Saar De Reu: Hi everyone and good morning for me from Montbrison. the start of today's stage, which is already stage six, which feels crazy. We had a roller coaster of mainly very good emotions on the She Rides part. yeah, some awesome stages we've we've seen so far, and we'll take you through it in this episode. Also, just as last week, stay tuned for our TTT Tim's Tim tells you a nice story about the history of the Tour de France women, or more specifically a rider in the history of the Tour de France for women. but now let's go back to stage three. In the morning I was recording with Connie as you probably have seen coming by. and then well you might have thought like okay an up connie no no no we also spent our time together at Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: Cold La Foussille. She had a little race with the caravan to get to the top where I was standing before them. she was told off by the police multiple times and then she pretended to be Danish because she had some Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: Danish teammates, but she she did get there safe. So no problem, don't get after her please. but that went Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: nice. I did some spray pa spray painting there again. and yeah, it was waiting in the sun for a change. but yeah, the the thing I remember from at that climb was it was like ooh, Sigurd is looking good. Of course we all know Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: that I predicted Sigurd as a stage winner that day. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: and then yeah there were already quite some group drops. Mainly Weavis was already quite far back. but I think it was also kind of planned, as we heard a lot before, that this was for in for as he works a breakaway kind of day. shame on ASO for not getting us coverage for this. boo this is Yeah, though Kristof: Yeah, we missed it. Yep, we missed Sigrid's breakaway. Well, not the breakaway, but the start of the breakaway. Yeah, well, we missed the entire race, basically. Saar De Reu: Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I mean don't put an uphill start on a Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: when one cat climb and then don't televise it. It's Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: ridiculous. It doesn't make any sense at all. And you're making a lot of people very angry. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: apart from that so yeah we had a b a little bit of a bigger break first with Lotto Kopecki in there, Secret Hog said can you help first off who who else was in there? Yeah, we never saw them on on television, so I ha I I don't know actually. no that that was Kristof: my god, help me. Yeah. Was us tolaza already in there? Kim Nakuda? No. Saar De Reu: yesterday. Kristof: Okay. Saar De Reu: yeah, but we had a bigger break, but in the end Kristof: Yup. Saar De Reu: they didn't want to work together. I think Lotto Kopeki after the race also was a little bit annoyed. She was like, I didn't get why no one wanted like to work together. This was like a nice chance for all of us to go for the break. but yeah, sometimes it is like that this cycling. but bam I told you before she can do a break. Did I specifically mean that she can do a 90 kilometer break in a tour de France stage that becomes successfully with Lotto Capeki chasing her, coming close, Kristof: and win it. Saar De Reu: but then not getting to her, raise her arms in the air and win the yellow jersey? Maybe I didn't. Kristof: Hehehehe. Hehehe. Saar De Reu: But she did do it. we also like yeah, it's like the the jura, it's like There are not mu many roads. So one time we were parked and the riders had paused already for quite a long time and we stood there at least 45 minutes just still no one had a clue why and at that moment I saw Sigurd Hoxet is leading with like over a minute and I was like my god this is cool and then I was Lotha Kristof: He he he Saar De Reu: Kopekis chasing and I was Shit! They are not gonna vote target Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: this stage, right? Yeah, the difficult position. Kristof: This is a mindfuck. Saar De Reu: It's like quite hard when you have like your all-time favorite writer chasing someone Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: whom you've known now for over a year and you've seen how hard she works and also how a fucking cool person she is and how she would deserve it. So that was kind of a a mindfuck and First thing I wasn't like thinking properly so I didn't realize Sehirt would have the yellow jersey as well if they made it on time. Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: So I was like fuck at least at least one heartbreak. and then the the next thing was like shit am I really not gonna make it to the finish? Like nothing was moving. I was like not this stage gone But then we did make it. at twenty-five K to go. We made it to the finish. and I met the the parents of Famky de Vries, which was super nice. I stood there Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: I got a nice spot because they left then to the buses to watch Siegrid come in, so that was very nice. and yeah, can imagine it was quite emotional after that also my voice has been a little bit tricky, so now when I Kristof: Hahaha Saar De Reu: try to raise it like really high. voice cracks are getting more regular so I'm worried you just heard one. I I'm worried actually if if my voice will make it to Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: be but anyways. Ruth Kristof: We still have Connie's side, no worries. Saar De Reu: yeah so watch the podium obviously. She's very loud. I had like some French guy who was like turning his head around to me because I wasn't on the first two. And he was looking at me like, What the fuck is your problem? Yeah, it it was quite loud, I will admit. but yeah, I was like le let me wait a little bit before like see comes out and then Lynn Schampard how many episodes? Two, three, four A couple episodes Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: back she was here. her post went quite viral. and she's Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: very nice, so she's also here at the tour, so we talked a bit. And then Sigret was coming back for some pictures I think and and I said like okay I'm I'm gonna go to her. And Lynn said like okay, let me film you. This could be nice. well yeah, it's I I cried before like at the podium I was like just crying like it was just all coming out. and then I saw Rana. It was it was such a beautiful moment. yeah, if you watch the video it's like really goosebumps. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: It was super cool. so yeah, then after I also went to to Paula after the stage she gave me her analysis of who's doing well and who's not gonna do well in the coming days. So super interesting and the most funny thing also was to me when she saw me she was like Sarah, what did Lotto Kopecki do today? That was Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: like the the most funny part of it all. Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: yeah, but it's just super cool. Been in a bit in a weird situation with the team. we now also saw Longoburgini and Vladarczyk doing interviews blaming it on the press. Which it's n I I get that it's not a nice situation for the team to be in, but I would also recommend them to listen to the interviews their press their DS gave to the journalists. Because it's not about the press if your DS is just like Saying it like straight as it is, she's here to work for the team. She's doing her work well, so that's what I can expect from this young writer. I'm sorry, then it's not on the press, then it's on your DS who one made a very weird decision and three also gives some unsympathetic interviews. Kristof: It's turning out to be a little bit awkward now with Saar De Reu: Yeah. Kristof: the strategy currently after five stages, think. And now it's all of a sudden like, no, all the three of us can go our own chance. I mean, Saar De Reu: I am, of course. Kristof: teaches that that never works out nicely in cycling. If you don't like be clear and then 100 % straightforward. I mean... Saar De Reu: Yeah yeah now it's like Paula has never been a domestique. Then okay explain me why she was riding on the front of the Palatine with seventy three K to go in stage three. Why? Wha was that part of her leader role or what part am am I not getting? Kristof: Yeah, it's... I mean, it's all good, but when Longo starts to lose time as well, it's like... Now it's getting a bit an awkward situation. ugh, just... I mean, you should be clear now. Like, can she go her own chance or not on the 1-2, for example? mean, come on. But maybe internally everything is clear. We don't know, of course. Yeah, come on, Paula. Saar De Reu: But like okay, you could say like maybe internally everything is clear. It seems a bit weird. If your writers go to the press, you make it so big and then your DS just keeps giving these interviews, Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: like saying, no no no, the the the roles are clear. She's not here for yeah. Let's let's spark this little situation. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: But do you think I read like a lot of things like the teams behind failed to chase? But I feel like everyone just underestimates how strong Secret Hawk set is and how long she can cape one pace, even if it looks like she's suffering so much. We n yeah, like I mean she did a a solo of hundred sixteen kilometers to win the Norwegian Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: championships. She can go hard for so long. I feel like when I I like saw these podcast clips or read these articles, I was like, do you guys know how strong Siri Talk Set is? Or are you just trying to make a clickbait title? Or what what is this? Kristof: Probably 90 % the last one. Saar De Reu: What? Kristof: But also I think Sigrid is still such an unknown for the general public. I think it's mainly that. I mean, Saar De Reu: my. Kristof: yes, she is super strong. Although when I saw her in the breakaway, I have to admit that I was like, this is nice TV time for Sigrid, but Lot is chasing her. well, mean, hang in there Sigrid. Saar De Reu: No, Christoph, come on. Kristof: But yeah, but but then I was like, okay, it's a two in France fun sad I mean, I was like, okay, they're gonna change chase super hard a lot is behind her So was like, well, it's super nice. Hang on there. See it as much as you can Maybe you grab a jersey or something and then it started to go and then like a lot of fell flat or or she didn't come closer or whatever it was and I was like, Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Kristof: ooh What's happening here? I mean, come on and then she took the yellow jersey. I was like, no, no, no, no, this is crazy Saar De Reu: yeah no I I I saw like Kristof: And then... Saar De Reu: from behind it was not gonna come from there. So it was like or she stays in the front alone or Lotto Kopeki comes with her and she'll go with Lotto to the to the line because I think we also know secret and we know quite sure if Lotto would have Come with her, she would have just keeps like, yeah, I'll paste with you, sure. Let's do this together. So I was the the moment I saw her like having like over two minutes on the paladin and there it not working, I was like, I feel like she's gonna get first or second. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: to actually then do it is quite impressive. Also Paula, yeah, she was like what did she do? Like she at one moment Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: she had like five minutes and it was not like we were going we were going slow, so I think also just within the paloton they underestimated a bit how how strong she is. And finally after complaining for the last couple of months of secret needing to domestique, well she got herself in a good position. love to see it. I also saw her yesterday and I was like hera like yeah my fantasy teams like skyrocketed because of your performance and she was Kristof: Hahaha Saar De Reu: like my god you really did take me your fantasy teams and I went to check Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: in the little competition like I play the Tour d'Amiens. Yeah they a lot of them listen for the tips to our podcast and twenty-three people took Sigrid with her in the sewer. But but it's quite Kristof: That's a... Saar De Reu: g good. She was the twenty sixth most chosen rider in teams of fifteen riders, so it's it's definitely not bad. we started the the high pier. Kristof: Bad thing for your team, sad but a good thing because people listen to us. That's good. Yeah, I texted Sigrid Saar De Reu: And they remember the good parts. Kristof: after the stage as well. Saar De Reu: Mm. Kristof: What the hell did you do? And then the day after she only the day after she replied to me after the TT she was like Yeah, I don't know yet what I did, but I paid a heavy price today. So I was like it doesn't matter So yeah, it a Was kind of crazy Yeah, Saar De Reu: Yeah, beautiful stage. Yeah. Kristof: yeah, yeah, definitely. Well, we might be super biased but still an 88k break Not Saar De Reu: It's cool. Kristof: not being pogacha to say that Saar De Reu: Exactly. Kristof: It's nice. Saar De Reu: Is there super combatief for in the tour for women? Probably right. Yeah. So maybe Sirip Kristof: Ooh, that should be. I guess. Saar De Reu: needs to try and go and attack once more and then maybe she Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: that can become the goal for the rest of the tour. Kristof: It depends on how many frenchies go in the breakaway because yeah, well, it's usually a french award. Saar De Reu: Well but she has like she has like an insane she has like an insane like gap already on all the others 'cause I don't think anyone will do an almost ninety break break again. Kristof: But it's in... I got your point, Sair, but it's still as though who's awarding the supercommentarity award. Okay, okay, let's see. Saar De Reu: Nah, but it's it's getting better. It's getting a lot better. so yeah, do we need to say something else about this stage? Yeah, Vos also wanted to win this one. They paced a bit with Fisma, but it was not enough. Also saw quite some attacks, mainly from Lecour and was it also following? There I don't know. I I know I was like, ooh, Lecour, that's some good stuff. Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: I I was like already manifesting like come on Kim, we're we're gonna get onto Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: that final GC podium. Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: it's it's looking a bit less good, but you never know. So it was Hawk's that before Kopeki, Vos Oselasa, Lecour Ruec Jury, Kerbao Maulina Müll. That's quite a good result for her as well, and Trinka Colonel. That was that I think for the third stage. yeah. Can get enough of this one. Who gives a fuck about the other stuff? Kristof: Yeah, basically everything is irrelevant about that stage besides the yellow jersey and the stage vet of Sigrid. So... All the rest we forgot already. Doesn't matter. Saar De Reu: And then the day afterwards time triolet, thanks to one of our guests as well. I got FIP spot at the finish line. First day of the tour, I wasn't dehydrated afterwards. good to get some drinks and I did there was l like not much to eat for sure not if you have like gluten legos anyways. so I forgot to eat during the day, so when we arrived at 830 it was getting quite tricky. but was was a nice spot. yeah, I I guess the expected rider took the ITT with with Marlin taking it. Likinoyen did a huge ride Kristof: Yep. Saar De Reu: that that was impressive. I I felt like after a couple of like times of big writers you were like, damn, this this is quite good, but still to to end up second there. Also like a huge shout out to Lotte Klasse, who became eighth in this international field. who didn't prepare specifically for the time trial, who sure has some improvements to do on like the technical aspect, the the bike fit and everything else, to end up Kristof: You Saar De Reu: eighth on a time trial in the Tour de France is just crazy and it's just yet another argument for all the teams. No, it's not because you're over 30 years old, you can't improve anymore, you can't get good results anymore. Because look at where she is now. congrats total super super strong. then yeah apart from Roycer Volering was also a winner in this TT. Kristof: Yep. Saar De Reu: She only lost about eighteen seconds to Roycer which is a a very good performance. Misha was fifth by the way for more Shiri's shout-out. Longo Borgini Kristof: You Saar De Reu: was 10 on 103 but her chain fell off in the last couple of kilometers so she lost some time there. Uh-huh. Paula Blasi yeah yeah Kristof: Yeah, she had to switch bikes. yeah, strong performance if you have to switch bikes. Saar De Reu: yeah. Paula Blasi one four. There it just continues the Domestique versus Leaders Haga. I'm so Kristof: Good. Saar De Reu: sorry. I just think it's ridiculous. I then Niadoma lost 108 but she said like actually for me this is a win. I'm happy I did lose more which is I think for Niyadoma it's it's a fair thing to say. I think we now come with the yeah Vanderbreag was 109 but we Yeah yeah yeah But Kristof: Let's keep scrolling down now for the next favorite. Saar De Reu: yeah we saw it already now. Vanderbregen clearly isn't feeling good. Then Flodarczyk 120 Niedermai 135. Kristof: That's it. Saar De Reu: We're doing the build-up. And just also because Kristof: Okay. Saar De Reu: I need to scroll very far actually for this. Ferrand Privot, 2 minutes Kristof: Can you find it? Saar De Reu: 13 seconds. which is yeah. It's quite a lot. There was a l there was a lot to do Kristof: She's, I, I, yeah. Saar De Reu: about her position as well. It it looked quite Ridiculous. But yeah, we weren't there with the testing, so I won't judge from From there but yeah Kristof: True, true, we are... But I don't know. Saar De Reu: I was a bit bothered by the argument of Joswabemnon saying like yeah but small riders can't sit on a T T bike properly. There was one of the carbon bike yeah Yeah, there was one of the carbon Kristof: Yeah, not a bit bothered, sorry. Yeah, that was utter bullshit from Vizmaliza, but they did a bad job. Saar De Reu: bike riders who posted it a picture of herself like properly laying on a T T bike like you Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: should saying like huh? Small riders can't Kristof: Okay. Saar De Reu: lay on a T T bike. well I'm I'm four centimeters shorter than than Pauline is. we don't Yeah no no. Kristof: Yeah, exactly. And it's not that Pauline van Opervo is the smallest of the smallest women in the Palatone, so come on. I mean... Saar De Reu: She also of course has that iliac archery surgery, so that could also make it harder for her to yeah. But yeah. It was a bit of an odd position. Yeah, yeah. Kristof: But then just say so, because everybody will understand that excuse. Given the resources of the team vis malisibic, well mainly for the men's team of course, this is not a good look. And a really, really Saar De Reu: Mm. Kristof: weird excuse from Van Emden basically. It's weird. Saar De Reu: Yeah. Kristof: If it's the ilic artery, then just say so, because it's not a taboo in the peloton anymore, because half of the peloton had that surgery. I mean, just say it so. So, I don't know, it's weird. But I think we can scratch her off entirely. Even for Saar De Reu: Yeah. But I Kristof: a win on the Van 2 stage, I would say like probably not in her current Saar De Reu: Yeah, that's the mm. Kristof: form. I mean, well, now, dear listeners, you will see that she's gonna excel on the Van 2, of course, like usually. Saar De Reu: Yeah, you need to listen to me for the accurate predictions because guess who also said that Pug Peterson will win the Polka Bell jersey? Kristof: Yep. Saar De Reu: yeah. But it's also it's fascinating to me like how writers can be so different because we saw like Pauline Federant Prevaux was very calm and she just came to the bus and she said, Okay, I think it's over and it's like such a big contrast of like Yeah, some other writers in the pollutant. I don't know, it fascinates me how like some people are like on the outside so calm and others it just comes out immediately. It's I think it's very fascinating. But yeah T yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's that's why I thought from the outside. Kristof: Yeah, maybe maybe she smashed something inside of the bus that could be but I mean she But she's a super professional super experienced she has the age she has all that XP points in her belt So I think she's like, that's it. That ship has sailed for this season But I think internally after all the preps she did and then she skipped like like your dance classics Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Kristof: I think inside the bus, maybe she was like Because yeah, this this sucks your whole year is basically thrown thrown into the trash can now Yeah Saar De Reu: Yeah. Look Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: at for example Volering who already took a grand tour, who won multiple big one day races. That's yeah. It's it's what happens when you everything is pointed at one goal and if it then goes wrong it's it's quite sad. But yeah, T T Day delivered. Happy we've got one this year. Next year will be a team time trial. Also nice. and just l let's make sure we never have a tour again without any form of time trialing because it should be in a grand tour. Kristof: Yes, for sure. I completely agree. That's for sure. Saar De Reu: And then yesterday stage, at the start I got another hospitality invite from Kate, which was nice. So I could go I could head to the buses. Not many buses were there, but then the UNOX bus arrived, so I for sure needed to catch up go and catch up with series. It was so funny to see, like I still remember the time when I went to Balbaza Lady's tour the year before. when she was like after the T T on her rollers. And there was no one, it was at the coop bus at that point. There was just literally no one. And I like almost had to like shout because she was so in the zone for speak her. And now I was there at the bus and you had like so many kids coming from signatures but also like grown-ups, like people coming to say you're my hero forever. It was such a a change to see. ki kind of crazy if you think about it, how one thing can change so much. but was nice to see her. Then I also went to the SD Boris bus but first I I saw Carolina Peregitko we who was also nice to see. She we she wa she was my voice she wanted to try to go in the breakaway but yeah we all saw the footage. This time there was full coverage but it was quite Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: hard to actually get a breakaway moving so that didn't work out. and then I went to the SD Works bus and just like last year actually Lotta came out with a side bip number. Quite cool, I need to admit. It Kristof: Hehehehehe Saar De Reu: was super nice. and I was like again? Like she was but she was like I was a bit further and I saw like no way. Again, really was quite cool. I was like I was happy and I was like I'm I'm quite calm and then I look back at like my live photo because like it records like a little piece before like your photo and my husband just Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: said I had a number like yeah Kristof: Hahaha Saar De Reu: a good day and then we went to the Montbrouilly it was super busy there really Then it was waiting in the sun. It was at this point where I was in the sun and I was like trying to protect myself and my phone from overheating with my sign for a lot of that I was like okay this heat it's been it's been enough now it can it can stop okay I I don't need it anymore it's fine so yeah But we had a good race again. break was hard. Eventually there I did get a breakaway with two Belgians, Laura de Schepper, Justine Gaquire. Vlodartsik bridged to there as well. Miermeyer was in there, Femke de Vries was in there, Sprat was in there, Fisher Black. Kristof: Homegrown. Saar De Reu: Was Holmken in there? I I don't Kristof: I don't know if she was in there yet. Saar De Reu: think so. I think it was Sprat, Fisher Black another was it Marcus I don't think Homegun was was in there in the beginning but I could Kristof: Okay. Saar De Reu: also be wrong. I mean I watched it on an overheated phone on a climb. and so yeah, but it was quite interesting because they they did get some space. Also Juliette Bertel was in there. So technically FDG didn't need to write, but I said like to my dad, wait for it in five minutes Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: And she will crack and they will start racing anyways, which they did. It didn't take five minutes even. but Cook was in there as to in there as well because it played out quite well so they were right for writing, but I it was just funny for me. Like which Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: teams race first? Well yeah, so Vladovtic was in there so there were quite some G commenders actually in there. then there was Kristof: Is Flood Artchic a GC contender, sir? She's a domestic, isn't she? Saar De Reu: No no no it w Vladautic and Longo Borghini were the two leaders of the team. So yeah and then FDG paste, Volering really tried to make the race hard, which resulted Quite well, but she didn't succeed in getting two riders off her wheel being Nivia Doma Marlon Roycer, which is a good thing because this is really Demi Follering train. Not that we're against Demi Volering, but just we Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: we do la love some excitement in the race. So I I like to see she can drop them today. So yeah, we that were the big winners of course following being the biggest with also taking the stage. Nivia Doma did one of her classics attacks before the sprint. This time she did time it perfectly, but it was just I was like and I was like yeah and then no not again come on because I was like Kristof: Casio doing Casio things. Saar De Reu: I was like I was also like Marwan she will try she will she will gamble. She she won't go after her. So I so I was like Baby will try but maybe she will come too short this way and she will still take the win. But yeah, no, baby was was was too strong. the forden race was Vladarchik on fur 45 seconds, Holm run and Niedermeier in there as well. Femkit Vries survived from the breakaway as well, 112. Maybe that's now the new GC contender for Visman Lee's bike. I think so. Yeah, Binal also dropped early, Ferrand Privaux is Death is 17th in the GC or something, so why not femme Ken Vries? She did some good races already this year. Kristof: Mm. Saar De Reu: Then we had a group with Kim Lecour who was looking very good, like my hopes were really high. And so I when I saw her pass the buy on the mountain I was like no I don't like this but we had a group with Lecour, Berta and Longo Borghini on one forty-three. Paola finished on two two twenty-seven. Von der Bregen and Privot together with Carbaul finished on two thirty-five. anyone else? No, I I think that mainly was it. And they surprisingly all made the time kit because Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: everything was just like I think the first like twenty, twenty-five minutes everything was just one rider, two riders, four riders, three riders, one rider. Kristof: you Saar De Reu: And then in the end we had two Some w two gruppettos but still actually quite small for a gruppetto. but good they all might made the time kit and then why you would think tomorrow just a little rest for the Vantu stage no forget about it. That will be cr too crazy. Again two thousand eight hundred elevation game. So good luck. Kristof: Yes, yeah good luck. Yeah, yeah interesting, I think today is UAE day. They have to. They have to do something with Saar De Reu: Yeah. Kristof: the quality and their team. I mean they've been too lazy for now. Saar De Reu: And and just a little hint for you, try try to use your domestique as well who still plays Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: quite high. You know, gat try to get her into Kristof: Yeah, that's it. Saar De Reu: a breakaway. They let the top ten riders go in breakaways yesterday. Try to get her. Maybe she can get away. That's a good Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: time trial, you know. Kristof: Yeah, it's an interesting day for UAE I think today. They have Saar De Reu: Yeah, they need to do something. Kristof: to. Yeah, they have to. With the talent on their roster, this is subpar so far. If the tour would end today, not a good Tour de France for UAE, I think. But of course, Saar De Reu: No, no, they they need to try today. Kristof: we have plenty more to go, so nothing is done yet. Nothing is all... Saar De Reu: Mm. But Vantu is considerably harder to win for them than Kristof: Given the GC of Paula... Maybe... Yeah... I just... Yeah... Saar De Reu: Yeah, I don't know. But no one yeah, that but then they have to let Paula have her shot because I don't see one of the other two do it. Kristof: The thing Paula can do is just like... sorry, I lost my Saar De Reu: Let's say the Euro Kristof: earpiece. no. But hey, I won the VanTuesday, so... Yeah. Sure, but who's... Who's your clear favorite by now, Saar? Or is there any clear favourite yet? For you. Saar De Reu: Like like in the media it's like Vollering has this in her bag, but I'm like why? I don't know. He's strong, but it's not like Kristof: She's looking strong. She's... Saar De Reu: okay she won the Tour de France, she can move over. I wanna say v I like I wanna say Volling but I also don't wanna say Vollering because I don't like obvious picks. Kristof: Yeah, I get it. But Kassia needs to win one minute somewhere on Damien. I don't know how. Saar De Reu: she did look good la I actually really loved how like yesterday on the Montrouille she like no day, you're not the only one who can pace really hard and she just went over just for the top, which was cool. yeah Kristof: I'm pretty sure she's gonna try because it's Niviadova is Niviadova. She's gotta try until she until the Tour de France-Somme is done. That's for sure. But I'm just realistically thinking like where are you gonna take one minute on Demi who's clearly on form. Yeah. Saar De Reu: If sh if she would, it needs to be on Vantu. She won't take it in the in the puncher stages. It needs to be Vantu. Kristof: Yeah, Ornith, last one. But yeah, that's Saar De Reu: Yeah. Kristof: a gamble, waiting until the last, the last, last stage. Saar De Reu: But yeah and for Marlon it depends. I think Fontu is better for her the time trialist in her. Kristof: Hmm? Saar De Reu: So if she can stay with Volering there. We we do know Marlon has quite some fighting spirit and some like if I went this I will. So if Demi can drop Kristof: She's yeah Saar De Reu: her on Fontou, I mean why not Marlon Royser? Kristof: I think she's capable to win it. But for Marlin I think it all depends a bit on how the race will be raced. know what I mean? Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Kristof: If it stays like, the favorites keep looking at each other and not a lot happens, then it's gonna be very dangerous when you have Marlin Roycer still with you. If it's gonna be really explosive and attack after attack and for example Niedermeier that's like going as well or maybe Paula or maybe Lonko Purkinie and then like very... like complete chaos... Then it's gonna be difficult I think for Marlon Royster. Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Kristof: But yeah, depends a bit for her how it plays out. But yeah, we shouldn't count her out. That's for sure. Saar De Reu: Yeah, yeah, I agree. Kristof: It's us. Saar De Reu: Now what y what do you think for t today's stage? Is that again G C fight, breakaway, punchers? I think it will be Kristof: Can be all three Why not? Saar De Reu: either break or G C riders. Kristof: too. Saar De Reu: But I'm seeing like punchers like maybe like a Vos Ruek Kopaki just try to get into the breakaway. That's why I'm Kristof: Mm-hmm. Saar De Reu: saying and also two thousand eight hundred meters of elevation gain. Oof Kristof: Yeah, that's true. Let's see... I think it's gonna be GC time. think Saar De Reu: Mm. Kristof: so. think so. I think so. Yeah. Saar De Reu: Okay. Kristof: UAE... I expect UAE to be very... very present today. They... I mean, yeah, they have to. That's... And, well, when you stay true to your team tactics, then it should be Vlodarchik or Longoburghini today. All in for them. Because I think they need to gain something today. They need Saar De Reu: Mm. Kristof: some perspective. That's for sure. Saar De Reu: Paula for the win. Come on. Okay, also fine. I I I don't mind. Everything's fine for me. Kristof: Nah, that's for Van 2. I go for Van 2. I still go for the earplugs. I'm Saar De Reu: Mm-hmm. Kristof: gone. Saar De Reu: Well yeah, some nice stages ha some more to come. For me the least exciting day of the whole tour. It's starts, then we need to leave because we stay on a camping very close to the Vantu. and we need to check in at last at seven. It's over three hours drive. So we literally can only do the start. First I was like, maybe we can do the intermediate sprint. But then we have only like half an hour extra time, so that's too close. So Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: I'm alre I'm I'm like doing every stage of the tour and still today I'm like FOMO, really. Kristof: Sssss Saar De Reu: It's just too good to miss out on anything. Kristof: Yeah. Saar De Reu: but at least some time for recovery will be good. Kristof: That's for sure. Saar De Reu: but yeah then also in like the few kilometers before the Vantu there won't be crowds allowed. Kristof: Hmm. Saar De Reu: so that's also because of the risk of of fire how do you call it? Yeah, fire, you know what I mean. Kristof: You Saar De Reu: I mean if they I don't know, stage six of the tour, like forgive me for not doing Exactly, exactly. That was it. Kristof: Wildfires you mean? To the rescue! Saar De Reu: Maybe something else we need to mention. We all know that Margot van Pachtbeke wasn't selected for the tour. Boo little track. I actually hate you for it. I'm sorry. yeah, of course she she did know it I I guess ten days before. So super sad she wasn't going. But yeah, she did do something else. She went to the Vantu. her dad got diagnosed with cancer s a while ago. and she she wrote she her plan was to write up the Vantu as much as possible within twenty-four hours to yeah, to gather money for in Belgium it's called Comop Tech Kanker, a charity for cancer research here in Belgium. And she did it seven times. which Which is quite an epic performance. So I feel like yeah, congrats to her. Super strong. Cool that she she did something else. and I know I mean like little trek next time you can take her to the tour. If you can climb seven times small one two in twenty four hours. Y Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: you can you can do a a tour of nine stages as well. yeah, and I'm sorry, I'm super Kristof: Should be, should be. Saar De Reu: o over protective of the people I like. So blue little trek. Kristof: you were? Saar De Reu: Yeah take her next time. S same for AG. I'm missing Julie van der Velde in this tour. yeah. That was the day before. So first when I was at home I saw Julie Van der Velde isn't going and I was like no fucking way, really. And then I was at the supermarket with my mom and I saw the little track roster and I was scrolling and I I just kept scrolling and there was nothing to scroll anymore and I was like Kristof: Yeah Saar De Reu: in the middle of the supermarket. I was like Mom no way Margo is also not going so I was actually quite annoyed about that for a couple of hours. It still turned out to be a nice tour but still anyways they there are some interesting races left with the with the Belgian national team where they can show how strong they are so that will be good to see. but yeah. Yeah, exactly. But apart Kristof: But still. Saar De Reu: from that felt like Margo deserved a shout out for what she did there. don't think many people would do that just out of themselves. let's write up more one through seven times today. Kristof: Yeah, I guess a lot of our listeners know how hard M0n1-2 is, so a lot of the listeners Saar De Reu: Yeah, really. Kristof: know what seven times M0n1-2 might be. That's at least I can imagine what it is. It's... Saar De Reu: Really? Kristof: Yeah, would not recommend, I think. Saar De Reu: Yeah. okay but I think we can close off this episode, this short episode, not really. right now. we'll see you normally the evening before the final stage with another episode for you. and in the meantime keep watching the fun. keep an eye on our socials. Yeah, for for all the content. Kristof: And have fun sir! Keep cheering for our guests! Saar De Reu: keep having fun? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I will, obviously. Bye. Kristof: cool bye bye