Brussels sprouts a new winner? Tour de France 2019

[ursus arctos]

The story that the team put out was that Bennett insisted on doing it himself, as he didn't expect to be a protagonist in the stage to the extent that Kruiswijk, Van Aert, Groenewegen and the lead out train were.

Colour me skeptical, especially as it is now clear that everyone was expecting the crosswinds that created the possibility for echelons.

[longeared]

Bennett gave an interview to ITV prior to yesterday's stage where he said that he was still riding for Kruijswijk.

[Kevin S]

And then Bennett himself has put it down to a communications cock-up. Doesn't sound all that promising for Dumoulin if he's to be riding for them next year.

A nice stage for the cameras today, bit of rolling countryside and sunflowers with a sprint finish in Toulouse. At least, that's the intention - the open sections may be exposed to the wind and create gaps again.

[ursus arctos]

Or does it mean that Dumoulin will be protected because of his nationality?

There seems to be a bit of a battle at Jumbo as to whether they are a top tier team with Dutch riders or a Dutch team with a couple of foreigners. The fact that much of the Dutch press left the Giro with Dumoulin is illustrative of the commercial pressure that may cause them to become more focused on their home market.

Dinension Data is rebranding as Team NTT next season, reflecting the change to promote their controlling shareholder already evident in the data feeds from this year's Tour.

[ursus arctos]

Terpstra may have just done his collarbone

[Ray de Galles]

He's confirmed as having withdrawn from the race so probably.

Porte and Quintana appear to have made it back to the peloton after getting delayed by the crash that took Terpstra out.

I think it must have been the first incident of the stage as I'd zoned out from having it on in the background.

[ursus arctos]

Other than the intermediate sprint where Viviani beat Sagan without really trying it was

[longeared]

Ciccone was involved in the crash and is seven minutes back now, so that'll free him up to have a go at the mountains jersey if he isn't too sore.

[longeared]

Is this really the clearest way into Toulouse? There's an awful lot of road furniture for a sprint stage.

[ursus arctos]

Not at all

Good for Ewan

[longeared]

Ewan wins and continues the run of every (individual) stage being won by a different rider. Barguil finished 10th!

[Kevin S]

Chuffed for Ewan, he had to sprint smart for that one. Always good when sometime who has been getting top threes and fours gets a win eventually.

[Levin]

42 riders in the breakaway. Which seems a lot.

[Felicity, I guess so]

Flick over to ITV and Al Murray is in the commentary box!

[Ray de Galles]

And he's asking the same questions about team radios I was upthread.

I've been mistaken for him two or three times at dos in London before as well.

[ursus arctos]

One thing about the radios is that their range is quite limited (c. 25 km), even on flat terrain.

So riders who are far ahead (or behind) the team car are generally cut off from contact. This is why you often see guys being interviewed at the finish who don't know the result of the stage.

[longeared]

Rohan Dennis attempted to get in the break this morning, then later was seen hanging around at the back. Then it came up on screen that he'd abandoned, which was a bit odd given that there's a time trial tomorrow. Now the team have released this rather cryptic tweet.

https://twitter.com/Bahrain_Merida/status/1151844844911964160

[ursus arctos]

[URL="https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1151844551159664640?s=21"]https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1151844551159664640[/URL]

[longeared]

Methinks Dennis will be riding for a different team next season.

https://twitter.com/SophieSmith86/status/1151858551914147840

[ursus arctos]

There seems to be more of this drama than usual this year.

[Ray de Galles]

Bloody hell, that was perfect from Yates.

[longeared]

If Yates hadn't won that sprint Mitchelton would have got a lot of criticism given the way they had the best climber and best sprinter at the front near the top of that last climb.

[longeared]

Getting an early look at the roads for the time trial as La Course is taking place over the same circuit. There's a rather twisty and technical downhill section. Careful all those riding a Pinarello...

[longeared]

Fine win for Marianne Vos after she overhauled Amanda Spratt on the steep ramp 350m from the line.

[ursus arctos]

She is in brilliant form at the moment.

Four stages at the Giro Rosa and now La Course.