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Slaav said:
After yesterday they announced with utter certainty that we had just witnessed the closest finish of this years TdF!
Then today happened....
I think I was exaggerating when I said 10mm it was probably closer to 5mm. Really enjoying the TDF so far maybe because Cav is doing well but the last two close finishes have been epic. Bring on the hilly bitsThen today happened....
Matt_N said:
Boardman gave some good insight into Cav's 2 wins, he thought Dimension and Cav are much more comfortable in dealing with situations where the plan can't be executed perfectly this tour.
Whereas Lotto and Etixx seem very reliant on the plan being excuted to the last minute detail and if it doesn't happen it doesn't work out, Kittel for instance yesterday lost out big time.
To the guy who said a few pages back it would be a dull tour, pah! 3 great finishes so far.
I'd agree with that. Last year, Etixx were constantly doing the lead out, but doing a cack job of it. This year (as with the Sky year), he's freelancing with 1 or 2 trusted men til the last minute. Seems much better when he's picking the best wheel he can find, than when he was using the official team wheel, and hoping it was one of the best 2 (especially since it rarely was)..Whereas Lotto and Etixx seem very reliant on the plan being excuted to the last minute detail and if it doesn't happen it doesn't work out, Kittel for instance yesterday lost out big time.
To the guy who said a few pages back it would be a dull tour, pah! 3 great finishes so far.
Some Gump said:
I'd agree with that. Last year, Etixx were constantly doing the lead out, but doing a cack job of it. This year (as with the Sky year), he's freelancing with 1 or 2 trusted men til the last minute. Seems much better when he's picking the best wheel he can find, than when he was using the official team wheel, and hoping it was one of the best 2 (especially since it rarely was)..
Oh I am not 100% sure on that one.... When he had the whole team behind him as in HTC(?) then it was awesome to watch in the way a juggernaut managed to crush a beetle Then when he went to Sky and it all went a bit awry, that final stage in Paris when Brad was leading him out in yellow - wow!!! What a stage and race finale. That was what dreams are made of for them both and the whole team I guess. I do wonder what might have been if Sky had taken the chance and supported Cav more rather than 100% on the GC???
So Stage 5.
Limoges to Le Lioran, 216km with four categorised climbs in the final 50km;
Favourites?
Valverde must fancy himself a little bit here, nice punchy finish but it may split the team. movistar will be up there keeping Quintana in GC contention but Valverde will definitely see himself at the better chance for a stage win.
Alaphillippe must feel pretty confident too.
Outside chance for Dan Martin?
Limoges to Le Lioran, 216km with four categorised climbs in the final 50km;
Favourites?
Valverde must fancy himself a little bit here, nice punchy finish but it may split the team. movistar will be up there keeping Quintana in GC contention but Valverde will definitely see himself at the better chance for a stage win.
Alaphillippe must feel pretty confident too.
Outside chance for Dan Martin?
Todays stage suits quite a few people but I dont think the GC contenders will push each other, I think it will be someone like Geschke, Gallopin or Rui Costa though (housewives favourite) Voeckler will obviously be looking at it favourably too.
It the first stage I'll watch more than the last five kms this year!
It the first stage I'll watch more than the last five kms this year!
pablo said:
Todays stage suits quite a few people but I dont think the GC contenders will push each other, I think it will be someone like Geschke, Gallopin or Rui Costa though (housewives favourite) Voeckler will obviously be looking at it favourably too.
It the first stage I'll watch more than the last five kms this year!
Beat me to it. This is a stage for a breakaway. Voeckler FTW.It the first stage I'll watch more than the last five kms this year!
Long, flat stage today. No chance of a cheeky break so its all out for the sprinters, Greipel will be annoyed hes not won yet so I'll put some money on him as I htink Lotto wil lpush to give him a good lead out but then Kristoff will want a win before things get lumpy at the weekend and Coquard was close the other day so actually, Cav and EBH will be sniffing around and then Luke Rowe might even fancy a go.... so really, who the f
k really knows! (covering my bases there!)
k really knows! (covering my bases there!)pablo said:
Long, flat stage today. No chance of a cheeky break so its all out for the sprinters, Greipel will be annoyed hes not won yet so I'll put some money on him as I htink Lotto wil lpush to give him a good lead out but then Kristoff will want a win before things get lumpy at the weekend and Coquard was close the other day so actually, Cav and EBH will be sniffing around and then Luke Rowe might even fancy a go.... so really, who the fk really knows! (covering my bases there!)
And whilst they are all too busy watching each other Sagan disappears off on the other side and stuffs them all.... k really knows! (covering my bases there!)
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