going to pop Alaphilippe's head off at the end, he was hugging him so hard.

[Auntie Helen]

Really enjoyed seeing that, although I doubt he will get 3 more this tour…

[rafletcher]

What stood out for me was just how many riders from rival teams went out of their way to congratulate him.

[mcshroom]

Credit to Alaphilippe for riding that hard to get Cav to victory, handing over the green jersey to him in the process.

[hatler]

Credit to Alaphilippe for riding that hard to get Cav to victory, handing over the green jersey to him in the process.

Yup, That really was something.

[TimC]

I'm so pleased for Cav, and I'm definitely among those who dare to dream he could win a few more on this Tour! No, that was something in my eye...

[nuttycyclist]

That has to smart a bit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQsz1Oopuqa/

Warning - contains naked Slovenian flesh with lots of dressings.

Ouch.

And this is from a cycling fall?     I think it needs to be shared wider for those people who choose to ride motorcycles without protective clothing.

[T42]

Credit to Alaphilippe for riding that hard to get Cav to victory, handing over the green jersey to him in the process.

Aye. Didn't Cav say afterwards that it made a change to ride for a team that acted like a team?

[DaveJ]

It looks like the spectator from stage 1 is speaking with the police now.

https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/chute-dans-le-tour-de-france-la-spectatrice-responsable-placee-en-garde-a-vue-7900050886

[spesh]

The weather's going to make today interesting - that was a bit of a moment for Bissegger which he did well to recover from.

I wonder how many of the bandaged and taped-up GC contenders are still going to give it full gas...

ETA - weather looks better now.

[T42]

Are they allowed to pack the bandages with corticosteroids?  I was prescribed them once for a heel injury and the thing healed up almost overnight.

[Mr Larrington]

Cav in faster than Froome TT shock! Film at eleven seven!

[TheLurker]

Seriously!?  Bloody hell.   Did Cav. get drier roads for his go?

[DuncanM]

Did Froome use his road bike or something?

(click to show/hide)

I guess we'll have to see how this race pans out, but I find it deeply suspicious when the guy who is (by far) the best climber is also (by far) the best TTer.

[spesh]

Seriously!?  Bloody hell.   Did Cav. get drier roads for his go?

IIRC Froome told Dan Friebe that he took it easy - bear in mind that Froome was rather battered on one side c/o his crash.

[Mr Larrington]

Cav was well into the top half of the field 77/177.  He even beat Tony Martin, whom I suspect of Not Trying.

[fd3]

I find Tadej's TT entirely believable.

[Peter]

Did Froome use his road bike or something?

(click to show/hide)

I guess we'll have to see how this race pans out, but I find it deeply suspicious when the guy who is (by far) the best climber is also (by far) the best TTer.

From memory (a long but possibly patchy one) most of the winners of the TdeF have been both very good climbers and trialists.  It's sprinting that is the odd discipline out - unless you were Eddy Merckx - and only he was.

[Mr Larrington]

BBC has just said that les flics have arrested a woman over the stage 1 crash.