**** Tour de France 2017 ****

**** Tour de France 2017 ****

Author
Discussion

Unexpected Item In Bagging Area

Original Poster:

7,015 posts

188 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Only a few days to go now and the excitement is building in the Unexpected household. Well, I'm excited anyway.

Usually I can see a clear favourite for the overall but this year I really don't know. Froome is most likely to take it I'd say but I'm not convinced. More interesting is the potential for Dan McLay to build on his performances in last year's race and hopefully take a stage or two, especially as Cavendish seems unlikely to be a serious contender.

Roll on Saturday!

Nezquick

1,453 posts

125 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Absolutely love the TDF and can't wait for it to start.

Froome all the way! I may have a small wager.

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Froome does not seem to be in the form of previous seasons but he can get that form in a three week race,

The best three weeks Sport of the year and hopefully with a late TT its going to be a classic cant wait.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
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Andre Cardoso of Trek-Segafredo has tested positive, for EPO of all things!

mcelliott

8,626 posts

180 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
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Matt_N said:
Andre Cardoso of Trek-Segafredo has tested positive, for EPO of all things!
Ah that's too bad, however the story gives me heart, because it shows that Trek are preparing their riders well, for their fight against the UKPostals. Come on Bertie!

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
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what sort of moron gets caught with EPO these days !!!.

davidpstock

67 posts

86 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
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Yes really looking forward to it as well, it's such an event. Froome could do it again, & hopefully Cav will get a few stages

danpalmer1993

507 posts

107 months

Wednesday 28th June 2017
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Not the best prepartions going into this for froome and cav but fingers crossed! Had my wager on nairo to win smile

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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mcelliott said:
Ah that's too bad, however the story gives me heart, because it shows that Trek are preparing their riders well, for their fight against the UKPostals. Come on Bertie!
Ha, yes I'm sure it'll raise some tough questions for Team Sky too...

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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danpalmer1993 said:
Not the best prepartions going into this for froome and cav but fingers crossed! Had my wager on nairo to win smile
Nairo has a good chance, Porte is the on form man but his tour luck tends to let him down and he is still only in his second year as a Grand Tour leader, but we'll see.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Stages:

When Where Distance Type
Stage 1, July 1 Dusseldorf 14km ITT
Stage 2, July 2 Dusseldorf - Liege/Luik 203km Flat
Stage 3, July 3 Verviers – Longwy 212km Summit finish
Stage 4, July 4 Mondorf les Bains – Vittel 207km Flat
Stage 5, July 5 Vittel – La Planche des Belles Filles 160km Summit finish
Stage 6, July 6 Vesoul – Troyes 216km
Stage 7, July 7 Troyes – Nuits Saint Georges 213km Mountains
Stage 8, July 8 Dole – Station des Rousses 187km Mountains
Stage 9, July 9 Nantua – Chambéry 181km Mountains - Grand Columbier, Mont Du Chat
July 10 Rest day NA NA
Stage 10, July 11 Périgueux – Bergerac 178km
Stage 11, July 12 Eymet – Pau 203km
Stage 12, July 13 Pau – Peyragudes 214km Mountains
Stage 13, July 14 Saint Girons – Foix 101km Mountains
Stage 14, July 15 Blagnac – Rodez 181km Mountains
Stage 15, July 16 Laissac Sévérac l’Église – Le Puy en Velay 189km Hilly
July 17 Rest day NA NA
Stage 16, July 18 Le Puy en Velay – Romans sur Isère 165km
Stage 17, July 19 La Mure – Serre Chevalier 183km Mountains - Croix De Fer, Telegraphe, Galibier
Stage 18, July 20 Briançon – Col d’Izoard 179km Mountains - Col d'Izoard
Stage 19, July 21 Embrun – Salon de Provence 222km Flat
Stage 20, July 22 Marseille 22.5km ITT
Stage 21, July 23 Montgeron – Paris 103km Flat





johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Steve Cummins is a really good TT and having won the National RR and the TT he is bang on form what odds on him getting the first
Yellow Jersey

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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I'm slightly confused by the last 3 days.

Stage 19 ends Salon de Provence
Stage 20 in Marseille
Then the whole shebang is transported way up north to finish in Paris ?

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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lucido grigio said:
I'm slightly confused by the last 3 days.

Stage 19 ends Salon de Provence
Stage 20 in Marseille
Then the whole shebang is transported way up north to finish in Paris ?
Yep. Entirely normal.

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Thanks......smile

I looked up Marseille and found there's one near Paris too ,so then had to check where Salon de Provence was as well,

although I half knew it was way down south .

Marseilles....near Paris
Marseille.......not near Paris.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Gives an overview of stage routing:


Dr Imran T

2,301 posts

198 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Matt_N said:
Nairo has a good chance, Porte is the on form man but his tour luck tends to let him down and he is still only in his second year as a Grand Tour leader, but we'll see.
Porte is a great rider but I'm not sure if he's up to challenge for the GC over the duration of a grand tour. He seems to have 'off' days or is sometimes inconsistent.

I did watch him in Criterium du Dauphine and he looked strong but still lost out in the end. Maybe this year is his year - we will soon find out!

I wonder how Valverde is going to do - been super strong and dominated the early season smile


Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Dr Imran T said:
I wonder how Valverde is going to do - been super strong and dominated the early season smile
Publically stated he'll support Quintana, but he's quite the character and could quite easily just ride for himself!

There is a few stages he'll fancy his chances for the win.

counterofbeans

1,061 posts

138 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Oh joy. Another 3 weeks of Froome staring at his stem.

I think I'll return to the Tour when Froome and Sky no longer dominate. Till then I'll make do with the Giro/Vuelta.

Hope the rest of you enjoy it though.

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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I hope Cavendish is ready for this another couple of stages would be great. Any surprise packages (no pun intended) people can tell us about.