Tour de France 2016 **SPOILERS**

[HF2300]

Meanwhile, back at the racing Rohan Dennis holds the lead currently from Stephen Cummings.

"Overall I'm happy with the ride, it's been a tough Tour so far. Considering it's stage 13, it's a different feeling time trialing with super fatigue, especially when the course is so hard, not just the climbing in general but the wind as well played a huge part. I think one major factor for anyone who's gonna be going for today's stage is what wheels they pick. Look, some of the smaller guys might not be picking a faster wheel and just because of their weight and not being able to hold the bike. You've got those crosswinds so maybe it might help us. As bigger guys, you could say… I'm hoping for my own sake that that's the case but it's definitely not an easy course today. It's quite challenging."

 

[smutchin]

Which rider was it, back in the Desgrange days I believe, who was penalised because he got the blacksmiths' daughter to pump the bellows as he forged/mended his own front forks on a stage?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugène_Christophe#1913_and_the_Tourmalet_incident

 

[400bhp]

That makes sense. And I'd guess the TdF probably swallows all the temporary barriers for miles around, so it may not have been easy to find more or get it up there at short notice.

They carry some barriers with them.

 

[coffeejo]

Maybe they should press gang everyone who likes running in silly costumes to run up every mountain ahead of the riders to keep the road clear?

 

[HF2300]

They carry some barriers with them.

Think that needs some clarification!

 

[HF2300]

Dennis on the GC contenders:

“I can't disregard Froome, that would be stupid. He's a great time trialer and climber. As you've seen he's got power in the flat and the hills at the moment. He's probably one of the big favourites. For us in general, with BMC, Tejay and Richie are in great positions. The factor of the wind is going to be the biggest factor for guys like Richie, and what wheels he picks are obviously gonna be pretty decisive. Hopefully for his sake and our GC the hope is the wind does drop and he can really use his strength on the climbing to take time out and then he won't lose the time so much in the wind along the ridge of the first climb. Tejay is pretty strong all round as well. Mollema I'm not 100% sure how he time trials, I've never seen him at the top of TT ranking. Quintana I think is in the same boat as Richie. I don't know how he's gonna handle the wind.”

 

[Hont]

That's the thing about the Tour no-one knows, Froome could crash out in the TT today or it could come down to a a few seconds on the penultimate day. So all the riders can do is get the seconds where they can and it's up to the organisers to ensure the race is as fair as possible.

Indeed.

And if Froome does end up winning by a handful of seconds he owes Bauke Mollema a few beers. If he had the same problems as Porte and Froome they would have likely been given the same time as Yates et al.

 

[Venod]

Indeed.

And if Froome does end up winning by a handful of seconds he owes Bauke Mollema a few beers. If he had the same problems as Porte and Froome they would have likely been given the same time as Yates et al.

I think they would have given them the time gap they had at the time of the crash, to me this would seem fairer than how they awarded the final times..

 

[Levo-Lon]

Just seen the clip where Froome has the neutral bike...he looked like a first timer on a halfords special ..

 

[Hont]

Quintana caught on camera holding on to the neutral service car (at 10 seconds)...

https://twitter.com/assekevin/status/753720450551836673

Should be at least a time penalty no?

 

[mjr]

Maybe they should press gang everyone who likes running in silly costumes to run up every mountain ahead of the riders to keep the road clear?

Put some horns on the lead motos and it might attract some of the lunatics from Pamplona!

 

[mjr]

Quintana caught on camera holding on to the neutral service car (at 10 seconds)...

https://twitter.com/assekevin/status/753720450551836673

Should be at least a time penalty no?

TMN to @TheJDog. I opined that Froome was off his bike so it was after the point where the jury neutralised it, so no further action.

 

[HF2300]

Oliviera:

“A lot of riders are yet to finish. I hope nobody passes me but I know that many good riders haven't raced yet. I was feeling good. It's a really hard TT. The wind makes it a little bit dangerous. With the new technologies, you can watch the watts, you know what you need to do. I just followed the watts. I knew I needed some energy for the last part. The last climb was decisive. I was also lucky to feel good towards the end. Tom Dumoulin will be hard to beat on this course. If anyone can beat him, it'll be Chris Froome.”

 

[smutchin]

Tony Martin currently in a lowly 5th place, just behind Ion Izagirre, with some big names still to finish. Starting to regret being one of the few idiots not to pick Dumoulin in the punditry today - he's out on the course right now and fastest by a good margin at the first two time checks.

 

[Twizit]

Something fishy going on with the official Le Tour TT page timings. 145 riders have passed the first check point, only 116 have passed the second but 130 have passed the 3rd and 127 have finished completely.

So 14 riders have found a shortcut somewhere....