Julian A and Tony M off the front. photo credit AFP
Forget the skinny climbers for a moment. Let’s talk about these two on Stage 16 and appreciate just why they are the professionals and we are not. Young Alaphilippe has already proven himself to be a monster in his Tour debut. If not for a jammed chain on the final descent of stage 15 he might have won his first Tour stage. The dude can climb and descend, like a bastard. And how is he even still in the Tour after this?
Really?
So he shakes that off, nearly wins an incredibly hard stage 15 then rides off the front with teammate Tony Martin early in stage 16. Normally a two person break will be held at four or five minutes, the peloton will break out the picnic baskets and the sprinters will nap until the finale. But no, Tony Martin can ride at over 48 kph for hours, by himself, on a road bike. Alaphilippe did the occasional pull on the front, to save face, but this was the Tony Show.
I dare any civilian to get their bikes up to that speed, grab a handful of ghost spinaci bars, settle in and do that for two minutes. I’m much more impressed by this than Froome’s climbing ability, but I tend toward the rouleurs anyway.
Was it another pointless breakaway? By the time the peloton finally sped by Alaphilippe then Martin it seemed like it but maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe getting off the front and putting everyone else in the hurt locker for a few hours is reason enough.
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@chris
Or were you referring to the fact that he's been shat out the back?
@chris
No just that in his interview he said he had no excuses he just wasn't up to it.
Sky is doing what everyone else would like to do if they had the talent and budget. Who wouldn't want to have this year's winner of L-B-L as a worker bee? Also, Brits win half the stages of this year's tour, or close to it. FFS, that is impressive. Let's see, how did the American's do? USA, USA, USA...Damn, we suck. I'm thinking Joe Dombrowski might be the next great US hope. Next year. TJVG might be best suited to the Paris-Nice stage races. No shame in that.
On another note, look at the photo of Tony Martin at the top of this article. You can see his collarbone still wanting to poke through his lycra.
@Ron
I haven't tried the new Tralyx that I believe Etixx is wearing. However, your post mentions Rudy classics and I love my Rydon's which are classic Rudy. I recently bought the polarized, photochromic replacement lenses which are incredible. Always the right amount of shade and the reduced glare makes it much easier to see potholes and other road shiggy. I do agree about the nose piece though, although a little pinch together on the espresso stop and all is good.
@Steve Trice
Don't you mean "derail" the Sky Train? ;-)
Tony knows how to relax too;
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIDN6OlBHTT/
Is there any story why Tony Martin decided to abandon on the last day? Was he injured? Seems odd.
@Velodeluded
If they hijack it they can ride it, that was my thinking. :-)
@RobSandy
He had severe pain in his knee. Apparently, he was last man to finish the stage on Saturday, and it wasn't any better on Sunday, so he pulled out to avoid damaging his Olympic hopes.