Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Wombat del combate]

I was wondering last night if Quintana is carrying an injury or is ill, seeing as all he's done so far is mark Froome's moves and on the one opportunity he should excel at he not only got matched but utterly destroyed?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

possibly. If he is waiting for the Alps it might be too late.

Other news - Gerrans out, broken collarbone in that crash yesterday. Thibaut Pinot out - bronchitis

 

[nimrod]

cav's in again! kittel looked unhappy as he crossed his line but nothing in it.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Kittel went towards Cav and then the Manx Missile moved across, but like you say I can't see any way the commissaires would take that away.

Fairly dull stage today, but tomorrow is an absolute belter. The Grand Colombier is great climb, and the Lacets are a nice little bonus late in the stage. I think Froome will try and destroy Quintana and Mollema tomorrow.

 

[nimrod]

even if they stick in there he has the potential to do something on the final descent.

you could see a potential valverde break at some point, though that was tried a couple times last year and they never really got to make it work. mainly as valverde likes podium finishes above going for an all or nothing glory day - or that's how it seems to me. only way to burn off the sky team though.

there are a few who together could make it uncomfortable if they lose team members early, but I can't see it happening.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Valverde is happier working for Valverde. It will be interesting as I hear that Quintana isn't 100% healthy so maybe Movistar might fall in behind Valverde. He is still quite close.

My big hope is that Yates hangs in there. If he could get on the podium that would be incredible.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Developing into a good stage. Nice breakaway up the road in hot conditions and the Colombier looks like it will be a great test for the GC boys.

I love watching this on Eurosport - the adverts are ace. Richard Virenque as a model (????) for Festina watches, the Israeli tourist board and my new fave inviting me to visit the city of Ningbo. China, natch, but I haven't a fookin scoobie where in China!

 

[thehistorymakers]

Valverde has tried to pull away, but Sky are too strong? Surely.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Valverde and Aru working together seems sensible as Quintana and Nibali are just toast. By the way - this climb is staggeringly beautiful. Glorious scenery.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Valverde and Aru working together seems sensible as Quintana and Nibali are just toast. By the way - this climb is staggeringly beautiful. Glorious scenery.

Unbelievable scenery.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Froome biding his time. The work his team do for him, his magnificent.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I loved that fake Froome attack! Very amusing, apart from for the poor sods staying with him.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Gutted for Rafal Majka. Really deserved a stage victory there.

And no GC changes today at all by the look of it. A bit of a surprise on such a great parcours.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Pantano takes it. The wrong Columbian but never mind. Quintana not up for it, by the looks of it.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Maybe Quintana is waiting for the Emolsson Dam stage. Nice uphill finish.

 

[thehistorymakers]

Maybe Quintana is waiting for the Emolsson Dam stage. Nice uphill finish.

Sky are too well organised, to let that happen. Instead of emotion and spontaneity, we have precision, professionalism and organisation. Sky to cycling remind me how German football used to be.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Or indeed how US Postal and then Discovery were. Or Banesto with Delgado or Indurain at the front of the team. It isn't new really. I know what you mean though - it takes away from the individual.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

How about Froome attacking on descents and sprint stages? Nothing dull and calculated about that. Racing at its best.

 

[nimrod]

only caught last bit of the stage. looks to have been a disappointing one from a competitive GC perspective.

odd comment about the 'wrong' Colombian winning unless anyone believed sky would let a Quintana sail 8 minutes down the road. I've not checked the listings but it's almost easier for someone just outside the contenders to do some damage - eg in the 5m+ arrears. if someone in that range got a good lead to force sky to act then it might have depleted them to create some GC action later in a stage. but it gets more complex with podium positions being fought for - so last year for instance Contador in that position made a break and ended up being chased down by Valverde fearful of losing 3rd. Really if he'd had the balls he'd have let Sky chase it down and launched on them later.

one team dominating just makes for fairly dull viewing. hopefully some action still to come but so far thank god for Cav and the breakaway wins.

 

[Johnny75]

How about Froome attacking on descents and sprint stages? Nothing dull and calculated about that. Racing at its best.

I agree with this, I think that attack on the descent was brilliant. The mountain stages have failed to deliver in the most part but I think that has more to do with the GC contenders than Froome. Froome seems to be doing enough to keep them at bay and it is up to them to challenge him. Froome playing to his strengths is how a good racer should be. I think it's been a really good race.