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igm, I suspect that might be the case. Froome being cagey at the end and just saying he didn't have the legs when it came to the finale but maybe he was already struggling to hold the wheels on the Peyresourde, which might explain why the pace wasn't that high.
Landa; he was pulling on the front up the climb mouth closed, barely breathing hard, whilst behind him even Froome was clearly suffering. How can this be??
Maybe he's been hanging our with femme van den driesshe!
Landa is a great rider but he can't TT and always has at least one really bad day so him winning a GT is a stretch so I can see why he's opted for Sky (gives him best chance in the Giro or Vuelta and he gets paid handsomely to be a super domestique in the TdF).
With Froome generally when he has a bad day he doesn't lose an unrecoverable amount of time. I'm hoping he recovers and gets Yellow back before the ITT but failing that I hope Bardet wins, not a big fan of Aru (even before his silly attack the other day).
Landa; he was pulling on the front up the climb mouth closed, barely breathing hard, whilst behind him even Froome was clearly suffering. How can this be??
Failed to attach the tow rope from his nose ring to Landa's seatpost?
I couldn't help but smirk a little recalling Wiggo and Froome.
Failed to attach the tow rope from his nose ring to Landa's seatpost?
Wiggo Froome, Hinault LeMond, Delgado Indurain, you can come up with quite a long list of super domestiques who people argue are stronger than their team leader. No surprise he occasionally looks like he's towing Froome up the hill, it's his job to be strong on specific stages and do just that. Yet to prove he can lead a team in a GT.
No way you can 'help' a teammate on that 20% finale - you just have to give it what's left.
Landa has been one of the best climbers in the bunch for a few years. After his Giro crash he won the KOM at a canter and nearly won 3 stages. No surprise there.
Will be interesting to see 2 things now
1) How will Astana deal with controlling the race without any climbers. Don't forget, Sky smashed the front group to bits yesterday and still had 4 riders with Froome.
2) The Izoard is steep, but doesn't have the mental 20% finish. Can anyone pull out more than 30s over Froome before the TT?
Unless Astana as a team can smash Sky in the run-up then I don't see them doing much today apart from maybe a time bonus. That is, of course, providing the 20% was what cracked Froome, not underlying fitness.
Can anyone pull out more than 30s over Froome before the TT?
That's what I have been thinking since yesterday – I am sure he'll be disappointed with yesterday's performance but I doubt panic has set in yet. It might do after today if he has another bad day, but let's face it, barely a tour goes by without one of the favourites having a bad day or two.
Incredible news!!! @UCI_cycling has reversed decision!!! No penalty for Rigo!!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
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From Vaughers twitter
No way you can 'help' a teammate on that 20% finale
I wonder think that. Admittedly I know nothing about road racing but I'd have thought if anything more of a hindrance - better to have clear sight lines etc?
EDIT. pleased about that Atlaz
All to play for now.
Loving this, most interesting TdF for years.
I know nothing about road racing but I'd have thought if anything more of a hindrance - better to have clear sight lines etc?
Supposedly there's a psychological benefit of following a wheel even if you're not getting a physical boost but I guess that works both ways if the other rider is dropping you. Also, if he cracks and you're going well there's a big chance that you'll crash.
Supposedly there's a psychological benefit of following a wheel even if you're not getting a physical boost
Yes. But I'm talking about the last 200m to the line, not the 5k leading up to it.