Tour de France 2018 **SPOILERS**

[smutchin]

Can't work out the tactics yet

I'm still none the wiser. Good fun to watch though!

 

[Twizit]

Cracking ride from GT and he looks in great form, but I can't help feeling that Froome is quite happy to let G take yellow and deal with the stress of defending it for the next week or so - keeping himself in there or thereabouts, but saving it all for a big push in the Pyrenees. Sort of like he did in the Giro - i.e. it's not about how you perform in the first 2 1/2 weeks, but all about who's left standing come the final mountain stage or two.

 

[rich p]

Froome can't help himself. He wants to win this

 

[smutchin]

Cav has started the final climb.

Kittel is inside the final 10km.

 

[Twizit]

Just picking through the results - what happened to Yates today - dropped right out of the top 10 - difficult to follow online. Jour sans?

 

[mjr]

Cav has started the final climb.

Will it be the final climb, do you think?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I want to hear Froome's account of the finish now. G's reasoning was that if he went, Froome could hitch a ride from the chasers.

 

[mjr]

Just picking through the results - what happened to Yates today - dropped right out of the top 10 - difficult to follow online. Jour sans?

Not sure. Definitely got blown up pretty quickly once the other GC leaders started throwing kitchen sinks around.

 

[mjr]

I want to hear Froome's account of the finish now. G's reasoning was that if he went, Froome could hitch a ride from the chasers.

Anyone want to place bets on Froome giving an interview?













No, me neither.

 

[smutchin]

Will it be the final climb, do you think?

Rough calculation/guess off the top of my head... the time cut will be around 35 minutes, so he's well outside that. Kittel and Renshaw will probably miss the cut as well (Renshaw is a bit behind Kittel at the moment).

Groenewegen looks like he should be safe.

ETA: Boardman just said the cut will be 27.15, which puts Groenewegen right on the limit. There are a few smaller groups and lone stragglers behind the autobus, so potentially quite a few eliminations today.

 

[mjr]

Rough calculation/guess off the top of my head... the time cut will be around 35 minutes, so he's well outside that. Kittel and Renshaw will probably miss the cut as well (Renshaw is a bit behind Kittel at the moment).

Groenewegen looks like he should be safe.

Boardman estimating 27 minutes.

 

[Twizit]

Anyone want to place bets on Froome giving an interview?

No, me neither.

I'll stand by my comment earlier - I think Froome is quite happy with the status quo and will let Thomas have his time in yellow, knowing he is fully capable of overtaking him later on. Don't think this is a Wiggo / Froome repeat - although am sure the media will try to stir it up like it is.

 

[smutchin]

Boardman estimating 27 minutes.

Yeah, I was guessing a bit - can't find the regulations on the Tour website, so I don't have the list of stage coefficients which is what you need to calculate the time cut.

The live tracker seems to have gone offline now as well, so we'll have to wait for the official report later.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Time limit is 31.26 according to INRNG

 

[Beebo]

I will watch highlights tonight. But I suspect that Thomas will do a Yates in the Giro.
He will burn out in the final stages when Froome will be strong.