TdF Stage 17 – No Miracle Comebacks [Spoilers]

According to Eurosport Tony Martin is planning to change bikes three times and Froome once.

Surely they should only be allowed to pick one steed from the quiver 😉

We have a very long time to wait!! Wont know the outcome of it all until about 4.20pm…

The rule should be:

every time you change your bike, you drink a pint. Sorted.

Contador complaining about Quintana is a bit rich considering what he did to Schleck. Infact ignore that, Contador complaining about unsportsman like behaviour is a bit rich considering he was banned for being a drugs cheat!

ooooh, rain from 2pm.

yes it is that starage weather lottery but at least all the main GC players get the same weather

Does Shleck miss the rain?

“With these levels of hypocrisy and lack of self awareness I am wondering which poster on here is Bertie”

LOL’d.

D0NK – Member

‘When I saw that I was not able to stay on the wheel of a rider like Mark Cavendish on the descent off a mountain pass, I asked myself: ‘What am I doing on the Tour?’

can’t figure out if he’s saying “well cav is pure shite downhill so if I can’t even keep up with him I’m oot” or sincerely thinks he should be able to keep up with him.

DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

Westra made up 42 seconds from check 3 to the finish, so rain could make all the difference later.

tinsy good point, hadn’t thought of that, makes sense (i have no idea whether cav is a good descender of not btw)

tinsy – Member
DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

Or maybe because Cav was ill yesterday and taking it easy.

CaptJon, you put the link up about Pinot, he had bailed before yesterdays stage, he was talking about a previous mountain stage 8 & following Cav.

It was only a theory on why he chose to mention Cav as a reference to his decending.

DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

that’s how I read it; not that Cav is a poor descender, just that he has no reason to descend “quickly” in a mtn stage as he’s only interested in the sprint stages (and as long as he finishes in the gruppetto, who all have an interest in staying together).

yes I read it as I cannot keep up with someone who is not really trying to “race”

the highlights wont be exciting, so im happy to watch the STWupdates roll in this afternoon

who can see what?

I saw a cyclist in the distance looking at a side road just now; I bet he’s going for my sneaky KoM on the back road near the office. If you mean regarding the tour, I can see Eurosport 😛

just as interested in real people riding real roads, without all the support they get in the TdF

dont see them having to carry keys and phones do you.

just as interested in real people riding real roads, without all the support they get in the TdF

dont see them having to carry keys and phones do you.

I’d be way faster than the pros if only I didn’t have to carry my keys and phone. 🙄

Anyway, rain due apparently. That could really hamper the late starters.

umberrrellas out

What are the chances that the rain falls at exactly the right time to hamper Froome but not Mollema and Contador?

sorry ransos, referencing the runners/molgrips thread.

Or

It pees down on Berti the cheat geet…. and then there’s a break in the clouds for Froome and as his maillot jaune gleams in the rays of sunshine, a host of angels sing allelluia as swoops down the hill to VICTORY 😀

It’s already raining. I’d hope conditions wouldn’t change too much between the top 6 riders.

sorry ransos, referencing the runners/molgrips thread.

Spectacularly missed!

I had Froome down as a cert for this stage, but the rain could really scupper it.

Surely they should only be allowed to pick one steed from the quiver

Surely another arrow from the stable? 😯

It’s pissing it down now!

Crash time!

would you change your bike set-up in the rain? maybe tyre pressures?

Reports of hail … see told you it’ll be biblical

TeeJay for the win?

It pees down on Berti the cheat geet…. and then there’s a break in the clouds for Froome and as his maillot jaune gleams in the rays of sunshine, a host of angels sing allelluia as swoops down the hill to VICTORY

Surelyy the angels would stop briefly to mock Contador as he gets overtaken by Froome

It hasn’t actually rained at all throughout the Tour until today has it?

would you change your bike set-up in the rain?

I dunno, softer tyres maybe? Slower but grippier..?

Will be interesting to see how Contador approaches the descents if it is wet. He’s said he doesn’t really care about podium places and he just wants to win so may see this as an opportunity to gain a chunk of time over Froome who has a lot more to lose. Looks fairly dry out there right now though.

“[…]raining men…”

Did Carlton Kirby really just say that Contador had overcome so many problems then sort of nod verbally towards doping like it wasn’t his fault?

I’ve got the same issue with some online bike news places who conveniently ignore the doping past of their favourite riders in order to do sycophantic “interviews”

Yes he did.

Valverde going well, a minute up on Teejay at the second split (despite commentary saying he was only a second up.)

Peraud is nails though… chapeau.

Peraud riding his TT bike as well. I think I’d just stick to the road bike. Chapeau indeed.

Edit: Andy Schleck… blimey!

What’s most surprising is that Schleck took a minute back from Van Garderen on the last descent.