2020 Tour de France, the Tour that almost wasn't...thoughts and memories

 Gosh, there is SO MUCH to talk about when you say 2020 Tour de France! I think I will start a few rungs down from the top with Richie Porte, who fought tooth and nail to get onto the podium. Well done Richie, I think the entire world has been rooting for him to break the bad-luck streak and do this. And just in time, as I don't see him getting the chance with his new team next year (Death Star...darn it Richie!) He overcame a LOT to do it. The flat on the dirt section (stage 18 I think) was terrifying, but he got a bike and pulled his way back. And then to take enough time in Stage 20 to get on the podium, that was quite special!

Next: Sagan, and the Green Jersey. CVV and Chris talked about this a lot, but it was SO SPECIAL this year. Setting the clock back to when he was relegated for over-aggressiveness against Wout in the sprint where he had taken 2nd (30 points), and lost that AND 13 more points...that was crushing. And a man in his prior leadout train has been the one to take the green! When Bora went out the very next day and destroyed the Peleton putting Peter in position to take max points in the intermediate sprint (which they did for several other stages) was stunning, most especially to the rest of the peleton who were expecting easy stages until the end. Sagan made the entire Tour more fun to watch as he gave it his very best to regain the Green. Sadly it never happened, and we all are left wondering if this was a 1-time "off year" or is this the inevitable decline of an aging cyclist. Sagan hasn't won a race this year, let-alone in the Tour. I truly hope it was the madness of this Pandemic-year and the stopping/restarting of the season that left him in less than stellar condition. We will see next year. 

Americans in the Tour: Sepp Kuss, Neilson Powless, and uhm, what was his name, the guy I don't recall seeing even ONCE in action this year...oh yeah...TJ. I saw (not counting stage 21) that he finished in 90th place! This for a former "GC guy". Say what? My how the mighty have fallen. Seriously...I can't recall seeing him in action ONCE this Tour. But that can't be said about Powless nor Kuss! Powless was in a bunch of break-aways when he wasn't directly supporting Rigo, and almost won a stage if I recall. And Kuss? DAMN can that kid CLIMB! That he was repeatedly the last man standing with Roglic in the big mountains says it all. The Durango Kid. Pretty sure I will remember him! It was really fun watching him when it was his turn to go in front, how he'd check with Primo for orders and then do it. 

Bernal and Quintana. Wow. What epic collapses they both suffered. Were they just not ready or was it something else? Q wasn't hardly ever in any contention, and when the climbs got steep instead of flying he faltered. Bernal and his team, SO dominant over the last near decade, were on their back-feet pretty much since day 1. How quickly they fell and how fast Jumbo took over the mantle of SUPER-TEAM. Both Bernal and Quintana had won big races quite young, and everybody was saying how they will be future multi-Tour winners, and that doesn't appear to be the case. I hope we aren't saying that about Pogacar in the coming years...it's a LOT of pressure to perform at the highest level in the biggest race, especially when your pay-check has shot up expecting that. 

Covidiots. We've all talked about this a lot, and even on the TT when the crowds were gathered, there they were. LOTS of them. Each time throughout the Tour when the roads were steep and the crowds were making a tiny passage for the riders, I'd watch the faces of the crowd as the camera/rider went by. By my rough guess, 1 in 20 to 1 in 30 did NOT have a mask on! Seriously...in every bunch of fans if you pause the video and count, there they were. Within a foot or 2 of the poor rider just trying to get thru, no mask, SCREAMING (and blowing Covid-spit) at the approaching riders. It is truly amazing that none of the riders "got it". We will see in the next week or so if that continues, or did some get infected from the last week of racing. I seriously don't get it...WHY won't they wear masks? Just how selfish can a person be? 

OK...I need to head to work, didn't get close to all my thoughts...so I will post this and head in...feel free to vent/rave/whatever about the amazing race we just witnessed!

2020 Tour, Week 3 (HOORAY, And BOO HOO!)

 Suddenly we find ourselves with ONLY SEVEN STAGES left in this most magical Tour that I can recall seeing! And I think its going to continue being fantastically exciting! There is only one word that really needs to be said: Alps. 

What we have seen in the mountain (and hill) stages thus far has been simply amazing, and I certainly dont see it getting less exciting in the big mountains! 

 I will say this after 2 weeks of racing: IF Bernal were to somehow come out in Yellow in Paris, I would cheer him and be happy for him. Going into this race I wanted ANYBODY BUT Ineos to win. I have not changed that and just want it to be an exciting hard-fought race to the end, and I think we are going to get that. I think that Jumbo has the best team, and has thus far supported Roglic pretty fantastically, but it was just last year that Bernal and Ineos held off until when, the DAY BEFORE Paris to take the yellow?  I think there are still at least 3 or 4 guys who could seriously win...and Bernal is certainly one of them. 

 I think with the time gaps we currently have in the top GC riders it would SEEM that Roglic and Jumbo has things well in hand. But remember THE ALPS? One flat tire...one mechanical...one crash (either in person or others that slow someone important down)...there is SO MUCH that could derail ANY GC contenders race. A water bottle flipping around on the road...a slick turn on a descent...(remember that year that Lance was chasing the guy downhill on a hot day, and the guy (sad that I cant remember his name) hit some hot-tar filling a road crack and hi-sided his bike and slammed down (breaking his hip I recall) and Lance went straight up on his bike to not run over the guy and crash...(was it Beloki, something like that?)...and out of pure luck it was a switchback turn, Lance rode right off the road, right thru the grass and whatnot and came out on the road at the bottom of the turn, jumped off his bike and onto the road and back on his bike, didnt miss a beat...THAT was so lucky! What if that turn had a cliff instead of a nice shortcut right back onto the road? Or a ditch, or a cement block or something? I always think of that and it is still amazing that he won SEVEN IN A ROW! Seven years with not ONE ill timed flat or mechanical...or inattention losing time in crosswinds, or anything else. I just dont see that ever happening again...Just look at Ritchie Porte! That guy cant BUY a break for even 1 year, let alone 7 in a row! 

Anyway, I digress...we have SEVEN stages left in this amazing race, the one that almost didnt happen. IF we make it to Paris (we have the Covid testing on the 2nd rest-day to get past, hopefully not losing any teams or riders), I just think this years race will be one for the record books in many ways. 

OK. That got kinda windy...Im just SO jazzed about this years race...Unpredictability! Excitement! Teamwork! Tactics! New young superstars just now being introduced to the world! The fight for the Yellow! The fight for the Green! The fight for the Polka dot! (I am pretty sure that will change hands in the Alps...but just WHO will take it?)  I think I will remember a lot more about this years race than the last few combined. At least I hope I do. Anyway....Game ON!

2020 Tour, week two!

 Well well well..for a Tour that looked like it wasn't going to happen, I'd say it's been a great race thus far! Lots of surprises, great racing, and of course, drama. What happens in the Pyrnees over the next few days should be more of the same. The GC guys have no choice to come out and play if they want a chance in Paris. And will Sagan be able to hold and increase his points lead? He has a real battle this year, and his lead going into Saturday is very tenuous. He obviously isn't the Sagan of old...will we see THAT Sagan again this year or is that a sign of the inevitable aging cyclist? We will know for sure in 2 weeks. OK...going to go get dinner, just wanted to open up a new page for week 2...Barbara, great to have you back...and as always, Susie and Rae keep it coming!!

Game ON!!!