Tour of the Basque Country, 1-6 April [** SPOILERS **]

[deptfordmarmoset]

Makes sense to me. Good call

Aha, they discussed that possibility just after I posted. The other theory was because the queen not the king is the most powerful piece on the chessboard.

 

[smutchin]

Shame Rodriguez isn't in this race - this finish looks ideal for him.

 

[smutchin]

I do like this Carlos Betancur fellow.

 

[Radchenister]

What joker has spilt Diesel or something on the line - might just be slick?

 

[beastie]

Peraud went down hard there, and slid for a looonnggg way after. That's just what he wanted after 4 hours in the pissing rain. Talansky hit the ground hard as well.

Quintana absolutely nailed the final bend, and Sky will be pretty happy with the GC standings. Porte has to be favourite now.

 

[Buddfox]

Just catching up with this now - what happened to Contador?

 

[beastie]

Should other teams be questioning their tactics against Sky? Porte should take the GC on the TT if it all goes to form. Yet nobody attacked even on the last climb. Sky had rode tempo for a lot of the stage, and were down to 3 riders with 20 km to go, but Movistar just did the job for Porte by setting a hard pace into the final climb. Nobody else tried anything.

Was it just a hard day in the wet, or is there a lack of ambition? It was nice to Contador look under pressure, normally he would have had a couple of digs. He still doesn't look the same rider since his ban.

 

[beastie]

Just catching up with this now - what happened to Contador?

Finished 3rd same time as Porte etc.

 

[smutchin]

@cyclingfans: The return of the Colombians continues. They could dynamite the 100th TDF.

#exciting

 

[Buddfox]

Still more potential tomorrow, recalling what he did in the Vuelta.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

#exciting

Since it was the likes of Herrera who got me into cycling in the 80s, I couldn't be more pleased!

 

[lukesdad]

Bertie may not be at the top of his game, probably a bit to early in the season for him. Or the climbs maybe a bit short for him, Or he may just be marking Porte and expecting to do him over in the TT who knows ?

 

[beastie]

Bertie may not be at the top of his game, probably a bit to early in the season for him. Or the climbs maybe a bit short for him, Or he may just be marking Porte and expecting to do him over in the TT who knows ?

He is definitely not on top form, but then he never is At this time of year(unless he is doing da Giro) The question is CAN he get back to top form without his extra special beef sarnies.

 

[Get In The Van]

Porte is looking a very good all rounder, Froome has got possibly one of the best domestiques in the peleton for the TDF and if Kiryienka rides the tour as well then even better for Froome.

 

[smutchin]

I think it's already safe to say that Kiryienka has more than filled the gap left by Mick Rogers.