Tour de France 2017 ***SPOILERS***

[smutchin]

Big win for Bling!

 

[roadrash]

A good day at the office for Mathews

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Kittel is still massive favourite for Green on Betfair. Not so sure myself. Not only could Bling score some serious points over the next three days as @smutchin pointed out earlier. But Kittel could be cooked after the alps so a Champs win isn't a done deal by any stretch.

 

[MiK1138]

I thought there where 70 sprint points today, but only seems to be 50

 

[Dave Davenport]

I think it's far from a certainty Kittel will make it to Paris.

 

[Beebo]

I thought there where 70 sprint points today, but only seems to be 50

It was only 30 at the finish because it wasnt a pure sprint stage.

 

[roadrash]

Lets see if kittel can get over the next two days, Mathews is a better climber

 

[mjr]

Dan Martin gapped! Oh no!

Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! DAN!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZO6RrbqIKo

 

[smutchin]

I'm fairly confident Kittel will get over the next two stages - he'll just stick with the grupetto and take it as easy as possible. Matthews might be able to stay in contention over the early climbs and pick up enough intermediate sprint points to give him the green jersey, but then again he might prefer to keep his powder dry.

I reckon Friday's stage could actually be more problematic for Kittel - it's rated as sans difficulté particulière so there are maximum sprint points on offer at the finish (50 for the winner), but there's the small matter of that Cat 3 climb just 30km from the line where you can guarantee Matthews will aim to put the hurt on him.

I wouldn't bet on anyone other than Kittel to win on Sunday though.

 

[Crackle]

cant understand why half the team wasn't sent back to help kittel and half stay with Dan Martin, the cross winds was expected, massive cock up by them in my oppinion

Did you see the Dan Martin interview at the end? Looks like some illness in the team which may have dictated tactics.

 

[smutchin]

Did you see the Dan Martin interview at the end? Looks like some illness in the team which may have dictated tactics.

Ah. If that's so, I might have to revise my opinion about Kittel making it to Paris.

 

[brommers]

Ah. If that's so, I might have to revise my opinion about Kittel making it to Paris.

Phil Gil pulled out sick today

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Did you see the Dan Martin interview at the end? Looks like some illness in the team which may have dictated tactics.

I thought Dan was covering for his team today and making excuses for them. IMO @roadrash hit the nail on the head earlier and it was nothing short of a cockup today.

 

[Crackle]

I thought Dan was covering for his team today actually and making excuses for them. IMO @roadrash hit the nail on the head earlier and it was nothing short of a cockup today.

I'm not sure but it wouldn't be the first time Lefevre has cocked up the tactics. Maybe a bit of both. If it's illness then it doesn't bode well for Martin coming into the alps.

 

[Beebo]

Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! DAN!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZO6RrbqIKo

If they are going full partridge they need some travel tavern banter. Maybe come to breakfast with his 12inch plate.