Minor Races Thread 2015 - [SPOILERS]

[The Couch]

Is Sep Vanmarcke the really tall guy? Not ideal for climbing...

No, I think your thinking of Stijn Vandenberghe (OPQS), although both are Flemish classics/cobblestone specialists.. but Vanmarcke is younger and has the highest potential (and has actually already won something)

 

[raindog]

Coquard got the job done today in the Route du Sud - right at the last minute - came from nowhere - great bit of riding.

 

[smutchin]

Coquard got the job done today in the Route du Sud - right at the last minute - came from nowhere - great bit of riding.

The AG2R bloke didn't look too pleased! Classic case of going too early - completely blew up in the last 50 metres and ended up coasting over the line.

Great timing by the peloton to catch the break with 200 metres to go.

 

[rich p]

And Kristoff beats Sagan in the TdS. Cav not in the top 10

And @smutchin , another 5 seconds for G over TP

 

[smutchin]

And @smutchin , another 5 seconds for G over TP

Christ, if G ends up winning this race by less than 10 seconds (which seems eminently possible), Pinot will be kicking himself. Of course, G could win it by substantially more than 10 seconds...

Just had a quick look through the results to see if there have been any comparable head-to-heads between Thomas and Pinot. In last year's Bayern Rundfahrt, which G won, Pinot lost 1.19 to him in the 25km TT - although he may not have been going full gas as he was already out of GC contention. The TdS TT is 38km over similar terrain - not hugely lumpy but certainly not flat.

 

[smutchin]

OTOH, shouldn't overlook the possibility that Spilak could nick it off both of them...

 

[smutchin]

2/2 for Greipel at the Ster ZLM Toer.

Kittel nowhere again - 107th @ 33 seconds, to be precise.

That's one way to beat him, I suppose - ride him out of the race before you get to the sprint.

 

[raindog]

I assumed Quickstep didn't work yesterday because Kwiatkowski was in with a shout right up till the last few metres?
Also, after last year's disaster I reckon Cav is terrified of being injured in a crash so close to the Tour start.

 

[raindog]

Can't wait to see what happens between Berto and Quintana on today's climbs. Do they go for the win? Do they hold back with the Tour about to start? Does one attack while the other sandbags? All will be revealed from 2.30 onwards

 

[rich p]

Can't wait to see what happens between Berto and Quintana on today's climbs. Do they go for the win? Do they hold back with the Tour about to start? Does one attack while the other sandbags? All will be revealed from 2.30 onwards

Head to head at the mo. French comms just said pokerface - do they not have their own word!
I wonder if Quintana will drop his chain in the Porte de Bales?

 

[raindog]

Latour busting a gut
ride of his life....

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

who the feck thinks its a good idea to stand at the side of the road with pink smoke flare? nobber.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I like this no commentary coverage on Eurosport player

 

[rich p]

It looked to me as if Quintana was doing just enough to show Bert that he could stay with him easily enough on that climb. Contador is descending better though

 

[rich p]

I like this no commentary coverage on Eurosport player

I'm listening to the French commentary and I think he just said, Alberto c'est un doping nobbaire ...