For Ben O'Connor specifically it is because his race director has been around forever and that is how it has always been done that they just solider on (although he has withdrawn now).

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How can you actually weaken UAE and leave Pog isolated (whether that makes the slightest bit of difference is arguable)

I was thinking you have to try and send Roglic/Thomas into breakaways and force UAE to chase everything down from early on. Rinse and repeat and knacker them out?

I'm not sure how this affects the overall race and other teams who want to be in breakaways though?

Absolutely brilliant move by Jumbo, they just gotta ride hard now.

Couldn't keep it up but hopefully they have done some damage to Pogacar for later on.

It was a good try and they tested him, though they obv expended some energy themselves too. If Vingegaard has more in the tank imo they should attack all out near the top of Galibier and hopefully create even a slight gap to Pogacar over the top, where WvA needs to wait for Vingegaard. They can probably gain 30-40 seconds before Granon if he can follow WvA and Pogacar is chasing on his own. That's a big if though.

They're attacking again now, nice.

They've executed the dream strategy perfectly.
If Pog is the strongest it won't make a big difference, though.

Feeling like such a judge right now haha

In all likelihood this sadly

And now Roglic is completely cooked, welp.

Fair play to Jumbo for trying when they had to but at the end of the day this won't matter

OMG I just came

Ups. Such a contrast with the Galibier, something happened?

I read that the only potential Pog weakness was altitude, didn't believe it but must be true

JDKDJFKDNDKDNNDKDBFNDKF F WNFNKWJRBFKDND


VINGEGOOOOATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

YEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

What. A. Stage.

I don't know what to say, sensational performance by Vingegaard and his team as well.

Jumbo executed the strategy perfectly, managed to isolate Pogacar on Galibier and put the pressure on. Obviously didn't break him then but everything contributed to wearing him down. I definitely think this worked out better than if they had waited until Granon to pressure.

In the preview I mentioned that today and tomorrow were the days to hurt Pogacar due to the high altitude, and it definitely looks like this could be a relative weakness of his, although he still looked good on Galibier. Vingegaard was next level today, but it was clear that Pogacar was completely empty considering how much time he lost to everyone else.

Also kudos to Pogacar for congratulating Vingegaard immediately after finishing. He has class.

I'm a bit torn on this one. I know that what will keep being said is that Jumbo wore Pogacar down but I'm just not fully buying it.

I don't believe the efforts he had to put in (comfortably) on the Galibier is the difference between him being his dominant self and not being able to follow Gaudu.

If you look at it outside of Pogacar, I think the hierarchy was quite clear and rather consistent with what the beginning of the Tour showed, we already knew Vingegaard was better than the rest of the field.

I don't know if it's really that altitude thing, an energy craving, his shot forgotten in the AM, could be anything and I guess we'll never know.

I guess we'll have the answer tomorrow and I'd be willing to bet on him finishing ahead of Vingegaard in the stage just for a fun wager

Agree about him being class. Also somehow ending up with even more respect than I had previously for Roglic, what a man

A big mountain??

I don't think it is THE difference, but I think it still made a big difference. Closing down constant attacks takes a toll and Pogacar was riding hard on Galibier to drop the other Jumbo riders to avoid being 1 on 3 or even 4 at one point.

Jumbo's strategy made the race hard, which also favors the strongest rider. I would definitely argue that Pogacar spent more energy than Vingegaard before Granon and that just exacerbated the difference. Vingegaard would probably still have beaten him if they had waited until Granon to attack but I very much doubt it would have been by 3 minutes.

Incredible stage. Trying to think of the last stage at the tour that was better and am struggling. Nothing too recently unless you want to highlight individual efforts (eg WvA Ventoux) vs a great spectacle and battle.

Managed to stay unspoiled all day, just finished watching and holy **** what an incredible stage. So much drama. All those attacks far from the finish. And (possibly) the first time ever that Pogacar completely blows.

VINGEGOAT with an all timer today. Incredible effort.

Whew.

All that and Alpe d'Huez tomorrow. What a time to be alive.

Yeah fantastic stage, probably the best Grand Tour stage since Froome's solo raid to win the Giro?

I'm expecting to see Jumbo go full train up the climbs today. I hope it was just a bad day for Pogacar and he can attack up Alpe d'Huez to get some time back and we get to see a nice battle for the GC win in the last week.

underwhelming ADH. oh well