Well Froome needs to find some form out there somewhere or he might be better off heading somewhere nice after the next rest day!!

that was some final kilometre, for a 5% hill

I wanted the break to stay away, but when Carapaz span off the front it looked like might even pull a wheelie he powered off so quickly..

Glad Sky didn’t last long on the front, they tried thier old tactics of the rolling roadblock but they were blown to bits in the end. Good to see Froomie in trouble every now and again, didn’t really see Aru but he seemed happy enough at the finish.

Long old stage that.

Tomorrow looks like a cracker!

Yeah, that’s “bumpy”

🤪🤯

when Carapaz span off the front it looked like might even pull a wheelie he powered off so quickly..

Yeah, very impressive.  Surprised that they got back to within 7 seconds; thought he’d be maybe 20 up

Do you think Froome is deliberately not going for wins /jersey to avoid the media? That said he doesn’t look at all comfortable. Great that Yates is still there but 16s ahead of dumoulin looks very fragile. On that subject commentators said dumoulin. Had only raced 12 days prior to tour? Very strange to then come to a Giro and be a contender?

Do you think Froome is deliberately not going for wins /jersey to avoid the media?

Nah, he rode like shit today (they kept replaying bits of footage of him wobbling & banging into folk as well as his fall) and I thought he looked rough on the line.  May still come good but I think tomorrow will be a big day for him.

He certainly looks rough but he’s a tough cookie. If he can hang in there then don’t write him off yet. As said, tomorrow is another day.

Nothing will stop me wanting Esteban Chavez to win this bike race.

This ^

Another Chavez supporter here, but I’d be equally happy if Dumoulin won again. (As long as it doesn’t turn into another Sky boreathon!)

Froome always looks rough. Stages so far havent suited him, he needs multiple climbs. Having said that if he was on form he’d be doing better. It was a heavy fall he had before the tt. I wouldnt rule him out yet.

Bloody hell Yatsy 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪☄️

Froomidge lost 1’06 🤪

2.30 back, tough choice ahead risk his chances in the tdf trying to drag it back or wave the white flag and save something for the tour

Awesome, Yates.

Can’t help thinking Froome has come in a bit undercooked on purpose with the TdF in mind and will get stronger throughout the race.  He’ll need to get going soon though otherwise it’s pointless – that didn’t look good.

Quintana, Landa and Valverde must be enjoying this (though I think Roglic is a good outside bet for the tour)

Can’t help thinking Froome has come in a bit undercooked on purpose with the TdF in mind and will get stronger throughout the race.

though he’s had more race days so far this season than Tom (Tom did manage a showing in the spring classics which probably helps with getting into the cut and thrust of road racing quite well and definitely looks lacking in Froome)

Perhaps he’s just getting old then!

Is Simon Yates the one who has a drug ban? Or is that his brother ?

thiinking about it, it’s a tough position for Froome now he 1.50 ish behind the WC TTer so will have to attack him in the mountains to gain time but he’ll be up against a Chaves Yates Pinot Pozzovivo Carapaz tag team.

Is Simon Yates the one who has a drug ban? Or is that his brother ?

First hit on Google: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/36564327

I wonder if some of the problems for froome is he can’t handle the cold very well.

I wonder if some of the problems for froome is he can’t handle the cold very well.

He’s just not hit form, no other excuse.

could be a combination of cold induced asthma and staying off the puffer, just in case like.

In general, when you talk to them you can see they really want to win. I don’t think they will switch off but, for sure, I this is not great news. They will keep fighting, they have strong morale – and that’s what it is like in this sport. But we are not so often in this situation.

Nice to see a statement from Nic Portal (Sky DS).. the opening “in general” says it all really.

Still think Sky are pulling the funding soon, £20 says it’s after the TdF.

Well well well, that’s it for Froome if you ask me in the Giro.

However, Yates is looking damn good along with having Chavez as his team mate. Very cool performance from him today out there.

I don’t really understand why Froome hasn’t come in at peak form, I thought previously he said his main aim this year was to win the giro to win all three grand tours.

Don’t remember seeing Froome have consecutive bad days in a tour. I still wouldn’t rule him out. Yates could easily have a bad day and lose the whole thing. It’s early days, lots of tough days to come!

There are some tough days to come but the top 10 is still packed so he needs 3 or 4 guys to have bad days

Whats up with Froomes taped up knee?

It’s pretty scary that Mitchelton Scott have a 2nd very similar variant warming up ready to lead the TdF team. In a way it would be good to have them riding together but sure how it would work unless took turns to ride for each other. They deserve to become a household name as a proper British pair of hard hitting tough brothers a bit like the Brownlees in triathlon.

It’s pretty scary that Mitchelton Scott have a 2nd very similar variant warming up ready to lead the TdF team. In a way it would be good to have them riding together but sure how it would work unless took turns to ride for each other. They deserve to become a household name as a proper British pair of hard hitting tough brothers a bit like the Brownlees in triathlon

Which one of them is generally the better ?

If you also throw Chaves in there for discussion, then you’ve got a very strong trio there. Their Domestiques are doing a cracking job at putting them in the right places too.

Was interesting to see y’day that when Froome was struggling, he still had cover from Sky, in the previous days he’s been last man standing, but yesterday he had backup but still didn’t quite have it at the end.

Bernal to the TDF phone !

Which one of them is generally the better ?

Faff all in it tbh

I don’t think I’ve seen Froome blow up quite like that before, seen him struggle on the super steep and Quintana take 1.30 out of him on the alpe but he always had the “wherewithal” to push for the line and mind the seconds but yesterday he was completely gone.

cloudnine
Whats up with Froomes taped up knee?

See post 1 of this thread

Is there anywhere online you can watch extended highlights? There’s only 3 minute clips on YT.

Quest show a one hour programme at 7pm. I saw a mention of on demand?

yes – https://www.questtv.co.uk/video/giro-2018

Stage 8 is the last one there though so looks like you may have to wait a few days for the exciting stages

https://gb.eurosportplayer.com/