Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Johnny75]

Not a chance. This will be the two of them fighting it out unless Dumoulin gets involved.

I'm not so sure. I hope they don't put Froome first and allow the fight between them to play out but I think Doumulin will be too much of a threat for Sky to let their pair battle.

It's a more competitive race than I thought it would be and it's great.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Good stage today. I thought Thomas was going to take time from Froome at one point but they ended up together. The crowd were a fucking disgrace.

 

[Johnny75]

Good stage today. I thought Thomas was going to take time from Froome at one point but they ended up together. The crowd were a fucking disgrace.

Agree on the crowd.

Think tomorrow will be another breakaway before the action starts again on Tuesday.

 

[machin05]

Stage 17 looks bonkers!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I'm not convinced at all by a short stage to try and get them to duke it out. Should have stuck another 100k and two more climbs on it.

 

[Sniffer]

The pictures of the crash on a descent today of Phillipe Gilbert today are frightening. Luckily having gone over a wall into a ravine, he was found, given a couple of minutes to catch his breath and then back on a bike and into the race.

 

[Kenny]

The pictures of the crash on a descent today of Phillipe Gilbert today are frightening. Luckily having gone over a wall into a ravine, he was found, given a couple of minutes to catch his breath and then back on a bike and into the race.

Just been a piece on this on SSN...so he had the accident, got back on the bike and cycled for 60k. All done with a broken knee!!

 

[Kenny]

His bad knee just stands out a little..

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Geraint Thomas was magnificent today. That is yellow to Paris unless he has a horror on the Tourmalet stage on Friday. Froome is a domestique for the rest of this.

 

[Johnny75]

Geraint Thomas was magnificent today. That is yellow to Paris unless he has a horror on the Tourmalet stage on Friday. Froome is a domestique for the rest of this.

He looks a Champion in the making. It's the first time I've seen Doumulin look defeated and he's some rider.

I enjoyed the short stage, the start was bobbins but the short punchy stage really got people going.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That last climb.... man oh man, what a horror. Hope they use it again. Miles better than pla l'adet on the same hill.

 

[Wombat del combate]

The one thing I thought when watching Froome crack a little was back to the Giro when he had a bad day and then looked what happened. I don't think it was a bluff but with an easy day today, could he seriously be considering blowing it apart on Friday? Anyway, quite enjoyed Quintana and Martin have some fun; Sky sitting on the front was (is) a yawn-fest.

Re: 'Desperate Dan' Dumoulin: Effective but not great to watch in the sense he's Indurain-esque and taps out a consistent amount of power.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Froome is in trouble on the Aubisque. Thomas now has no team mates to protect him from Dumoulin and Roglic.

 

[Tredman]

Fantastic work from Froome to catch up.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Froome and Bernal to be fair. That gives Sky three in the yellow jersey group. Should be enough to bury themselves dragging back the inevitable attacks, and then a nice downhill coast to the finish.

 

[Tredman]

This descent in the mist looks terrifying.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Magnificent by Geraint. That has to be it in the bag. He is more than decent at the time trial and should keep within two minutes of Dumoulin on that stage.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Fair play to Sky for letting Thomas off the leash, especially given that Froome is struggling a touch.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Part of me secretly wonders if a Sky win by a rider other than Froome might actually be a bit of a road to redemption. For a start, G is very popular within the peloton. Never going to win over the French press entirely, especially with "never a drug cheat at all, no no, absolutely not" Bernard Hinault stoking the fires, but it is a start on that road.

 

[Johnny75]

Part of me secretly wonders if a Sky win by a rider other than Froome might actually be a bit of a road to redemption. For a start, G is very popular within the peloton. Never going to win over the French press entirely, especially with "never a drug cheat at all, no no, absolutely not" Bernard Hinault stoking the fires, but it is a start on that road.

And I thought I was cynical over Froome!

It was great to see a proper battle today, exciting stuff on the climb and Roglic looks a proper rider even if he did draughty the TV bike today (naughty boy).

Great to see Thomas win it and whilst SKY hold all 3 GT's and now a 4th in a row, I wonder how much their dominance isn't doing the sport any favours.