I can't see beyond Geraint Howell Thomas and Christopher Clive Froome cementing their advantage today.
I would absolutely love either Romain Bardet or Tom Dumoulin to attack and put some meaningful minutes into Sky but I just can't see it.
Hoping for a real spectacle of a stage but I would imagine that Sir David John Brailsford will have it all covered from start to finish.
Call him what the **** you want, it’s the internet not a Q&A
Cav first called him G, preceded by 'Oh' in a Gavin & Stacey kind of way apparently. "Oh, G" as a piss-take, and it has stuck because a lot of commentators can't pronounce Geraint correctly.
Old friends call him Gez btw,
[His book is a good read, amusing and quite informative ^^]
F over G, flat 40, right, twisty, T over R, left 90, flat, jump, B over Q...
Yeah, like that reads like a Rally Navigators notes..
Stick with common names y’a weirdos.
Howell and Clive. 70's non-pc sitcom?
G referred to Nieve as "Frosty" in an interview which was cute - I think that is the Spanish for snow ?
Is this the point I mention I had his bike (the one he rode as a replacement when he fell off and broke his pelvis) on loan for a few weeks? Was meant to be going in an exhibition I was putting together but made for a very pleasant illicit Christmas day treat taking it for a quick spin round the back lanes. Top tube definitely said Geraint (Thomas) not G 😉
No, you are right, I won’t – make me look even more of a twonk.
One of my facebook friends (you know the ones you knew in real life ages ago but havnt seen or spoken to for ten years) spent the day with G at a friends wedding. He even played football with their kids.
I have also considered buying a junior road bike that has been signed by G off ebay, its a right bargain considering it`ll double in price once he wins the tour.
I think both of these facts give me the right to consider myself a friend and therefor call him "G"
I use a G about 2.015% of the time. Do I qualify?
scandal42
I can’t see beyond Geraint Howell Thomas and Christopher Clive Froome cementing their advantage today.
You missed the MBE you jeb end!
Anyway, looking forward to today's stage, working at home so will have it on whilst 'working'. I'm hoping G manages to see it through to Paris, but would like to at least some attacks from some of the others, I'm looking at you Movistar!
G and F to distance TD today
You mean G and C to distance T don't you?
someone asked about timings:
Start at 1415 UK time
Top of the Peyregourd at 1455 +/- 5 mins dep on speed
Top of the middle Col at 1533 +/-
Finish / top of Col de Portet at 1630 +/-
Obvs depends on speed and farmers, etc., but the Portet is supposedly a 45-50 minute climb?
I can’t see Froome(y) doing another comeback Giro style
Nor me, but no one could see him doing it at the Giro either!
You missed the MBE you jeb end!
I once saw a picture of him in a magazine so I don't feel like I need to use the MBE anymore.
I'll continue to call him by his nickname, Christopher Clive Froome, unless I see another magazine article suggesting he doesn't like it.
someone asked about timings:
Start at 1415 UK time
Top of the Peyregourd at 1455 +/- 5 mins dep on speed
Top of the middle Col at 1533 +/-
Finish / top of Col de Portet at 1630 +/-
Obvs depends on speed and farmers, etc., but the Portet is supposedly a 45-50 minute climb?
I think he meant time gaps for the start, ie. each group starts at 1 minute intervals
Edit - I don't think there are time gaps, just grouped sections to stand in on the start line. All go off at the same time, but with no neutralized section they race from the gun.
Team Sky sports director, Nicolas Portal (TSDSNP to his mates): "We may ride an hour in the morning and then do a very long warm-up before the stage"
Sounds like they are going to go flat out
Maybe. Or just that they need to be ready if anyone else does.
I have also considered buying a junior road bike that has been signed by G off ebay,
I've seen that one, the photos don't show the signature though.......
I suspect the start will be a non event. They will all roll out and re-order themselves in the first minute or two.
I'd be surprised if no one took the opportunity for some TV time - just quite possibly not the GC guys.
or someone like Mollema/Bargueil/Yates (17+mins back) could go for a proper long one to try and rescue the race for them (as in a stage win rather than winning GC)
G signed a book for Mrs NBT, with a personalized dedication message. I like him *a lot*. Not man-crush style though. That's currently Begbie.
It depends how much spacing there is on the grid I think.
I think he meant time gaps for the start, ie. each group starts at 1 minute intervals
No, it was in response to rugbydick
Might record the full stage today. Any idea how long it’ll take them?
I like him *a lot*. Not man-crush style though
Only 1 man worthy of a man crush at Sky and that is Kwiatkowski...I've gone all of a fluster.
Not a massive amount of clear space either side.
You wouldn't want to be having a puncture or mechanical in the first couple of K, you probably wont see the pack again by the time your team car can get to you.
that is a waste of time
might be, might not be but I applaud the organisers for trying to shake stuff up.
Will they be going from side to side to warm up their tyres???
The fact there are no grid girls should please the PC brigade
might be, might not be but I applaud the organisers for trying to shake stuff up.
Me too
Just watching in the background whilst doing spot of diy. ITV4 ads - not exactly customised to the target cycling audience are they - funeral expenses, flash kitchen cleaner and incontinence pads. Maybe we are all that old and domesticised.
WELL THAT WAS POINTLESS!
aaaand it turned out to be a waste of time
not completely - few have gone out quick including some GC teammates, who could be useful for bridging
Just caught the slo-mo replay of that start.
Ah, no I didn't - it was actually live...
don't think we'll see that again
Well at least we don't have watch an hour or two of nothing much happening until they reach the final climbs
Ha!
Well it’s got to be worth watching on ITV4 tonight eh.
🤷♂️🤷♀️💋
These Pro teams must have tyres to burn, using spangly Vittoria Corsa Tubs on turbos!!!!
Valverde in the break. Interesting.
That should keep Sky honest.
I rarely ever watch live midweek stages. It's clearly not worth qualifying the adverts in terms of spend/demographic for midweek afternoons on arse-end channels.
G 4 the W
He said he's feeling punchy, this is a (according to commentators on 5liveX) a punchy stage. So G 4 the W
Oh Qunitana with a puncture early, by the look of the break some serious times are going to be set up these today!! They are not hanging about
Vacuous consumerism, loans, and gambling. The joys of daytime adverts
