It’s been interesting to watch and gutted for George Bennet who was having a stormer. Whilst in our house Bertie is referred to as ‘fxn cheat’ at least he tries. Notable mentions to:
– Bardet for a stronger ride
– Barguil for honouring the polka dot jersey and going for stage wins
– my mate for describing Aru as the Italian Gargoyle
– that gendarme on the motorbike for straightarming that guy into the gutter , chapeau !
– Froome and sky esp kwiatowski for his to he death effort on the Izoard
I also saw a stage which was pretty cool

Interesting points re: previous team tactics, honestly didn’t pay enough attention/was too young in the past so didn’t know it was an old tactic.

Can’t really hold it against Sky if they have in fact brought good riders up from the little leagues as the article I linked above seems to suggest, it’s not like they’ve pulled a Man City or a Chelsea and just bought superstars.

Also not likely to do pro cycling any good if you scare big money sponsors away by telling them they’re not allowed to win as much! 😀

Still like the idea of banning power meters and radios though, or could they give them radios but limit them for safety chat (they can monitor radio chat in F1 can’t they?).

And rides a bike like a robot pushing a shopping trolley through gravel.

If I was out on the bike working my way up a local hill and my inner child conjured up a mental image to inspire me I can guarantee that despite him being the most effective GC rider of his generation it wouldn’t be Froome.

Is this true?

If so, I like him more now.

Hmmm, nope not for me – I don’t doubt he’s a nice bloke and an unbelievable cyclist but I just struggle to get behind him. Maybe it’s because he’s never been an underdog (bar the year when he could have clearly trounced Wiggins) or maybe the way in which he (or rather Sky) win the tour just means I struggle to support him. I’d much rather see Bardet win this year, or Barguil or someone else. Had high hopes for Porte but obviously not to be. And credit to Froome, I don’t think Porte can match him even when he’s on top form.

MrBlobby – did Indurain and Armstrong have a team of potential tour winners supporting them though? In the same vein as Landa, Kwiato, Kiryienka, Henao (not this year obvs!), Nieve and Thomas? Genuine question as I was too young to remember fully, apart from big George for US Postal (and I’m not sure he could have ever been a potential contender for the GC?).

EDIT: I’ve just had a look and yeah, maybe postal did have similar talent – Landis, Hamilton, Levi…

Postal definitely employed similar tactics to sky. The fact that Sky look tactically similar to the dopest* team in modern tour history is what makes them the pantomime villains for many non English speaking fans.

* Not meant in a hip hop type of way.

… to any other dominant team in a GT since the dawn of time 🙂 (well in the modern era of GT anyway)

When I listen to Froome’a interviews post race, I’m always reminded of Kelly Slater’s (12x surfing world champion) post-heat interviews. Clearly not just very talented but with the intellience to critically analyse events. Both slightly robotic but if that’s what it takes to be the best…

So 12 TdF yellow yerseys?

Looking at the GC time gaps you’d think it’s been a thrilling race.

Here’s Eddi Merckx’ view:

I’ve followed all the stages, but they weren’t really very interesting. It was not a great tour, there hasn’t been much drama. Many stages were quite boring. I often watched the start then went and did something else. I didn’t just spend hours watching television.

Something has to be done about these long and flat stages. Almost nothing happens: there’s an escape that is taken in the final kilometers. There were too many stages where you knew in advance that nothing would happen.

I was still expecting some [kind of battle] in the mountains. Froome always rode defensively, defended himself very well and could count on a very strong team. So nothing happened in this Tour. Many team leaders have done nothing but wait. Froome himself has never attacked. He will win the Tour, and has defended well, but he didn’t do anything exceptional. There was just no one to beat him. He deserves to win. Of course, we still have to wait for the time trial, but I don’t see who can still beat him.

Except get back onto the group on that day he broke a spoke.

He did try a few attacks, they were just matched. He couldn’t get away. To comapre with other sports, it’s perfectly possible to have a tense exciting 1-0 football match.

Froome gives interviews in French every day. Respect.

Another quite exciting thing about this tour has been the finishes at the bottom of descents – so the descending has been important and the rides have gone for it – or so it looks to me.

It is…not sure that description applies to this years tour. The big surprise for me this year is that I’ve warmed to Froome, I think he’s done a good job.

“Kepi”, maybe ? 😀 (don’t suppose there’s a pic or vid of it ?)

I have enjoyed seeing some non-sky brits in the mix Dan Martin and Simon Yates.

I would have liked it if Kittel and Cavendish were still in the green jersey chase, that aussie chap’s nice and all, but he’s just sort of the default winner now the real contenders have crashed out.

I haven’t seen today’s highlights so don’t know how close the GC will be going into the TT, but I sort of want Uran to upset the apple cart a bit, his wheelsucking is tactical, he has to do it because he lacks the team support, if he were to get closer today and even overhaul Froome in the TT tomorrow (big ‘if’ really, but why not) he’d be the ultimate “bad guy” for next years tour… Baddies make it more interesting.

Bardet has been a pleasure to watch, and I like him too, his condemnation of the French fans Booing Froome the other day confirmed that impression for me…

Barguille’s face coming over the line yesterday was great, seeing someone that genuinely happy is just nice…

Worst thing by far has been the UCI, inconsistent application of their own rules for things like taking bottles at the wrong time or turning a blind eye to fisticuffs after the line and their treatment of Sagan have yet again reinforced the negative image they have, and again if you wanted pantomime, having it presided over by bungling, corrupt old men adds to that aspect, but for me they’re still a real lowlight.

My observation is that Dan Martin is nails! And someone earlier wrote Kelly Slater is robotic …. erm no …. he did not compete for years (when he was winning)as he felt the judges could not truly progressively assess his style / ability. I do appreciate he is now getting older and maybe “slowing down” but robotic is harsh.

It’s been a great tour to watch this year. Agree with many of the observations.

Froome is a class above – but it’s hard to watch him ride a bike. He defines the word “ungainly”.

Bardet could do more – I’d really love to see him push Froome more

Landa and Kwiato have been superb lieutenants for Froome

Been great to see Barguil – BAR-GHEE – do so well – I like team Sunweb

Bling Matthews – is a shame Kittel crashed out- – the battle for green would have been something

Not a fan of Astana – but do like Fulsang (sp?) – hope he moves teams

Dan Martin has battled hard

It’s a pity Bertie has not so well. I like his style

Wish Porte well – the tour is poorer without him

It’s been a dramatic tour – and it’s not over yet.

But Sunday I shall be lost without daily fix – look forward to La Vuelta

Just a different scenario. On that descent the race was well and truly on. Had Porte collected Froome instead of Dan Martin they would not have waited. Like Froome’s wheel swap and chase of a rampaging AG2R, no one was waiting. Aru incident was different. Had Aru attacked a few seconds earlier and been up the road then no one would have stopped. And it’s not specifically yellow either, the same rules would have applied had any of the GC contenders had a similar incident. The riders themselves see it as the honourable thing to do so who are we to disagree.

Was interesting to hear Dan Martin say after the broken wheel stage that he was happy to see Froome get back on as that wouldn’t have been the right way to lose a Tour.