Tour de France 2017 ***SPOILERS***

[smutchin]

We have two contenders for the GC next year now: Barguil and Bardet. They are both much younger than Froome and still getting stronger. Froome is reaching is peak for his age. The TdF 2018 could be ours at last. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Barguil has already said he doesn't think he can win it - he doesn't have the patience to play the long game, he'd rather be the new Tommy Voeckler. But that might just be a confidence thing - the crash last year seemed to put a massive dent in his self-belief, but he appears to be over that now.

Bardet will need to seriously up his time-trialling game if he doesn't want to end up being the new Poulidor (to Froome's Anquetil?).

It's a real shame Alaphilippe wasn't at this year's Tour, but he could be a real contender one day too.

Pinot could have been in with a real shout at the Tour as well if he hadn't done the Giro. His perennial problem is the same as Richie Porte - always has one bad day that scuppers his chances.

 

[smutchin]

The bellyaching about imagined pro-French decisions on here continues ...

There was never a two-second gap between Uran and Froome on the line. It's all a dastardly plot, I tells ya!

 

[PpPete]

Barguil has already said he doesn't think he can win it - he doesn't have the patience to play the long game, he'd rather be the new Tommy Voeckler. But that might just be a confidence thing - the crash last year seemed to put a massive dent in his self-belief, but he appears to be over that now.

Bardet will need to seriously up his time-trialling game if he doesn't want to end up being the new Poulidor (to Froome's Anquetil?).

It's a real shame Alaphilippe wasn't at this year's Tour, but he could be a real contender one day too.

Pinot could have been in with a real shout at the Tour as well if he hadn't done the Giro. His perennial problem is the same as Richie Porte - always has one bad day that scuppers his chances.

With so many 'possibles' it would be nice to have another French winner, but they need to get in sharpish.before the Yates' mature enough to re-assert the dominance of the superior nation.

 

[Crackle]

So how do the women stack up against the men...

 

[themosquitoking]

I hate these people, i couldn't even do two box hills in those times.

 

[SWSteve]

Seen as 2 teams have taken 9 stages at this year's Tour, you would assume there will be a breakaway-royale tomorrow which will go to the line. Potentially one for those who were successful in spring to also get a stage here for their team

 

[SWSteve]

Chavez's drop in form has been claimed to be due in part to the passing of his physiotherapist with whom he was close.

 

[smutchin]

you would assume there will be a breakaway-royale tomorrow

I'm banking on it for the punditry. I'd put my mortgage on Thomas de Gendt being involved but that aside, it's a total stab in the dark as to who will be in contention for the stage win. I wrote a shortlist of around a dozen names and then picked three of them more or less at random.

 

[Beebo]

There was never a two-second gap between Uran and Froome on the line. It's all a dastardly plot, I tells ya!

Having watched it again it does seem a bit harsh.

 

[Poacher]

Slightly off-topic, while idly following yesterday's route in my Philip's road atlas, I noticed a Cascade de la Pisse about 8km E of the Col d'Ornon.
Then another, about 10km NE of the first, just by the side of the N91.
Today, another, about 8km W of St. Clement sur Durance, and yet another, 10km E of Guillestre, and damn me, another 20km E of Valbonnais.
From personal observation, as well as Zappa's "In France", I'm well aware that the perfidious froggies pee in the street, but why oh why do they feel the need to name waterfalls in this disgusting way?

PS there's also a Cascade du Pissou 8km WNW of the Col du Glandon, a Cascade de la Pissoire 16km N of Saillans, and praise be, a Cascade de la Lavey just S of St. Christophe-en-Oisans.

 

[Beebo]

So how do the women stack up against the men...

Very impressive but not comparing apples with apples as the women's race was considerably shorter than the men's. And the men are 2 and half weeks into the tour

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

And women are thinking about fluffy animals all the time. Not fair.

 

[Southside Mike]

The thing that keeps occurring to me is -

If Froome had a problem on Saturday, a punture for instance and ended up just a few seconds behind say, Uran

Would Sky attack on Sunday?

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I'm banking on it for the punditry. I'd put my mortgage on Thomas de Gendt being involved but that aside, it's a total stab in the dark as to who will be in contention for the stage win. I wrote a shortlist of around a dozen names and then picked three of them more or less at random.

last chance for ticket puncher Cummings today

 

[brommers]

The thing that keeps occurring to me is -

If Froome had a problem on Saturday, a punture for instance and ended up just a few seconds behind say, Uran

Would Sky attack on Sunday?

From what I understand, if there is only a few seconds between the GC men there will be a 'race' on Sunday