Well that was a surprise, Hesjedal really took the race by the scruff of the neck on that decent and blew the peloton wide open. He looked really strong to. Also Scarponi lost alot of time due this his crash which will play against him very badly later in the race.
Overall it was a brilliant stage especially considering how early it is in a grand tour. Bodes really well for the rest of the race, I can't wait.
Why? He's a rider like many others who needs a strong team behind him. Whatever the media say, I don't think this team is anywhere near as strong as his Tour winning team. Not only do they not have as many top flat workhorses, but they have lost huge nous with Julich and Yates going. He needs a GC guy who can climb mountains by his side all the way, change of pace or not: Uran isn't able on the biggest climbs day after day. Crashing and sustaining cuts and graizes reduces your haemocratic, ups your resting heart rate and lengthens your recovery time. This is always found out in TT's, unless you do a Vinokorov. Personally that was an amazing ride by Brad.
Basically any sane cycling fan would say the modern Giro and Vuelta are a long shot for Wiggins. Everything has to align perfectly for him to win a Giro, more than your average Tour course. There are too many strong teams in the Giro, and Sky won't have it's A team out. Too many good climbers, whose attacks will crush Bradley in the mountains, and believe me the Italians will run him ragged there. In the Vuelta the fewer top class Spanish riders will attack him in the mountains, but more importantly their dodgy recovery methods mean the top 3-4 Spaniards will always have more in the mountains: yeah sure Cobo, was a clean GC contender.
Blimey. A lot of rumours about him playing hard over the winter and not being in half the shape he was in last summer. I hope they're just that, rumours but what do I know........
This could be good for Sky - there's clearly a bit of bad blood between Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, David Brailsford said that the latter would lead the TdeF team and not Wiggins. This lets Sky concentrate on their preferred rider. They won't line up with a sprinter so Froome can have the best team around him.
He got knocked off his bike, during winter training, and then he fell off. He did an excellent TT where he held back on the down section, and had a bike fail. I struggle to see how he could ever have been playing hard in winter, and TT'ed like that.
I agree with BFR. Don't think it'a bad thing at all. It means another rider can be chosen that will help in the mountains. Brad was never going to TT at the bottom of a mountain like Cancellara. So whoever has the best numbers, can fill that role. It means Uran won't be run ragged, and forced to leave the leading bunch on the steepest ramps. Brad's presence creates a strategic weakness, that the whole team and management have to defend: Before you know you needed someone's legs, you've spent all your riders protecting Brad. His talent is worth defending, just not in every situation, and this year's TDF throws up too many times that other teams will exploit those weaknesses.
Not even worth a punt at 4/6 but Richie Porte @ 22's looks better value ew.
Very good odds, he's going to be Froome's super domestique. He's been in good form this season, he won the Paris-Nice, finished second in the Critérium du Dauphiné with Contador way back in 10th and Valverde and a couple of others behind him. Also Vincenzo Nibali is not competing in this year's Tour.
More likely wiggins didnt want to play second fiddle to froome
But then saying something bad against wiggins is not allowed so consider that thought as rubbish
After Wiggo's shocking Giro performance (due to illness or whatever) he was never going to be in the tour, Froome was always going to be Sky's option for this year. He is either saving himself for the Vuelta or more likely the World TT championships later in the year as mentioned above.
Will stick with my version that wiggins is a spoilt bstd who hates the thought that another brit could win the tdf
I'm no cycling expert but after an exceptional year such as he had in 2012 it must be hard to motivate himself and get his fitness back particularly if, as has been alleged, he has "celebrated" vigorously.
Will stick with my version that wiggins is a spoilt bstd who hates the thought that another brit could win the tdf
I'm no cycling expert but after an exceptional year such as he had in 2012 it must be hard to motivate himself and get his fitness back particularly if, as has been alleged, he has "celebrated" vigorously.
Personally I don't blame him. I mean the Tour is the equivilent of the world cup for riders. That coupled with a gold in his home olympics is something that he wouldn't of dreamed of back when he was chasing McGee around in Manchester.
The nine riders for Sky are Froome, Richie Porte, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Peter Kennaugh, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez, Kanstantsin Siutsou, Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas. Really surprised one of the Colombians is not in there, even after the Giro. The aim is not for them to stay to the top but to be in the lead 15-20 riders for support until the final few go for it.
Also surprised Bernie Eisel isn't in it, they've lost loads of on road nous, and seem to have packed the squad with talented but hardly strong leaders. Would imagine Eisel will be off, as the Tour is his money, and join Cavendish; if his contract finishes or allows. Uran to go seriously for Vuelta. One thing it'll mean is that they'll have a strong and well drilled Vuelta squad rather than the patchy one they've had for the last few years.
Also surprised Bernie Eisel isn't in it, they've lost loads of on road nous, and seem to have packed the squad with talented but hardly strong leaders.
At Sky his job was to lead out Cavendish, as Sky have no sprinter in their TdeF squad so he'd be a bit wasted. I agree he'll be off - OmegaPharma having spent all that money on hiring Cavendish have no lead out train, at the Giro he picked up several stage wins, but mostly by freelancing I'd expect him to pop up there at some point soon.
That's completely wrong. He was never the lead out man. Yes he's pretty fast but Goss, Renshaw, Grabsch and Martin, were much more important than Eisel. Eisel was the road captain, he organised the whole team at Columbia, and did pull from further out but I can't remember him doing that in the final kms.
I can't truly tell what happened at Sky, but Wiggins is no team captain. I'd guess Eisel was a major factor on the road dealing with the days strategy; with Yates and Julich very important in the cars. It's hard to look through that team and see a veteran road captain. Everything changes and we don't know the numbers, but it looks bereft of Tour leadership.
The team is being built around Froome, with Porte as the fall back in case anything happens to Froome. Given the mountainous nature of this year's Tour I'm surprised that Uran isn't in the team, but he had a good Giro and presumably will be aimed at the Vuelta. Perhaps he's knackered.
Whether you agree or not Eisel was Cavendish's minder on the road. Eisel has done that job for Cavendish for several years - first at HTC Highroad (formerly T-Mobile) and then at Sky. They even roomed together during that time. Omega seem to have blown their budget on hiring Cavendish but couldn't afford Eisel. With no Cavendish or sprinter there's no job for him to do.
Eisel signed a three year deal when Cav left, so not going to happen, he spent a lot of time on the classics, and might be being saved for the Vuelta, and Bernie was there last year to get Cav round.
Stannard, Siutsou and Kiryienka utterly dominated everyone in the Dauphine a couple of weeks ago, with Froome and Porte getting an armchair ride until the final 20km. Thomas, EBH and Lopez will drill the pace, and have massive experience and Kennaugh is a great bet for the white jersey.
Froome's to lose still, and any member of this team would walk into Saxo, Astana or BMC at the moment.
And you compare the Dauphine to the Tour? So you think getting to the front in the Tour on the flats or even before a climb is the same?
Kanstantsin Siutsou is shy and Russian, hardly a road captain. David Lopez is experienced but not in the Tour. Geraint has finished three Tours, and at times looked good on smaller category climbs, but also likes to fall off in messy classic finishes: I hope he comes through this year to be a GC guy. Kennaugh has been very patchy this year, whilst this could be illness I'll doubt he get's near the white jersey after 23rd in the Dauphine: Certainly no chance if Teejay finishes.
Both Stannard and EBH will pull like beasts, and hopefully EBH's strength and nous will guide them through the more hilly stages. Thomas, EBH and Lopez don't have massive Tour experience. Vasil Kiryienka I'd guess has the most experience.
They've obviously gone for power. Losing Rogers who'll get to the front and tell everyone who'll have to follow him is tough. His call on stage 3 of the 2009 Tour was amazing. I guess Froome is going to have to lead his team and call the shots. Pulling at the Dauphine is nowhere near the same in covering multiple attacks in numerous stages.
Bernie lives to ride the Tour, it is his seasons aim. Yes he's done well in the Classics this year, but this will be his biggest blow for ages especially as it was to be his tenth in the 100th Tour. Just surprised they've gone for an inexperienced squad, very similar in makeup to 2010.
Both Stannard and EBH will pull like beasts, and hopefully EBH's strength and nous will guide them through the more hilly stages. Thomas, EBH and Lopez don't have massive Tour experience. Vasil Kiryienka I'd guess has the most experience.
Lopez and Kiryienka have won Grand Tour mountain stages and Stannard/Thomas also go well in the mountains - both supported Froome in the Dauphine. This year's Tour will be won by who either does the best in the mountain stages or perhaps who performs the least worst and Sky look to have several options available to help them. Many teams only have one dedicated climber and a perhaps one or two climbing domestiques to help them, Sky appear to have selected just about an entire squad who can compete at altitude.
Geraint Thomas has ridden five Grand Tours - and but for the Olympics and track cycling would have ridden a couple more. I see the point of including him - he's 27 and could take the Bradley Wiggins route to success and be a GT winner one day himself, so the experience gained now may pay off in a year or two.
Stannard I like, he has bit of dog in him - a good man to have in your team. He doesn't win much, but he always puts the effort in - he was selected for the ill fated Olympic road race and helped lead out Cavendish when he won his world title.
EBH is like Thomas a class act, he'll put the graft in and might just be able to sneak a stage win.
Comments
Overall it was a brilliant stage especially considering how early it is in a grand tour. Bodes really well for the rest of the race, I can't wait.
Basically any sane cycling fan would say the modern Giro and Vuelta are a long shot for Wiggins. Everything has to align perfectly for him to win a Giro, more than your average Tour course. There are too many strong teams in the Giro, and Sky won't have it's A team out. Too many good climbers, whose attacks will crush Bradley in the mountains, and believe me the Italians will run him ragged there. In the Vuelta the fewer top class Spanish riders will attack him in the mountains, but more importantly their dodgy recovery methods mean the top 3-4 Spaniards will always have more in the mountains: yeah sure Cobo, was a clean GC contender.
I agree with BFR. Don't think it'a bad thing at all. It means another rider can be chosen that will help in the mountains. Brad was never going to TT at the bottom of a mountain like Cancellara. So whoever has the best numbers, can fill that role. It means Uran won't be run ragged, and forced to leave the leading bunch on the steepest ramps. Brad's presence creates a strategic weakness, that the whole team and management have to defend: Before you know you needed someone's legs, you've spent all your riders protecting Brad. His talent is worth defending, just not in every situation, and this year's TDF throws up too many times that other teams will exploit those weaknesses.
Some performance from him today.
But then saying something bad against wiggins is not allowed so consider that thought as rubbish
Brilliant from Froome today, put that cheat Contador in his place.
Tempted by a cover bet on Tejay Van Garderen who is 33's with PP but may wait on that one.
Anyone going to reveal their tips? (apart from the obvious!)
I mean the Tour is the equivilent of the world cup for riders.
That coupled with a gold in his home olympics is something that he wouldn't of dreamed of back when he was chasing McGee around in Manchester.
Also surprised Bernie Eisel isn't in it, they've lost loads of on road nous, and seem to have packed the squad with talented but hardly strong leaders. Would imagine Eisel will be off, as the Tour is his money, and join Cavendish; if his contract finishes or allows. Uran to go seriously for Vuelta. One thing it'll mean is that they'll have a strong and well drilled Vuelta squad rather than the patchy one they've had for the last few years.
At Sky his job was to lead out Cavendish, as Sky have no sprinter in their TdeF squad so he'd be a bit wasted. I agree he'll be off - OmegaPharma having spent all that money on hiring Cavendish have no lead out train, at the Giro he picked up several stage wins, but mostly by freelancing I'd expect him to pop up there at some point soon.
I can't truly tell what happened at Sky, but Wiggins is no team captain. I'd guess Eisel was a major factor on the road dealing with the days strategy; with Yates and Julich very important in the cars. It's hard to look through that team and see a veteran road captain. Everything changes and we don't know the numbers, but it looks bereft of Tour leadership.
Whether you agree or not Eisel was Cavendish's minder on the road. Eisel has done that job for Cavendish for several years - first at HTC Highroad (formerly T-Mobile) and then at Sky. They even roomed together during that time. Omega seem to have blown their budget on hiring Cavendish but couldn't afford Eisel. With no Cavendish or sprinter there's no job for him to do.
Stannard, Siutsou and Kiryienka utterly dominated everyone in the Dauphine a couple of weeks ago, with Froome and Porte getting an armchair ride until the final 20km. Thomas, EBH and Lopez will drill the pace, and have massive experience and Kennaugh is a great bet for the white jersey.
Froome's to lose still, and any member of this team would walk into Saxo, Astana or BMC at the moment.
Kanstantsin Siutsou is shy and Russian, hardly a road captain. David Lopez is experienced but not in the Tour. Geraint has finished three Tours, and at times looked good on smaller category climbs, but also likes to fall off in messy classic finishes: I hope he comes through this year to be a GC guy. Kennaugh has been very patchy this year, whilst this could be illness I'll doubt he get's near the white jersey after 23rd in the Dauphine: Certainly no chance if Teejay finishes.
Both Stannard and EBH will pull like beasts, and hopefully EBH's strength and nous will guide them through the more hilly stages. Thomas, EBH and Lopez don't have massive Tour experience. Vasil Kiryienka I'd guess has the most experience.
They've obviously gone for power. Losing Rogers who'll get to the front and tell everyone who'll have to follow him is tough. His call on stage 3 of the 2009 Tour was amazing. I guess Froome is going to have to lead his team and call the shots. Pulling at the Dauphine is nowhere near the same in covering multiple attacks in numerous stages.
Bernie lives to ride the Tour, it is his seasons aim. Yes he's done well in the Classics this year, but this will be his biggest blow for ages especially as it was to be his tenth in the 100th Tour. Just surprised they've gone for an inexperienced squad, very similar in makeup to 2010.
Lopez and Kiryienka have won Grand Tour mountain stages and Stannard/Thomas also go well in the mountains - both supported Froome in the Dauphine. This year's Tour will be won by who either does the best in the mountain stages or perhaps who performs the least worst and Sky look to have several options available to help them. Many teams only have one dedicated climber and a perhaps one or two climbing domestiques to help them, Sky appear to have selected just about an entire squad who can compete at altitude.
Geraint Thomas has ridden five Grand Tours - and but for the Olympics and track cycling would have ridden a couple more. I see the point of including him - he's 27 and could take the Bradley Wiggins route to success and be a GT winner one day himself, so the experience gained now may pay off in a year or two.
Stannard I like, he has bit of dog in him - a good man to have in your team. He doesn't win much, but he always puts the effort in - he was selected for the ill fated Olympic road race and helped lead out Cavendish when he won his world title.
EBH is like Thomas a class act, he'll put the graft in and might just be able to sneak a stage win.