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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...
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At last - it's exciting!
Aru = Belleville Rendezvous rider
Come on Chris. Kick em in the balls.
Bardet to split it into the dip?
Ooof!
1.5km to go, this is awesome.
Landa looks like he's working hard for the first time all tour.
Pain face from Landa. 😯
27" for Barguil - enough? I'm not convinced
Someone punch this fat bloke in the face.
Flame Rouge for the GC group, still all together.
Some changes in the top 10 today there, going to be a bit TT for a lot of people
Aaaaaaaaaand... relax.
I need to go for a ride now.
Exciting stuff, if a little predictable.
Been a great Tour for Barguil and Sunweb.
Barguil has been a joy this tour
I really hope Froome doesn't win the yellow without a single stage win. It'll have to be the final TT that he pins his hopes on.
Good stage that, Barguil did brilliantly to time that one
Commentators completely missed Meintjes beating Yates!
For 22"!
Enjoyed that. Yates hung on well and must have secured the white jersey now.
EDIT ARGH missed that - no audio at work! Still hanging on then.
I really hope Froome doesn't win the yellow without a single stage win. It'll have to be the final TT that he pins his hopes on.
He will obviously have to go all-in on the TT. And with that steep climb, it certainly doesn't favour the diesel TT riders who've taken it a bit easier in the last couple of days.
Exciting finish. IMO really shows how the lack of mountain top finishes has detracted from the race. Thats a big contributor the lack of a stage win for Froome too
New GC.
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Exciting finish. IMo really shows how the lack of mountain top finishes has detracted from the race
It's definitely shaped the race and made the climbs less attacking and more tactical. Things like headwinds on some of the descents haven't helped either.
Froome certainly in with a shout of a win tomorrow. Though didn't see much of Roglic today, resting maybe?
He's got to be the main threat for the stage win tomorrow.
Barguil a very worthy winner of the polka dot jersey this year.