In the GCN Racing News Show this week we talk through the winners and losers from the first week of the Tour de France. Plus, there’s a dominant performance as the Giro Rosa hits the Zoncolan and a week of wins for Bahrain Merida at the Tour of Austria.
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It’s been a dramatic first week of the Tour de France, we’ve absolutely loved bringing you daily highlights on Facebook, and as we hit the first rest day, we thought we’d go through some of the winners and losers from the first 9 days. Before that though, we want your opinion on the cobblestones – do they have a place in the Tour de France, yes or no? Take the poll at the top of the screen and give your reasoning in the comments, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Entertainment at it’s best, or simply too dangerous?
We were also delighted to have highlights of the Giro Rosa with Marty McDonald and our very own Emma Pooley, and what a race that was. It was dominated by two teams, Sunweb and Mitchelton Scott. In fact, every single rider on the Sunweb lineup held a leaders jersey of some sorts on at least one day – that’s quite a record!
The Tour of Austria, a tough 8-day race which doesn’t get the attention it deserves, coinciding as it does with the Tour de France. It was a pretty amazing week for Bahrain Merida. Matej Mohoric outsprinted teammate Visconti to win stage one, his first as Slovenian national champion, but Visconti himself went on to win three stages in total. Their 5th stage win came courtesy of Antonia Nibali. His situation almost mirrors that of the Tour of Austria, in that his career is overshadowed by that of his brother Vincenzo, but stage 7 marked his first professional victory at the age of 25, and one that was clearly very popular amongst his teammates.
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39 Comments
Should cobbles have a place in the Tour de France? 👇
If the goal of the Tour de France s to find the best rider. then all aspects of road racing needs to be competed. So yes, include the cobbles
Cobbles at the TDF !?, see no issue with that, HOWEVER, that is what the PR is all about, forever COBBLES :-). Cobbles at the Tour is good but in my humble opinion not worth all the super mishaps that come with such a big race, a shorter section of the pave would probably be more conducive vice the long drawn out abusive segment.
The cobbles are in France, yes? They are in, of course. Next question.
Yes! That was one of the best grand tour stages I’ve ever seen!
Yes they do belong. When I ride to work or shopping I have ride on broken up roads, roads under construction, a short gravel path, debris on the shoulder, ect ect ect. Things that are familiar to all cyclists.
Cobbles are absolutely necessary! Cycling is dangerous in general already. The guys complaining about cobbles are just upset that they don't have that in their skillset. I feel like if you want to ride stage races in France, you should be ready for cobbles.
We are watching the Tour de France, which is what? A race around France. Are there cobblestone roads in France? Clearly there are. This means that it makes as much sense to ride on the cobbles as it makes to ride in the mountains, also in France All of these roads are there. Why not race on them?
The real question is why not have the cobbles?
Today is the begining off le tour de l'Abitibi, 50 edition off the world biggest stages race for junior rider. tourabitibi.com
Yes cobbles have a place. Some poeple 😱 only watch the TdF and so there eyes should be opened to cobbled legendary races.
Personally now with one less rider in each team there is room for At least two more teams….more teams with nothing to lose would fire up those loooooong stages.
The winner should be the best all-rounder cyclist, including cobbles.
Lawson Craddock is not in last place. He is ahead of everyone who has dropped out.
Cobbles deffenetly belong to the Tour, so many people want to see riders ride on them or they simply want the "action".
Many people can't imagine the Tour de France without them. Just to see these different Road Types is just more interesting, than seeing the Riders just on Flats. You can compare Cobbles with Mountains. Some people have problems riding (on) them and some are better riding (on) them.
Do you guys think that Roman Bardet needs to step outside his comfort zone of a smaller french team and sign with a more powerful international team to win a grand tour?
No cobblestones. it's gimmicky.
I love the cobbles as a fan, but the fact that we know a main GC contender will inevitably crash out or lose their chance to win on the cobbles stage bugs me.
Yes. cobbles must be there in a tour as great as tour de france .
@gcn, have you heard of Remco Van Evenepoel? Look at the results at the European championship… I think he deserves rider of the week!
Cobbles absolutely do belong in "La Grande Boucle"! They are a part of the french terrain, and part of the cycling heritage. I do think that mastering the cobblestones (to some extend, at least) is what separates the "greats" from the legends! 🙂
Yes to the cobbles. Epic and very entertaining
Yes, of course. To label this stage dangerous is to neglect much of the mountain stages to come.
As much as I love the cobbles I think they don’t have a place in the Tour De France. Riders and teams who are aiming to wear a winners jersey shouldn’t have to take such a large and unnecessary risk in a 3 week race just to draw attention or “make it exciting”. It’s like throwing a 20/20 day in the middle of a 5 day test match. Leave the cobbles classics and Grands Tour separate.
the tdf cyclists are being tested in all aspects of the sport. they should be tested on endurance, speed and control. riding over cobbles certainly tests their bike handling skills
And please add a time trial on cobbles!
In the words of Dan Lloyd: "Emma Pooley, though, was just on another level."
Tour de france.. if the cobbles are in france then its ok..riders need to toughen up 😂
Can you check if foxter bike a good brand of mtb?
GCN and GCN tech are the best cycling channels 👍🏼
@gcn , can you please explain in a reply why the yellow jersey in stage 9 at the front of the race let up, and played the stupid rolling chase sprint game at the end rather then just taking the wind and TTing to the finish, coming third in the sprint but with an additional 20+ seconds on GC.
Sorry to go off topic but Chris Froome has been awfully "quiet" this race?
The only* UCI 1.2 Mens's and Women's ITT in the US took place on Friday (7/13). Hosted near Boise,Idaho by 3xOlympic Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong.
*excluding those in stage races because ATOC and Tour of Utah have ITTs as well.
Cobbles, yes. TTT, no.
Cobbles do have a place but I think one stage is enough.
Perhaps have the stage in the second week when riders are a bit more tired and a less nervy peloton.
I don't know. I think cobbles CAN lead to interesting racing, but I don't think that was the case this year.
All the GC favorites seemed equally at ease, and the only real drama there was due to crashes and punctures. Literally no gaps between the favorites were created at any time without it being due to either a crash or a mechanical. So if that is interesting racing, I guess it qualifies..? I'm more with Tom Dumoulin – I would have liked to see a harder race with bigger time differences.
These cobbled roads are in France! The race is called Tour de France! Of course they belong! Should we exclude Alp d’huez because it’s too steep? No! We shouldn’t exclude cobbles because the roads are rough! It’s all part of pro racing!
Props to Dan for making that change in tone regarding rider age and it's impact on ability. Seems like his positions are more in line with reality.
COBBLES A MUST
The douchebag spectators are the most dangerous thing in Le Tour. Long live the cobbles