Fabulous first stage.
3 Likes
I love it when that happens.
They reckon Cav will get in in time, but what’s the point of tiring out the sprinters on the first stage. What happened to the usual 10km prologue.
1 Like
I liked the it, thought was an interesting way to start the race. There sprinters love the glory but it’s the mountain men that make the race imo.
2 Likes
Thank you Richard.
Stage 1 Results : FLORENCE to RIMINI (206KM)
- Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL), in 05:07:22
- Frank van den Broek (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
- Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), + 5seconds
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Maxim van Gils (Lotto Dstny)
- Alex Aranburu (Movistar)
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
- Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
- Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost), all at same time
One abandonment:
Michele Gazzoli 
Astana Qazaqstan Team (heat stroke)
175 riders finished Stage 1
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 1:
- Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL), in 05:07:22
- Frank van den Broek (dsm-firmenich PostNL) +4 seconds
- Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), + 11 seconds
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +15 seconds
- Maxim van Gils (Lotto Dstny)
- Alex Aranburu (Movistar)
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
- Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
- Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost), all at same +15 seconds time
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
- Frank van Den Broek / Team dsm-firmenich PostNL …33 points
- Romain Bardet / Team dsm-firmenich PostNL …30 points
- Wout van Aert / Team Visma Lease a Bike …22 points
MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION
- Jonas Abrahamsen / Uno-X Mobility …13 points
- Valentin Madouas / Groupama - FDJ …11 points
- Frank van Den Broek / Team DSM-firmenich PostNL …9 points
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION
- Frank van Den Broek / Team dsm-firmenich PostNL … 5:07:16
- Maxim van Gils / Lotto Dstny 0:11 seconds
- Remco Evenepoel / Soudal Quick-Step 0:11 seconds
TEAM CLASSIFICATION
- Team dsm-firmenich PostNL WT 15:22:11
- Team Visma Lease a Bike +0:10 seconds
- INEOS Grenadiers +0:10 seconds
11 Likes
Excellent ride from Bardet. Got the result.
4 Likes
Sunday 30th June 2024
Stage 2 : Cesenatico - Bologna (199.2km)
Another long hilly stage, slightly easier than yesterday and with any luck the weather will be a bit cooler for the peloton. Poor old Cav really suffered in the heat yesterday.
With the GC guys still bossing these early stage outcomes, today could offer another chance for Mads Pedersen if he stays with it on the gradients.
7 Likes
First stage was wonderful, loved that the breakaway made it all the way to the end. Seeing Romain Bardet come across to join the breakaway was nice, seeing him and his teammate Frank van den Broek cross the finish line one, two was fantastic. Always exciting when the breakaway outlasts the closing peleton to take the victory.
Looking forward to tomorrows stage…
Life is Sweet!
12 Likes
175 riders on todays Stage 2 start line
Jersey wearers on Stage 2:
Romain Bardet dsm-firmenich PostNL
Frank van Den Broek 
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
Jonas Abrahamsen 
Uno-X Mobility
Maxim van Gils 
Lotto Dstny
<>
Stage 2 is underway!
8 Likes
Will enjoy following the spectacle this year again, though Armstrong shenanigans tempered my previous unqualified enthusiasm. Has anyone else followed the podcast “Ghost in the Machine”, or noticed how many athletes now have medical exemptions for breathing illnesses?
It’s still a tremendous test of physical & mental strength and will light up this three weeks.
1 Like
I like to think the sport has moved on since the olden days of Sir Lancelot.
It seems a long while ago now.
And besides the bike race, we can enjoy the glorious scenery 
4 Likes
Another fantastic stage. Hoping England can provide similar excitement now.
3 Likes
Back then all the top riders that were successful knew that it was essential to be doping. Even with chemical assistance winning 7 Tours, after harsh cancer treatment was an impressive feat. It is important to remember even the great Eddie Merckx was a doper, getting caught a few times but for some reason, it hasn’t marred his reputation.
The fawning over blatant doper Pantani really winds me up…
2 Likes
Professionals in all sports appear to view cheating differently to fans. Gamesmanship.
Don’t quite know what to say about that….I needed a VERY large G&T at the end 
2 Likes
To get through the game without artificial stimulants is quite an achievement 
2 Likes
Tadej moves into yellow its still early days but I hope we dont get the total dominance of his Giro win.Having said that he didn’t get stronger opposition on the Giro
Here is his bike…
3 Likes
Stage 2 Results : CESENATICO > BOLOGNA
- Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels 4:43’42"
- Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility +36"
- Quentin Pacher (FRA) Groupama-FDJ +49"
- Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) Arkea-B&B Hotels
- Harold Tejada (COL) Astana Qazaqstan all S.T.
- Nelson Oliveira (POR) Movistar +50"
- Axel Laurance (FRA) Alpecin-Deceuninck +1’12"
- Mike Teunissen (NED) Intermarché-Wanty +1’33"
- Hugo Houle (CAN) Israel-Premier Tech +1’36"
- Richard Carapaz (ECU) EF Education-EasyPost +2’21"
All 175 finished Stage 2
<<>>
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE TWO
- Tadej Pogačar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 9:53’30"
- Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step
- Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Visma-Lease a Bike
- Richard Carapaz (ECU) EF Education-EasyPost all S.T.
- Romain Bardet (FRA) DSM-Firmenich-PostNL +6"
- Maxim Van Gils (BEL) Lotto-DSTNY +21"
- Egan Bernal (COL) INEOS Grenadiers
- Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain Victorious
- Tom Pidcock (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers
- Giulio Ciccone (ITA) Lidl-Trek all at the same time.
POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE TWO
- Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility, 67 points
- Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkea-B&B Hotels, 60 points
- Quentin Pacher (FRA) Groupama-FDJ, 35 points
- Frank van den Broek (NED) dsm-Firmenisch PostNL, 33 points
- Harold Tejada (COL) Astana Qazaqstan, 33 points.
MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE TWO
- Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility, 23 points
- Valentin Madouas (FRA) Groupama-FDJ, 11 points
- Frank van den Broek (NED) dsm-Firmenisch PostNL, 9 points
- Ion Izagirre (SPA) Cofidis, 8 points
- Romain Bardet (FRA) dsm-Firmenisch PostNL, 3 points
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE TWO
- Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step, 09h 53’ 30’’
- Maxim van Gils (BEL) Lotto Dstny, +21’’
- Tom Pidcock (ENG) INEOS Grenadiers
- Carlos Rodriguez (SPA) INEOS Grenadiers
- Matteo Jorgensen (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, all at the same time.
TEAM CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE TWO
- Movistar, 29h 40’ 42’’
- UAE Team Emirates, +30"
- INEOS Grenadiers, +51"
- Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe, at the same time
- Soudal Quick-Step, +1’31"
7 Likes
1st July 2024
Stage 3 : Piacenza - Torino (230.8km)
The first day for the sprinters, and also the longest stage of this year’s tour.
The expectation is a measured and paced performance from the peloton (with many thinking forward on tomorrow’s mountain stage) but allowing a small breakaway a mere few minutes up the road… and reeling them back in for a coming together before the big bunch sprint finish.
8 Likes