2019 TDF Fantasy Game (with Spoiler Alerts)

**TBS** · 07-19-2019, 03:14 PM

Let's remember, five of the remaining eight stages are in big mountains, one is hilly and one is the promenade to Paris. Whole different race about to start.

Wonder if Ineos will fire up the pain train, or make QuickStep defend breaks...

**ICEHOCEY77** · 07-19-2019, 03:36 PM

Man WVA and Schachmann both crashing really screwed me, both would've been in the points today.

Pain train gonna come tomorrow, the move is to send Bernal up the road and make QS react

**TBS** · 07-19-2019, 04:12 PM

^^^yup, my thought exactly - expect Movistar to attack as well.
Really sad for WVA - doing so well in first TDF

**Dee Hubbs** · 07-19-2019, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by ICEHOCEY77

Pain train gonna come tomorrow, the move is to send Bernal up the road and make QS react

This is exactly right. That poor sacrificial lamb.
Or poor Enric Mas, he has some work cut out for him the next few days, he's the only help Deceuninck QS has for Alaphilippe.

**LHutz Esq** · 07-19-2019, 04:17 PM

I don't think Enric Mas should be discounted as a climber for QS - he may be able to hang with Bernal.- He did pretty good on the climbs in the Vuelta last year.

Bernal may have been playing possum today though as he was a ways back.

**Garth Bimble** · 07-19-2019, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by LHutz Esq

I was stunned by JA today! I am in the "anyone-but-Sky/Ineos" camp so loved it.

... but I am not saying it was the drugs,
... but drugs?

and how badly will Ineos try an bury him over the next week!

So does he have a chance?

Sir Whatshisface a week ago - "not a chance"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/...our-de-france/

Thomas today "umm maybe"

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/r...victory-431967

As much as I'd like to see JA win I don't see it happening. These big mountain stages are going to be too much for him I think.

That said, he's certainly making it interesting.

edit: Never Mind

**robrox** · 07-20-2019, 09:21 AM

Yay Turbo!

**::: :::** · 07-20-2019, 09:23 AM

JA looks unstoppable

**doebedoe** · 07-20-2019, 09:26 AM

JA is bonkers. What form. Can't help but think he's gonna pull a Yatesy and disappear on one stage later this week. He went so hard the first week.

Pinot and Kruijswijk and Bachmann all look very very good.

**Dee Hubbs** · 07-20-2019, 09:28 AM

Can this tour get any better?
I've had to stand up in front of the TV and cheer for most finishes!
Another uphill finish tomorrow, can't wait.

**TBS** · 07-20-2019, 09:31 AM

Lets see if JA can beat Thomas Voeckler’s 10 days in yellow in 2004.

**Dee Hubbs** · 07-20-2019, 09:34 AM

The podium on our TGR team is tight!
Another league I'm in, that's run by a local bike shop has $100, $75 and $50 gift certificate up for grabs. I'm 200 points out front and Mrs.Hubbs is in a close battle for 2nd/3d. Hopefully we will end up with $125 to 175 at the bike shop.

**ICEHOCEY77** · 07-20-2019, 10:49 AM

Movistar is utterly stupid (should be known by now), dropping Soler while he's driving the race to pace Quitana. All for some stupid team competition and he's not even going to be on the team next season!

**TBS** · 07-20-2019, 01:57 PM

According to http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour...ntanas-gc-bid/
Quintana was having a bad day but didn’t tell anyone, so Movistar kept on driving. To me the dumb part was sending Soler back once Quintana cracked.

Tomorrow will tell who has climbing legs this year.

**::: :::** · 07-21-2019, 08:48 AM

What racing!
What a climb!

**Garth Bimble** · 07-21-2019, 09:25 AM

Waiting for Horner and VDVD to throw down. I think vande velde kicks horner's ass.

**::: :::** · 07-21-2019, 10:38 AM

Chapeau to all you leaders pulling in the points like you do...I’m baffled at what it takes to succeed in this contest...I seem to make poor decisions at exactly the wrong times

Loving the racing at this Tour, but just waiting to see who I need to send money to...haha

I think Horner was right on Alaphilippe being the stronger rider than GT today despite the time loss and questionable positioning/pacing. (I think it was his aggressive nature taking a stab at pumping up his buffer leading into more mountain stages next week; a sort of “strike while the iron’s hot” strategy for a guy who can’t rely on a team to pull in the hills. Didn’t quite work today.)

Movistar & Ineos are going to punch hard next week. We’ll see if Pinot can dig deeper then Landa.

**TBS** · 07-21-2019, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by acinpdx

Chapeau to all you leaders pulling in the points like you do...I’m baffled at what it takes to succeed in this contest...I seem to make poor decisions at exactly the wrong times

Sheer fucking luck has a lot to do with it. I don’t think anybody expected JA to win two stages and be in yellow for what, 11 days now? Or for Jumbo to be punching way above their weight.

And it isn’t over yet - well, except for Quintana, Bardet and Porte anyway. The Alps will lead to another sorting out.

To that end, the Ineos pain train seems to have lost some muscle this year...

**buttahflake** · 07-21-2019, 11:05 AM

Horner would kick vdvd’s ass, it wouldn’t be close. Vdvd has no upper body strength at all. Guy looks like he’s never done a push-up.

**::: :::** · 07-21-2019, 11:21 AM

Wikipedia has them at the same height & weight but I think Horner’s mass is all in his head

**TBS** · 07-21-2019, 01:38 PM

Half of CVDV’s height and weight is in his hair...

It’s all part of the schtick
“Tune in tomorrow to see who is right”

**Dee Hubbs** · 07-21-2019, 06:59 PM

I’m just glad for a rest day. I don’t need to read up on the riders reports and study the stage profiles.

SB · 07-21-2019, 08:37 PM

So did the guy in yellow win again? He usually does.

**Dee Hubbs** · 07-22-2019, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by SB

So did the guy in yellow win again? He usually does.

The guy in yellow has been wearing the yellow jersey for 11 days.
He’s only won once since putting on the yellow jersey.
15 days of racing and 13 different winners.
It’s been super exciting. Nice try in trolling, but If it’s too complicated for you to understand we get it.