Tour de France *Spoilers*

[raindog]

That ride was not one to convince the sceptics, sadly.

Nibali was 3rd favourite to win the Tour, behind Froome and Berto.
Froome and Berto have crashed out.
Nibali is leading the Tour.
Nibali must be doping.
Imagine that Froome and Berto didn't crash out and p_ssed all over Nibali on today's stage as predicted.
Does this now mean that Froome and Berto are doping, but not Nibali?
All three are doping?
Berto and Nibali are doping, but not Froome, because he rides for Sky?
Nobody is doping?
This kind of thing confuses me - then again, I'm easily confused

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Missed it today, having to rely on the highlights programme

 

[tigger]

I guess we'll never know how it would have faired between the three amigos!

I like Nibali and am always willing to give the benefit of the doubt. BUT he looks so comfortable and the Ferrari rumour plus guilt by association with Astana and Vino just isn't sitting comfortably any more. Hmm

 

[raindog]

BUT he looks so comfortable and the Ferrari rumour plus guilt by association with Astana and Vino just isn't sitting comfortably any more. Hmm

Yes, but that's because he's winning. If he was running third behind Froome and Berto, it wouldn't even get mentioned. Which was my badly made point.

 

[tigger]

Yes, but that's because he's winning. If he was running third behind Froome and Berto, it wouldn't even get mentioned. Which was my badly made point.

Yeah fair point. It's a shame the field is comparatively weak.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

 

[raindog]

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Right, tomorrow FDJ should surround ValvPiti and then Pinot attacks - if ValvPiti tries to get after him then it's time to push him off.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

And the French seem to be the new Brits - apart from all being born in the country they represent

 

[laurence]

i did just ponder if the french will mount a joint challenge, but then figured it would result in civil war between the teams, much as the spanish teams would bicker to the point of standstill a few years back (when there was more than 1 spanish team).

i do hope le frenchies go on the attack and distance valveamp.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I see that Arthur Vichot DNFed today's stage, so maybe he will just stand at the side of the road and stare at ValvPiti with his deer-like eyes, perfect cheekbones and finely coiffured hair and ValvPiti will come over all giddy.

 

[KennaughKickIt]

Regardless of Froome and Bertie's absence that looked far too comfortable for me not to have a niggling doubt, unfortunately it's become almost impossible to trust some of these guys. Still, Nibali isn't the brand that Lance Armstrong was, and the UCI aren't going to protect him, plus the fact that Astana have struggled so badly in the mountains suggests the team aren't in on it. Nevertheless, if I'm watching 'the Nibali lie' in 10 years time my jaw's not dropping.

On a side note, Kwiatkowski's fast become my favourite rider, he was dropped miles out today but still paced himself well and sits 11th overall. I read an article that stated he didn't train at altitude and hasn't done his whole career, I'd hope that'd change for future tours if he has real GC ambitions. A puncture on the cobbles cost him victory last week and he looks like a great all-round talent, it would be a real shame if he came away from this tour without a race victory.

 

[Ganymede]

I see that Arthur Vichot DNFed today's stage, so maybe he will just stand at the side of the road and stare at ValvPiti with his deer-like eyes, perfect cheekbones and finely coiffured hair and ValvPiti will come over all giddy.

That made me google him - dear lord above, he's like a more macho Bambi. I bet he's a frightful mummy's boy though, pretty men are the actual devil as they have been patted on the head too often to be able to make their own coffee.

Anyway, back to the discussion....

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

...pretty men are the actual devil...

We are

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

i did just ponder if the french will mount a joint challenge, but then figured it would result in civil war between the teams, much as the spanish teams would bicker to the point of standstill a few years back (when there was more than 1 spanish team).

i do hope le frenchies go on the attack and distance valveamp.

I reckon the French have almost got used to the national rivalries, their baroudeurs and puncheurs, and balls-out consolations of Bastille day stages that they're not quite ready for a united we stand (united we podium?) strategy. It would be fun if it happened though.