I'm thinking it's a done deal unless Vindegaard crashes out. I was surprised to see Pogacar crack to the extent he did and maybe the crash hurt him but every time he tried to break away Vindegaard had the response.

If any are interested the women's Tour starts this weekend. I'll be checking it out.

I think Vingegaard has it unless something happens like a crash. Pogacar is possibly better but his team is now too weak.

I'm going to try and find the Woman's Tour on NBC and record it.

Well - happy to see a French rider win the stage today.......was wondering if it'd even happen this year!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jumbo-Visma were riding for Laporte in the finish but bold move of him to jump across to the break in the streets of Cahors. Saves France from a Tour without a French stage winner, which happened in 1926 + 1999</p>&mdash; the Inner Ring (@inrng) <a href="https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1550498160853803012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I watched the last bit of the TT today. TT is pretty boring IMO but the planners laid out a heck of a course. Watching those guys take those curves at 45+ mph had me cringing. Vindegaard came THAT close to binning it.

van Aert crushed it.

I don't know why Vindegaard was pushing like that. Yes, he almost went down.
IMO van Aert might be considered the best rider in the tour. Green jersey and all the help he provided and killed the TT. Vindegaard is very good no doubt and a great sportsman.

JV was pushing it in yesterday's ITT because his man card is still intact. That's what you do when you are a world class bike racer.

I'm enjoying the pre-race broadcast so far. After yesterday's NBC airing, it's back on USA in case anyone is interested.

Let's not forget what Geraint Thomas has done in this year's event.

Impressive is an understatement!

Geraint Thomas all but sealed third overall on the stage 20 time trial, and in Paris he will complete a nice little collection of podium places at the Tour de France: first in 2018, second in 2019 and third in 2022.

Notably, at 36 he’s the oldest on the podium by over a decade – 10.5 years over Jonas Vingegaard and add two years over Tadej Pogačar – so in an era of 21-year-old Grand Tour winners, by rights he should get a classification jersey for ‘best old rider’.

Thomas is the last man to have won the Tour over the age of 30 back in 2018 (he was 32). The next two winners made history with their youth, not the youngest ever, but the youngest in over a century.

https://cyclingtips.com/2022/07/geraint-thomas-on-how-to-beat-the-whippersnappers-what-can-you-do/

^ indeed. Today is still a valid stage with points that count towards relegation in other Tours.

An attack on Yellow is traditionally not done but would be totally pointless with Vindegaards lead. However they are world class competitors.

Kind of cool to see the Lantern Rouge placard. I never saw that before.

Hooray for the flatlanders. A Dane and the good-o-boy in green, Wouter.

I'm watching stage 2 of the Femmes Tour(well it's on in the background , too hot to be outside) and it may be too early to say this but it seems like the ladies keep the peloton together far longer which has led to 4 nasty crashes so far. The 3rd one was particularly nasty. just MHO.

With the Tour over, I've got 6 hours of time to fill every day ....

I don't think the women ride that long.

I'm pleased to see that there are good crowds along the route.

I must confess that I'm a bit surprised at the musculature of some of the ladies. The quads on some of them are envy worthy.

Man there were some nasty crashes.

this was a couple of days ago
https://twitter.com/EtienneGoursaud/status/1551569800215887872

this happened today, no vid yet

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659017471.jpg

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_tL2qnprRSc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm amazed that so few serious injuries occur in these crashes.

I know the women's race isn't of interest to most but Marianne Vos is something special to see.

Stage 7 is going to be the toughest one yet at 127 KM with three cat 1 climbs the last one being at the finish.

If the women can do this, then IMHO the women should participate in the men's TdF with a delayed start. Meaning, the women would ride the same route as the men but an hour behind.

The woman at the 3:40 mark in the video looks like she could manage well in both the mens and womens. She is built.

Vollering? She is indeed a world class athlete. Plus I've always had a weakness for northern women.

van Vleuten is actually smiling all the way in while others are grimacing in pain.

Flatty......

With due respect......
https://media.giphy.com/media/l4Ki2o...WhFe/giphy.gif