The professional cycling thread

[Magic919]

He said seventh on my version.

[JuniorD]

Liggett's a . Said he'd quit if LA was found to be a doper but didn't quit.

[Gargamel]

Any reason no one is backing Nibali to win it again

[spikeyhead]

Gargamel said:

Any reason no one is backing Nibali to win it again

because this year Froome and Bertie won't both fall off

[johnxjsc1985]

JuniorD said:

Liggett's a . Said he'd quit if LA was found to be a doper but didn't quit.

Really I just thought like millions of people around the world he was conned by Armstrong. He is 72 now and been a fantastic commentator for many many years.

[mcelliott]

Weather could be major factor today, echelons anyone?!

[Highway Star]

As the Dutch would say 'for shure'. Conditions look atrocious at the finish.

[Jonnny]

Cav went too early, leading Greipel out wasn't a good idea!

[spikeyhead]

Jonnny said:

Cav went too early, leading Greipel out wasn't a good idea!

I'm not sure that Cav went too early, more that Renshaw ran out of steam early. There's very little he could have done about Greipel following unless he had another of his team on his own tail.

[DeltonaS]

Jonnny said:

Cav went too early, leading Greipel out wasn't a good idea!

Cav isn't as strong as he used to be is more appropriate conclusion, for shure ;-)

[johnxjsc1985]

DeltonaS said:

Cav isn't as strong as he used to be is more appropriate conclusion, for shure ;-)

NoI think he went way too early because he only had one team mate with him he did what he could but it was a strong mans sprint and Griepel is a beast.
Fascinating stage today crosswinds destroyed some of them.
Great programme about leMond and the Badger tonight on ITV4 .

[DJRC]

It was a brute of a finish. Cav went about 450m I think, his lead out was gone and Greip sat there till 250m and just pulled out and went. It says everything that Spartacus and Sagan went past Cav also, but I think he basically knew at 500m that it was the only option. Tony Martin had done so much on the front, Cav essentially didn't have a train - it was a strong man finish.

[johnxjsc1985]

slaying the badger just starting now on ITV4

[Highway Star]

Etixx didn't get it organised well enough. There was a point about 1k to go when there were 3 Etixx guys on the front with the Lotto Soudal guys behind, but Renshaw had to bring Cav around all of them to get onto the front. One of the other Etixx guys should perhaps have seen Cav wasn't in the right place and dropped back earlier?

[johnxjsc1985]

Interesting to hear LeMond and Hampsten saying when EPO came in the early 1990's they got left behind.
Enjoyed the programme very interesting I forgot about the deal with Hinault.

[mcelliott]

La Vie Claire - they fking rock!

[DJRC]

The Times has the dirt on Cav, Renshaw, Martin and the boss today. Ooooooo some words were being said behind closed doors last night!!! I don't think calling your boss an idiot when you just blew the stage and then sat up letting Spartacus pip you so enabling him to wear yellow and not Tony your team8 is a smart move. Especially when you have a £2.1 m contract on the line!

[Equilibrium25]

Etixx-QS did seem to blow that quite badly, not sure there is much Cav could have done once he hit the front with so many metres left. Maybe in his HTC prime, but I doubt it.

Already some reasonably major splits between the GC contenders. I hope things don't spread too much further over the coming days, so we can be treated to a battle royale in the mountains.

[johnxjsc1985]

I think Cav ran out of Gas I dont think he was sprinting to get martin into yellow.
Looks like a bit of a tough day again can't wait.

[DJRC]

He wasn't! He sat up about 5-10m from the line. That allowed Spartacus through to 3rd and the time bonus that took him into yellow and not Martin. Cav's boss was furious about it.