Tour de France *Spoilers*
- Thread starter Pro Tour Punditry
- Start date
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Joshua Plumtree
Approaching perfection from a distance.
OP
OP
Pro Tour Punditry
Guru
Cancellara has to make excuses for Frank Schleck, which must be one of the most difficult aspects of riding any race with a Schleck as the excuses must be running out. Other than they are not that great without doping which is the reality of why they are now useless.
Up to everyone to decide for himself, but they way I see it, these cobblestones are located in France
(and actually they are the most important part of the second most important race in France)
so why would they need to be excluded from the Tour?
That being said, I think that for most GC riders having this stage isn't fun at all (in whatever circumstance), so I don't wish them these conditions like yesterday at all, however we're July, it's not like the organizers could have predicted Autumn weather for today. And whatever the roads may be, when it's weather like that people will fall (as seen in many 1st weeks of the recent Tours).
Many say that the Tour de France is the hardest and most beautiful GT of them all, because it doesn't focus mearly on climbing (compared to the Vuelta and Giro putting in as much uphill finishes as possible) and therefore shows of the most complete rider.
E.g. by putting in quite a bit of TT or putting in stages with a high possibility for echelons (but again they can't control the weather, so nothing is guaranteed)
(In some years they shift the balance sometimes more to TT and sometimes more to climbing, but they always try to find a balance)
Nibali showed he's (much) more suited for slippery roads than the other GC guys, if they can't make it up in the other (mountain) stages, he clearly is the most complete rider this Tour.
Two extra comments:
- Everyone was saying you can't win the Tour but you can lose it on stage 5... well, Nibali might have actually won it on this stage
(taking over 2 minutes on all your important GC competitors qualifies as a Tour-winning performaces - if he holds on - ) - The amount of mud and rain made it totally different versus previous Paris Roubaix years. Cancellara hasn't actually won it in these type of circumstances yet, it's the Belgian-type of riders (cylcocrossers like Stybar, Boom, Van der Poel or riders like Boonen, Vanmarcke, Vandenbergh, Van Keirsbulck) who (should) excel best in these conditions, cause they ride/train in it a lot every autumn/winter/spring/(sometimes even summer
)
Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
He stopped before the cobbles, as he fell a second time on simply wet roads, well out of the peloton on both occaisons. Sky have a very clear weakness in gc riders riding in the rain. How do you get better at a weakness- practice! not swanning around Tenerife climbs where he is already strong.
Froome was the only rider to abandon yesterday, calling for the stage to not have happened is just ludicrous when so many others manged it. It's not ballet!
I think he underplayed his wrist the day before. It's obvious now he couldn't control his bike. He's ridden well in shitty conditions before.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
He should make the top 10 and has an outside chance of a podium finish.If Porte wins I'll eat me own helmet!although not sure if I'm that flexible.
Roscoe
Guru
- Location
- Clarkston, Glasgow
There's a long way to go. Porte could podium.
How about Valverde for GC? If he keeps his wits about him for the next 2 weeks, the TT could be made for him. Spanish TT champ.
According to Riis, Bertie had a mechanical, so why the F did they not change bikes??
It's got the makings of a cracking 2 1/2 weeks.
How about Valverde for GC? If he keeps his wits about him for the next 2 weeks, the TT could be made for him. Spanish TT champ.
According to Riis, Bertie had a mechanical, so why the F did they not change bikes??
It's got the makings of a cracking 2 1/2 weeks.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I think this race is a long way from over. Nibali appears to have found some form at last but we'll only see the full story when we get to the big mountains. Saturday and Monday's stages could be very interesting. I expect Contador to attack and possibly claw back some of his deficit.
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Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
And his initial fall where he first injured his wrist, day before yesterday, which seems to be the root of all the trouble (I think) was on dry roads anyway.
Froome and Thomas could both do with an intensive "not falling off your bike" class
<- (not entirely serious. You can't be too careful these days)But yeah, I didn't take Louch's initial suggestion 100% seriously.
The Porte of this year?!?
I expect breaks to go and cannot really see who is going to chase them down ? If the right one gets time Nibbles will be quite happy to let someone else have the yellow.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
And wasn't that first crash caused by someone else touching his wheel rather than his own poor bike handling?
Froome and Thomas could both do with an intensive "not falling off your bike" class
One of the most amazing facts about yesterday's stage is that Thomas didn't fall off.
Joking aside, Thomas looks to be in superb shape and full of confidence, which must make a huge difference on stages like yesterday. He seemed to relish the conditions. Having a rider like that to look after him improves Porte's chances immeasurably (while Contador's team were MIA once again). Froome definitely didn't look happy even before the first crash yesterday so I'd have to agree with the assessment that the crash the day before had hurt him more than he was letting on.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
Sorry, got mixed up with my stages - I meant Saturday and Monday (original post now edited to reflect that). Saturday's stage ends with two Cat 2 climbs and finishes at the top of a Cat 3, which may not be enough climbing to cause big ructions but Monday's stage is a really tough one and could cause a massive shake-up in the overall standings - much more so than yesterday's stage.
I can see breaks going on those stages as well Nibbles needs someone else in yellow, Astana are going to need help big time otherwise. The Belgian teams could usually be counted on but not this time i think, Argos Shimano ? (not on the stages you ve mentioned of course) not sure they could provide a sustained effort, which just leaves Cannondale and Sagan has no need to chase if the Sprinters teams don't.
