Cycling Thread

[Veggie Legs]

Horrible looking crash for Thomas today, thought he was going to fall off the side of the mountain. He got straight back on and finished so I guess he's not too seriously injured.

 

[Baz]

Horrible looking crash for Thomas today, thought he was going to fall off the side of the mountain. He got straight back on and finished so I guess he's not too seriously injured.

Getting a shoulder then hitting a lamppost, rolling down a side of a mountain and still only finish 38 seconds behind the guys he was originally with, just freakish that is. Hope Geraint is ok, he's been a star this TDF, and is no doubt a leader in the making for Team Sky.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I wish Sky wouldn't make such a song and dance about doping allegations, after Lance Armstrong aggressive denials probably isn't the best way to go. They must surely accept that for at least the next few years (and probably beyond) any TdF winner is going to get allegations and people doubting them. Have to say, I'd be lying if I said I 100% believed they were clean but I'm afraid that's the state of the sport. By all means release data etc but do it quietly and Froome having mini-hissy fits about Jalabert on twitter isn't going to do anything no matter how wrong Jalabert was.

 

[Super_horns]

Froome will have to fall away quite dramatically to lose this now I feel.

French get another win.

 

[Baz]

Well they all attacked Froome again today but he stood firm come the end, a sign of a champion that. Only two more tough stages to navigate and Froome will be champion.

Also anyone see the guy knocked off his bike by the cameraman on the bike? Believe it was Fulgsang.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Sky struggling here. Astana have done a fine job of shedding them one by one.

 

[Super_horns]

Nibali certainly going to be moving up..

Very strong performance.

Will he be questioned by the French..?

 

[TimeyWimey]

Here we go. Quintana's attacked after sitting on Froome's wheel till the last 5km. Looks like it's the first attack of his that's going to stick too.

 

[lordofthepies]

Lovely to see Nairo finally taking some time from Froome. It's difficult to see him making enough up tomorrow though.

 

[Super_horns]

Think Froome was pretty cross at losing some time so will be out to ensure it doesn't happen again.

 

[lordofthepies]

He might not be able to do much about it if Nairo flies though. 2 and a half minutes is a hell of a lot though.

 

[Tilbury]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/raci...pat-on-as-he-climbs-la-toussuire-video-184386
Vile.

 

[Baz]

Sky had a bad day at the office there, they need to re group for tomorrow as it's the last proper stage so to speak. It's hard to see Quintana making up that 2 and a half minutes though, even if it is one he'd be favourite for. There's always someone that fades on that final climb up the Alpe D'Huez.

Hopefully Froome will retain that yellow jersey at the end of tomorrow, but it's going to be a very tough battle between Sky & Movistar.

 

[Madejski]

It'll help Sky that it seems like Contador and the others have given up for the win now, so should only really be dealing with Movistar.

That, and you'd like to think they've learnt their lesson today and won't do as bad tomorrow.

 

[TimeyWimey]

What doesn't help Sky though is that Nibali has a very realistic chance of a podium. I expect it'll mean Astana will control the peloton early and rip it up at a massive pace, which is no use to Sky as Froome will just get isolated again.

Although in the grand scheme of things, Froome still just has to stay on his bike to win. Quintana should have attacked earlier than he did today.

 

[Baz]

What doesn't help Sky though is that Nibali has a very realistic chance of a podium. I expect it'll mean Astana will control the peloton early and rip it up at a massive pace, which is no use to Sky as Froome will just get isolated again.

Although in the grand scheme of things, Froome still just has to stay on his bike to win. Quintana should have attacked earlier than he did today.

On the flip side Sky can't possibly have such a bad day as they did during that stage. Nibali needs to make up over a minute and 20 seconds on Valverde so Movistar will be out to the the pace too especially with them riding for Nairo. So that will give us three teams vying to set the main pace, which is going to make it all very interesting indeed.

 

[lordofthepies]

Quintana battered Froome last time on Alpe d'Huez and he still only made something like 1 minute 20. Unfortunately, I'm sure Froome will be fine. The Nibali/Valvarde contest for third might still be interesting though.

 

[Super_horns]

Froome only got Porte with him it seems whilst Movistar have gone off strongly..

 

[Baz]

Well Froome survived it. Brilliant couple of days from Quintana, though on that form in the mountains you have to wonder how he didn't keep close to Froome when Froome utterly destroyed the field on that one stage.

Froome, providing he doesn't crash tomorrow will become the first Brit to win 2 TDF's awesome stuff.

 

[Super_horns]

Well done Chris Froome.

2 times winner!

Delt with the movistar attacks pretty well.

 

[Madejski]

Quintana battered Froome last time on Alpe d'Huez and he still only made something like 1 minute 20. Unfortunately, I'm sure Froome will be fine. The Nibali/Valvarde contest for third might still be interesting though.

Almost an exact time gap again today.

Would have been interesting to see where Nibali was if he hadn't got the puncture at the start of the climb. I reckon he would have finished with Froome and Valverde, but not enough to gain any places in the GC.

All the main people finished, so will be Chris Froome picking up the yellow (and the polkadot) and Sagan with the green. White to Quintanta

And congratulations to Team Sky, their aim in 2010 was to win the Tour de France with a British rider in the next five years, they've managed it 3 times with 2 different athletes.

 

[SUTSS]

If that climb was a couple of kms longer I think Quintana would've done that.

Froome has been a bit lucky this year. Quintana was better in the mountains but the damage had been done in the crosswinds of week 1.

 

[Baz]

If that climb was a couple of kms longer I think Quintana would've done that.

Froome has been a bit lucky this year. Quintana was better in the mountains but the damage had been done in the crosswinds of week 1.

Agreed. Froomem himself said he was running on empty towards the end of that climb. Movistar did a great job in those final two mountain stages but it was a little too late.

 

[Madejski]

True, but I think he deserves a second win. If he wasn't second fiddle to Wiggins in 2012 he would have won, and was arguably stronger than Bradley that year. And then obviously last year crashing out.

What didn't help Quintana is I don't think Movistar had a set lead rider until the second week of the tour. Before that they weren't sure whether to back Quintana or Valverde. He'll get his yellow jersey soon, comfortably the best young rider in the field the past 3 years, he is still 4-5 years off his peak years yet, which could be frightening after seeing how effortlessly he can break on a mountain stage.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Let's not forget Quintana lost over a minute to Froome on stage 10 in the Pyrenees, so not a complete luck out for Froome in the hilly stuff.

That were brilliant though, shame Nibali had the flat when he did as with him in the mix attacking Valverde (who has looked fantastic playing second fiddle) there'd have been even more going on.

So looking forward to the Vuelta and Tour of Britain. Will be in Spain to go and see Stage 9 of Vuelta, looking very much like Froome vs Quintana round 2. Then Tour of Britain stage 2 pretty much going past my parents doorstep so will be out to see that too.

 

[lordofthepies]

True, but I think he deserves a second win. If he wasn't second fiddle to Wiggins in 2012 he would have won, and was arguably stronger than Bradley that year. And then obviously last year crashing out.

What didn't help Quintana is I don't think Movistar had a set lead rider until the second week of the tour. Before that they weren't sure whether to back Quintana or Valverde. He'll get his yellow jersey soon, comfortably the best young rider in the field the past 3 years, he is still 4-5 years off his peak years yet, which could be frightening after seeing how effortlessly he can break on a mountain stage.

I think the plan was always to back Quintana this time round, it's just that he and the team struggled for the first week or so. He does tend to get better as stage races go on - if 2013 was a few days longer (when they certainly were riding for Valverde until it was already clear that Nairo was much stronger), he'd have probably beaten Froome and the same is probably true about this year.

Froome's class though and certainly deserves this, even if I was desperate for Quintana to win.

 

[pride_of_notts]

If that climb was a couple of kms longer I think Quintana would've done that.

Froome has been a bit lucky this year. Quintana was better in the mountains but the damage had been done in the crosswinds of week 1.

You don't win a Tour de France on luck and you can argue against Quintana was better on the mountains yes he was better on the Alps but Froome was superior on the Pyrenees never mind Froome holds the polka dot jersey.

 

[Baz]

Quite funny seeing Richie Porte not being able to control the bike when going no handed hehe.

 

[.V.]

Didn't this stage finish at a later time the last few years?

 

[Super_horns]

Great tour and success for Chris Froome.
R
Guess it was fitting Greipel won the last sprint.