Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Paddingtonwolf]

Well, that's the clouded nature of the sport. I don't think it will ever really improve because the Armstrong affair absolutely destroyed any credibility that the years after Festina had stored in the bank. It's a shame.

I'd rather just watch it and enjoy it.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

That’s the thing with cycling, it’s a beautiful sport (and easily my second favourite behind football) but you can’t really watch it/follow it and presume everything is definitely all right. Still, it’s a personal decision to how sceptical you want to be. I like Froome and want to believe it but there’s a lot of questions with him down the years from unnatural career trajectory to erratic performance day to day within races. That’s before we bring in all the issues with his team and what to all intents and purposes was a failed test at the Vuelta last year. He is likely to get a backdated ban for that (based on all previous precedents) and this Giro win isn’t going to count in the record books anyway.

That’s not to say I couldn’t enjoy the performance yesterday, but it’s rarely black and white in cycling.

 

[Tredman]

As Machin said, watching it yesterday Froome made up over a minute on just one descent. That wasnt anything chemical, it was him just saying fuck it and going for it - it looked truly terrifying to me.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Yeah he’s a great descender and that’s something he’s improved dramatically so fair play. Freaked me out watching that, fucking hate descending!

 

[machin05]

Pinot's gone. Wobbling all over the place.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That last podium spot is now going to be wide open. Astana are going to do everything to get Lopez in there and Carapaz is going to be VERY interested as well.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Christ - that is one of the worst bonks I have seen by Pinot. He is going to be lucky to finish

 

[machin05]

Christ - that is one of the worst bonks I have seen by Pinot. He is going to be lucky to finish

Yep, sad to see really. His whole team basically taking it in turns to push him up the hill.

 

[Johnny75]

Christ - that is one of the worst bonks I have seen by Pinot. He is going to be lucky to finish

Yates mkII. This Giro has been brutal. I wonder what Doumulin has left.

I'd like to see Nieve win the stage.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Pinot is going to lose a similar amount. 16 minutes lost in a few ks, and then he is still going to have to face the final climb. I think he could lose an hour possibly. Horrible to see.

I also would love to see a Nieve win.

 

[Johnny75]

As an aside, Froome won't be able to compete on Le Tour after this will he? It's been absolutely brutal and the TDF starts in just over a month.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He is entered, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

Think he is in the Criterium as well.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Froome is running out of team mates here.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Big attack from Dumoulin! And that is Froome competely out of helpers.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Wout Poels somehow fighting his way back to help Froome. This is a great final fight.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Oh - Dumoulin attacked for a third time, and Froome pulled him back and then blew him out the back door.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

And Dumoulin fights back again! This is tremendous stuff.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Awesome by Nieve. Great stuff by Froome and Dumoulin, and Froome a worthy winner in the end.

 

[Johnny75]

Tremendous tour overall. Footrest may well have this result struck off the records but his team and him rode the final stage perfectly.

Bring on the Douphine.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Huge chapeau to Tom Dumoulin for those efforts up the final climb. He tried everything in the locker to break Froome and it was compelling viewing.

An epic Giro. Hard to remember much better in three week tours that I have watched, bar Roche v Delgado and Lemond v Fignon in the TDF. (And yes, I did watch those on channel 4 highlights, old bastard that I am)