DUTCH OUTFIT JUMBO-Visma stormed to victory on the Tour de France team time-trial on Sunday with Mike Teunissen keeping the yellow jersey after the 27.6km second stage around Brussels.
Teunissen maintained his overnight lead when his team beat Geraint Thomas’ Ineos by an impressive 20 seconds, with the next five teams all grouped within a handful of seconds.
Ineos were the first group down the ramp on Sunday and set a pulsating time for the others to chase, holding onto their lead until Jumbo, last off the blocks, smashed 20 seconds off the British team’s time just when it appeared that Gianni Moscon would take the yellow jersey.
Instead, Saturday’s surprise winner not only keeps his overnight lead, but moves further clear of his rivals from other teams.
“It was a pretty decent time,” a breathless defending champion Geraint Thomas said at the finish line at the giant Brussels Atomium, built for the 1958 World Fair.
“I was pretty sore hitting the barriers yesterday, so the good news (is) I’m totally fine.”
Those looking for signs this will be an open and competitive Tour de France, will see the minimal time differences between the main contenders as a sign of how tight it is.
The times for the team time-trial are taken from the fourth man crossing the line, while dropped riders take their own time, as with Vuelta a Espana champion Simon Yates, who was left behind with 10km to race.
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Do you know what? I wouldn’t put it past them.. C’mon Munster!!
Clermont were solid in Thomond but Munster underperformed too – if Munster play to the level they’re capable of nothing is impossible. Stand Up And Fight!
Drop goal last minute for the win . come on munster! !!
Clermont will probably set up their defence expecting Munster’s narrow attack through their forwards again. That should, in theory, leave space elsewhere. Hopefully Munster will be good enough to exploit it
Munster attempting the wide game against the class of the Clermont backs would be a high-stakes game of Poker. Clermont defence were up very fast every time in Thomond (living on the edge of the laws it has to be said but Barnes never picked up on it). A few little dinks over the top from Keating might keep them more honest and give Munster that extra yard of space to cross the gain line – I’d prefer to see this than an out and out wide game (which I think Munster would probably lose).
*Keatley – must have been thinking Boyzone! ; -)
It’s contrary to any logic or common sense, if anyone can pull it from the fire it’s Munster. Out muscled and out classed on their own patch in Thomond does not give much of a chance in Clermont’s own fortress, but they have done such things before. Would go down as one of their greatest if they managed it….
O’Mahony needs to front up. Fritz Lee beat him up last week early on in that scuffle and that set the tone for Clermonts dominance. To see their captain schooled like that must have been an eye opener for all the Munster players. I still think Munster will win this weekend.
In fairness what set the tone last week was O’Mahony losing the first restart. From there the lineout and easy try. For once Robson we see eye to eye.
O’Mahony is a pretend hard man. Clermont figured this out and went after him. His showboating handbags carry-on is a symptom of the televised game – no consequences for his actions as the real hard men won’t retaliate. All bark and no bite. Shame really, as he is a very good player.
Go away and fcuk off ye langer!
‘I think there was about 12 punches thrown and there wasn’t one landed!’, pretty much sums it up.
You are spot on Jack, you mugged him off with that quote. Mugged him off good and proper.
I believe.