[Closed] TdF Stage 17 - Loads Of Points Up For Grabs [Spoilers]

stuck in office currently. considering a wfh escape this afto.

hmm, not sure there's much point in either nibbles or cuddles attacking - they need about 4mins and 9mins respectively (all on this stage to keep the lead through the TT). it's just too late unfortunately. Especially given the attack nibali did on the peyresourde yesterday - froome with the early chase and then when he went again and froome was knackered wiggins was fresh to chase him down again. (it was interesting to see Froome tired - maybe if he was on a different team he wouldn't be able to keep up with nibali?)

then they have nothing to lose. (aside from 3rd/7th place)

time to man up and smash it out i say!

Wiggins is human, and is capable of cracking. If Nibali can get him to crack, he could still win.

Can Nibbles beat Froome though?

He might not have to.

molgrips - Member

Can Nibbles beat Froome though?

nibbles vs froome mano a mano?

or nibbles + basso vs the entire sky train, and after that nibbles vs froome for the final 500m.

im of the opinion nibali would shmash the shit out of froome were the teams to be equal. but maybe im wrong.

or nibbles + basso vs the entire sky train, and after that nibbles vs froome for the final 500m.

the problem is the last 500m isn't enough for him to even get 2nd off froome let alone build up enough of a lead for the tt. can't see him getting away on port des bales and making it stick.

Chris B seems to be in a spikey mood, 2 put downs on Gary I in the first ten minutes

After GI talked about wiggins winning in Paris "glad to see wiggins is taking it day by day and youve just counted all his chickens for him"

After GI suggested Sagan wanted/needed to go out and stamp his authority on green "its not like he already has a whole tours worth of points more than the next guy".

Be a shame when they cut to Waldorf and Statler. Wonder if they will get the names of the cols right today...

Do you think Nibali will be happy with 3rd?

He could just ride the day, try a few moves and come in with Wiggins and Froome maybe gain a few seconds. Alternatively he could just go for it in an all or nothing approach and make a few minutes or blow up and lose a few more...

Attacks are goign to come on the Port de Bales as the middle section is relatively flat.

I've completely Cadeled.

Was in the top 10 the whole way through now down to 17th 😥

report [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/gallery-inside-the-new-team-sky-service-course ]here[/url] on Sky's "service course" or "big bike shed" - I would love to just go there and have a look around/ steal something.

[url= http://bicycling.com/blogs/hardlyserious/ ]Jensie Blog[/url] for anyone who is interested. Really good reading.

Jonba.. it's only 20s from Nibali to Froome, but he has a decent cushion on 4th. I'd be attacking if I were him. Will wiggo help Froome keep 2nd?

he did yesterday

Good to see the British weather is shifting south 🙂

But if Nibali attacks then Sky will see it as an attack on Wiggins (probably) so will chase. I can't see Sky letting him ride off so he is going to have to get the better of them both or neither. The only way I can see him getting to second is if goes all out on the last 5km of climb. Sky might decide to let him go and just limit the damage enabling him to get the better of Froome but not Wiggins.

Wiggins is human, and is capable of cracking. If Nibali can get him to crack, he could still win.

I cannot see anyway he can win this TBH as he needs both Sky riders to crack and then ride the TT of his life...i cannot see one of those happening let alone both

May get second but again Froome is the better TT

Great little kick by TV to get that summit.

descent could be interesting in the mist

The only way I can see him getting to second is if goes all out on the last 5km of climb. Sky might decide to let him go and just limit the damage enabling him to get the better of Froome but not Wiggins.

That's what I'm thinking.. if Sky will work to prevent a gain of 30s by Nibali - enough to get to 2nd but not to threaten Wiggo.

I think it'll be like yesterday. He'll try, but get terminatored.

There should be a descenders jersey as well, it could be the colour of gravel rash.

There should be a descenders jersey as well, it could be the colour of gravel rash.

And little tears?

nibbles is away!

30 sec lead but there is a long way to go

It just got even less boring.

so anyone up for a sweepy on cadel retiring after this .... he only won last year as he was the best of a bad bunch 😉

nibali just made a deal to sit up and not drag sky to the climbers.

nibbles knows who's bossing this.

How much was that worth?

I think he realised he was isolating himself.

just turned on in time to catch that. fair enough i guess. unless he can monster it away all day then they'll just slowly drag him back in.

gonna need to be a big old effort on the last climb if he wants anything more from this tour i reckon.

brad just got a yellow gilet out the car. this got me thinking...

do they print up a yellow set of kit for every team? or is there a mad rush to print out on yellow jersey awarding?

muct be massive stacks of never used kit if its the former...

Well he also had a special yellow TT skinsuit? And his bike is yellow!

I think they do just whip them up really quickly in some cases - there some info for Tommy V after his stint last year where no one was ready for him in yellow.

indeed! so full matching arm warmers, shorts, shirts etc. etc. all overnight?

must have been made in advance...

so do all teams do this? surely euskatel etc. wouldnt bother 😉

is there a mad rush to print out on yellow jersey

this,
i think they showed the guy printing one on ITV once (or maybe it was in Ned Boulting's book)

WackoAK - Member
Jensie Blog for anyone who is interested. Really good reading.

Thanks for this - brilliant find. Is it wrong to have a man-crush on Jens?

tommy v. hero

is there a mad rush to print out on yellow jersey

The jerseys are supplied/sponsored by LCS, I think they're blank arround the waist for the teams to iron/print their own logo's on. The rest of the kit is their own? They're not allowed to wear their own sponsors 'yellow jearsy' it has to be the LCS one, although I guess they probably make their own too and just stick LCS and the other yellow jersey sponsors rather than adidas on it.

As for the TT skinsuit, I'm sure I remember reading that Wiggins reckoned the BC/Sky skinsuit was worth something like 17 seconds over the LCS yellow skinsuit, so if it was closer than 17s going into the TT and he was going to try and be 2nd in the GC by a small margin to get that advantage in the TT.

Personaly I'm with 'the rules' on this one, black shorts only, the yellow everything looks rubish, it should be just the jersey over the normal team kit.

There should be a descenders jersey as well, it could be the colour of gravel rash.

Yeah, torn Lycra polka dot gravel rash 😀

Liquigas is one of few teams with all nine riders. They have all assembled at the front of the peloton on the third climb of the stage but the Sky guys are close behind.

Oooh, last climb showdown time ???

Nah, they just want to get their lunch bags first.

Wiggins does look pretty knackered.

no porte for big climb?

i missed the crash - how did cav and porte crash then ?

A mike gatting rush for cake

15:24 Porte and Cavendish in crash

The world champion has been caught up in a crash with team-mate Richie Porte in the feedzone. Both are standing again and Porte is waiting for a new bike from the team car.

not seen a replay yet. guessing feedzone carnage based on when it happended.

looks like porte is ok, and already back in the game. speedy recovery!

Cav really suffered yesterday according to his twitter (puking on himself), so a crash is going to make him feel really down.

liquigas and europecar leading out. all about to kick off surely.

Cav really suffered yesterday according to his twitter (puking on himself), so a crash is going to make him feel really down.

the next 43km was never gonna be his finest hour.

head down and trudge to the finish for the manx midget.

Eurosport commentator David Harmon thinks that Brad Wiggins is not looking in top condition today, but his co-commentator Sean Kelly thinks the yellow jersey is bluffing and has tipped him for a possible stage win today

Interesting.....

typical of harmon and kelly to disagree.

tho kelly is something of a prophet in my eyes, so i'd err on his side...

tho kelly is something of a prophet in my eyes, so i'd err on his side...

I really hope your right! 😀

well for someone who should be feeling down he did a demon run to get back in to peloton then to the front and doing his stint for sky.

He is going to make a good classics rider i think !

i'm rarely right. but kelly is nearly always...

so who knows!

costa looking STRONG.

there's quite a bit of chat about it in online commentary, I expect one person said it to try and build a bit of excitement and all the others have just followed...
can anyone who's watching the telly see if he is looking tired?

there's quite a bit of chat about it in online commentary, I expect one person said it to try and build a bit of excitement and all the others have just followed...
can anyone who's watching the telly see if he is looking tired?

not many shots of him so far tbh. he's behind the whole of liquigas, and the whole of sky, who are behind a break of 7, another break of 5, and the costa.

looks comfortable enough.

BBC man says he looks ok.

yeh but he was referring to chris hoy again.

i've changed my prediction anyway, this Francis lad looks to have it in the bag.

Allez, allez Ale!

What's his name just called the Peyragudes the Peyresourde.

Quick! Write to your MP! It's just offensive.

Dammit.. when I select 5 live sports extra on my phone I get cricket, not cycling.. 🙁

What's his name just called the Peyragudes the Peyresourde.

facepalm.

it's the same hill mate... diff name cos they are climbing all the way to the top ski station.

it's the same hill mate... diff name cos they are climbing all the way to the top ski station.

😀

Oops. Something I probably should know, I've ridden up it.

Majestic.

in fairness, i haven't...

Majestic.

Oddbins.

Watching Valverde descend is making me feel a bit car-sick.

valverde looking slow/tired.

voeckler to solo up for the win!

Nibali to attack, Froome to pull Wiggins and take the win... See Stage 7.

Nibali to attack, Froome to pull Wiggins and take the win... See Stage 7.

2 mins plus to make up on valverde. i'd rather see tommy v make that gap, and him get the win.

I like that Kesiakov (sp?) puts his gel wrappers back in his pocket, not seen that before!

molgrips - Member
Dammit.. when I select 5 live sports extra on my phone I get cricket, not cycling..

I've been watching ITV4 coverage using the TVcatchup app, ace! 😀

that 2 minutes is going to disappear pretty quick any minute

think t.v. win is off the cards.

wrong way !