Ok - it's on then.

If the first stage is anything to go by I think we're in for a good time.

Crazy first stage. Too bad for Mas and Carapaz.

If I read the graphic right, stages 3-7 will be on a NBC network, but 2 and 8-21 will only be on LOLPeacock. Oh well.

Eurosport and RTVE show it all for free

WTF - American in a polka dot jersey and can't get the tour on FTA??

Try being in Canada for the tour coverage. This was one of my favorite times of the year and always watched the tour everywhere, fn sucks.

I agree 5 Sportsnet and TSN channels and they can't cover it. Just plain stupid

Despite what the graphic said, Stage 2 was broadcast on USA overnight, so I was able to watch a recording this morning. Hope that's true of later stages too, I don't mind watching on tape delay.

Loved the route today, the road along the coast is so scenic. Especially good when the stage produces not much of interest until the bunch sprint.

Flagship NBC is going to show a stage recap on Sunday 07/16 at 1:30PM ET.

I assume the US can't log into SBS on demand to watch?

An interesting first few days, going into the Tour I thought it was very even if not infinitesimally Pogacar favored but after the stages so far I must say Jonas looks completely unfazed and entirely in control. He looks like he has a lot of extra energy and just overall on top of things.

Pogacar had a few minor pokes so far, but really nothing extraordinary, so the question is whether he deliberately holds back or whether he is not in top shape. I kinda feel like Pogacar in peak form just keeps going on the days that he and Vingegaard have dropped the rest, because even if he'll be pulling all the way to the finish line, he still wins a sprint vs Jonas 9/10 times.

Tomorrow will probably be really telling no matter what happens, because if Pogacar attacks we should get some answers on his form - and if he does not attack that could definitely be seen as a sign that he is not in top form, because a stage like tomorrow fits him far better than many of the later mountain stages where it is very likely that Vingegaard will have an edge. Besides, he literally attacks every single day normally when he's in form if there's anything that looks like an opportunity, so it will be very interesting to see.


Random fun* fact I heard during commentating that I could hardly believe: Wilco Kelderman has the most top 10 finishes on the World Tour of anyone who has never won a world tour race, with 138. Bryan Coquard is second with 49.

*Except if you're Wilco Kelderman.

Pogacar has taken bonus seconds over VingeGOAT each opportunity so far, no?

Tomorrow should be fun. Pyrenees stages for the win.

Yeah, but I don't think that has not much to do with form, he wins these because his punch and sprint is outright better than Jonas' and the climbs have not been difficult enough yet to be any hindrance even if he's not at 100%.
Last year Vingegaard was undoubtedly the better outright climber, but Pogacar nonetheless won all the three stages where they came to the finish line together because he's much more explosive than Vingegaard.

We can only speculate of course but I'm inclined to think that it's more about Pogacar learning to ride smarter than him lacking form. When the main goal is winning GC it's just not worth it to burn energy towing Vingegaard to the finish line to get the stage win.

He's a cyclist so probably a communist

Safe to say I neither expected Pogacar to lose a full minute on Vingegaard today, nor Hindley to gain 50 seconds on top of that.

What a great stage, Hindley and Bora as a whole with a magnificent heist and Vingegaard and Jumbo must also be very satisfied with how today developed.

Pogacar looks to not be where he should be form wise, while Vingegaard looks every bit as strong if not more so than last year.
It was my impression that Pogacar may not be at his best, but it is difficult to say whether it is tactical or lack of form until you get a serious mountain stage, but I feel like we got a lot of answers today and the signs do not bode well for Pogacar's chances of reclaiming the Tour throne.

If Pogacar can avoid losing a lot more time tomorrow he is still live, always possible he is back on form in the Alps. But VingeGOAT showing no cracks at all.

Super impressive ride by Hindley and Bora.

Was surprised by how badly UAE blew up on the last climb. All those strong riders and Pogacar got zero help.

It's good huh

They definitely messed up, although imo the critical mistake was letting that breakaway group form. They had to chase the break all day and that's why there weren't many left for the last climb, while Jumbo just sat back because they had several guys out front, including van Aert. UAE were very alone in working in the peloton all day, but not doing that could have turned out even worse. If they hadn't caught van Aert before the descent, if Vingegaard had been able to connect with van Aert at the top and then ride with him to the finish line, Pogacar could have lost another 30-50 seconds to him. Maybe they could've played it more cool, because other teams would presumably also be reluctant to give Hindley 10 minutes. But otoh Pogacar was not alone for that long, unless he was clearly gonna be cooked I think it's forgiveable to expect him to manage the final ~1ish km of climbing by himself (and Yates was fairly long as well, Kuss on his best days is just one of the best climbers in the world).


It will be interesting to see what happens today, if I was the Jumbo master strategist I'd make it as hard as possible on Tourmalet if not already on Aspin. They can practically end Pogacar's chances today if he has as bad a day as yesterday, so surely they have to test him (assuming Jonas is feeling fine).

What the hell was that, Pogacar with an emphatic win and Vingegaard suddenly is the one looking mortal.

...

Another banger stage.

Enjoyable stage

Great tour so far. All the people who joined in via the Netflix wave must be loving it. Let's not tell them that we've had quite a few dull tour's where the favorites would not come into action before the last climb of the last stage in the Pyrenees