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

[beastie]

However it is nice to see the pro's ride in proper Cumbrian conditions. There is gonna be a lot of cold and pain in those bodies.

 

[raindog]

Superb, gutsy, old fashioned win for Porte. Not often you see that kind of riding from a front runner these days.

 

[thom]

Porte slips away with just over 1km to go to take the win and vinidicate the efforts of Kiriyenka and Zandio earlier. Porte must have a good chance in the TT tomorrow to defend his 4 sec advantage over Contador. It will be interesting to see how Henao goes with a place on the final podium at stake.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

The Clinic is loving this

 

[thom]

Wow, so hard was that stage and with only the final TT left, there are just 73 riders left in this race after today's stage.... including just 3 from SKY.

 

[smutchin]

How long has he been on the front of the peloton now?

Months!

 

[raindog]

Wow, so hard was that stage and with only the final TT left, there are just 73 riders left in this race after today's stage.... including just 3 from SKY.

This has been one tough race. I reckon everyone who got on a bike and completed today's stage deserved a medal.
I mean, would footballers do it?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

This has been one tough race. I reckon everyone who got on a bike and completed today's stage deserved a medal.
I mean, would footballers do it?

They'd do it for 90 minutes, for £100k, without a bike.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

It was, like with Porte and Froome the other week, almost like a Madison at the end. Henao gave it a go, couldn't get away so handed over to Porte. And that's not to dismiss the efforts of the rest of the Sky squad who rode the most disciplined race possible in such terrible conditions. It's still going to be close between Contador and Porte, and there are still room for surprises. However, I do feel sorry for Henao because he does rather deserve this, but he just can't TT.

 

[Andy_R]

but football is a game of skill and only the truly talented make it to the top, as much as I love cycling, really anyone can ride a bike and given the time and coaching, I believe any kid with a decent sporting background could give cycling a good go, the same can't be said for football...

...words fail me...

 

[Flying_Monkey]

You know, I've been watching this live and the course is really nasty with lots of ups and downs so perhaps I might not count Henao out so soon. Or some other climbing types like Sanchez. It's far from a flat TT.

 

[Noodley]

And it's wet so that may play a part if someone pushes it a bit too much.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I think Spilak may have gone down as I read that!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

If the first time-check results are anything to go by, Quintana is on course to win this Tour, over Porte. Henao isn't doing too badly and he may keep a podium place. No-one is going to touch Tony Martin's time for the stage, though.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Porte is giving this everything...