Cycling Thread

[TimeyWimey]

Good job by Astana shedding a bit of Sky's machine.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Spoke too soon, Poels and Nieve sucking the last bit of life out of the tour.

 

[Baz]

It would be risking it to say it'll be easy going from here for Team Sky? Plus am I the only one who has been a tad disappointed with Nairo?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Nah, this is a procession unless Froome falls off or something. And Nairo has been a let down. I wonder if he's ill or something. Getting beat by Froome on the climbs is one thing, but being left behind by Yates/Bardet/Meintjes on a proper summit finish is not his usual level.

 

[Baz]

Tomorrow is a time trial too isn't it? Wonder if Nairo can find his legs to get a decent time. Will Dumoulin be favourite for tomorrow you think?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

It's mostly uphill, but him or Froome, presumably.

 

[Baz]

Ahh yes on of the tour guides said this stage is just riding uphill as fast as you can haha.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Fancying a bit of Ion Izaguirre at 40/1.

 

[Super_horns]

Froome wins the TT.

Looks like Porte and Aru will be the big winners of those near top of the of the GC.

2nd and 3rd pretty much as you were.

 

[Baz]

Froome can't loose it from here....can he?

 

[TimeyWimey]

The worst he'll do is add another minute on. Porte and possibly Yates are the only ones who look like they'll stay with him on the climbs and I can see him attacking tomorrow, last show of force and all that.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

ASO have ruled he has to ride the last 3 stages on a unicycle in an attempt to salvage TV ratings.

 

[Baz]

Shocked he hasn't been accused of cheating again this year, he was the previous times he won.

 

[Super_horns]

Yes it does seem quiet on that front.

Maybe because the French media had their minds on the Euros?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Still plenty of it about. From the lunatic fringes of the Clinic/Twitter, to the more measured Ross Tucker types. And not unreasonably so. The questions ought to be asked, at the very least.

Perhaps not had it on the front pages and so on as much cos we haven't had that one incroyable display where he's battered everyone out of sight for 2 mins, like in previous years? (before today anyway....)

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Sprinters with an eye on the time limit in tears over these early attacks.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Are Astana pissing into the wind again tho?

 

[TimeyWimey]

Poor Dumoulin.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

That is some serious bullshit.

 

[lordofthepies]

That is such bad luck. Poor old Tom.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Carnage

 

[Super_horns]

Bardet wins and takes advantage of a real struggle for Yates and Mollema to move into the top 3.

A very competitive stage with most of the top guys having a few struggles.

 

[Baz]

Didn't most of the top guys fall at one point too as was that just the report I read?

 

[Super_horns]

Certainly Froome, Mollema, Porte and Nibali did.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Porte's post-stage interviews about his latest misfortune make me chuckle.

"So Ritchie, an anvil fell 10,000 feet from a jet liner and hit you right on the head, and then you fell into a sewer 10 feet deep in skunk excrement, and then your entire family were consumed by a black hole. A tough day all round?"

"Yeah. Y'know, Just one of them things. What can you do. Can't use it as an excuse can you really. Try again tomorrow, I guess"

 

[Baz]

Haha good old Richie Porte. Ah well two stages left, wonder if Majka will go for it massively again tomorrow?

 

[TimeyWimey]

Not a single attack from the top 5 of GC on final climb of tour? Oh, ok then.

 

[Baz]

Not a single attack from the top 5 of GC on final climb of tour? Oh, ok then.

Was rather boring wasn't it? Plus what was the deal with Nibali? He should have romped that decent.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Complete borefest of a GC battle throughout. Sky ruthlessly efficient with their all star team, helped along by all other reasonable challengers having leadership battles before defending minor places.

Although, fooking superb for Adam Yates. Was hoping he'd get on the podium but still, 4th for a Brit away from the Sky machine is epic. I am closing in on his Strava time on a local climb though, so he may want to just get his head back in the game.

Bring on the Vuelta.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Not a single attack from the top 5 of GC on final climb of tour? Oh, ok then.

I guess they're all happy with their positions. Certainly Froome, Bardet and Yates will be, and Quintana hasn't looked like he's got a proper attack in him.