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As the sprinters have had to haul their sorry backsides over the alps for the last four days, the very least they deserve is a day in the spotlight again in Paris.
Carnage in Paris, been watching the women's race for 30 minutes and there's been about 5 crashes already. Fingers crossed it clears up and dries out before the big boys roll into town.
What would happen is Froome has a mechanical or with only 2K to go, would Quintana be compelled to stop and wait?
Froome will still win, if you crash or have a mechanical in the last 3km you get the same time as every else that finished.
Outside the 3km it could potentially cost him the Tour.
The traditions suck and rob us of great racing. Sean Kelly said during his Eurosport commentary "Nibali was right to attack"
I think it's right if it's down to misfortune out of your control - Evans puncturing due to tacks on the road, Wiggins slowed the field down (except for Rolland who didn't realise). Lance got yanked off the bike by a spectator's musette and they waited for him (and he then rode straight past them, he never did have any class).
In the Contador/Mandy Schleck scenario I was all for contador; Mandy fluffed a gear change, went small-small and dropped the chain so some rider error, and manufacturers make big claims (having spent big $$$ sponsoring pro teams) about their kit, so the technology is just as relevant. They're not all riding around on standardised bikes and kit.
In the Froome/Nibali scenario, if that fugly Pinerello struggles to clear stones then tough luck, but Nibbles gave credibility to the idea of their being an unwritten rule by saying "I didn't see him, it's his word against mine, not saying any more so ner ner", when he should have said "I'd always planned to attack to win a stage to save my tour, I'm no threat to his GC position, so why the hell wouldn't I attack then?!".
Nibali's problem is also that he already proved he was a classless git by throwing a water bottle at Froome when Tony Martin caused a crash.
Not sure the rule applies to a mechanical. I think it's only a crash.
The womens race is carnage.
If it doesn't get any drier, the rain could have the biggest say in the result of today's stage.
Tour de France: Police fire at car in Paris square ahead of race
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33668196
Car in Paris bin dun.
If you were Peter Sagan, how would you ride today? Him winning on the Champs Elysees would be epic and somewhat fitting for a rider who had dominated the green jersey for so long. But I don't see him winning a straight sprint over the likes of Cav, Greipel, Degenkolb etc. Mini break in the last lap and Sagan to just hold on for the win?! I'd love to see it - although can't really see it. He's got to be thinking of something though, right?
Parisian roads are still wetter than an otter's pocket so there is a chance that we won't have a normal day for the sprinters...
Would be epic if Sagan wins!
In the women's race there is a solo attack with 3km to go, it's is 1km to go and lead is 7sec! And another crash!
And she wins!! Solo break from 3km, sounds like a Sagan type move!
Edit, listening to commentators she went from 6km!
According to the rule book the result is effectively taken as the first time they cross the line in the event of a wet Champs Elysees. Riders still have to finish the whole ten circuits though.
In that case we could be treated to Sky crossing en masse on the first circuit and then just free pedalling around at the back drinking champgane and finishing two circuits down on the rest of the field!
I should think they will stay well off the barriers and out of gobbing distance too. 🙂
My prediction for "organic material hitting Froome" today is dog turd. There's a huge amount of it in Paris.
Why are ITV4 not showing it?
EDIT: Ta sputnik
They show it from 4pm. Race started later as well so they hit Paris late afternoon so the celebrations look better in a lit up Paris. Race starting 3:30
[quote=arrpee ]I didn't think I could dislike Vinokourov any more than I did, but his comments in the press have proved otherwise.
Which has also removed some of the doubt by association over Nibbles - clearly he's not fully signed up to the system.
As for Froome, I really don't think that his overall performance (fantastic though it's been) justified the level of speculation/ire that we're seeing. He's looked nigh-on human in the last couple of stages.
Ah, but is it a deliberate ploy to look fallible to deflect some of the flak, when he's actually had plenty in reserve if necessary 😈
Agree with aracer, Froome sandbagged the last couple of days to calm the speculation down. He could have ripped the legs of Quintana two days in a row if he wanted to.
He is still clean though.
Agree with aracer, Froome sandbagged the last couple of days to calm the speculation down. He could have ripped the legs of Quintana two days in a row if he wanted to.
did you watch it? he was struggling, Porte dragged him up that last climb and he's got Majka to thank for taking it up for some reason the day before
Has Froome not got a yellow waterproof?
he was struggling
Or is he just better at sandbagging than you are at reading body language?
And the coughing after the stages is fake too. FACT
I reckon he just slowed down to attract more spittle and win the sympathy vote.
Froomey, not just a pretty face , eh! 😉
Well, I just see Froome cruising around at a sedate pace and Quintana not attacking him. Where's the fun in that? Why call it a"stage" if it's just a parade lap?
I really think that as things are, riders are too easy to identify. Quintana would have a chance of slipping away if he went out in a plain black strip, different helmet, mirror shades ~ maybe even a bit of make up. Ok, his sponsors might not be too pleased about dropping his Movistar strip, but they'd be very happy if he won the tour.
There'll be plenty of racing today, just watch the trains vying to position the sprinters for the last lap in Paris.
None of the GC boys have a chance in the sprint though so they'll concentrate on keeping out of trouble.
And if any of them did try to go for a breakaway win to nick the overall then there is no chance that would work due to the aforementioned sprint trains
Not even going to be a last lap in Paris ~ "race over" at 41k. We're robbed again.
i thought that was going to end in tears then 😆 porte nearly took out froome
"race over" at 41k. We're robbed again.
the clock stops but the racing doesn't. there'll still be a sprint for the stage win.
Not even going to be a last lap in Paris ~ "race over" at 41k. We're robbed again.
No. GC race over (which is pretty normal anyway on the last day) but still a race for the stage win - which might be more interesting, since no-one feels obliged to protect the GC men.
Ignore
Having seen the carnage of the women's race beforehand, I don't blame them for it. No one wants 3 weeks of racing to be spoiled by a stupid crash.
Reluctant, why don't you find something to whinge about?
Was just about to ask who is wearing the Maillot Pois, but had the question answered - Bardet it seems as presumably the Blanc is also more prestigious. Has to be kind of strange wearing a jersey on the final day which you don't then get presented with on the final podium. Does Froome actually get any Maillot Pois to take home as he's never worn it whilst racing, just on the podium?
Was that just me, or did the cameras pick up Cavendish eff-ing and jeff-ing to Froome about something then?!? 😆
RM.
60km to go at 5:22pm!
I've got to go and cook tea!
Toby Lerone just got a question answered 😆 🙄
Race might be starting at 2 laps to go. At least he might stop going on the 'controversial' glass pyramid. Hasn't it been there for 25 years or so?
Seems like a good time to sit down and watch this.
Come on Sagan!
great team that Sky, crossing the line together with the tossers booing in the background.
Well done greipel, decisive finish there.
Well that was a boringly predictable outcome.
Greipel to win
Sagan top 10 but no stage win
Cav to do a half-assed sprint and look pissed off (his excuses TBC)
Froome to roll across the line at the back
I did like Coquard's wheelie over the line, though.
wasnt there some dude with a big protest sign in the middle of one of the final corners?
What a great bloke G is.