Has started . Naturally, in Dusseldorf. Where else? ;D
Surprise Day 1 leader Team Sky's Geraint Thomas, and a horrific crash for stalwart Alejandro Valverde.
As a relative latecomer to road racing I have become a huge fan and am full of admiration for these guys who ride over 3500km in all weathers. The tactical games played by the main teams are full of twists and turns, and yes, I'd like to see Chris Froome win his 4th Tour. There'll be a few more surprises along the way, I believe.
ITV4 each day
Yes, great to see Thomas in yellow - the first Welshman to wear the famous Maillot Jaune. :claphappy:
Valverde has abandoned having broken his knee in that crash. Quintana's lost a key team-mate there.
Getting it here in Australia.
Great TV coverage, as usual.
:thumbsup:
I have a feeling that this years TdF could be very tactical. The parcours may not be hard enough to split the GC contenders and there are fewer time trial kilometres than usual. Ritchie Porte was very strong in the Dauphine but may have peaked too early. Chris Froome needs to keep out of trouble in the next three flat stages as there are always crashes in the early stages of a grand tour. The first real indication of form will be on La Planche de Belles Filles on stage five. Quintana will miss his lieutenant Valverde in the mountains and I have a sneaking suspicion that Romain Bardet may be the revelation of this years race. Exciting times ahead!
Quote from: cycletrak9 on July 02, 2017, 11:09:41 AM
.. and I have a sneaking suspicion that Romain Bardet may be the revelation of this years race. ...
Any mention of Bardet, has me busting out the intro to 'On A Ragga Tip' by SL2. :bounce:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXCN1DhHTZA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXCN1DhHTZA)
A bit outside my musical range that one but I see what you mean!
After the massive pile up in today's stage with 25km to go to the finish you see what I mean about keeping out of trouble.
As it's less than two hours from where I live, I popped down to Düsseldorf today to see the Tour. Saw the caravan and riders pass through Neanderthal, then jumped in the car and whizzed round to the other side of Düsseldorf in time to see them again approaching Mönchengladbach. Got soaked on the long walk back to the car but it was worth it for the great atmosphere.
Froome went down in the roundabout pileup too. Lucky that there are no wounded from that one. Good to see Cavendish mixing it in the sprint.
Yeah, 4th's a strong result for Cav given his illness this season. Great to see Taylor Phinney riding so strong too given his history. Some reading (http://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/876/a-look-back-at-taylor-phinneys-crash) for those who don't know.
Pleased Kittel got the win too, he's in my Fantasy TDF team!
Quote from: cycletrak9 on July 02, 2017, 06:15:25 PM
After the massive pile up in today's stage with 25km to go to the finish you see what I mean about keeping out of trouble.
I thought for one awful moment I'd jinxed Froome but glad, apart from a bit of skin lost, he and the others are all OK :sweat:
Not sure the pack deserved to catch the breakaway this time as they just didn't seem to get their act together and it would have been a good kick up the rear if they hadn't.
I'm always astonished by these guys just getting up and getting on with it after a big crash. It's not like that for me!
Donald
It's not always in their best interest to:
Agree with NN the chase today was impressively disorganised. Even with 500m to go there were no obvious lead out trains. Lucky there wasn't another crash really.
And then all hell broke loose! :o
I'm no great fan of Peter Sagan (his grandstanding the previous day almost cost him his stage victory) but I still remain unconvinced he deliberately elbowed Mark Cavendish into the fence. They were both leaning on each other, certainly, and elbows were out but that's par for the course in final sprints. Sadly that's the end of this year's race for Cav and I'll be interested to see the results of Sagan's appeal against his disqualification :hmmm:
Bit harsh, Sagan pulled his foot out of his pedal when starting his sprint, not sure there was any "grandstanding", he was looking around, but that's only shrewd, you don't want to get caught off guard by someone starting a long sprint.
As for yesterday it was definitely Sagan's fault, but it was another chaotic sprint, I definitely think the elbow was more to steady himself once the contact had already happened. The 80 point sanction was sufficient reprimand, disqualification was a gross overreaction I think. Speaking as a big Cavendish fan. Sagan was unlucky that Cav was in the bit of road he was hoping to occupy. There were worse transgressions in that final kilometre that have gone unpunished. Chris Boardman summed it up nicely when he said they're punishing consequences, not actions.
People wavering off line whilst sprinting is nothing new, they're all head down going hell for leather, a bit of jostling is bound to happen. Look up Abdoujaparov's Champs Elysee crash from many years ago, he was lucky he only took himself out!
Quote from: njee20 on July 05, 2017, 10:14:52 AM
Bit harsh, Sagan pulled his foot out of his pedal when starting his sprint, not sure there was any "grandstanding", he was looking around, but that's only shrewd, you don't want to get caught off guard by someone starting a long sprint.
He recovered well from the pedal incident but, to me, slowing up and looking round as if to say "Come on then" to the others was grandstanding and not something he needs to do as he's better than that.
Just the way I saw it.
Interesting thought, definitely not how I saw it, most sprints of that ilk start similarly - no one wants to be the first one to sprint - look at any sprint from a breakaway (ie not the conventional, full bunch, lead-out train jobs). He was clearly very strong, and could've just gone, but why sprint for 250m only to die 50m from the line if no one else is going to try until 150m out?
Cycling the Pyrennees at the moment, we did Col de Peyresourde yesterday which I believe will feature later. Tomorrow's ride has been disrupted as one of the Cols has been closed for resurfacing. Flipping TdF spoiling my cycling! ;)
Cheers Jon :)
Good to see Froome in yellow, but I think he may be hard pushed to retain it to the end.
Don't get caught up in the peloton, Jon! :no: ;)
Not a fan of Sagan either and would have liked to have seen Cav go further but suspect he may not have made it anyway, given his illness. But disqualification seems a bit extreme. Who are we to question though!
It seems a little draconian there's no appeal process. Certainly feels like double standards when you watch it back. Demare was far more 'weavy' than Sagan, but got away with it.
Amazing finish today 6mm between Kittel and Boasson-Hagen. If only Boasson-Hagan had put another few psi in that tyre! That said I like Kittel, and he's in my fantasy TDF team, so all good!
Bit hillier again tomorrow, Aru on the charge again? Martin showing his form?
I was gutted to see Cav forced to retire. I thought he was improving nicely - I think he was over the virus and his legs were warming up having cooled while resting through the virus. I saw him getting at least another two stages closer to Merckx. I'm gutted for him.
I don't care about Sagan. Didn't even take any interest in the race for Wed/Thur. :'(
Sagan's an incredible talent, and a very entertaining rider to watch, but I was certainly willing Cav to pick up a couple of stage wins. Not entirely sure he had it in him though frankly.
Well! That was all a bit fast and furious yesterday, with various GC riders having to get stuck in.
Dependent on how some survived the stage, today's mountainous stage could blow some big holes in the General Classification :hmmm:
Yes, the last climb and descent could prove interesting, I imagine we'll see an attack from one of the strong descenders, trying to put pressure on Froome. Bardet perhaps. Mind you Froome is partial to the odd downhill attack.
Yeah - he's no slouch when it comes to going downhill fast ;D
He made an epic descent in the Dauphiné that caught many by surprise.
And in the tour last year. We shall see!
Isn't sport unfair sometimes? Richie Porte neutralises todays stage to give Chris Froome chance to catch up after suffering a mechanical and Fabio Aru attacking taking advantage of Froomes mishap, then crashes out horribly descending at 70kmh.
Horrible horrible crash, just hope he's ok.
Truly awful crash for Richie Porte. Thoughts with him.
BMC webpage has details
http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/au-en/experience/the-feedzone/richie_porte_crashes_out_of_tour_de_france_with_fractured_clavicle_and_pelvis/ (http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/au-en/experience/the-feedzone/richie_porte_crashes_out_of_tour_de_france_with_fractured_clavicle_and_pelvis/)
Yes, horrific, a real shame for him, and Geraint Thomas out with a broken collar bone. Just not what you want to see.
Amazing that two riders had problems with electronic mechs today as well, mechanicals which just wouldn't have happened 10 years ago!
Crashes aside, an amazing stage though, Bardet taking it to everyone on the descent, and a stellar effort by Uran to get the win whilst stuck in his smallest cassette sprocket!
Crashes aside, and I believe there were 11 of them today, this stage was one of the most exciting I have seen in years. Normally I'd berate myself for sitting in front of the gogglebox for 6 hours or so but I just couldn't tear myself away from it.
I only watched the highlights, but agreed, amazing stage. Always looked like it was going to be a brilliant one. Froome's victory looks more likely with Contador, Martin and Quintana all losing time.
Impressed with Dan Martin; highsided into the mountain, takes neutral service bike, crashes again, gets back up and still ends up in second bunch on the road.
After this last stage, I'd suggest that Chris Froome is going to win this year's Tour as a virtual shoe-in barring something horrible happening to him, heaven forbid. He is an exceptional athlete, a real sportsman, and a highly intelligent biker so he is certainly deserving, but I'd like to see some serious competition. The Contadors and Quintanas of the world have fizzled this year so far and there doesn't seem to be anyone else knocking on his door.
Webbo
He just looks so ungainly on a bike!
This (http://chrisfroomelookingatstems.tumblr.com/) site is amusing.
Quote from: njee20 on July 11, 2017, 11:40:30 AM
He just looks so ungainly on a bike!
This (http://chrisfroomelookingatstems.tumblr.com/) site is amusing.
Funny :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: Webbo on July 11, 2017, 09:14:57 AM
The Contadors and Quintanas of the world have fizzled this year so far and there doesn't seem to be anyone else knocking on his door.
Or, should I say looking at his stem?
Very good njee20. :thumbsup:
Webbo
I looked, but I couldn't see "looking at stem, whilst winning the Tour. Again."
Fair play to Marcel Kittel who seems to be the sprinter of the tour so far although, of course, there is no Sagan.
I'm disappointed in André Greipel this year as he seems out of sorts and, despite his team giving him good lead ins to the finish, he can't seem to be there at the death :hmmm:
Agreed. With Sagan and Cavendish out one would have hoped Griepel would be in the mix. He's a really exciting sprinter, but I guess he's not at full strength at the moment. Seems Kittel is nailed on for the Green Jersey.
Am I alone in thinking Greipel removes his teeth before the race? All the shots of him in the bunch sprints seem to show him 'gumming' rather than grimacing :goggleeyes:
Yes, very odd! Another one who just doesn't quite look right on a bike!
Not sure if Sagan would've been beating Kittel, he's not really the out and out sprinter, but with him and Cavendish I'm sure it would have livened things up a bit more.
Disappointing to see Bouhanni punching Jack Bauer, and then very intentionally switching someone else in the final kilometres and getting a totally meaningless time penalty. He was vastly more dangerous than Sagan. Unpleasant thug, I hope he never wins a stage.
Go Fabio....go!
:)
Oh dear. What a shock :o
Team Sky did everything right yesterday, apart from hurtling between caravans, but Froome did not have the legs to finish the job which is very worrying. Pundits are all saying everyone else needs +2 minutes over Froome due to his prowess in the time trial but I'm really starting to query his stamina, especially as I believe he has also entered the Vuelta :hmmm:
(I'm keeping my comments at +24 hrs to avoid spoiling any news for anyone)
It makes for a more exiting tour though! However, I really don't want Aru to win it after he attacked when Froome had a mechanical problem a few days ago.
Yes, Aru doesn't seem particularly likeable, not sure why.
I think Froome will be fine, anyone will need more than 6 seconds ahead of the final TT, certainly interesting to see him looking a bit vulnerable yesterday though.
Today was good I thought (I'll delay comments until after the highlights have aired, not 24 hours!), shame Landa didn't hold onto a bit more time, but strong riding by Contador and Quintana given recent showings.
Apart from the last 500m and the helicopter shots of the local architecture and countryside, todays stage was utterly boring.
Aru's comments at the end, are they to be believed?
Very poor tactics by Aru, he just can't afford to give it away like that. Kwiatkowski and Froome were very visible up front throughout whilst he was languishing 100 riders back. Still, good move by Froome to finish in the top 10, clearly done a better job of reading the race handbook!
Aru has two problems really. (a) he doesn't have enough domestics to be creative so has to rely on 'have I got the legs?' to be up the front and (b) he just hasn't got the experience/racecraft Team Sky and Froome have.
I tend to agree yesterday was somewhat boring but the end was fairly exciting.
Froome is going to shoe this in barring any mishaps which makes for a rather boring TdF I'm afraid. Aru was a flash in the pan, but Sky has the professionalism and the rider to take this home I predict.
Webbo
It's all been very exciting over the last few days and tomorrow is the last (very) long stage before the time trial everyone expects Froome to win thus becoming overall winner. However, I am still not wholly convinced it will be the walk in the park some believe it will be :uneasy:
Froome has to extend his lead tomorrow to win but keep an eye on Uran. He has a strong finish and has slowly worked his way up the field.
Uran is also a very good time trialler :worried:
Yes, Froome can't (or at least won't) extend his lead tomorrow, so it's all in the TT. 30 seconds certainly isn't much!
Personally, i think Froome and Sky missed a trick today in not going for the stage win. Winning big today would've all but sealed victory. Uran will stick to Froome like glue tomorrow and possibly pick up a few seconds then go for it in the TT on Saturday. At this stage Froome has it all to lose and Uran has nothing to lose.
Don't normally like the TT's but Saturday could be interesting. I have a sneaky feeling Sky are playing this too safe and Uran might just nick this.
Have to say also, been very disappointed with Quintana, I expected more from him tbh.
Eh? Froome's leading, it's up to Uran to attack him. Uran is a decent time trial list, but so's Froome, so I don't think he can expect to overhaul Froome on Saturday. It's certainly a risk, but things would be different were Bardet in yellow.
We saw Froome go on the attack and Uran and Bardet brought him back, I'm not sure Sky 'missed a trick' and decided not to go for the stage win!
Nothing will change today, it's basically a flat stage, so it's all on the TT, should be interesting.
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 03:06:52 AM
Eh? Froome's leading, it's up to Uran to attack him.
Exactly, and as I said I think Sky "may" have played it too safe. Rigo has nothing to lose by attacking Frome and Froome may just get caught out if he's not careful ;)
Getting a tour win without a stage win is getting a bit too 'Lance Armstrong' for me, when you're operating in that rarified 3-in-a-row world; and putting your eggs into the last race day basket is a chancy affair. Hope it all works for him!
Donald
Quote from: Tornado on July 21, 2017, 05:48:56 AM
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 03:06:52 AM
Eh? Froome's leading, it's up to Uran to attack him.
Exactly, and as I said I think Sky "may" have played it too safe. Rigo has nothing to lose by attacking Frome and Froome may just get caught out if he's not careful ;)
When can he attack him...?! There's a flat stage, a TT and a very flat stage left. I don't think it's tactics at all, Froome just isn't as dominant this year.
Quote from: mr magnolia on July 21, 2017, 07:55:24 AM
Getting a tour win without a stage win is getting a bit too 'Lance Armstrong' for me, when you're operating in that rarified 3-in-a-row world; and putting your eggs into the last race day basket is a chancy affair. Hope it all works for him!
Again, don't think that's intentional. And Armstrong won road stages in all his tour victories except 2000 and 2005, when he won TTs. Miguel Indurain never won a road stage IIRC.
Froome does risk finishing without a single stage win, which will be interesting.
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 08:32:51 AM
Quote from: Tornado on July 21, 2017, 05:48:56 AM
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 03:06:52 AM
Eh? Froome's leading, it's up to Uran to attack him.
Exactly, and as I said I think Sky "may" have played it too safe. Rigo has nothing to lose by attacking Frome and Froome may just get caught out if he's not careful ;)
When can he attack him...?! There's a flat stage, a TT and a very flat stage left. I don't think it's tactics at all, Froome just isn't as dominant this year.
Quote from: mr magnolia on July 21, 2017, 07:55:24 AM
Getting a tour win without a stage win is getting a bit too 'Lance Armstrong' for me, when you're operating in that rarified 3-in-a-row world; and putting your eggs into the last race day basket is a chancy affair. Hope it all works for him!
Again, don't think that's intentional. And Armstrong won road stages in all his tour victories except 2000 and 2005, when he won TTs. Miguel Indurain never won a road stage IIRC.
Froome does risk finishing without a single stage win, which will be interesting.
If you were only 29 seconds behind the Yellow Jersey with 2 stages to go, you would look look for any/every opportunity to attack would'nt you?
As for where he would attack, I don't know, I'm not an experienced Grand Tour cyclist, Uran is though. What I'm sure of is, he will attack Froome at some point, why would he not?
Because the terrain is wholly inappropriate to attack on? It would be sheer lunacy to attempt to attack today, it's far too flat. He'd be much better to save his legs and smash the time trial, that's his best opportunity.
The stage into Paris is a victory lap and a final hurrah for the sprinters, the race is a foregone conclusion at that point.
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 09:04:29 AM
Because the terrain is wholly inappropriate to attack on? It would be sheer lunacy to attempt to attack today, it's far too flat. He'd be much better to save his legs and smash the time trial, that's his best opportunity.
The stage into Paris is a victory lap and a final hurrah for the sprinters, the race is a foregone conclusion at that point.
like I said, just my personal view that's all. I'll bow to your better knowledge and out of the discussion. Enjoy the last 3 days :)
The only oportunity for Uran is the TT, but Froome has a massive advantage of going off last in that he can get updates on Uran's progress and pace himself accordingly.
Furthermore it is only a relatively short TT at 22km(?).
The final stage is processional so you can forget that. Today's stage is flat - it would be an incredible surprise if Uran was able to get anywhere near to closing the gap today. Not impossible (think of some of the strange stages in the past where cross winds have split the peloton), but highly unlikely.
There's an interesting article here (https://cyclingtips.com/2017/07/tour-de-france-analysis-can-rigoberto-uran-take-yellow-22km-time-trial/) about Uran's chances against Froome in the TT. Basically past performance suggests it's possible, but highly unlikely.
As Mike says Froome has the psychological advantage of chasing Uran, and the tactical advantage of being able to get updates, all Uran can do is go out as fast as he can. You can bet it'll be the TT of his life regardless!
Today will certainly be more interesting if it's windy, but given Sky usually initiate the echelons and the splits they form it's hard to imagine Froome ending up the wrong side of any split, unless mechanicals or crashes play a part, which I really hope they don't, for anyone.
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 11:08:41 AM
it's hard to imagine Froome ending up the wrong side of any split, unless mechanicals or crashes play a part, which I really hope they don't, for anyone.
All things are possible (just ask Marcel Kittel) so nothing can be taken for granted. If, for example, Uran sets a blazing time in the TT, despite Froome, going last, knowing what he needs to do it may mean him taking risks he wouldn't normally take. I'm sure Froome would agree with anyone who voices the opinion he doesn't have the time advantage he would like to take into the TT.
Absolutely, he's first to admit that, and I'm sure Uran will be taking all sorts of risks on Saturday, that's all to Froome's advantage though. Should be great.
As a spectator sport today Le tour was a disaster. Thank goodness for the breakaway group. I'm sure there must be some collusion between the team directors. There was no competitiveness at all within the main group. Almost as if they were out for a Sunday ride. I wont be watching the TT tomorrow, to me that will be more boring than today, and Sunday, forget it, I've better things to do.
Watching in fits and starts today I quite enjoyed the scenery of France and the eventual winner was a worthy one, in a roundabout way ;).
The TT will be well worth a watch, but I may be out on my own bike trying to get my ischial tuberosities bedded in to my new saddle (or is it the other way around :hmmm:) once the sunshine has dried the roads.
I thought today was more interesting than it should have been ie it was expected to be a sprinters stage and the breakway made things more lively. It was never going to be a GC battle as it would be suicide to put in a huge effort ahead of the TT.
Personally I like watching the TTs - ultimate test against the clock.
Quote from: daffy on July 21, 2017, 05:57:41 PM
I may be out on my own bike trying to get my ischial tuberosities bedded in to my new saddle (or is it the other way around :hmmm:) once the sunshine has dried the roads.
I bet I'm not the only one who had to look up 'ischial tuberosities' :dunce:
Yeah - I recently bought an aftermarket gel sleeve for the saddle of my bike but the weather/TdF means it hasn't been tested yet
Quote from: Mito on July 21, 2017, 05:46:50 PMI'm sure there must be some collusion between the team directors. There was no competitiveness at all within the main group. Almost as if they were out for a Sunday ride. I wont be watching the TT tomorrow, to me that will be more boring than today, and Sunday, forget it, I've better things to do
There's no reason for the group to chase, so they do take it easy, why wouldnt they?
Tomorrow will be great just to watch the final three riders off! Sunday is always ceremonial, but is worth it just for the montage of footage at the end!
I wasn't suggesting that the main group chase the leaders. It was the total lack of competitiveness between the teams. As a televised sport it becomes a spectator sport in that those watching should get value for their watching. That didn't happen today. They are paid to compete and didn't fulfill their contract today. There have been many examples of competitiveness in the tour and spectacular aerial shots of both countryside and cyclists. Compare that with today. Tactics there may have been, but tactics are not necessarily good competition.
Not quite sure what you mean? What did you want to happen? There was some great battling within the breakaway, that Boasson-Hagan got ahead on the roundabout was awesome, the bunch were so far down there was literally nothing left to race for.
It's not about teams, tomorrow's a big day, all the favourites are saving themselves. It was very obvious how much the GC contender teams were Protecting their riders at the end - Sky on the front, AG2R right behind and Cannondale Drapac off to the left, making sure nothing happened.
The breakaway group was great. It was those behind that bored the pants off me. I'm not really interested in who wins, I just want to see an interesting competition and I didn't see it today, apart from the breakaway group.
But surely you can understand why there wasn't competition within the main field?
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 10:16:54 PM
But surely you can understand why there wasn't competition within the main field?
Tactics. In this case it did not make for a visually entertaining stage. That has been my gripe all along. At least it's all over now bar the shouting.
Remember La Vuelta 19th August to 10th Sept. Enjoy the great Spanish countryside and we'll talk tactics later. :) :beers:
Cheers
Quote from: Mito on July 22, 2017, 05:22:30 PM
Remember La Vuelta 19th August to 10th Sept. Enjoy the great Spanish countryside and we'll talk tactics later.
Bring it on. Another 3 weeks I'll be lost in TV land ;D
A great ride by Chris Froome in the final time trial. I was hoping he'd catch Bardet before the line but the Sky team bus might have been wrecked by angry Frenchmen if he had.
Sky have a decision to make - do they defy convention and try to make up the two seconds they need to get Landa onto the podium? If they do [and succeed] the boos you heard today will fade into insignificance. They might also face reprisals from French teams acting in concert in future races.
Thoughts, anyone?
Mike
Watching today's TT on ITV4 was a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. Froome once again showed his class, and though he has not won a Stage this Tour, he will be a worthy winner if he crosses the line with or ahead of the other GC contenders tomorrow.
BTW, I know the Paris final stage is considered to be a celebratory procession for the Yellow Jersey but isn't it a bit premature to declare him the overall Tour winner, as all the Press seems to be doing?
After all, anything can happen - though probably won't - to upset the result.
Froome -championie -hey ho never won a stage -but always there or there abouts ! Even the great Chris Boardman is happy -long live the yellow jersey!
Quote from: cycletrak9 on July 22, 2017, 06:35:48 PM
Sky have a decision to make - do they defy convention and try to make up the two seconds they need to get Landa onto the podium? If they do [and succeed] the boos you heard today will fade into insignificance. They might also face reprisals from French teams acting in concert in future races.
Thoughts, anyone?
No chance. It's not just the ceremonial aspect of it, it's the sheer magnitude of it. He'd need to finish in the top 3 on the stage. The ultimate sprinters stage. The odds of any climber winning a bunch sprint are tiny, let alone tomorrow.
It's the equivalent of saying "will Mo Farah win the 100m to get an extra medal".
Quote from: Mito on July 22, 2017, 05:22:30 PM
Quote from: njee20 on July 21, 2017, 10:16:54 PM
But surely you can understand why there wasn't competition within the main field?
Tactics. In this case it did not make for a visually entertaining stage. That has been my gripe all along. At least it's all over now bar the shouting.
"At least it's all over" why watch it?! ???
It's not just tactics, it's like saying cricket is rubbish because they don't smash every ball for a 6, or football is dull because they don't shoot with every touch of the ball. Some stages there's nothing to race for. That was one for the bunch.
Landa signed a contract to do a job -lead Chris Froome to the fourth victory -period ! It's ok to say why didn't he go and win the tour -very capable -maybe next year - but not this one-Sky pay the bills and supply the gear-what's was he gonna ride? A mavic bike ??? Don't fit- one size fits all ?? Politics and French cheating rule -how else would a frenchman win ? You dont issue a penalty -then resind it unless you want the man to win !
He's off to Movistar next year, so presumably Quintana's going elsewhere, or they've promised him a crack as a GC contender for at least one of the grand tours. Clearly a great rider.
Sorry to see Bardet so dejected after today, he'd clearly left it all on the road!
Sorry njee I don't follow your reasoning. Landa doesn't have to finish in the top three - he just has to finish two seconds ahead of Bardet. OK I admit it's unlikely but one could envisage a breakaway including Landa creating the gap. Sure AG2R would chase like lunatics to close it but if it occurred in the final kilometers it could work. My post was more to examine the ethics of Sky making the attempt than to suggest that it was a realistic possibility.
But the odds of it being anything but a bunch sprint are tiny, I think it's been about 25 years since a breakaway won it, a breakaway featuring a top 10 rider...?! Not in a million years!
If he's not winning the bunch sprint he's got to stay ahead of the sprinters. I think it would be tactically allowable, but practically impossible sadly.
If it's the same as last year remember Team Sky crossed the finish line in line abreast with linked arms so I would expect a repeat. Desperate shame Geraint Thomas can't be with them :(
To my mind Bardet blew it today by going all out too soon. I'm also not happy with the booing of Froome by some people (although it's not as bad as their antics last year :censored:).
I'm sure they'd be the first to complain if French riders were booed in this country ::)
njee - Team Sky's website seems to suggest that they have accepted the situation and will not try to elevate Landa in the GC.
We can look forward to some champagne moments tomorrow - predictions for the sprint winner?
Quote from: newportnobby on July 22, 2017, 09:38:47 PM
If it's the same as last year remember Team Sky crossed the finish line in line abreast with linked arms so I would expect a repeat. Desperate shame Geraint Thomas can't be with them :(
Yes, if you've not got a sprinter then let them get on with it and do the ceremonial crossing of the line down the back.
Quote from: cycletrak9 on July 22, 2017, 09:57:18 PM
njee - Team Sky's website seems to suggest that they have accepted the situation and will not try to elevate Landa in the GC.
We can look forward to some champagne moments tomorrow - predictions for the sprint winner?
Yes, because it's a virtual impossibility ;) seriously, i'd bet my house on the chances of Landa getting in a breakaway and taking two seconds from Bardet. It is theoretically possible if Bardet were to crash before the final 3km, but that's still very unlikely, and he'll have so many riders pacing him back on even if it does.
Matthews or Griepel for the win I say, the latter has been off form all race, but should beat Matthews in an out and our flat sprint. As long as it's not Bouhanni I don't mind!
Matthews I hope for the win on the Champs, but mainly because he is a home town boy. Luck in having Sagan and Cavendish cancel one another was key to his success.
Barring an accident, Froome was always going to win this TdF and looked pretty sure to me from the beginning. He is a great all round cyclist and together with his team was able to cover all the moves by the other teams. Not the best TdF I've seen for suspense and uncertainty regarding the winner. Still a magnificent spectacle to watch though and too bad it is coming to an end.
Webbo
Only 53 seconds though, I seem to remember Greg Lemond winning over Fignon on the final day when there were very few seconds in it. I've had a few glasses so my google fu seems to be suffering...
Greg Lemond won the 1989 Tour by 8 seconds from Laurent Fignon, beating him in a final time trial which finished on the Champs Elysees
Fignon notes wryly in his book "We were Young and Carefree" that he is remembered as the man who lost the Tour by 8 seconds rather than the man who won it twice.
And so it is done. After 3,546 kilometres, 86hrs 20mins on the road Chris Froome won by 54 seconds. To win one TdF is a wonder but to have won 4 is just remarkable and I hope he has it in him, both physically and mentally, to go for another couple of seasons. The scenery has been stunning, the tactics sometimes perfect and at other times dubious, some (like Contador and Quintana) didn't live up to expectations while others rode out of their skinsuits.
I've lost 3 weeks of my life watching the full day every day but, like Edith Piaf, regret nothing :no:
Roll on La Vuelta
Vinokourov won on the Champs Elysee in 2005, breaking away with just over a km to go with Bradley McGee and elevated himself from sixth to fifth in the GC.
Greg Lemond's win over Lauren Fignon in the final timetrial could be attributed to the first time tri bars were used in the tour. Everyone used them thereafter.
Quote from: Gary Burcombe on July 24, 2017, 10:46:38 AM
Vinokourov won on the Champs Elysee in 2005, breaking away with just over a km to go with Bradley McGee and elevated himself from sixth to fifth in the GC.
Ah yes, probably the only GC contender of recent years who could ride away from the bunch sprinters! I suspect he was taking more EPO than Armstrong!
Quote from: Gary Burcombe on July 24, 2017, 10:49:49 AM
Greg Lemond's win over Lauren Fignon in the final timetrial could be attributed to the first time tri bars were used in the tour. Everyone used them thereafter.
Fignon also used disc wheels front and rear, which was said to have lost him time fighting the wind. As you say, tri bars (as a precursor to a full on TT bike) became the norm, whilst you virtually never see disc front wheels used on the road.
Anyway, was a decent race, well done to Froome, shame about some of the exits of favourites - Cav, Sagan, Kittel, Porte. I'm sure it would have been a richer race for their continued participation, and obviously healing vibes to those who crashed out!
Never really got into the Vuelta, not sure why. I think I have more of a personal affinity to France than Spain, sure it'll be a good race though.
As I don't have Sky or Eurosport I have to take what I can get from ITV4. I do like their team, even if the show is adverts interrupted by morsels of cycle racing ::)
I find La Vuelta is a more 'social' race than the TdF but still very competitive.
I think ITV4's coverage is far and away the best, always watched it over the other options.
Yes, ITV4 coverage is my choice too, though the lengthy and over-frequent ad-breaks are a pain in the derrière.
At least I now know which company to go to avoid if I want a second-hand watch. (Apparently they are called 'pre-owned' these days ::)
Quote from: daffy on July 24, 2017, 01:18:55 PM
At least I now know which company to go to avoid if I want a second-hand watch. (Apparently they are called 'pre-owned' these days ::)
c/w voiceover by dear old Johnny Walker, well known DJ
Ah! thanks Mick, I was trying to place the familiar voice, even if I did turn the sound off most times for the ad-breaks. :thankyousign:
Those idents were utterly dismal, but they've been widely talked About and I even looked on the website, so they've served their purpose!
If their purpose was for me to determine never to have anything to do with them, then yes, they served their purpose. :D
But then I have an intense dislike of practically all the overly repetitious and frequently inane and irritating advertising, much of which seems to like SHOUTING! at me, that invades my living room from within the electrical box of tricks in the corner.
Thank heavens the designers thoughtfully provided a 'Mute' button to somewhat minimise the onslaught.
But yet without the firms that pay for the advertising and sponsor the teams there would be no Tour de France to watch, so many thanks to all who respond more positively to the myriad messages.
I just fast forward through them. Even better than mute. We're still discussing them though...
But if you fast forward when do you find the time to make the tea / go to the bathroom / discuss events / look on the NGF / and other important activities? :hmmm:
Surely that's the true purpose of ad-breaks. ;)
I'm young enough to be able to go 45 minutes without needing the toilet ;)
Or I pause for such things!
Only 45 minutes? :o
Keep practicing whatever skills you need to practice re ad breaks - La Vuelta beckons, with added Fromeyness, I just hear. Brave move, again!
Donald
Happily the organisers of the Vuelta have delayed the start until the day after I return from holiday ;) so I shall be glued once more to the pedal strokes. :thumbsup:
To get you in the mood, here's details and the video of Maldita Nerea's 'Bailarina, official song of La Vuelta 2017:
http://www.lavuelta.com/la-vuelta/2017/us/pre-race/news/ahc/rtve-and-la-vuelta-2017-will-dance-to-the-beat-of-maldita-nerea.html (http://www.lavuelta.com/la-vuelta/2017/us/pre-race/news/ahc/rtve-and-la-vuelta-2017-will-dance-to-the-beat-of-maldita-nerea.html)
Time for a new thread I think. :thumbsup:
ITV's coverage is excellent IMHO, but whatever happened to Phil Liggett? Boulting is a good commentator and I love David Millar's insights as he was so recently in the peleton, but Liggett is a legend! Gary Imlach has always been excellent with a deep knowledge of every sport he covers (I seem to remember him covering NFL in the eighties?) and Chris Boardman is... Chris Boardman, great at time trials and hour records but does he really understand the modern peleton?
However, ITV are certainly doing excellent stuff with the TdF. I also enjoyed the BBC's "BeSpoke" daily podcast.
Quote from: cycletrak9 on July 23, 2017, 08:53:40 AM
Greg Lemond won the 1989 Tour by 8 seconds from Laurent Fignon, beating him in a final time trial which finished on the Champs Elysees
Fignon notes wryly in his book "We were Young and Carefree" that he is remembered as the man who lost the Tour by 8 seconds rather than the man who won it twice.
Ah, I completely forgot that the stage was a time trial, thank you.
Quote from: BoxTunnel on July 25, 2017, 02:05:47 PM
ITV's coverage is excellent IMHO, but whatever happened to Phil Liggett? Boulting is a good commentator and I love David Millar's insights as he was so recently in the peleton, but Liggett is a legend! Gary Imlach has always been excellent with a deep knowledge of every sport he covers (I seem to remember him covering NFL in the eighties?) and Chris Boardman is... Chris Boardman, great at time trials and hour records but does he really understand the modern peleton?
Liggett and Sherwen are still commentating, but ITV used to buy the rights from an international distribution network, NBC use it, among others IIRC. Obviously that got expensive, and they have an extremely competent duo in Boulting and Millar.
I still miss all the idiosyncracies of messrs Liggett and Sherwen though! "He's doing a job of work", "he's digging deep into his suitcase of courage", "... in this sport of professional bike racing", "little Tommy Voeckler", "he's good on the descents, he used to be a mountain biker". There's a separate thread right there!
Quote from: njee20 on July 25, 2017, 02:23:24 PM
Quote from: BoxTunnel on July 25, 2017, 02:05:47 PM
ITV's coverage is excellent IMHO, but whatever happened to Phil Liggett? Boulting is a good commentator and I love David Millar's insights as he was so recently in the peleton, but Liggett is a legend! Gary Imlach has always been excellent with a deep knowledge of every sport he covers (I seem to remember him covering NFL in the eighties?) and Chris Boardman is... Chris Boardman, great at time trials and hour records but does he really understand the modern peleton?
Liggett and Sherwen are still commentating, but ITV used to buy the rights from an international distribution network, NBC use it, among others IIRC. Obviously that got expensive, and they have an extremely competent duo in Boulting and Millar.
I still miss all the idiosyncracies of messrs Liggett and Sherwen though! "He's doing a job of work", "he's digging deep into his suitcase of courage", "... in this sport of professional bike racing", "little Tommy Voeckler", "he's good on the descents, he used to be a mountain biker". There's a separate thread right there!
Not to forget the great David Duffield on Eurosport, a character if ever there was one. His classic one liner being "It's curtains for Karpets" but there are so many more. I was also sure that Duffers' partner in crime Sean Kelly (who apparently once answered a radio commentator with a nod of his head) could not actually count, as he was always saying "a number of miles up the road" or "a number of miles to the finish"!
Duffield and Kelly were the reason I couldn't stand Eurosport commentary! Duffield was always too busy recounting some incredibly tenuous anecdote about cheese and chateaus whilst the race winning break went or someone had a huge crash!