Tour de France 2013 *spoilers*
- Thread starter Noodley
- Start date
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Well, if he doesn't try in the Alps... he can always gamble it on the Champs-Elysees
The other option being that he rides for second and doesn't try anything risky.
lukesdad
Guest
You are joking, right ?
of course
Well, at the moment that Froome tries/is dropping everyone on the Ventoux Valverde, Contador, Mollema and Quintana can start fighting for his wheel, to take some of the slipstream (like the sprinters fighting for the wheel of Cavendish in HTC-Columbia times)... hoing to end in 2nd place and maybe, just maybe, nicking it on the finish line....
Sounds smart
tigger
Über Member
True, individually he is incredibly strong, but as we have seen his weakness is his team at the moment. It was notable even on stage 10 on Tuesday he had no one around him in the last 10k or so other than Stannard. Contador doesn't usually race for second, and provided he is feeling better (the signs yesterday were quite good I think) then my prediction is that Saxo and Movistar will attack from early on in stage 15 (Ventoux). Stage 14 is lumpy and ripe for the breakaway, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some fuel added to the fire here too, to help tire and demotivate Sky further. Garmin and Dan Martin have to be watched on this stage too. If Froome continually gets isolated early, with strength in numbers from the other teams, plus has a bit of a bad day he can lose bucket loads of time. And we haven't even got to the double ascent of the Alpe yet!
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I still think Valverde will get found out in the Alps and finish outside the podium places.
Since everybody currently is still very close together, it isn't far reached to say that... but I do have the feeling that the TT performances show that Valverde is pretty good (and Contador is on the way up), so I am inclined at this moment to believe we might end up with these 2 on the podium
But let's just wait for week 3, where it will all (have to) happen
Although you might be right and this thing can happen:
Looking at yesterday's performance of De Gendt.... do you feel his form rising?
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I felt the real reason Movistar didn't try to really put the hurt on Froome on Sunday is because Valverde didn't have the legs. You saw the way he reacted when Quintana attacked on the final climb - I don't think that was just tactical...
I predict that when Contador goes kamikaze in the Alps, as we are all assuming he will, Valverde won't be able to follow.
But this could just be wishful thinking because I don't much like him. Admittedly, he did better than I expected in the TT yesterday.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Looking at yesterday's performance of De Gendt.... do you feel his form rising?
Yes, De Gendt is having a stormer, isn't he? He's another who needs to impress potential suitors.
This Cav/Veelers thing is now out of control. Apparently he's been informed by the organisers that he's no longer welcome, FFS, at a Dutch Crit where he races every year.
While Adam and Vasseur were just talking about this, they once again showed the long version of the slo-mo from the helicopter, and you can clearly see Veelers look over his shoulder and then move onto Cav's line.
While Adam and Vasseur were just talking about this, they once again showed the long version of the slo-mo from the helicopter, and you can clearly see Veelers look over his shoulder and then move onto Cav's line.
