Tommy V!
He wouldn't have, certainly not the Cav I saw go straight out the back on a minor climb.
but surely, in a stage race, he knows the stages where he can be at the front/to win, otherwise he'll just sit in the groupetto using as little energy as possible, why would he smash himself up the Izoard just to suffer the next day?
Yes, to be fair, this TT is very short, and there's a climb. It's not like a 45k TT that Froome will take them all for 2 minutes.
I wouldn't read too much into Landa's performance at the beginning. At that point he was just in it for the kicks. Even on the Belles Filles he dropped off the lead group.
Calmajane !! De Ghent !!!
Reminder, gaps from Froome for stage 1 ITT...
Bardet +0:39
Aru +0:40
Uran +0:51
Landa +0:56
I wouldn't read too much into Landa's performance at the beginning. At that point he was just in it for the kicks. Even on the Belles Filles he dropped off the lead group.
Think the weather played quite a factor in that ITT too. Was a bit surprised that Landa was that far back as he can put in a good ITT. If ITT was today I don't think Landa would get on the podium but it could be close.
but surely, in a stage race, he knows the stages where he can be at the front/to win, otherwise he'll just sit in the groupetto using as little energy as possible, why would he smash himself up the Izoard just to suffer the next day?
Precisely this.
Think the weather played quite a factor in that ITT too.
For sure.
I want to see an expressionless Landa towing the group at Casse Déserte before reaching into his pocket, whipping out his mobile, and taking a selfie of the group.
I think it was Cav who was asked about how decent club riders (those with a Cat 1/2 racing licence) would get on in the Tour. His answer was basically "They'd get spat out the back in the neutralised zone at the start of the stage!".
There are 18 teams on the World Tour series. Team Sky have 28 riders on their roster which seems typical so that's roughly 500 riders that could participate in the Tour, possibly some are "apprentices" and wouldn't be picked anyway, but 500 is a reasonably round figure to work from. There's 17 Brits on the World Tour. What percentage of cyclists and racing cyclists do those numbers equate to? Probably a small fraction of 1% so you are looking at the best of the best of the best.
That's why, bless him, you gotta love Tommy.. on a stage like today.. oh crepe.
Breaks out to 1'30"..
[quote=lunge ]I'd also guess that Froome would beat [s]most [/s] all of us on a sprint too.
I'd put money on it. He wouldn't even need to break out of TT pace to beat most of us.
Difficult one for the GC contenders, they have to ask themselves do they want to really attack Sky and chance blowing up like a few did yesterday and losing a minute plus, or do they ride alongside Froome and settle for the podium and the kudos/money that comes from that? If you are 2nd / 3rd place now, attack and chance losing everything or be happy with that position?
At the end of the day, the GC contenders don't just need to beat Froome today, they need to put 60 - 90 seconds into him, otherwise he just retakes Yellow Jersey in the forthcoming TT stage.
Take out the initial TT and Uran has actually ridden round the rest of France quicker than Froome, so the TT stages can make a lot of difference.
Attacks? In Dan Martin we trust.
Attacks? In Dan Martin going at the wrong time we trust.
FTFY.
I love the way he rides, but tactically he doesn't half stuff it up most times.
I'd love to see Dan Martin tackle a grand tour with full support of some decent domestiques there for him. He has looked strong this tour, but had a mixture of some shite luck and no real support, still can't see why Kittel needed two domestiques only for him to drop out after crash with him at the back, can't gruppetto assist each other
still can't see why Kittel needed two domestiques only for him to drop out after crash with him at the back, can't gruppetto assist each other
Because Kittel is worth and costs a lot more money than Dan Martin. A picture of Kittel on the top step of the green jersey podium in Paris is worth more than a fourth place overall
I don't see why everyone is saying Bardet sucks at TTs compared to Uran... What happened in stage 1 as Bardet was much faster than Uran.
Because Kittel is worth and costs a lot more money than Dan Martin. A picture of Kittel on the top step of the green jersey podium in Paris is worth more than a fourth place overall
I get that, but if he is gruppetto they have a shared interest in all getting in within the time limit and working together, one domestique to help, but not two or three? Surely giving Dan Martin more assistance would be good for them to? The mountain stages are the "queen" stages and having the team and Dan at the front for those stages must surely look good to sponsors too?
Plus Kittel didn't seem to be aiming for Green Jersey itself, more for the stage wins, i didn't see him contest any of the intermediate sprints at all (?) if that was his aim?
Bardet was much faster than Uran.
Uran is a time trialling enigma. He won a long ITT when he was in contention for the Giro in 2014 and generally was a decent performer in GT ITT. So he can do it, but seems to have gone off the boil a bit in recent years. Motivation shouldn't be an issue tomorrow if he's still in the running.
I don't know, Martin was going great with some clever late attacks gaining time after the crash until lefevre parked all his domestiques at the back with kittel and Dan had no cover in the crosswinds. QS caught out in crosswinds?! QS??? how?
At the end of the day, the GC contenders don't just need to beat Froome today, they need to put 60 - 90 seconds into him, otherwise he just retakes Yellow Jersey in the forthcoming TT stage.
[i]Most likely[/i] retakes yellow.
What happens if Froome punctures? What if he crashes on a corner? The other guys need to take whatever time they can. Every second could matter.
nice flying dhingy shot 😆
Most likely retakes yellow.What happens if Froome punctures? What if he crashes on a corner? The other guys need to take whatever time they can. Every second could matter.
But this is the issue, every second does count, but they have two options:
- Attack Froome and Sky hard and really try to put time into him, as Contador adn Dan Martin did yesterday, really put yourself into the red and ultimately not be able to finish it off and actually lose time to Froome. bardet was the only one that attacked a few times but could still be there at the end challenging
- Or, stick with Froome, play it safe, get a good podium position and just hope Froome does have the puncture or similar.
Yes. I don't mean they should go for a Contador-esque attack from 80k. But Froome could well match their TT time even if he has a mishap.
AG2R, Cannondale, Astana, Quickstep need to work together to isolate Froome.. burn out their domestiques to burn out Sky's, and then once it's just the GC contenders left then fight it out, leaving Froome to chase down attacks, rather than having his team do it.
It's the only way they're going to get any significant time on Froome today, who arguably looks like he's going to win the tour due to having the strongest team rather than being the strongest rider..
Well that's kinda been done, but Sky have better domestiques that are around for longer. Also, Froome has been alone and chasing down attacks in this tour. Whilst it is very much a team achievement, I think he his also the strongest rider (to be decided for this year mind) - and that has demonstrably been the case in his other tour wins too.
Yeah teams have attacked individually, but not together.. Sky are clearly the strongest team even without G, so it would take two teams working together to break them..
Froome's only looked good as he's hardly had to work (relative to his rivals), he's not been anything like as dominant so far this year, no stage wins, getting dropped on Stage 5 etc.. in previous years he had a huge buffer by this stage.
Edit: Stage 12, not 5!
Definitely very close between the top contenders, closer than it has been for a long time. Just think it is a little harsh to say it is all about the team, he's still put in huge efforts and is contending at the head of the race when he is alone. I hope he puts in an attack today though, this tour needs a big GC break up a mountain...one that takes minutes out of the others.
he's going to win the tour due to having the strongest team rather than being the strongest rider.
Curious view seeing as most riders and commentators think that Froome has demonstrated himself to be the strongest in this final week, covering all attacks with apparent ease. I'm not sure what can be read into the lack of attacking from Froome... doesn't want to, doesn't need to, can't do it? It is almost as if he's trying to win the Tour by only expending as much effort as required, which fits in with the Vuelta double theory.
De Gendt going for the intermediate sprint 😀
Edit...
Yeah teams have attacked individually, but not together..
Would never work. All too close at the top for that sort of alliance to be successful. And even if they did they'd just leave their leaders with no support and Froome with a couple of Sky guys.
Yeah he still puts the effort in, just he has it a lot easier than his rivals. His team chase down most attacks, and pace him up the final climb, whereas the rest of the GC contenders have to do these things themselves..
In past years Froome has been by far the strongest, but this year if every GC rider had a clone of Sky's team working for them then the GC would look very different.
I don't think Froome has looked as good as previous years, but he does look the "complete" rider, he has been able to get back to the group after crashes and mechanicals, after the rear wheel issue the other day, they must have had at least 60-80 seconds on him and he was back on within minutes.
He may be dull to watch, but he can match the other climbers, descend well but can also TT and had a few pops at a sprint finish too
In past years Froome has been by far the strongest,
In past years the route was also more in his favour, with more TT miles and more long alpine style climbs. This year's Tour is atypical and does favour the likes of Bardet and Aru, yet Froome is still in yellow.
Would never work. All too close at the top for that sort of alliance to be successful. And even if they did they'd just leave their leaders with no support and Froome with a couple of Sky guys.
It's the only way they'll win, barring a Froome crash/mechanical/illness - if they want to beat the strongest team and potentially win the race than they have to take risks given that it's the last stage to gain any real time. If you need 2-3 mins on Froome then you have to try something different on the Col du Vars, if you leave it to the last climb then it's game over..
I get the feeling Froome came to the tour slightly off peak so that he'd have a better last week, avoiding the last week fade he usually suffers. He's almost admitted as much in interviews.
It's the only way they'll win,
How? Astana, AG2R and Cannondale get to the front and work together to set a hard pace. Sky just sit in and wait for them to burn themselves out and isolate their leaders. Then what? 🙂
Whether Froome sits on his own team's wheel or someone elses, it's all the same 🙂
Someone needs to attack and preferably repeatedly in order to try to clear some of his support. Threshold up to the top is as likely to decimate the opposition as Team Sky
I get the feeling Froome came to the tour slightly off peak so that he'd have a better last week, avoiding the last week fade he usually suffers. He's almost admitted as much in interviews.
Yep, I've got the same impression. I guess today will be the time we see if that's the case.
With an element of surprise as per AG2R earlier in the tour.. Wait for a couple of team Sky to drop back for bottles, then quick acceleration by a couple of teams and see what carnage they can cause.. ideally with a couple of riders in the large breakaway up the road to help you out later.. yeah there's a good chance it won't work, but it's better to try to win, rather than settle for a possible podium..
Sky drilling it! I think Froome will go for the win, Aru lose more time. Landa may head for top three.
It's 2012 all over again 😉
it's better to try to win, rather than settle for a possible podium..
Sponsors may disagree. I'd argue that Bardet's fame was sealed with last year's podium at the tour, before then he was another promising rider.
Haven't been listening to the commentary for a while - anyone know why Bora are riding? Are they trying to set up Buchmann? Seems unlikely.
No idea why Bora are riding. Millar suggesting punishment for missing the break 🙂
it's better to try to win, rather than settle for a possible podium..
Sounds like Bardet agrees. From le Tour website...
Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) told letour.com this morning: “I'm ready to fight. I've got nothing to lose. I already finished second in the Tour de France last year. Mental will prevail.”
Bardet will try but Uran may well be the one that profits.
Rowe and Knees still on the front up the Vars. No one seems to want to take it on and make this hard.
I reckon Bardet could've got away on the Galibier if he went properly balls-out. The downhill was the killer there though, as they caught Mattias Frank before the top meaning he would've been on a hiding to nothing. With a mountain top finish, we should see everyone let it all hang out. How everyone is recovered from yesterday will also play into it.
Rowe and Knees still on the front up the Vars. No one seems to want to take it on and make this hard.
Agree - if Sky have everyone else fresh on the Izoard, they will strangle the race.
Bardet doesn't have anything to loose IMO. Given that (one assumes) he'll loose time to Uran and Froome in the TT, at best he's looking at 3rd if he does nothing today.
Right on cue. AG2R take over.
Was just going to say I didnt realised Bardet read STW mid race!
Froome isn't leading simply [i]because of[/i] his team. He's simply used his team to protect his lead, which is obvious.
I think Bardet could try something but Uran has wheel sucked all month, so I doubt that'll change.
Froome will hurt them all today, I predict.
Froome earlier...
"This is the third week, the last big test in the mountains. There is no hiding on a stage like this. It is this year’s equivalent of Mont Ventoux - the Izoard is a brutal climb, and we’re going to have to see what everyone has on that last kick. I’d love to go for the stage today, that would be incredible. If I get the chance, I will certainly go for it."
So sounds like he's expecting it to be all together for GC going into the last few 100m on the Izoard. Certainly doesn't sound like someone who has plans to win the stage.
Right on cue. AG2R take over.
About time. They need to dump Rowe and Knees and probably Haeno and Kwiatkowski too and get Landa and Nieve working early. Liking this.
About time. They need to dump Rowe and Knees and probably Haeno too and get Landa and Nieve working early.
By my count, AG2R have the same number in that group as Sky, but with less quality. They're never going to clear out the Sky domestiques without losing their own, and then Landa and Nieve will still be there so it'll be like yesterday. It's hard for a single team to out-Sky Team Sky
Landa looks like he's waiting for the doors to close on a lift.
I think the best they could expect is same as yesterday, Froome and Landa v Bardet. Nieve had a wobble yesterday too so they'll hope he does the same today.
Froome just passing round the snacks as AG2R work up front 🙂
He's a real fan of the history of cycling. It seems to me like he wants not only to win, but also to write his name into the history of the sport. (and not just for running up Ventoux 😉 )
Landa looks like he's waiting for the doors to close on a lift.
RLWP! 😆 😆
Barguil wins the spotty jersey (provided he gets to Paris.) Nicely done.
So Luke Rowe is now the Lantern Rouge. If it stays like that to Paris has one team finished with both leader and the back marker in the race?
Feel a bit sorry for Rowe and Knees. They empty the tank for at least the first half of pretty much every stage, peel off, then still somehow have to make it to the finish within the time cut.
Did amuse me, AG2R empty the tanks as Froome gets a round of gels in, he was casually riding no handed at one point.
Tension building, this last climb is going to be awesome. I feel nervous just sat at my desk
Well 20k to decide the Tour. Everyone knows what they have to do. How late will they leave it?
Stage winner to come from the break? Likely. Though only 5 mins on the peloton, could eat that up if the GC kicks off.
Well this is boring so far, hope the final climb is better.
So Luke Rowe is now the Lantern Rouge. If it stays like that to Paris has one team finished with both leader and the back marker in the race?
i think it has been done before, didn't the Sagan brothers finish either end of the field on a stage also?
Amazing how Luke Rowe can be Sky road captain from right at the back, World War 1 officer tactics...
Good point being made by Millar that it's in Bardet's interest to bring the break back and make it a race for both GC and stage giving more people an interest in mixing things up and making it harder to control. Gap coming down.
I'm sure we've had nervous buildups to big mountain stages before only to find that no-one has the legs and it just trundles to the top.
I've been impressed by the commentary on ITV, but they have just gone to a break now. Why not before they hit the climb FFS?
7km to go, Sky with lots of riders left, Rolland and Bardet with 2 each, Aru with a man up the road.
Edit, 3 for Bardet now.
Looks like Haeno, Kwiatkowski and Nieve are going. Great work by AG2R.
Complete Legsplosion
They really need to get Kwiatkowski out the way. He's on the front and the pace has dropped. Good work by Sky in nullifying things allowing Nieve to come back. Not good for AG2R.
I've been impressed by the commentary on ITV, but they have just gone to a break now. Why not before they hit the climb FFS?
I'm liking the ITV footage over Eurosport now, whatever you think of David Millar, i do find that he gives genuine insight into what is going on.
With regards to the ads, i think ITV have no control over the actual TV feed, they get what French TV gives them that's why they have criticised it when tey have repeatedly shown crashes etc.
Strange that AG2R used Bakelants to smash the group and drop all the AG2R riders, Aru, Martin, and Nieve, and then Bardet didn't go. That seems to have played into Sky's hands.
At least Martin is having a crack there...
Will we be treated to a Face of Aru special now.
EDIT: In case anyone missed this before...
https://facesofaru.tumblr.com/
https://www.instagram.com/facesofaru/
Yup, Nieve and Kwiatkowski had almost gone but now back on the front.
Kwiaktowski literally comes to a stop.
Landa for the yellow?
Kwiatkowski is my hero, proper man crush, when I grow up I want to ride bikes like he does. See also Lizzie Deignan..and right on cue he goes pop.
Faces of Aru - It's cruel to say, but he does have about 6 extra teeth than us mere mortals...
[img] 
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At last - it's exciting!
Aru = Belleville Rendezvous rider