Tour de France 2016 **SPOILERS**

[fimm]

Well I am glad I didn't follow that online and waited for the highlights!
I think Froome/Sky are showing Quintana a lot of respect, nibbling off seconds here and there; they know what he is capable of on the big climbs. This isn't over yet.
(They showed a clip of a sportive going up Ventoux in high winds on the ITV highlights... everyone was walking. Also as wassisname, Prudhomme? said, it isn't just the riders, it is all the gubbins they have at the finish. Collapsing 1km to go kites would be the least of it...)

 

[coffeejo]

Just looking at the GC, am I imagining it or are the time gaps smaller than usual? Froome as a 28s lead but then it's just a minute covering 2nd to 10th place. Seems to be a fair reflection of the way the race is going though - only Froome seems genuinely interested in the GC so far, everyone else is being very cagey (although Yates was desperately unlucky to have his attack thwarted by the flame rouge).

I expect the gaps will be bigger after today's stage though, shortened or not.

Also, only six abandonnés so far. That's definitely unusually low. And the first one wasn't until stage 8. (Amazing that both Morkov and Contador kept going as long as they did.)

Nothing about this Tour fits with what we've come to expect. Loving it.

 

[Dogtrousers]

(They showed a clip of a sportive going up Ventoux in high winds on the ITV highlights... everyone was walking.

View: https://youtu.be/rPwAIo0fseM

 

[EnPassant]

View: https://youtu.be/rPwAIo0fseM

Ok, this is from some sci-fi series isn't it? the chap in blue @1:04 is out of phase isn't he?

But blimey, that's a bit draughty indeed.

 

[Globalti]

Pussies. That looks like a normal day here in Lancashire.

 

[400bhp]

Just looking at the GC, am I imagining it or are the time gaps smaller than usual? Froome as a 28s lead but then it's just a minute covering 2nd to 10th place. Seems to be a fair reflection of the way the race is going though - only Froome seems genuinely interested in the GC so far, everyone else is being very cagey (although Yates was desperately unlucky to have his attack thwarted by the flame rouge).

I expect the gaps will be bigger after today's stage though, shortened or not.

Yes, you're absolutely right. Last year after stage 11.

http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/stage-11/classifications.html

This race is wide open.

 

[huwsparky]

at should Froome be so pleased?

Because it's less realistic milage where any of the GC contenders can take time out of him.

Yes, you're absolutely right. Last year after stage 11.


http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/us/stage-11/classifications.html

This race is wide open.

Is there only 2 summit finishes left though?

 

[HF2300]

Alternatively, confusion between 'being an exciting, attacking rider' and 'being french'?

You cynic. I'm sure there's absolutely no suggestion at all that they might be throwing the French consolation prizes to make up for public disappointment at the lack of serious French competition.

 

[400bhp]

Because it's less realistic milage where any of the GC contenders can take time out of him.

Is there only 2 summit finishes left though?

Yes, I believe so. I think Quintana's big attack was focussed on the penultimate climb on Sunday's stage, but we will see.

 

[smutchin]

Is there only 2 summit finishes left though?

Yes, only two summit finishes, but stage 20 finishes with the terrifyingly fast descent from the Joux Plane to Morzine, which could be very interesting if the race is still close by then - Nairo attacked on that descent on the 2012 Dauphiné and won the stage by 16 seconds...

 

[SWSteve]

I have today's stage recorded, can't wait to watch once home - luckily I'm cycling home into what seems like a Block headwind, so I will be unable to have the result spoiled by Twitter, and the wind will give me an idea of what they are facing...

 

[HF2300]

Is there only 2 summit finishes left though?

4 mountain stages though.

 

[SWSteve]

re: downhill finishes, what's happened to Bardet? Surely these were designed for a rider such as he to make the most of the downhill

 

[coffeejo]

Yes, only two summit finishes, but stage 20 finishes with the terrifyingly fast descent from the Joux Plane to Morzine, which could be very interesting if the race is still close by then - Nairo attacked on that descent on the 2012 Dauphiné and won the stage by 16 seconds...

He only needs to double that to beat Froome and his new found ability to tuck his elbows in on descents...

 

[400bhp]

I think everyone is forgetting there's 2 TTs to come.