Cycling Thread

[TimeyWimey]

Always a good day when Dumoulin wins. Easily one of the most likeable riders in the sport.

 

[Baz]

A little surprised the GC lot allowed it to be such a gap, but it's pretty much status quo upfront. Was expected Quintana to attack but maybe the weather put paid to that?

Credit to Dumoulin, he timed that perfectly, and did held it together well. On a side note the spectators are starting to ruin it aren't that? Did you see that one guy got shouldered and layed out haha?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

BBC evening news' coverage of today's stage, quoted in its entirety:

"There wasn't a British winner on stage 9 at the Tour de France today, but Chris Froome did retain his yellow jersey"

oh ok then.

 

[Baz]

BBC evening news' coverage of today's stage, quoted in its entirety:

"There wasn't a British winner on stage 9 at the Tour de France today, but Chris Froome did retain his yellow jersey"

oh ok then.

If you read BBC's and Sky's guides they all hit up Cavendish and Froome for most the stages so they're all as bad as eachother. Yates needs to get some press coverage too, he's second overall and doing an excellent job.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Cycling didn't reach the BBC news at 10 on any of the days Cavendish, Froome and Stevo won. BBC North West tonight give mentions but they should be absolutely revelling in it with Cavendish, Cummings and Yates all from the North West region.

BBC suggesting Murray is greatest ever sportsman too, 'cos tennis is "a global sport". Wiggins and Cav just pissed about on someone's laminate flooring before a jolly with a few French mates.

 

[Super_horns]

It would not be reported at all but for the British success..

 

[Baz]

Cycling didn't reach the BBC news at 10 on any of the days Cavendish, Froome and Stevo won. BBC North West tonight give mentions but they should be absolutely revelling in it with Cavendish, Cummings and Yates all from the North West region.

BBC suggesting Murray is greatest ever sportsman too, 'cos tennis is "a global sport". Wiggins and Cav just pissed about on someone's laminate flooring before a jolly with a few French mates.

Beeb loves Muzza. He's the best thing ever as he can actually do pretty well at tennis. A sport we're starting to dominate gets no coverage? Awesome stuff. Will be different come the Olympics though right?

 

[lordofthepies]

A little surprised the GC lot allowed it to be such a gap, but it's pretty much status quo upfront. Was expected Quintana to attack but maybe the weather put paid to that?

Credit to Dumoulin, he timed that perfectly, and did held it together well. On a side note the spectators are starting to ruin it aren't that? Did you see that one guy got shouldered and layed out haha?

I don't think Quintana has much interest in doing anything other that sticking to Froome's wheel for the first couple of weeks. I think we can expect all of his attacks to come in the Alps.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Yeah, I think Quintana will be quite happy with how Sunday went - various people attacking with Froome having to chase them all down, while he just followed and kept saving himself.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

He's already down (not loads, but some) and is likely to lose a bit more in the flat TT. That was one of only 4 stages (plus the other TT) that finishes with a climb. It's well within his compass to blast everyone for 2 minutes on Thursday and render the entire thing moot, but it would surely have behoved him to have had a pop whilst the opportunity was there, if he had the legs. It's not as if there is a big margin in keeping your powder dry ahead of a rest day and a couple of (what should be) easier stages.

 

[Baz]

So only a couple of days away from the big one, who'll attack on Ventoux? Surely that's setup for fireworks between Froome & Quintana? Would be amazing to see Yates stick with them too though.

Tomorrows stage is going to be as you were though, should also see Cav back to the front.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I could watch Sagan ride all day.

Ventoux. How about an outside bet of Porte? Looking quite spritely and my very rough calculation says he'd be 3rd or 4th by a second or two in GC without that stage 2 puncture. Tejay going backwards, Porte can probably put himself near the top 5 with a good ride. Between Froome and Quintana, depends if Quintana is going to keep Sky waiting and just take a tow from Froome again. If he does, probably see Henao launch a big attack just to try and tempt Quintana into showing his hand - which would end badly for Sky imo. So, all things considered... Quintana.

 

[Baz]

Sagan got duped a bit by Impey & Matthews today didn't he. Poor bloke didn't know if he was coming or going at times, was some very good teamwork by the Orica guys.

Another interesting thing about Ventoux is the individual time trial is the next day, so will Froome be too bothered by a brief attack by those around him if he'll make up a nice chunk of time during the TT? Interesting thing to throw into the mix isn't it? Also how is Quintana as TT?

 

[lordofthepies]

Sagan got duped a bit by Impey & Matthews today didn't he. Poor bloke didn't know if he was coming or going at times, was some very good teamwork by the Orica guys.

Another interesting thing about Ventoux is the individual time trial is the next day, so will Froome be too bothered by a brief attack by those around him if he'll make up a nice chunk of time during the TT? Interesting thing to throw into the mix isn't it? Also how is Quintana as TT?

He's getting better all the time and the TT bikes Movistar use are supposed to something pretty special but you'd still expect Froome to beat him by a few seconds on a flatter TT.

The second week of the tour has already been more successful for me than the first as I bet on Matthews to win today. Up until today I've lost a hilarious amount of money on this goddamned race without even winning a penny back.

 

[Veggie Legs]

So only a couple of days away from the big one, who'll attack on Ventoux? Surely that's setup for fireworks between Froome & Quintana? Would be amazing to see Yates stick with them too though.

Tomorrows stage is going to be as you were though, should also see Cav back to the front.

It's on Bastille Day, so someone French. Pinot?

 

[Baz]

It's on Bastille Day, so someone French. Pinot?

More than likely but he'll no doubt get swallowed up haha. Bastille Day is always fun to see the French guy go for broke and end up a mess

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

ECHELONS

 

[TimeyWimey]

Sagan and Froome gonna feel the wrath of Tony Martin soon.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Bloody hell Cav. :-(

 

[Veggie Legs]

Sagan and Froome gonna feel the wrath of Tony Martin soon.

I was expecting the same but they didn't get organised. Great move from Froome to follow Sagan, don't know how much time he gained in the end but every little helps.

 

[Baz]

I was expecting the same but they didn't get organised. Great move from Froome to follow Sagan, don't know how much time he gained in the end but every little helps.

13 seconds. 7 from the race and 6 bonus points.

Tomorrow is going to be even more special where Quintana will now have to attack with being 30+ seconds down. Has Froome perhaps played into Nairo's hands with going with Sagan today?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Confirmed shortening the climb, unfortunately. Wimps. Desgrange would've had em going all the way up with rocks bouncing off their heads and folks getting blown off the side and all the way to Italy.

 

[Baz]

I suppose that also means attacks are much more likely, so that's surely a bonus?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Don't think it makes a massive amount of difference in terms of mindset. Just gonna have to kick off a bit earlier, if you were of that mind. Losing that extra few km of climbing is obviously not the greatest news for anyone (ie Don Nairo) hoping to make a serious selection though.

Not sure how likely it is, but the peloton being split by crosswinds on the way to the climb would make for a nice apocalypse.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I think in flat (and the like) stages, the only tactic these days is to sit within an inch of Sagan's wheel to the line, assured of a top 5 spot.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Echelons with 84km to go. Oy.

 

[Abertawe]

Fascinating isn't it.

 

[Krazy8]

Interesting twist
https://mobile.twitter.com/CyclingH...2?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

 

[lordofthepies]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

hahahah what the hell