[Closed] Tour de France stage 16 - Le Puy-en-Velay / Romans-sur-Isère - Will sparks fly?

Just the last 30 mins i need to watch today then 🙂

Apart from the little lump at Saint Felicien, that's a near 50km downhill off the Col du Rouvey!
That looks fun. 🙂

I'm punting for Degenholb today.
He's been there or thereabouts, seems to have settled in at Trek, boosted by the overall performance of the team I think they're on a bit of a roll.
And I like him.
Cummings? Y'know what.. I would have put him there and I do wonder if he can work with EBH, but I get the impression he works better with Powels.. so if either of these two are in a break over the last big bump then either could win.

I'm openly punting for a Bardet TdF overall win, if AG2r can keep up the momentum and stick mental spokes in Sky's roadblock I'd like, really like a French Podium winner. A few hard stages to go yet I know, but what a story it would make.

If Bardet wins overall he'll be French president by this time next year. Love to see it especially given how his team have animated the race but i think sky will be too clinical

I see Greg Lemond talking to media and saying Landa should now sack off loyalty to yellow jersey and race for himself! States that staying loyal to Bernard Hinault in 1985 was worst decision he made.

Tommy V will attack from the flag. FACT.

Long range raider stage today. Cummings could be in with a shot.

Be good to see Degenklob get the stage today but he's not quite been the same since the accident. Tough to see past Kittel in a bunch sprint today despite the lumpy start.

Be great for Bardet to win the Tour. This year's route seems to be made for him. Though after stage 15 it's looking less likely that he'll be able to get the time he needs on Froome.

Sunweb and DD to set the pace and drop Kittel? Eddy Boss FTW.

I can just imagine Landa looking at Froome and thinking I could easily put a minute and half into him...especially with a bit of help from Alberto, not sure it would be great for the race though.

I see Greg Lemond talking to media and saying Landa should now sack off loyalty to yellow jersey and race for himself! States that staying loyal to Bernard Hinault in 1985 was worst decision he made.

Source...
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cycling-france-lemond-idUSKBN1A21G5

The media are certainly trying to stir this one up! I can't see it happening without the go ahead from the team. Popping the earpiece out for a cheeky stage win is one thing, but doing it to win the Tour is entirely another. Will be interesting to see what happens if Froome does have a problem though and Sky are put in a position where they could lose the Tour or win it with Landa. Or what would happen if they get Landa up the road again and have the opportunity to swap Froome's slender lead for a bigger Landa lead. I'd be surprised if it's not all been decided in advance, you'd not leave those decisions to the heat of the moment.

As for who's the strongest, I don't think we've really seen much to split them yet. The airstrip finish was just a silly steep lottery. Froome's stage 15 recovery was really the first proper test. Think we'll have to wait for the Galibier and Izoard to see what cards they're all holding 🙂

He looks mega happy..

[img] ?itok=4wL16vNW[/img]

And like he could do with a shower, a pint and a pie.
[img] [/img]

I really can't bring myself to like Cav's green paintjob. It looks like someone took a rattlecan to it.

Degenkolb and Kristoff have not been bargains for their teams in 2017 have they? In fact, Trek haven't really done a great job with their marquee signings over winter full stop (Tony Martin has been a bit of a bust too).

Supposed to be very windy in the valleys today, could be a long day for aru and bardet

Pippa's musings...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-can-the-challengers-end-chris-froomes-reign/

I see Greg Lemond talking to media and saying Landa should now sack off loyalty to yellow jersey and race for himself! States that staying loyal to Bernard Hinault in 1985 was worst decision he made.

I can't believe Greg has said that. I generally like the guy despite him being pretty painful to watch in his pundit role, seems like Eurosport have had to move him around a lot to try and find somewhere where he fits better.
Anyway, for him to say that quoting 85 is a pretty poor show. Fair enough he could have won that Tour but then Hinault did the exact thing to him that he's saying Landa should do and kept nicking off the front in the '86 Tour, and Greg has moaned like a drain about it ever since. It's in books, there's been a documentary about it, he apparently didn't speak to Hinault for years afterwards.
Seems to me like he's mostly just saying stuff to try and be controversial.

Whilst I quite like Greg, I find his mental image placement is still in 1986. Too much "when I was, when we.." he's a decent commentator for the odd section here and there, but he needs to extract himself from shoulder pads and shell suits.

Cross winds forecast by the sounds of it, and we all love a good echelon. It'll be a stressful day on the peloton today, I imagine Sky will fancy exploiting the lack of power in Astana.

and Greg has moaned like a drain about it ever since

🙂 It does get a bit tedious.

we all love a good echelon

I love a good echelon. In fact, I'm having one right now.

Southerly winds, could make it interesting, everyone will want to be on the front.

I can't believe Greg has said that. I generally like the guy despite him being pretty painful to watch in his pundit role, seems like Eurosport have had to move him around a lot to try and find somewhere where he fits better.

I can't stand Greg Lemond, precisely for the reason that he's still banging on about stuff that happened in the 80's and 90's. Same in the Liggett/Sherwen days, it was all about "when I rode..." and a bunch of tired old cliches that got their annual airing from Sherwen's suitcase of courage.

Fortunately with the excellent coverage now provided by ITV4, I don't need EuroSport.

SSW wind forecast means these could be the interesting bits. But who knows with this tour so far!

[img] [/img]

article about cavs bike here

http://enve.com/journal/mark-cavendishs-special-tour-bike/

I watched the last stage on ITV and have to say the commentary team were excellent.

Landa doesn't seem like the sort of guy that'll ignore team orders as he seems very professional - and his reputation and marketability will be enhanced by how he's going about things for Sky.

I watched the last stage on ITV and have to say the commentary team were excellent.

Barring the minor annoyance of the adverts I think the ITV4 coverage is very good indeed. They clearly know their stuff and they have great access to current and former riders who they clearly get on with. For example since Cav withdrew he's been on the phone with them a few times and gives an interesting view of things.

Landa doesn't seem like the sort of guy that'll ignore team orders as he seems very professional - and his reputation and marketability will be enhanced by how he's going about things for Sky.

Reckon Aru is going to have to hang on to someone's echelon today, such is the lack of tactics in his depleted team.

In the final week I think Bardet has a strong hand, and Uran is still the dark horse to look out for. Wednesday's stage is brutal and I wish I could watch that live, followed by the finish on the Izoard the next day. It's going to be a fascinating last week.

EDIT - Agree that the ITV4 coverage is very good, much prefer Ned and David as a commentary team, and i've always liked Gary Imlach's style.

But he has a genuine chance to win the TDF...it's not like Sky are a well liked team.

He has no chance whatsoever without the support of his team.

Well if the sidewinds do make their presence felt then I think the teams with classics riders can make a big difference.
I think Luke Rowe and Kwiatkowski coud earn their money today. Not to mention that it could save Dan Martins tour if QuickStep turn on the gas and boss the crosswinds as they are likely to do. Depending on just how bad the winds are, Dan could be on the podium by this evening.
I think Aru, Uran and to a lesser extent Bardet could be put in serious trouble as they either don't have the team around them to get them to the front and keep them there when it all kicks off or, in Bardet's case, the team is pretty heavily climbing focussed and I'm not sure they will be able to hold it together in full on echelons.
Hopefully we'll find out. 😈

I'm really hoping for some full on cross wind chaos today with Aru on the wrong side of it with Bardet moving up to second on GC.

The TdF proggy on Radio5 last night were discussing the upcoming alpine stages and expecting Bardet to do very well, it's on AG2r's local stomping ground. The pundits were still expecting a Froome overall victory though.

ITV4 coverage is good, except for that naff watch ad and the slow-mo beardy biker.

Shame Landa won't be staying at Sky. Think he'd be a good successor to Mr Froome in a year or so. Throw him the Giro or Veulta for 2018 and le tour the year after, assuming Froome goes for next year's tour.

I wonder if Sky have any policy on keeping a 'british' rider as leader?

Aru's lawn needs some attention, judging by the pic in the OP.

THe thing for Landa is that he was given 2 runs at the Giro and it didn't work out for him. That's not his fault or Sky's fault, it's just bad luck.
As far as I can see if he goes to Movistar it'll just be the same show in different colours. He'll get a run at the Giro (and possibly the Vuelta) and have to back up Quintana who'll be focussing on the Tour. He won't be any better off as Valverde will be trying to sneak another Vuelta or looking after his own interests (assuming he comes back from the crash!)
I know it's a Spanish team etc. etc. but I still think he'd be much better off at Trek as they have a definite gap in their lineup that he would fill and I think Contador is much more likely to back him up than Valverde or Quintana would. Movistar have much more form with infighting than Sky do.

if there are crosswinds Quickstep will smash this to bits. shame Gilberts out.

Dan martin must be looking forward to today.

De Gendt, Chavanel and De Gants(?) (the inevitable Wanty rider) off the front, Cummings has bridged to join them

Winds looking very strong

This is going to be a good day

#StageForSteve

Allessandro De Marchi has joined the leaders. Couple more stll trying to bridge. 1km till the foot of the first climb

"Breakaway" now up to about 20 riders. Michael Mathews latest to bridge. Kittel in mid-peloton. Sky trying to control the peloton and let the break go

Blimey, whats with Lotto ?

Nearly everyone up there except Greip's.

Can Sunweb put Kittel out the back for good here? Looks promising for them so far.

Good start this.

Re the ITV vs Eurosport thing, only gripe about ITV is that the stupid iOS app doesn't allow you to chromecast live tv so I have to get out the laptop. Just a stupid restriction. That and the adverts. Yes I know, 1st world problems! Commentary on ITV is something I actually listen to as opposed to it just being waffle in the background (with the exception of the droll whit of Sean Kelly who I do miss a bit.)

They're riding this Flat Chat. The speed is huge ATM.

How long can this last ??

Just caught a bit at lunch just now 😯

Can't wait for the highlights later, I might actually just record and watch the whole stage 😀

Oh dear.. Luke Rowe dropped from the Yellow Jersey group already.!!! Kittel looks like he's on his knees already..

Game over for George Bennett and Dan Mclay by the sound of it.

Guardian site has Kittel dropped from what was the Green Jersey group. Any confirmation?

What a huge tart!

Can't see it yet..
If Kittel is out the back of that group and the winds hit later on, I can see him missing the time cut the way SunWeb are driving it..

Kittel 1m37 back already with 40+ riders for company

Bennett in particular a shocker, 4m40 down with McLay and Pichon

http://racecenter.letour.fr/#/stageprofile

Peloton lined out quite badly already

gah. the good ship quickstep holed dragging that spud Kittel up the hills.

Judging by the faces Kittel is pulling and that QuickStep seem to be suffering a dose of the runs.. I wouldn't be too shocked if Kittel doesn't make it through the next couple of days, assuming he makes it to the end of today. He looks massively uncomfortable.
Sunweb driving at the front with the whole team..

I guess it's likely to get to a point soon when LeFevre has to decide if he'd rather have a green jersey or a potential podium. It's looking increasingly likely that they are going to struggle to manage both.

#EDIT: Here's where the transfer market comes into play too, a green jersey and WorldTour points for Kittel doesn't help quickstep if he's off to Katusha next year. Then again a podium for Dan might not help them either if rumours about Dan moving on are also true.

Feels like I'm watching the last 20k of the stage.

So what's Fuglsang been saying about Aru?

Edit... Bennett abandoned.

Kittel 3'19" off already with more than half the stage to go.
If his group splinters, he may not be riding tomorrow.

Also, will Bauer and Martin be expected to contest the intermediate sprint? 😉

Time cut today, probably be about 10% of 4 hrs as the speed is high? So about half an hour? Should be ok. Edit.. may be more generous than that too as it's a 2 stage.

Ah shame that Bouhanni looks like he's going to make it.

Pretty good bridge by Bouhanni. Not sure that he'd be able to contest the sprint after that effort but who knows.

Depending on crosswinds Kittel will probably make it today, but it doesn't bode well for tomorrow and Thurs if he is recovering from illness. He'll need all his strength just to make it round in the inevitable autobus.

suspect QS are nursing him over the lumps and the gap will stabilise in the last hour as they up the pace for one effort on the flat.
shame cav got squashed as this is just the kind of tough stage where he could've picked one up.

Job done for Matthews at the intermediate sprint. Not sure his team would be too pleased if he'd missed that one!

looks like orica scott fancy it

Crosswind carnage!!!

Oh dear, looks like Dan Martin has missed out. Price paid for having men pacing Kittel? Looks like Landa is out the lead group too (Froome the only Sky rider). Can't see Bardet either.

Landa! Dropped?

QS you useless bastards. I hope Dan Martin eats kittel's pudding tonight.

Bardet there. Uran [s]not[/s] there. Can see one other Sky rider,[s] might be[/s] is Landa.

If Kittel has a tummy bug i'd not be wanting his pudding!

Eddy Boss or Matthews...? Looked like Matthews. Got to say well earned by Sunweb.

Ooof 50s lost for Dan Martin.

45kph average into a headwind.
That'll hurt tomorrow!

Going to be a fast start the next couple of days too as Sunweb go for the sprint points and try and set up Barguil for KOM points.

Can Matthews really win green? Even if he picked up the intermediates the next three days and won on Friday, I think Kittel would get it if he won in Paris. But can he make it over the mountains? Intriguing.

Very good day for Sunweb. It's a shame that Dan Martin lost some time though.

Wonder if the sight of Kittel rolling over the line with most of his team will help Dan Martin make up his mind as to where he wants to go next year.
As Chris Boardman just pointed out, Quickstep put all their eggs in the wrong basket today.

i don't think they did, in the real world dan martin isn't going to jump 5 places in the next 2 days, it was too big of a task really, however, keeping hold of the green and nursing kittel over the line is more important

Can Matthews really win green?

Quick follow up on this.

So Kittel has a 29 point lead. Assuming he wins the intermediate and the stage in Paris and gets 70 points, that takes him to 99 points clear.

So the next 3 days there's potentially 3 intermediate sprints that Matthews can mop up with Kittel not scoring. So that's 60 points to Matthews. There's also the stage win on 19 which, if Sunweb ride like they did today, he could pick up 50 points on as it looks a fair bit harder than the flat classification would suggest with a pair of cat 3 to get over before the intermediate. So a max of 110 points available if he cleans up on the next 3 stages. Oh and there are also points available in the ITT down to 15th so could possibly pick some up there too.

It'll probably go down to the sprint in Paris. Sagan would have it all wrapped up by now 🙂

Assuming he wins the intermediate and the stage in Paris and gets 70 points, that takes him to 99 points clear.

he's got to make it to Paris and with the [s]gastrointestinal issues[/s] shits knocking around the camp may not be so straight forward 😉 .