The Official 100th Tour de France thread, 2013.

[Spreadbetting Seagull]

Unbelievable crowds! This is amazing.

 

[Deleted member 18477]

Chris Froome... Wow!

 

[banjo]

legend.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

If he wasn't so clean, performances like that would have people thinking otherwise.

Blows them all away so easily.

 

[Motogull]

That was outstanding. Wonderful stage. Superb from all out there.

 

[brixtonA23]

A weakened team, doubts.....

Outstanding. Absolutely phenomenal.

 

[Wardy]

Do not forget Porte who set this up for him. I know some of the purest do not like Team Sky's way of doing things but you cannot argue that it works. Decide before the tour starts who is your best bet for a winner then build the team around them.

 

[Stat Brother]

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[Stat Brother]

Fav moment of Ventoux.

Did anyone else spot the incredible happy chap running up in the last few kms, carrying real stuffed wild boar.

Tremendous.

 

[The Large One]

To those who know this sort of thing - Froome's lead is now 4' 14".

Bearing in mind what's coming this week, what does that mean in terms of his chances of winning the Tour de France? Are there disciplines left which he isn't so good at and nearby challengers are - or is this lead going to be enough?

 

[Stat Brother]

To those who know this sort of thing - Froome's lead is now 4' 14".

Bearing in mind what's coming this week, what does that mean in terms of his chances of winning the Tour de France? Are there disciplines left which he isn't so good at and nearby challengers are - or is this lead going to be enough?

It should be plenty good enough.

The others have 2 problems:-
1) They can't take time off CF going up hill.
As today proved that's where the biggest time gaps can be gained.

b) There's still a 32km TT, which could add a further minute to CF's lead.


Friday's stage is the only profile left, similar to ones that Team Sky have struggled on.



By then though CF should be 6 minutes up.

 

[Wardy]

To those who know this sort of thing - Froome's lead is now 4' 14".

Bearing in mind what's coming this week, what does that mean in terms of his chances of winning the Tour de France? Are there disciplines left which he isn't so good at and nearby challengers are - or is this lead going to be enough?

Like Stat Brother says the only real change that the others have is to try and take time off him in the stages where there is multiply climbs since Sky do struggle on those. However his lead is now so big that they not only need to go away from him going up a climb they need to pretty much break him. Not sure there is enough stages left for them to get that much time back. Especially with another time trial to come where he should gain even more time.

 

[Stat Brother]

Fav moment of Ventoux.

Did anyone else spot the incredible happy chap running up in the last few kms, carrying real stuffed wild boar.

Tremendous.

7.6 kms

His smiley face just beats the fella moments earlier holding a big potato.

 

[1066familyman]

Loved the straight face of Quintana - not a flicker of emotion at all.

Superb ride by Froome and the team to get him there in text book style. Think Movistar done themselves no favours though in driving it hard in what appears was a supposed revenge move on Europcar and Belkin. All that just played right into Sky's hands anyway. Brilliant rides again from Mollema and Ten Dam to stay right up on GC.

Good stage to watch simply because it's Ventoux, but would have preferred a bit more than just Chavanel being the last man left from a weak break.

 

[1066familyman]

Talking of the bloke with the stuffed wild boar today...did anyone else see the bloke running alongside the break yesterday with his pants down around his ankles and his tackle slapping from side to side as he ran for all to see?

 

[Stat Brother]

Good stage to watch simply because it's Ventoux, but would have preferred a bit more than just Chavanel being the last man left from a weak break.

If a Frenchie had won today he'd never have to buy a drink or pay for a meal EVER again.
I expected a 10 strong group, at least 5 Frenchies, an hour+ off GC to hit Ventoux with a decent lead.
Sadly not to be, a massive opportunity went begging.

Talking of the bloke with the stuffed wild boar today...did anyone else see the bloke running alongside the break yesterday with his pants down around his ankles and his tackle slapping from side to side as he ran for all to see?

Yes

 

[1066familyman]

Yep, good 5 minutes lead at the bottom of Ventoux for a break as you describe it would have been perfect. The last one left caught within 3-5km of the finish no doubt, but would have been exciting with a good will he?/won't he? scenario for most of the way up. Not complaining though, still a good stage to watch today as ever.

Another promising ride by young Rudy today btw. 33rd, 8:46 down in the Evans group. First time I've seen him listed on betting too, so of course I had to have 50p e/w at 500/1

 

[Brighton Mod]

CF has a big lead, but its not a done deal, Sky will be attacked from all quarters especially as they lost over a minute two days ago. Yes CF is the best climber but he has to get to the climbs reasonably close to the front to make it count. It was a stellar ride today, absolutely fantastic, but don't underrate the opposition, they have the capability and desire to claw time from him. Tiredness can hit a team or individuals at varying times, Richie Porte's supporting role in the Pyrenees was followed by a below average day the next day, I don't feel that this years team with CF as team leader is a strong as last years with CF supporting Wiggins. Notable today was the performance of Schleck, no doubt toned down by the events of last year in his family.

 

[Stat Brother]

It certainly has been an excellent tour.
Prudomme has been lucky Sky have been a teeny-weeny bit pooh, in places.

 

[MORTY]

Wasn't it agreed a couple of months ago that Froome would win the TDF once Wiggins had dropped out?