Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Pompey Wolf]

Nothing to do with it, Donegal. If i saw a cyclist punch a spectator, I would say it was violent behaviour, which ever team he rode for. The inconsistency, isn't with me, it's with the people saying he didn't punch him and it wasn't violent.

I'm not Donegal. Anyway no one has said he didn't hit him, what people have said is it happens all the time and isn't really worthy of discussion.

 

[Johnny75]

Non-sequitur man strikes again. I like this thread and hope it doesn't get ruined in the same way others have.

Rest day today so at least some respite for the climbers. For the record I like SKY as a team but agree with you Pompey it isn't good for the sport to have one team so dominant but it happens in all sports so this is nothing new.

I would really like Yates to win it and I'm sure he is a Grand Tour champion in waiting and still only 23.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Thousands of people run next to the cyclists and they don't get punched. Froome did get fined for it, so he was seen to be guilty of it.
If it wasn't one of Murdoch's SKY team, people in the UK would be saying, what many say outside the UK and have been interested in the TdF for a long time before the SKY team was invented. It was violent behaviour.

Indeed he has. Thanks for pointing that out as I'd missed it.

I would suggest though that the amount he's been fined would indicate that the offence hasn't been judged to be as serious as you're making out.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Non-sequitur man strikes again. I like this thread and hope it doesn't get ruined in the same way others have.

Rest day today so at least some respite for the climbers. For the record I like SKY as a team but agree with you Pompey it isn't good for the sport to have one team so dominant but it happens in all sports so this is nothing new.

I would really like Yates to win it and I'm sure he is a Grand Tour champion in waiting and still only 23.

Yates looks a serious talent. I fancied him for a stage but that will actually be harder now it looks like he's going to be a GC threat. Will be really interesting to see how his form holds up across the race.

I'm off work sick today so this rest day is horribly timed!

 

[Wombat del combate]

I thought Quintana was going to make a move in the last kilometre yesterday but I was obviously wrong; he will absolutely have to attack in the second week to keep Froome honest although the uphill TT the day after the mountain finish is by no means cut and dried for the former. Kudos to Froome for the attack on the descent too although quite how much he gained from the pedalling I don't know, obviously something otherwise he wouldn't have tried it.

 

[nimrod]

I don't think froome and quintana were even half going for it yesterday. the fact they finished with an albeit small group would suggest that. there were a few attacks from others on the last climb which were covered relatively comfortably. just a pre cursor for later. yeah was good to see Yates still there but can't really judge how comfortable he was in comparison to froome for whom yesterday looked like a doddle.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Froome nicks a few more seconds following a particularly challenging stage involving a lot of crosswinds. Quintana is going to have to go all-out in the Alps as his team and tactical decisions appear lacking at the moment.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Froome pinches another 7 seconds today.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Froome nicks a few more seconds following a particularly challenging stage involving a lot of crosswinds. Quintana is going to have to go all-out in the Alps as his team and tactical decisions appear lacking at the moment.

Quintana needs a huge day on the Ventoux tomorrow.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Quintana knows he is a beaten man, he has done for several days. Froome must take the credit, but it's also the depth of the Sky team which is so impressive.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He is nearer than Lemond was to Fignon starting the final time trial back in the day. It only takes Froome having a bad day and he is right back in it. Plus Valverde won't be giving up.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

That was something from Sagan and Froome. Fantastic to see such attacking, innovative racing. Movistar so poor again with Quintana down the peloton and totally isolated when it happened. Love Sagan, absolute monster.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Froome pinches another 7 seconds today.

10 seconds with the bonus for finishing second.

Don't know about anybody else but I'm beginning to warm to the guy. Don't get me wrong I've always appreciated his talent but I've never really thought much of him personally and he's always seemed to be playing it safe.

This year's been a revelation though, his descent the other day and today's loony 10k sprint to the finish have been brilliant to watch.

Is anyone else thinking that Froome might be attacking so much because last year Quintana finished the stronger rider?

 

[Johnny75]

I'd agree with that BotS. Quintana may well be biding his time tomorrow and Froome may well be hanging on to his wheel tomorrow afternoon. I still think the time trials are going to get Froome his title.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Looks like Contador is changing teams to TREK next year. Contador, has also said he won't be ready for the Olympics.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Sadly the finish on Ventoux has been shortened due to high winds. Still a tough climb but Quintana would have wanted as much road as possible to test Froome.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Whaat?????

Where are they finishing? Le Chalet Reynard?

 

[Johnny75]

Yep. 100MPH winds at the top apparently.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Shame. The best bit is Le Chalet to the Observatoire but 100mph winds would be just a touch dangerous!

 

[Johnny75]

It's a shame, the 2 best ramps on the tour won't be in play but it's still a 14km climb!