Alaphilippe will be the most āsurprisingā tour winner since Lance in ā99. Though there have been a few other beauts like Oscar Pereiro.
He has probably followed the theory of marginal gains.
You could argue itās a step change rather than marginal gains. He did win the mountains competition and a few stages last year though.
A few teams are on ketones this year. They delay energy loss. Used to cost a few grand a bottle. Cheaper now. Not illegal yet.
I donāt mind if Alaphilippe or Pinot win. France hasnāt had a Tour winner since Hinault in ā85. They race in the right way. Better than some robot from Sky.
Big group gone away today including Dan, Nico, Bardet and Quintana. Stage hunting.
36 riders and no one from Ineos or Quick- step.
More than happy to let it off early.
Smaller group ahead now. Martin still in it.
Alaphillippe cracks with 5km to go
Howās Dan doing? Was his group caught?
Alaphilippe cracking here
Here heās back
Loses about 20 seconds to Thomas. Rest day tomorrow
He badly needs the rest day. Pinot must be kicking himself for the 1:40 he lost the day the bunch split.
Stage 18_19-20 all mountain all made for Thomas. The last climbs on each arenāt killers his team will see him up.
Pinot is hot favourite now for le tour, heās been Phenomenal on the mountains
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The team donāt seem to be as strong this year . But 90 seconds is very do-able when Alaphilippe has no team. Pinot looks like the real danger now. The Dutch guy will just follow wheels to get on the podium.
Shane Lowry
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Hows Dan Martin doing?
15th. Eleven minutes back.
