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"A total of 58 kilometers of climbing" - Lance Armstrong argues that anything can happen on stage 19 of the Tour de France
CyclingFriday, 19 July 2024 at 10:10
Although Lance Armstrong has made it clear in his podcast The Move that he believes Tadej Pogacar has the Tour de France all but won against Jonas Vingegaard, he believes that stage 19 with a finish in Isola 2000 and a short route with three long climbs strung together without a break can make anything happen.
Let's remember that the Slovenian is just over 3 minutes ahead of the Dane, whom he has clearly dominated in all the high mountain stages so far. The winner of the last two Tours showed weakness a couple of days ago against Remco Evenepoel, whom he is 2 minutes behind in the standings. All in all, today's stage suits the Dane better than the Belgian.
Armstrong explains what can happen on a day with such a brutal set of climbs which include the Col de Vars (18.9Km; 5.6%), Cime de la Bonnette (23.1Km; 6.8%; 2798 meters of altitude)) and a summit finish in Isola 2000 (16.1Km; 7.1%).
"The guys are blown out, the race seems decided, but anything can happen, you have to race to the finish line. It's a disgusting day, there are 3 days left until Nice and today there are 4400 meters of elevation gain, it's a short stage of 144 kilometers and on the profile all we see are 3 long climbs, a total of 58 kilometers of climbing."
Possibility for the breakaway?
George Hincapie, meanwhile, points out that there are still 11 teams that have yet to win and that they will try to make sure the breakaway makes it to the finish. With only three days of racing remaining (one of them being a time-trial where the GC favourites will undoubtedly fight for victory), most teams are on their absolute last moments to take some success out of this race.
"Another big breakaway is expected, there are 11 teams that haven't won yet," he said. "I'm sure INEOS is trying, that Red Bull is still trying with Jai Hindley, we'll see what those in the general classification do, Pogacar has called the queen stage of the Tour".
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- That’s the most stupid thing I’ve read for a long time, did you not go to school and learn even the most basic physics? Aero depends on one thing only, drag, drag depends speed and the relationship is squared and apart from maybe at zero or the speed of sound or due to side winds that relationship is valid at all speeds, it dies not “suddenly” start at a magic number. Very simply, the faster you go the more the effect becomes important. If you think 25km/h is needed to have noticeable effects you’re delusional, athletic WR are cancelled as soon as winds top 2m/s that’s 7.2km/h, why because the assistance is already too important at that speed and the times prove it. You don’t even consider wind which can significantly increase the effective speed for aerodynamics and you underestimate speed of climbs, 6% is ridden more at 30 than 25km/h, a speed at which early generation high rims were considered to have more advantages than disadvantages. And finally, as in normal races you can’t just switch bikes according to terrain, it’s pretty pointless to discuss climbs as a separate situation, the aero will have justified itself plenty during the rest of the ride.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- If you look at how much TP progressed in that 1 1/2 years you can no longer say that’s nothing. If Remco improves as much he’s a challenger!Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Froome wishing to ride the Vuelta...he won't even be selected for the team!frieders320-12-2024
- Keep telling yourself that Remco but you not only have Tadeg to beat but Jonas!frieders320-12-2024
- Seems farfetched - I agree. Mas has beaten him once. Giro d'Emillia I think - 2022mobk20-12-2024
- Barring injuries, by the time Pogacar's dominance fads there will be lots of new young talent. Pogacar is about 1 1/2 years older than Remco. That's nothing.Sweep20-12-2024
- I actually don’t find that too impressive. In my later forties I did similar figures for a 3.5% gradient as a total nobody with no wind assistance. Am sure there’s margin for improvement there, especially looking at all the names on that list.Mistermaumau20-12-2024
- Jonas', was 6 years agospock12320-12-2024
- The race where he overnight suddenly turned nuclear after being packfodder at best for several years. His Sky days after that Vuelta and Pogačar’s last season shall remain the darkest post Lance stuff cycling has witnessed. Good riddance Froome.
UltimateOpportunist20-12-2024 - Finishing the Vuelta seems to be a reasonably attainable goal. Getting on the team to do that will be the more difficult challenge.
santiagobenites20-12-2024