Stage 17 - spoiler

[Keith Oates]

Today is the big one, or to be more accurate the big three as there are three tough climbs to get over. There will be no hiding for anyone today and it will be interesting to see how it develops. CSC will need to try again to distance themselves from Evans and Menchov but as seen yesterday that will not be easy unless one or both of them have a bad day. I think that Evans will do what he does best and that is cover the moves and try to keep from losing very much in the way of time. Could we see a resurgence from Valverde or will he continue to disappoint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rustychisel]

Oh, I don't think Valverde disappoints. Sure, he had one relatively bad day, and he's lost some time, but he's finding out how hard it is to win the Tour rather than just swan around the peloton, or take the GC of the Vuelta. I know he's fallen out of the Tour before, but this time he's really finding out what it's about. Anyway, like you said, this one will be key.

PS; lotta comments on the boards about how ugly Cadel is... have you had a gander at the fizzog on some of those Gerolsteiner blokes? They're all pink and rubbery looking, with bristles and sticky out teeth. Eeeech.

 

[Keith Oates]

I think that after the Dauphine people (including me) thought he might be a real challenger in the tour, so from that angle he is a little disappointing so far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MichaelM]

At 12 o'clock toaday, I shall park my behind in front of he T.V. and won't be moving until the fat lady has sung.

I'd like to see Evans stay close enough to be able to take yellow in the TT.

 

[kennykool]

I'd like to see Evans strap on a pair and actually make his own move! He absolutely MUST win a stage before the time trial - in my opinion.

His team need to support him tho. Popovych left him yesterday - not sure what that was about???

 

[biking_fox]

Schumaker's off on the break, again ! He's currently 22 down and if he can get it to stick a bit will put himself in good contention if he does another epic TT on Sat.

3 HC climbs to go though!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'd be very disappointed for the whole TdF to be won on a TT - I want to see some serious attacking riding in the mountains today. I still think Sastre could pull out a big stage... he has to really.

 

[Keith Oates]

I'd like to see that as well but I'm not sure we've seen anyone that looks like doing that so far this tour. Hey there is always hope though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, still no clues yet as to how it will turn out - 4 minutes for the escape is not much and no-one from the peleton has tried to make a move... but with the two hardest climbs still to come...

 

[Keith Oates]

Big George had a crash but is getting back into the peleton, there are not the big gaps forming today so far. The big boys will be waiting for the L'Alpe and then it should all start to happen (maybe)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'd like to see that as well but I'm not sure we've seen anyone that looks like doing that so far this tour. Hey there is always hope though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only Ricco / Piepoli - and we know now why they were able to escape so easily! Maybe it's because the artificial differences have been evened out a bit now...

 

[Keith Oates]

Rémy Di Gregorio has lost contact going downhill, what bike is he riding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Oates]

Only Ricco / Piepoli - and we know now why they were able to escape so easily! Maybe it's because the artificial differences have been evened out a bit now...

Who!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Oates]

David Millar is wilting, not good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

David Millar is wilting, not good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To be expected really - the only question is whether he has enough left to challenge in the TT.