[quote=eddie11 ]i really think brailsford would love a guy who needs a flatish parcours and has no form on the team right now!
I presume you're referring to somebody other than the chap who put a big chunk of time into G in a hilly TT champs only a week or so ago and has climbed with the best in big races (unlike any other plan B on the team)?
*Waits for ITV
*What? No F5 button on TV remote?
Dave Brailsford said before the start that Richie Porte would also be a protected rider today as they envisage the necessity of changing leadership, shall Froome be too injured to defend his title in the coming days.
Questioned by France Television, Team Sky's DS Nicolas Portal said before Chris Froome's new crash at km 29: “Things could be better. The medical staff took care of him yesterday. He's ok. We're prepared for that stage. His wrist hurts a bit but it'll be a question of mental as well today.”
Pretty strong breakaway group that if they can get organised and go for it. 30k to the cobbles though, would expect the pace of the peloton to pick up quite a bit.
it is looking a little damp, tour cars have their lights on, cant wait to see them hit the pave, should be interesting, we'll see who has a cx/mtb history maybe. GC will change today.
Jepers, I see (well i am reading the live feed) that they are only now about to reach the first section cobbles. Could get even more interesting from now.
10k to the pave
it's nuts out there! 😀
Looks like some lethal non-eyelevel road furniture, too.
They should have never left the UK 😛
My feed broke up, was that Kittel off and looking sore?
Yeah Kittel down but back up, looks like he's after another bike though.
Kittel went down, looks like a broken pedal. I guess we will see how the DI2 holds up for winter 🙂
The Tinkoff Saxo kit looks just the job for winter commuting duties.
Sky hitting the front, have they timed it right?
if they can get through the first few cobbles unscathed yes
Blimey, more sky boys down. About to hit the pave.
carnage on the dance floor... i mean roundabout, and this is all tarmacced section, the cobbles are going to be lethal.
Spartacus down
Teejay down too. Talking of BMC, have a bit of a feeling about Greg Van Avermaet for todays stage but reckon he'll probably have to stick with TVG.
froome down again and in pain.
Froome down, not looking happy..
This looks nasty
froome off again
Froome out?
And he's pulling out I think
Does not look good. Not back on the bike.
Shaking his head. Looks bad. Gone.
froome- game over in a car.
aaaaaand he's in the team car
... out.
As much as I can't warm to the man, that is a shit one.
shit 🙁
He's out!
Again, not his biggest fan, but that is a bitter pill.
🙁
I think the Karma Fairy stuck her wand through his spokes...
RICHIEEEEEEEEEE PORRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTEEEE
He's gonna step it up big time, you heard it here first.
poo... one brit left? Geraint?
Poor bloke.
Sky risked it all on one GC contendor and it's not worked out for them.
So - do Sky have faith in Porte, or do they let Geraint off the leash?
[s]Va Va[/s] Bye Bye Froome
Shit
Didn't even reach the cobbles...
Hopefully we'll now see what Riche can do, now he has the shackles off.
Hmmm..... not taking Brad looks pretty damn stupid now....
This really is turning into a magnificent summer of sport for the Brits!
arse
Cav, Schleck, Froome.
I said it earlier, but if anyone want to have a bet as to who retires next, please direct your attention to my dream team.
Sky risked it all on one GC contendor and it's not worked out for them.
🙄 They don't have another rider who would be a GC contender on this years course (other than Porte maybe.)
Cav, Schleck, Froome.I said it earlier, but if anyone want to have a bet as to who retires next, please direct your attention to my dream team.
😆
Missed the crash but saw him getting in the car. Real shame for him.
Nightmare. Bring Porte up and see what he can do!
poo... one brit left? Geraint?
Two - Simon Yates at OGE
Pity for Froome.
They should let G go for the stage now just to get something back from the day, brutal day!
Some one said Spartacus down?
Quick....call Wiggo!!!!
He can catch up!
[quote=tonyg2003 ]Hmmm..... not taking Brad looks pretty damn stupid now....
Not so sure. He's hardly had a good season. One good TT in california won him the race, can't just do that in the TdF this year
That'll hurt a few fantasy teams - I went for Bertie but some have both.
captainsideburns - MemberSome one said Spartacus down?
Yeah with Chavanel, both back up quickly I think (no indication otherwise). Shows how much it's down to luck today.
I reckon Porte would be a shot with a couple to help him (especially if the rest of today upsets a few) just not sure who's going to lead him up and protect him now.
Shame for the tour,mountain stages are the best more big guns you have in mountains the better!!!
Wonder if we'll now get to know the full extent of Froome's injuries from the previous stage?
I don't think froome would have lasted long on the pave given the speed Berties mob just hit it at.
sad when it comes down to a crash (or 3) I feel sorry for him
perhaps he'll be calling wiggo to ask him for tips on how he came back from his crash in 2011? not
word will be out amongst the peloton that Froome is out, Contador et al will ease back and stay safe and challenge harder in the mountains.
not taking Brad looks pretty damn stupid now
He'd have crashed into Froome taking them both out. As expressed above I'm no great fan of Froome but it's a real shame he's out without really showing what he can do yet.
Who will be able to counter Bertie's accelerations in the mountains now?
God I hope someone can beat Contador
Can anyone in the Eccelston area of Lancashire confirm reports of a very loud Nelson Muntz-style "HA HA" echoing around the hills?
Shame for Froome but could potentially make the rest of the race more interesting.
If Sagan managed to get the yellow jersey today (not ridiculous), how difficult would it be for him to get KOM jersey as some point over the next two weeks?
If not impossible, who was the last person to hold all jerseys (including the white jersey) at some point in the same tour?
Btw, in case it wasn't obvious - I love Peter Sagan.
Porte to lead, Thomas to cause havoc hopefully. I'm absolutely adamant there is a great GC rider in Thomas, just needs the chance to prove it, maybe that time is now.
Now, if we can get Bertie and Nibali to fall off as well we'd have a great race on our hands.
i think ITV4 should have a double length highlights tonight for all of us that cant watch it live, sounds like an epic stage 😯
Link was posted earlier in the thread, hope hotlinking is OK, rocketdog?
[img] 
[/img]
It's absolute carnage out there
Strathcarnage
Poor Froome 🙁
Because Wiggins is renowned for his handling in the wet?
anyone but Bertie please
wtf happened? I leave the computer for 30 mins and it goes mad. Worse that last nights football. Reading the comments did Froome crash twice and then pull out due to accumulated injuries over the days? 🙁
Carnage!
Whys Frome still got his helmet on the team car, not expecting that to crash as well 😀