Shanks D Zoro
Banned
I have been a big fan of his since 08. Italy's great hope of the recent years. Will be amazing if he can complete the triple of the grand tours.
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Tour de France 2014 |OT| Riding Around 101
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I have been a big fan of his since 08. Italy's great hope of the recent years. Will be amazing if he can complete the triple of the grand tours.
That is how Sky ride their bikes. Heads down. Power meters up. Have you ever seen a Sky rider attack on a descent? Yeah, me neither.
I'm actually bummed Froome is out, because I wanted to see him duke it out with a fit Contador and Nibali... But considering the way Brailsford runs his team, and the absolutely insulting team they put together for this tour, I'm all for them feeling their own hubris. Especially after listening to the Brailsford interview on Richard Moore's podcast at the gym this morning.
Shanks D Zoro
Banned
This can work out perfectly for Nibali. hopefully 2mins30+ on contador and maybe Sagan gets the yellow jersey today and lets Cannondale control the race for the next few stages before the mountains and gives Astana a little break.
Although I hope Nibali goes for the win.
Although I hope Nibali goes for the win.
Shanks D Zoro
Banned
Great performance from Nibali. I didn't see him riding away from Sagan and fabio can.
Congrats to Boom on the win.
Congrats to Boom on the win.
The beginning of a great Dutch day?
EscoBlades
Ubisoft Marketing
Great great ride from Nibali!
Psychotext
Member
Was a great stage, really entertaining.
YES!
i_am_ben
running_here_and_there
If their tdf team is insulting then there mustn't be a word for their giro team!
Germany won the stage yesterday..
They'll definately dominate the vuelta with froome, henao, kennaugh, stannard, deignan and hagen.
LOL. Pro Continental?
i_am_ben
running_here_and_there
Poor Wiggans he was probably thinking he'd get a run!
A possible Vuelta with Froome and Quintana sounds amazing though.
all this assumes Froome is better of course.
Didn't think he was going, but just read that he is. They'll have to do it together then! Fun
Windom Earle
Member
That was some crazy shit today. I know how it feels to driver over cobblestone with a race bike, but in these conditions it's even more crazy.
Yes, he is a bit stuck in no man's land, but even on the tracks where should be winning, the slightly hilly classics, he isn't doing anything impressive. He reminds me of Gilbert who made such an impression one year everyone is looking at him and he can't completely cope with it.
Wow. Just wow. Was expecting carnage today but that was some serious damage, and not even on the cobbles. All on the tarmac is where the most damage occurred. Couldn't believe Froome's luck and disappointed he had to withdraw. Was really clamoring for a Froome v Contador v Nibali showdown in the mountains.
Speaking of Nibali, what a damn race. Guy looked like Tom Boonen out there! Just fearless over the cobbles while avoiding any major crashed or punctures. Pure class out there. He's got a nice little cushion heading into the mountains and time trial so we'll see if he can handle the pressure the next 2 or so weeks.
As for Contador, disappointing to see him dropped although at least he survived the race. I imagine this will provide more motivation to attack in the upcoming stages. Overall, still hard to believe Nibali distanced himself from Sagan, Cancellara, and the other big classic boys.
But damn, what a win for Lars Boom and what a stage overall.
Speaking of Nibali, what a damn race. Guy looked like Tom Boonen out there! Just fearless over the cobbles while avoiding any major crashed or punctures. Pure class out there. He's got a nice little cushion heading into the mountains and time trial so we'll see if he can handle the pressure the next 2 or so weeks.
As for Contador, disappointing to see him dropped although at least he survived the race. I imagine this will provide more motivation to attack in the upcoming stages. Overall, still hard to believe Nibali distanced himself from Sagan, Cancellara, and the other big classic boys.
But damn, what a win for Lars Boom and what a stage overall.
No way Astana hangs with Tinkoff-Saxo in the mountains. I'll eat my hat if they do. Rogers, Roche, and Majka are biding time now for those suckers. Rogers won two stages at Giro, including the Zoncolan climb while Roche finished 5th at the climb heavy Vuelta last fall. It's a shame Kruezieger had to withdrawal due to his biological passport containing discrepancies, because that dude was a true workhorse for Contador.
I think Nibali will hang with Contador for a bit, but if he performs like he did in the Dauphine and can't hang with Contador's attacks, it'll be over quickly. Contador is also a smidgen faster at the TT, and this one is uphill.
Shanks D Zoro
Banned
I really thought they would put up more of a fight, but I guess they were more interested in just getting home safely. It is not too surprising seeing Nibali up there. He is a good classic rider and usually places well, but doesnt have that pure acceleration that others have.
bobnowhere
Member
He did well, not sure if his form is anything like what it was say the first half of last year though.
BriareosGAF
Member
Long boring day where everyone takes it easy after yesterdays carnage and a small groups contests the stage win and yellow jersey?
I assume the only excitement is whether Kittel doesn't win?
Yesterday was crazy. Bit stunned to see Froome go down the way he did. And then I didn't quite grok Geraint's comment that Porte was equal with Froome in the team; did he just mean time-wise? Brailford's post race interview was pretty amusing. "Uh, that's sport!" Wiggins' comment was carefully measured as you'd expect.
Favorite part of yesterday ultimately though was that mud-eating grin on Boom's face and Liggett so excitedly calling the end and constantly going on about cross-country^H^H^Hcyclo-cross. Just fun.
Sky knew that Froome wasn´t in a good shape after his earlier crash. So two of his top riders where ordered to support Porte instead..
bobnowhere
Member
People falling all over the place atm. Sky rider looks pretty stunned, they may have lost another one.
Edit: Yep abandons, 2 actually.
Edit: Yep abandons, 2 actually.
Flat stages are too dangerous. They have no place in the tour!
Technically the yesterday's stage was flat. It just had some cobbles. And most crashes happened on the wet macadam. Even today has some crashes. And probably some more tomorrow with a tough finish and two little climbs and descents before the end of the stage in Nancy.
Oh, and it'll rain again tomorrow
Updated the first post.
Tomorrow's stage:
A veeeeeery long flat stage but two hills in the final could give some ideas to some riders. Do not expect a mass sprint.
Cannondale and Katusha will have to do work tomorrow to bring sagan and kristoff to the last hills, otherwise it will be a breakaway win. Maybe a repeat of sagans amazing win last year when his team rode hard through the entire stage and dropped all the spri ters
Had to spend time with my gf. Put the dvr on record and when I came home, it hadn't recorded anything
Time for some action. This marks the first day of the vosgian trilogy of stages - as a reminder, the Tour in all its history never spent three days in the Vosges. The stages will be more and more difficult, the pinnacle being the July 14 stage which is basically the most difficult stage ever designed in these mountains. Here today's menu.
The only difficulties in this stage will be regrouped in the final 30 km without any flat section to rest, starting from the Col de la Croix des Moinats, a 2nd category climb never seen before in the Tour:
Then the riders will immediately tackle the Col de Grosse Pierre, for its 6th presence on the Tour, but the first time being a 2nd category climb as a small road was found which is much, much more steeper than the normal road:
Then finally, the climb towards the ski resort of La Mauselaine where is placed the finish line, which is a 3rd category climb (the points for the KOM classification won't be doubled). However, expect a fierce battle between the main contenders. Seconds are precious.
Don't miss it!
The only difficulties in this stage will be regrouped in the final 30 km without any flat section to rest, starting from the Col de la Croix des Moinats, a 2nd category climb never seen before in the Tour:
Then the riders will immediately tackle the Col de Grosse Pierre, for its 6th presence on the Tour, but the first time being a 2nd category climb as a small road was found which is much, much more steeper than the normal road:
Then finally, the climb towards the ski resort of La Mauselaine where is placed the finish line, which is a 3rd category climb (the points for the KOM classification won't be doubled). However, expect a fierce battle between the main contenders. Seconds are precious.
Don't miss it!
bobnowhere
Member
Serious break today, I suspect one of them will win. Go Yates!
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