Couldn't get to see the stage so held off checking until I watched the highlights. Fantastic ride by GT and the Sky team. Would really love to be a fly on the wall in the Sky team now that GT has over a minutes advantage and looked so strong. Publicly saying he's not no.1 in the team but he's gotta be fancying his chances. Looking forward to tomorrows stage, will be interesting.
The cobbled stage yesterday was a bit of a farce - all a bit of a lottery. A great spectacle but not sure what it tests?
I disagree. Surely it tests lots of things including courage, resilience and determination (as do many other stages) but primarily bike handling?
Other stages favour climbers, time triallers or sprinters. As a non-cyclist admittedly, I assume a stage like that is a test of something else (cobblers I hear you say...) and for the spectator adds another dimension too.
My wife has been on a bike about 3 times in her life yet loves to watch the tours and both of us watched the whole stage and really enjoyed it. The TDF is a great spectacle agreed and stages like that add hugely to our enjoyment. I guess it goes to whether you think the Tour should be designed for the competitors or the viewers or a bit of both I suppose.
Anyway I'm in awe of these guys that can race on surfaces like that and can't wait for the mountains to come which will be a diffent thing again.
I just think it's a bit of a lottery and compromises the race - it's certainly a spectacle but it's a road race which I think the cobbled section detracts from. I don't really think it's a fair test - the riders on the tour seem divided on it.
It's not a road race. It's Le Tour.
Would you remove the backstroke from the individual medley? The LBW law in Cricket? Forward passes I RFU? Or heaven forbid the Offside Law?
Precisely. It’s about who is best on the road, be it sprint, cobbles, mountain or whatever.
I don't think it's a great test for the bikes that are fairly obviously not designed for the cobbled stretch - lots of punctures and crashes. I still see this type of stage as a lottery - we all see it differently.
They'll all be riding bikes that are designed for the cobbles - they don't ride the same bike each day. Cobbles are as much a part of bike racing as sprints and mountains.
Couldn't get to see the stage so held off checking until I watched the highlights. Fantastic ride by GT and the Sky team. Would really love to be a fly on the wall in the Sky team now that GT has over a minutes advantage and looked so strong. Publicly saying he's not no.1 in the team but he's gotta be fancying his chances. Looking forward to tomorrows stage, will be interesting.
Should be allowed to go it alone... i.e. Froome gets the seven team mates for now with Thomas working alone or with one Domestique
If Froome doesnt start to gain time on Thomas by the end then he and the rest of the team then support Thomas
Reading through Le Tours official Facebook posts is hilarious. So many bitter foreigners, especially French.
I know there's no French rider capable of winning it at the moment, but hypothetically I wonder if Sky had a French rider who dominated a stage and led the GC they would be so vocal and dismissive?
Reading through Le Tours official Facebook posts is hilarious. So many bitter foreigners, especially French.
I know there's no French rider capable of winning it at the moment, but hypothetically I wonder if Sky had a French rider who dominated a stage and led the GC they would be so vocal and dismissive?
Bardet is probably their best hope and could be competitive if AG2r were as strong as SKY
Read an interesting comment today on one of the Live Updates... Really amazes me that the opposition teams dont all do deals (like in the 80s and 90s) and gang up on SKY - Instead like the last few years the majority seem resigned that they cant challenge so are more interested in ensuring they still end up on the podium come the end of the Tour
Certainly seemed the case when Martin and Froome attacked as the rest of the peleton simply looked at each other yet then decided to try and limit SKY's gains by sprinting in the final km
Great stage today, have just watched the hi lights, G looked strong didn’t he. Shame about Cav but looking at his body language since the start I am not surprised, his heart did not look in it this year.
Roll on tomorrow, see if we can spot Leroy on the Alp.
I will keep an eye out for you Leroy. Failing that I will pay close attention to the back ground noise. If I hear an English voice fucking & blinding I will know you are close
Comments
Bardet | Nibali | Quintana left for dust!!
Thomas v Froome could become an excellent battle this year if SKY let it happen
Argh Dumoulin stops it being a GB one / two on the stage with Froome getting third (Who'll still go second in the standings)
Just hope that (1) Geraint is allowed to race (2) He doesnt burn out come the third week like he did a few years ago
You'd think that the battle is now between those three seeing that Nibali is over 2mins behind and Bardet nearly 3mins down
If the top three get any closer then then Time Trial on the last real day will be interesting as all three can certainly record good times
really pleased to see G in yellow
If Froome doesnt start to gain time on Thomas by the end then he and the rest of the team then support Thomas
Fascinating scenario.
My only worry is G crashing out, but he is having a terrific 2018 season, so fingers crossed.
This could prove to be one of the better Tours.
Dumoulin will be very interesting tomorrow ... has he overblown it or can he still go further.
I know there's no French rider capable of winning it at the moment, but hypothetically I wonder if Sky had a French rider who dominated a stage and led the GC they would be so vocal and dismissive?
Read an interesting comment today on one of the Live Updates... Really amazes me that the opposition teams dont all do deals (like in the 80s and 90s) and gang up on SKY - Instead like the last few years the majority seem resigned that they cant challenge so are more interested in ensuring they still end up on the podium come the end of the Tour
Certainly seemed the case when Martin and Froome attacked as the rest of the peleton simply looked at each other yet then decided to try and limit SKY's gains by sprinting in the final km
Roll on tomorrow, see if we can spot Leroy on the Alp.
Working from home deliberately to see Alpe D'Huez today
Griepel and Groenewegen have both gone today which basically leaves Sagan and Gaviria left out of the all the Sprinters (Unless I'm missing someone?)
Champs Elysee is going to be rather interesting this year