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  • Tour de France – Rest day catch up :)
  • mikewsmith
    Free Member

    No stage preview so I was going to chuck out some of the pics I’ve spotted from yesterday..

    Firstly the Mechanical Doping Police are out in force

    Heat readings to spot electical motors

    Then the X Ray tent – all very secrative

    Next up Bertie calls it, from Day 1 he’s been doing it tough and today was a day too far – or he saw the weather forecast.
    For those that remained

    Dan Martin say’s he is not a GC contender

    Despite his attacking display Martin played down his status as a GC contender. True, he has never made the top-five in a Grand Tour, and the final week of the race will be decided in the Alps, but this is unquestionably Martin’s best ever start to a Tour in terms of GC position.

    “I don’t consider myself a contender. Chris and Nairo are the big favourites for the win, but I wanted to see what I can do, so I attacked a few times,” he said.

    “In the final kilometer it was a headwind, and because of that it became difficult to try something there.”

    In the Green Cav holds out till the rest day but rumours around that he won’t be in Paris – given that Mark Renshaw withdrew ill overnight that could push him to concentrate on Rio


    But Sagan – Can’t find the pic of him taking the sprint but it was basically just like this 😉

    With not much incentive to chase down the break held on for a finish to remember expecially for anyone complaining it was a bit warm out there…

    Tom Dumoulin claiming his first Tour de France stage with a great effort to unhitch the followers at the end.

    Back a little there was some more spectator action

    Kiwi George Bennett showed that he can keep up with the best climbers in the world yesterday, finishing 7th on the stage and launching a number of attacks on the final climb.

    However, that wasn’t the only action the 26-year-old Lotto-Jumbo NL rider saw on the stage – he also clashed with a spectator on the Arcalis climb. While the spectator hit the deck, she was reportedly unharmed.
    [video]http://youtu.be/k6GE6tO17Bg[/video]

    Then the GC scrapping began

    One man who knows Chris Froome well enough starterd some fun and games, Quintana stayed very quiet but Dan Martin and Adam Yates all chipped in to make the run to the line interesting.


    and a little bit from earler

    Leigh Howard ?@leighhoward1
    Reached a new max speed today chasing back on after double wheel change then a bike change. #shittingmyself!

    Your top 20
    1. GBR FROOME Christopher 1 TEAM SKY 44h 36′ 03”
    2. GBR YATES Adam 209 ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE 44h 36′ 19” + 00′ 16”
    3. IRL MARTIN Daniel 184 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 44h 36′ 22” + 00′ 19”
    4. COL QUINTANA Nairo 11 MOVISTAR TEAM 44h 36′ 26” + 00′ 23”
    5. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 141 TEAM KATUSHA 44h 36′ 40” + 00′ 37”
    6. FRA BARDET Romain 41 AG2R LA MONDIALE 44h 36′ 47” + 00′ 44”
    7. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 61 TREK – SEGAFREDO 44h 36′ 47” + 00′ 44”
    8. COL HENAO Sergio Luis 2 TEAM SKY 44h 36′ 47” + 00′ 44”
    9. RSA MEINTJES Louis 157 LAMPRE – MERIDA 44h 36′ 58” + 00′ 55”
    10. ESP VALVERDE Alejandro 12 MOVISTAR TEAM 44h 37′ 04” + 01′ 01”
    11. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 99 BMC RACING TEAM 44h 37′ 04” + 01′ 01”
    12. CZE KREUZIGER Roman 36 TINKOFF 44h 37′ 19” + 01′ 16”
    13. ITA ARU Fabio 21 ASTANA PRO TEAM 44h 37′ 26” + 01′ 23”
    14. AUS PORTE Richie 91 BMC RACING TEAM 44h 38′ 13” + 02′ 10”
    15. FRA BARGUIL WARREN 111 TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 44h 38′ 54” + 02′ 51”
    16. GBR THOMAS Geraint 9 TEAM SKY 44h 39′ 23” + 03′ 20”
    17. FRA ROLLAND Pierre 81 CANNONDALE DRAPAC TEAM 44h 40′ 04” + 04′ 01”
    18. SUI REICHENBACH Sébastien 126 FDJ 44h 41′ 25” + 05′ 22”
    19. NED KELDERMAN Wilco 51 TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO 44h 41′ 31” + 05′ 28”
    20. BEL VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 147 TEAM KATUSHA 44h 41′ 36” + 05′ 33”

    So favourite bits? Predictions? What you all looking forward to?
    For me Ventoux will be the next battle, yesterday was feeling out the field for some and comments like it’s not steep enough etc.
    With 2 TT’s the first being a team one will suit BMC, the second although not as steep as Les Gets in the Dauphine may also play into the hands of Porte. So at 2 mins back but climbing well I would put him in a slighty better position than TJ.
    Quinatna needs to rip it apart on one of the mountian stages, Sky were getting isolated nearer the tops and Froome was the only one left there really so it could come to a big summit finish somewhere.

    Hopefully Adam Yates can keep it up for a bit longer too.

    So the real final question is if it’s not Froome who will it be?

    peteimpreza
    Full Member

    The time trials are both individuals so no advantage to BMC .

    mikewsmith
    Free Member

    ah yes my mis-read I’d still say it gives those 2 a chance Porte was national champion at that and this year just finished behind Rohan Dennis so there may be a few seconds to be had on both.

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...
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    senorj
    Full Member

    Really enjoyed it so far – Although the Italian chap I was chatting to yesterday sad it was boring!
    Ha.(Nibali Fan obvs).
    Plenty of folk close to yellow to keep it interesting. I expect/hope Mr Porte & Romain Bardet will push on.
    Later though, I’m going to be Adam yates on the way home. 😀
    Worrying to see Ned Boulting has got the rider mis-identification bug & that
    David Millar has started to over use the “battle/war of attrition” phrase.

    eat_more_cheese
    Free Member

    While all the British wins are obviously great, what with Contador losing it and Movistar looking decidedly weaker this year the GC is already a done deal. Valverde is no longer a threat and Movistar can’t play the attack on 2 fronts card anymore-It’s all down to Quintana’s ability-vs 3/4 Sky guys it’s gonna be difficult. Aru doesn’t seem up to much either-to me it’s looking more likely teams are getting a guy in the break hoping for stage wins rather than to challenge for GC.

    globalti
    Free Member

    Contador was never in with a chance anyway; for the last couple of tours he’s been forced to ride clean and he hasn’t had good races. I was sorry to see him suffer (nobody wants to see that) but I’m glad he’s retired as I never liked the cocky little ponce.

    bikebouy
    Free Member

    I always look forward to the guys who solo only to get caught, so here’s to the guys at Fortuneo Concept and fly the flag for Brittany.

    More punts off the front please, fer Gawds sake.

    The GC is becoming a boring huddle, thank the Lord Chris shot off the front the other day. This cloak they all wear that covers them all in a vacuum of 10 bike lengths, peddle stroke after peddle stroke. Either take a punt or head back to the pack with Cav please.

    I’m not a fan of TT’s in any shape or form so these stages are a waste of time and organisation. I’d watch them all do a long transition stage across fields of Sunflowers, and listen to Carlton reminisce about hitching lifts off French youths on scooters any day.

    I don’t get, nor like, the fact that riders are now thinking of dropping out just because “their specialisation stages” are over with. The Tour is not a race within a race, it’s a stage event that you should ride until the end. Illness is one thing, and many can claim illness but not actually be ill, and in situations like that fair enough but to pull out because your opportunities for winning a stage are over means you’ve failed, failed to finish the Tour. The Giro was a disaster for this with the sprinters pulling out once they finished the sprints, this should not be allowed. To claim the victories in stages I think you must complete the Tour and cross the line at then end.

    jimbobo
    Free Member

    Not watched any yet (usually glued to my seat) so thanks for the update!

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    As a Brit its certainly been exciting with Cav’s return to form and with Rio just a month away. Sky seem to me to have a very strong grip controlling the race when they want and Froome has had a pretty easy ride so far. I can’t see another winner, Quintana seems to be just hanging onto the back of Sky.

    Tomorrows stage slightly strange with a downhill bias so my take is Sky will control the GC and maybe Cav’s last stand before dropping out for Rio. TT and Ventoux where imho the race will be decided.

    LittleNose
    Free Member

    sprinters pulling out once they finished the sprints, this should not be allowed. To claim the victories in stages I think you must complete the Tour and cross the line at then end.

    I think this is a brilliant idea 🙂

    jekkyl
    Full Member

    great tour this year, it’s still all to play for.

    whitestone
    Free Member

    @bikebouy Twas ever thus – Marco Cippolini used to grab a few sprint victories in the first week then retire once the route hit the mountains so it’s nothing new. How do you differentiate between someone who retires “tactically” or because of injury or even a “fever”? What about someone who gets taken out by one of the motorcycles?

    UCI rules (2.6.026) mean that they can’t ride in another race for the duration of the race they retire from but of course they do get that time as recovery.

    How many have abandoned so far this year? Seems very low.

    Tom-B
    Free Member

    Very close on GC.

    Froome v Nairo for yellow I think. I think that he’ll put in enough time in the TT’s to just take it, but I expect Nairo to take a small amount of time in the mountains. Porte is a very good TTer but so is TJvG so interesting to see how that’ll pan out (personally I still think Porte will lose 15 minutes plus on one mountain stage)

    slowoldman
    Full Member

    sprinters pulling out once they finished the sprints, this should not be allowed. To claim the victories in stages I think you must complete the Tour and cross the line at then end.

    Bit unfair on someone who crashes out or pulls out sick.

    headfirst
    Free Member

    Contador was never in with a chance anyway; for the last couple of tours he’s been forced to ride clean and he hasn’t had good races. I was sorry to see him suffer (nobody wants to see that) but I’m glad he’s retired as I never liked the cocky little ponce.

    I kind of agree with this, but also I’m a little saddened as it makes the race that little bit less interesting, along with Valverde he is my ‘cartoon villain’ of the Tour…I was hoping to see someone run alongside him with a steak on a string one more time…

    My thoughts so far:

    I have re-lit an old flame for Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly this year, Carlton’s crescendo commentary on sprint finishes is several bike length’s ahead of Boulting’s (a writer of amusing books and good for VT’s, but wooden as a commentator) and I like his ramblings, reminiscences and mixing of metaphors. Sean Kelly used to send me to sleep but I’m finding his manner more endearing than soporific this time, and who doesn’t love to make the calculation or earn a bonification?

    The Brit success, and not all by one rider, should be across the front pages of the papers, it’s fantastic! Dan McLay in particular has caught my eye, an amazing performance for a first Tour. Chris Froome is showing more and more that he is actually an up for it, explosive attacking (not just spectators) rider and so is a far more interesting rider to watch than Wiggo (God bless him) who was very ‘slowly slowly catchy monkey’ then smash it in the TT. And as bikebuouy says it’s hard to get excited about TT’s.

    Great to see my fave Little Tommy hasn’t lost his attacking spirit and remarkable gurning abilities. Who was the other Frenchie I saw with his tongue right out, clearly in homage to TV??

    I love Cav and would love to see him win in Paris, but I think he should leave, he seems to be suffering more than usual in the mountains, he needs to keep himself fresh for Rio, yes the mountains will toughen him up but he needs to be doing more measured, specific prep for ‘lympics.

    I think apart from Cav on the first day, I’ve had the stage winner in either my standard or purist fantasy teams on road.cc every day! 8)

    The only disappointing thing for me? Not being able to shout ‘Shut Up Legs’ at the telly every time a certain German came on screen…ooh, that last bit is ripe for taking out of context… 😆

    mikewsmith
    Free Member

    The German is commentating at the moment doing some pro insight stuff, basically never sure if the break will make it – mostly like his racing plans…

    headfirst
    Free Member

    Yeah mike, I’ve not seen him, he’s doing US telly I think?

    mikewsmith
    Free Member

    We get him on sbs, so we start with Robbie Mcewan and Matt Keenan, then Phil and Paul then Jens dropping in.

    lapdog
    Free Member

    Enjoying watching the emergence of George Bennett in the last few stages even attacking today. The crazy attempt to fit his front wheel onto Keldermans bike sideways when kelderman crashed only to have the team car turn up with a new bike for Kelderman and leave poor George with a wheel less bike was pure tragicomedy.

    I hope it is the start of bigger things to come for him.

    Junkyard
    Free Member

    Cheers to all those who do these threads it is appreciated

    Sky seem to me to have a very strong grip controlling the race when they want and Froome has had a pretty easy ride so far.

    Been isolated and pretty much on his own with the big boys on the climbs

    Quintana seems to be just hanging onto the back of Sky

    I accept he has not attacked yet but hanging on is a bit harsh. he has not looked like he has been struggling and it looks tactical to me rather than because he cannot attack an is “hanging on”

    headfirst
    Free Member

    Mike I didn’t realise you were all the way over in Tazzy! I will no longer frown disapprovingly when you mention the old vino (not Vino) in your ‘morning posts’ as I see them.
    Am I right in thinking that every red-blooded Tasmanian resident goes for a wake up surf at Shipstern’s bluff?

    headfirst
    Free Member

    I agree Junky, Quintana is just keeping his powder dry for the moment, saving himself for the final week.

    mrhoppy
    Full Member

    headfirst – Member
    I agree Junky, Quintana is just keeping his powder dry for the moment, saving himself for the final week.

    By which time he’s lost enough time in the other stages and TTs that Froome can just manage him, same as every other year.

    MrSalmon
    Free Member

    I did think Quintana would have a go yesterday, and the fact that he didn’t makes me wonder if hes’s hanging on where before I assumed he was keeping his powder dry. With two TTs to come for Froome to take chunks out of him I’d have thought he’d be looking for opportunities.

    For Porte or Martin to be in the hunt Froome needs to have a couple of really bad days I reckon. Don’t really see Yates hanging on to his current high GC spot but would be happy to be wrong!

    forzafkawi
    Free Member

    I disagree on the time trial front. The TdF is all about the strongest all-round rider winning and there should always be at least one decent, flatish ITT to prevent it being skewed in favour of the climbers.

    It adds variation and drama to the whole race because climbers like Quintana know they are going to lose time to the likes of Froome in the time trial. Therefore they have to attack on at least one mountain stage to get that time back rather than just spend stage after stage looking at Froome’s seatpost like yesterday.

    Contador used to be just a climber but worked hard on his time trialling to get him much closer to the specialists. Also, there was always a criticism of Indurain that he won all of his Tours in the time trials which may be true to a certain extent but if you look at his record you will see for a big man he could climb as well and very often took time out of his rivals in the mountains.

    natrix
    Free Member

    Among the riders names painted on the road, there has frequently been a strange symbol, just like a stick man but without any arms.

    Does anybody know what it is and what it is supposede to represent???

    mikewsmith
    Free Member

    Am I right in thinking that every red-blooded Tasmanian resident goes for a wake up surf at Shipstern’s bluff?

    Lol its the antarctic ocean out there…

    mrblobby
    Free Member

    The stereotype of little Colombian climbers being rubbish at ITT does not apply to Quintana (provided he doesn’t ride into a roadside barrier again!) Anyone these days who’s a GC contender will be handy at ITT and Movistar have spent a lot of time and effort on aero testing (and Quintana has a considerable size advantage on this front.) Quintana won a short ITT in the Route du Sud recently against some pretty handy testers. So prediction, Froome will do well but will not be taking “chunks of time” out of Quintana on the TT bike.

    Ventoux will be a real test. It’s the sort of long climb that Quintana likes. Be interesting to see how he matches up to Froome here. GC does look like a two horse race though.

    Junkyard
    Free Member

    there has frequently been a strange symbol, just like a stick man but without any arms.

    Does anybody know what it is and what it is supposede to represent???

    [TANOY] JHJ to the thread said JHJ to the thread[/TANNOY}

    its either a sign of izards, the freemasons , the queen or all three

    mt
    Free Member

    Am not disagreeing with many of the comments above, however we are at the start of the 2nd week and there is nowt in it for the top 11 riders (1:01). That’s pretty good for the race in my view. A mistake or bad day by Froome and Quintana (or both) and the podium will be different. Yesterdays final soggy climb was great with riders trying to get away from Froome.

    Quote Geraint about the weather “just like Wales”.

    mrblobby
    Free Member

    there is nowt in it for the top 11 riders (1:01)

    Though does increasingly look like there are only really two riders up there who would be willing to risk a top 5 or top 10 finish for a win. Exception to that maybe being Valverde, but he does seem to have fully embraced his domestique role. Edit… and Bardet maybe.

    slowoldman
    Full Member

    Ventoux will be a real test. It’s the sort of long climb that Quintana likes. Be interesting to see how he matches up to Froome here

    I’m looking forward to Ventoux. I suspect Nairo feels he has a score to settle on that one.

    hels
    Free Member

    I wish Quintana would do something interesting. I mean, I know he has to get up super early and deliver 500 papers (at least that would account for his prematurely aged appearance) but he just sits there on Froome’s tail like a limpet. His bum can’t be that interesting.

    If I ruled the world, I would put in time penalties for being boring.

    DaRC_L
    Full Member

    I have re-lit an old flame for Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly this year,

    Yep same here the ‘pas de cadeau’ banter about Majka & Froome was great.
    Loved Stevo Cummings proving Olympic selectors wrong, he’s my Jensie replacement
    and I like the ITT’s, although they can be visually boring I like the balance between disciplines otherwise you might as well just split it into 3 separate races – one for sprinters, one for climbers and one for classics riders.

    llama
    Full Member

    Was Quintana waiting until later in the race? or was he unable to attack? Given that he never got even slightly distanced it has to be the former. Froome seemed a little puzzled in the interview after, but that was probably just mind games.

    CaptainFlashheart
    Free Member

    Contador was never in with a chance anyway; for the last couple of tours he’s been forced to ride clean and he hasn’t had good races.

    Yep.

    Nibali’s form has had a dip, too…..Makes you think….

    mrhoppy
    Full Member

    Is Nairo Quintana looking at bums the follow up to Chris Froome looking at stems.

    matts
    Free Member

    I think this should be really close unless someone gets sick. Quintana is clearly just making sure he’s in a position to attack Froome in the Alps. However, the parcours doesn’t have day after day of punishing summit finishes, so Froome make be able to metre out his efforts and recover a bit between. It could well all come down to the Ramaze / Joux Plane.

    D0NK
    Full Member

    I agree Junky, Quintana is just keeping his powder dry for the moment, saving himself for the final week.

    well just before a rest day and after froome must have toasted his legs a bit with that hunchback chav pedalling display on saturday, surely yesterday would have been a good time to do something?

    Is Nairo Quintana looking at bums the follow up to Chris Froome looking at stems.

    TBF froome was doing a lot of looking at his front tire on saturday.

    whitestone
    Free Member

    There’s a lot of mind games and strategy going on. I was quite surprised that Froome took the maillot jaune so early as he’ll now have to defend it to Paris (assuming that’s the plan), as a GC contender he’s always going to be marked though.

    I can’t remember seeing a situation where Quintana has had to defend a lead for several days, could be wrong, he seems to prefer staying in touch then attacking late in the race but that didn’t work the other year. You also need a strong team in support and I’m not sure that Movistar are that focussed with having Valverde there as well

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