My perspective on the “teammate gate” on today’s TDF Femmes Stage 8 is more around what actually cost Kasia in the end. Without question Demi taking the lead before the corner and her teammate Cery getting on her wheel (after pulling) was to create a gap for Demi. This is quite common in racing and different than blocking. Was it needed? No. Was it a cheap shot, yes. But I think what actually cost Kasia was her fighting with Cery for the wheel going into the turn and then getting upset with Cery when she went wide in the turn (with Kasia on the outside). The fighting forced her to brake, restart, and then do a massive acceleration back up to Vollering. But I think even more costly was her mindset, internalizing and taking personal what happened. You could see she was visibly flustered (rightfully so) but I think this feeling resulted in anger and anxiety, possibly seizing up her body and making it harder to push. I think this is possibly the reason she could not help chase in the final and why she could not sprint for the time bonus. A possible solution to this situation next time would be to do like Longo Borghini did, seeing the teammate was setting up the wedge, given space entering the turn, and then getting a run at them to slingshot by. For sure Kasia had the legs to do this. This is my take and I think the reality is FDJ made this tactic because they were concerned Demi would not be able to gap Kasia. I don’t think they maliciously were trying to hurt or block Kasia, I think just trying to make Demi’s acceleration harder to follow for Kasia. In the end I wish FDJ just owned it and explained it, even just calling it “racing.” By them pretending nothing happened just makes it seem more malicious than it actually was.

Start to finish involved with every daily stage outcome. If he wasn’t contesting the stage he was setting up his teammate.

Is Tadej Pogacar the Taylor Swift of cycling? Here’s why I think he’s more than just the greatest cyclist of all time.

Amazing ride from Remco today to win the TT and really position himself strongly in 2nd place. It’s easy to say yeah, he won because of his cda and his TT ability. But on that course, in the last week of the Tour, and visually looking extremely within himself, I think it points to confidence matching with form. What do you guys think his strategy should be for the last mtn stages? Race Tadej? Ride his own pace and do a TT on the final climb to ride within his zones? Or join the battle dome with the four riders competing for 3rd place? Seems like the best bet would be to follow and when or if the pace goes outside of his zones just lock into TT mode and ride his own pace. I think if he does that for sure he is 2nd in Paris.

Meanwhile Quinn Simmons on fire on this final climb!!!!!!!

How many Tours has Jonas ever crashed in? I can not even think of one crash in a TDF?

Wait just like that Jonas is out?! Brutal sport and quite unfair so often. Super bummed for him and his team.