Train-Donkey dominated. Well, 4th place, close enough.
They of the moronic escape attempts and general decisions.
First group Taka-Romoc with pullers finally.. Taka gives up pretty fast. Obviously CP tempo was for GC, no interest in letting Yilmaz enough time to act as a puller later. So stop. Narren with the offline attack though, had I seen that he would have gotten -1, if you know you'll be off most of the stage, don't attack, go in escapes with non-leaders. Had I been on at home I would have chased that escape too (a bit probably) those offline attackers just destroy groups in the end. Ok, maybe he was on at the time, but when I checked later, he was off since forever.... ok, not sure if he was on or off at that point, just suspect off.
Anyway, Taka stops, even announces that it should be for Alex (and there Narren was indeed off), so ok, FL then complied. Just continue, CP already went to green, he wasn't going to catch that group that easily. Just go red a while, get 1'30", FL will not start then for the IS. But ok, suspected Taka didn't really want to have a group, more interest in blocking it? Or just completely moronic thinking? Anyway, moronic escape attempt 1! Caught with green by CP.
Next in the downhill while FL is now riding for the IS, Romoc goes with his sprinter and a not so impressive puller. Yeah, how stupid, sorry, moronic is that? FL now riding, he will just let go a C level puller to get the points for another sprinter??
Next attack Navas, Roy hangs, goes in after he sees it, Navas probably rode a km already. ok, Navas went earlier, can do a few km, Navas doesn't join, the usual whining, excuses, (often he lies as well, no idea if he did this time too, let's say no) so ok, we stop. Moronic attempt 3, why try if you are not ready to ride. (Btw, at the sieb later Roy ended up all of 1 second in front of Navas.... that 2 man group was one that would have gotten quite a bit of time. Go through? Unlikely, but not impossible. Navas with more sprint... take a risk and ride maybe? But no, never, never show guts and ride because you might ride for nothing.
Next, fill up, 2 more Romoc, 2 Taka as well. and again, what was this? CP riding slowly in the back enough to make the 2 panic, that somebody was taking advantage of them? Instead of riding, 2 Romoc, 1 Taka? Or talk, x km one Romoc, then the 2 others. Go red, enough energy to go through with the leaders... (Roy though would have been a problem, he wasn't eager to ride anymore) But no, be paranoid about the other taking advantage of you, or try to take advantage of the other... at least do it in a better way, take some lessons from Alkworld, he knows how to make others ride for him. Moronic attempts 4 anyway.
Dreizehn then joins, after the 2 jokers do nothing sensible he attacks there and goes alone. First non-moronic attack of the day!
Final then, sieb, Tukh goes, more GC than stage I guess, in the back Taka is unhappy, but rides. FL has the better win option in front, but asking Omura with less sprint to ride first was funny... finally went in, Lüthi then joined a bit too, but it was all too late. Taka should just have dropped Mori, who is his Novelli or something, ride the hill with him, demand Stenberg in flat. Then probably the group comes together, and then with Omura who maybe can join that escape with Firiam... better chances than this waiting. As for Uru, he stays with my leaders, Lachance and Dixon. Until Lüthi is close and can make sure I'm not losing 30" for nothing...
Anyway, group goes, Arlooktoo rides, last km Papillon goes, strangely none of the GC guys even tries to follow? Uru goes himself, ends 2" behind, doesn't matter.
Sprint another nice moronic decision, Arts goes, is 1 length ahead. Stops to go back in the slipstream of Fürst. Looking at the last 50 meters continuing indeed gives the same result, but at least try? Fürst has to sprint in the wind too, chances to beat him by continuing at this points seem bigger than going in the slipstream again, and then try to gain that length in 50 meters. Another complete lack of guts, moronic action, always try to "use" others, brain doesn't work further than that it seems.
FL games continue anyway, I fear he'll end up with 6-7 wins at this point. While the Donkey will end up at 0
As for the GC, with 56 TT and this not climbers friendly parcours... it's not hopeless for him. But will he gain enough time on stage 9? Doubt it. Stage 10 he loses. The danger is more what comes later, all those stages with flattish, easy finishes, but again, somebody like Firiam can probably follow Fürst-tacks there. The danger is Arloo doing the attacks, Papillon, but with Stoel and Eef CP isn't that weak.
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