Discussion
Interesting POV footage from an OGE mechanic in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7raIxrzodt4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7raIxrzodt4
It should make for interesting racing today. 220+kms, like a classic day race over the cobbles. Sky with yellow to defend and a potentially nervous Froome.
Thomas, Stannard and Rowe will be there to do their duties, but perhaps today is the day Astana come more to the front to attack and try to regain some of the tme before they start the 2nd week. Boom in the squad as a previous winner of a similar stage, Nibali in need of gaining some time back. Also BMC are another squad who are capable on the cobbles, along with Lotto Soudal.....
I can imagine it could be a fast an aggressive day and fingers crossed everyone gets through it without crashes and its just down to racing each other rather than picking up pieces.
Thomas, Stannard and Rowe will be there to do their duties, but perhaps today is the day Astana come more to the front to attack and try to regain some of the tme before they start the 2nd week. Boom in the squad as a previous winner of a similar stage, Nibali in need of gaining some time back. Also BMC are another squad who are capable on the cobbles, along with Lotto Soudal.....
I can imagine it could be a fast an aggressive day and fingers crossed everyone gets through it without crashes and its just down to racing each other rather than picking up pieces.
What a crash, one of the nastiest and quite unusual to see the race held like that I think, rather than just neutralised. Big shame for Spartacus' day in yellow to end that way.
Froome looks punchy, very determined to prove a point. Difficult to beat an equally determined Purito on that type of climb though.
A little surprised to see Bertie dropped so relatively easily and for him to keep falling back.
Bring on the cobbles, hope all the favourites get through unscathed and without massive time gaps forming.
Froome looks punchy, very determined to prove a point. Difficult to beat an equally determined Purito on that type of climb though.
A little surprised to see Bertie dropped so relatively easily and for him to keep falling back.
Bring on the cobbles, hope all the favourites get through unscathed and without massive time gaps forming.
2 mins down for Quintana, I'd almost say its over for him - to be honest I think we're going to possibly see a repeat of 2013 where Froome decimates the other GC lot. I've never really doubted that when in shape he is the best GT rider there is right now, but seems many did judging from the quotes I've read etc.
But as we all know, the cobbles today will probably animate things. Now Fabian is out I hope perhaps Van Marke shows us something, not sure if Sagan will be allowed to go for a win?
But as we all know, the cobbles today will probably animate things. Now Fabian is out I hope perhaps Van Marke shows us something, not sure if Sagan will be allowed to go for a win?
Have to be honest I think Froome looks far more comfortable about the prospect of cobbles today compared to 2013. Putting time into the others this early will have calmed Sky down and I don't think they will struggle to defend yellow until the Pyrenees. Great ride from Dan Martin yesterday too.
Could be a strong break today if the likes of Vanmarcke, van avermaet, Chavanel are allowed to go.
Respect to OGE who all take the start today... Some aching bodies there.
Could be a strong break today if the likes of Vanmarcke, van avermaet, Chavanel are allowed to go.
Respect to OGE who all take the start today... Some aching bodies there.
A possible defence for Sky today could be to let someone like Thomas go in the break, Rowe and Stannard have been tasked with looking after Froome and if Thomas is away up the road then they don't need to chase. Difficulty though is Thomas is still relatively high in GC I think ....
I think its early to write off Quintana, but 2mins down now with all the other GC contenders teams willing and able to chase him down, would need something remarkable to regain a competitive position and we haven't seen that from him consistently in the GTs.
Uran will falter in the high mountains, Bertie's legs disappeared on the Mur and Nibali looks anything but devastatingly in form (yet) .... Plus they've all lost time .... I hope it isn't all over by week 3!
I think its early to write off Quintana, but 2mins down now with all the other GC contenders teams willing and able to chase him down, would need something remarkable to regain a competitive position and we haven't seen that from him consistently in the GTs.
Uran will falter in the high mountains, Bertie's legs disappeared on the Mur and Nibali looks anything but devastatingly in form (yet) .... Plus they've all lost time .... I hope it isn't all over by week 3!
Thomas won't be allowed to go for the win, he's too close to Frome in GC, that's my opinion anyway.
1. GBR FROOME Christopher 31 TEAM SKY 07h 11' 37''
2. GER MARTIN Tony 114 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 11' 38'' + 00' 01''
3. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 61 BMC RACING TEAM 07h 11' 50'' + 00' 13''
4. FRA GALLOPIN Tony 71 LOTTO-SOUDAL 07h 12' 03'' + 00' 26''
5. BEL VAN AVERMAET Greg 68 BMC RACING TEAM 07h 12' 05'' + 00' 28''
6. SVK SAGAN Peter 47 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 12' 08'' + 00' 31''
7. COL URAN URAN Rigoberto 118 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 12' 11'' + 00' 34''
8. ESP CONTADOR Alberto 41 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 12' 13'' + 00' 36''
9. GBR THOMAS Geraint 39 TEAM SKY 07h 12' 40'' + 01' 03''
10. CZE STYBAR Zdenek 116 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 12' 41'' + 01' 04''
11. FRA BARGUIL WARREN 82 TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 07h 12' 44'' + 01' 07''
12. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 141 TREK FACTORY RACING 07h 13' 09'' + 01' 32''
13. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 1 ASTANA PRO TEAM 07h 13' 15'' + 01' 38''
14. NED GESINK Robert 131 TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO 07h 13' 16'' + 01' 39''
15. CZ EKREUZIGER Roman 44 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 13' 28'' + 01' 51''
16. ESP VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro 59 MOVISTAR TEAM 07h 13' 28'' + 01' 51''
17. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 51 MOVISTAR TEAM 07h 13' 33'' + 01' 56''
18. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim 91 TEAM KATUSHA 07h 13' 37'' + 02' 00''
19. POL KWIATKOWSKI Michal 111 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 13' 39'' + 02' 02''
20. IRL MARTIN Daniel 167 TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN 07h 13' 43'' + 02' 06''
1. GBR FROOME Christopher 31 TEAM SKY 07h 11' 37''
2. GER MARTIN Tony 114 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 11' 38'' + 00' 01''
3. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 61 BMC RACING TEAM 07h 11' 50'' + 00' 13''
4. FRA GALLOPIN Tony 71 LOTTO-SOUDAL 07h 12' 03'' + 00' 26''
5. BEL VAN AVERMAET Greg 68 BMC RACING TEAM 07h 12' 05'' + 00' 28''
6. SVK SAGAN Peter 47 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 12' 08'' + 00' 31''
7. COL URAN URAN Rigoberto 118 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 12' 11'' + 00' 34''
8. ESP CONTADOR Alberto 41 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 12' 13'' + 00' 36''
9. GBR THOMAS Geraint 39 TEAM SKY 07h 12' 40'' + 01' 03''
10. CZE STYBAR Zdenek 116 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 12' 41'' + 01' 04''
11. FRA BARGUIL WARREN 82 TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN 07h 12' 44'' + 01' 07''
12. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 141 TREK FACTORY RACING 07h 13' 09'' + 01' 32''
13. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 1 ASTANA PRO TEAM 07h 13' 15'' + 01' 38''
14. NED GESINK Robert 131 TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO 07h 13' 16'' + 01' 39''
15. CZ EKREUZIGER Roman 44 TINKOFF-SAXO 07h 13' 28'' + 01' 51''
16. ESP VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro 59 MOVISTAR TEAM 07h 13' 28'' + 01' 51''
17. COL QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 51 MOVISTAR TEAM 07h 13' 33'' + 01' 56''
18. ESP RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joachim 91 TEAM KATUSHA 07h 13' 37'' + 02' 00''
19. POL KWIATKOWSKI Michal 111 ETIXX-QUICK STEP 07h 13' 39'' + 02' 02''
20. IRL MARTIN Daniel 167 TEAM CANNONDALE-GARMIN 07h 13' 43'' + 02' 06''
okgo said:
I hate liking a minority sport, its fine here for anyone to have the tennis on their second screen, or the cricket (we have a lot of indians here) but when I put the cycling on people always seem a bit amused somebody would take an interest...
Sheesh! Try living in the late '80s/early '90s, mate!27 minutes a night, minus an adbreak. No catch-up, Vines, YouTube, Eurosport, mobile app etc.
Did have a cracking theme tune though, much better that the warbly accordion pish we have now.
okgo said:
I hate liking a minority sport, its fine here for anyone to have the tennis on their second screen, or the cricket (we have a lot of indians here) but when I put the cycling on people always seem a bit amused somebody would take an interest...
Ditto - if only i were able to actually put it on one of my screens...have to resort to streaming on my phone :-(
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