The Official, 103rd Tour de France, thread

[Stat Brother]

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 4:57:33
2 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:13
3 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha
4 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team
6 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team
7 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
9 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
10 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team
11 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
12 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team

General classification after stage 8

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 39:13:04
2 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 0:00:16
3 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:17
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:19
6 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:23
7 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team
8 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team





and just when I think the day couldn't get any better:-

 

[pb21]

That punch was a little over the top IMO!

The bloke probably has a minor concussion after that, wasn't even that much of a nob as far as they go. Imagine if he had lamped the hog taxidermist

 

[Stat Brother]

Stage 9: Vielha Val d'Aran - Andorre Arcalis, 184km
Lumpy!
After sending out a fair few messages on Stage 8 Team Sky will be looking to consolidate first, before hitting home their advantage up to Arcalis.





Prognostication - ok chaps, with probably my first cycling bet since Brain Cockhard on the Champs 12 months ago, here goes:-

As is customary with a Stat Nap this isn't me saying my man will win, more a case of he's overpriced.
Eduardo Sepúlveda an Argentinian climber, currently living in Andorra, and winner of the mountains classification at a race in February, is currently priced up at around 100/1.
But Skybet have him at 250/1.
I have so much confidence in Eddie I have forgone my usual £5 bet and am splashing out a combined total of a whooping £6 over e/w and win bets.

If my man isn't in the days break, it's game over as he'll not even be top 20 from the peloton.

 

[Pantani]

Stage 9: Vielha Val d'Aran - Andorre Arcalis, 184km
Lumpy!
After sending out a fair few messages on Stage 8 Team Sky will be looking to consolidate first, before hitting home their advantage up to Arcalis.

Prognostication - ok chaps, with probably my first cycling bet since Brain Cockhard on the Champs 12 months ago, here goes:-

As is customary with a Stat Nap this isn't me saying my man will win, more a case of he's overpriced.
Eduardo Sepúlveda an Argentinian climber, currently living in Andorra, and winner of the mountains classification at a race in February, is currently priced up at around 100/1.
But Skybet have him at 250/1.
I have so much confidence in Eddie I have forgone my usual £5 bet and am splashing out a combined total of a whooping £6 over e/w and win bets.

If my man isn't in the days break, it's game over as he'll not even be top 20 from the peloton.

Break staying away? Just cannot see it today. It is just too hard, Sky will want to ram home that advantage. They have the peloton fearing them right now, I feel they will try and win again.

I have, like you, looked at overpriced riders. Though I have gone for those that made that front group yesterday. So:

Henao 40-1 and Meintjes 125-1 Both each way again, as I am expecting it to be between Froome and Quintana for the stage.

 

[Stat Brother]

Break staying away? Just cannot see it today. It is just too hard, Sky will want to ram home that advantage. They have the peloton fearing them right now, I feel they will try and win again.

I have, like you, looked at overpriced riders. Though I have gone for those that made that front group yesterday. So:

Henao 40-1 and Meintjes 125-1 Both each way again, as I am expecting it to be between Froome and Quintana for the stage.

It must be tough (and expensive) being on the Dan Martin train.
To me, once again, he's the sensible bet, esp as like Eddie S he'll be riding past his front door today.

 

[Triggaaar]

and just when I think the day couldn't get any better:-

Is it wise to punch the fans?

 

[Stat Brother]

Is it wise to punch the fans?

As Boardman said 'if the fan can be punched without overreaching he's far too close'.

The Colombian chicken was less than a foot away from Froome while trailing a flag around his handlebar and front wheel.
Fair game as far as I'm concerned, getting a 200 SFranc fine would suggest the organisers feel the same.

 

[Worthingite]

Break staying away? Just cannot see it today. It is just too hard, Sky will want to ram home that advantage. They have the peloton fearing them right now, I feel they will try and win again.

I have, like you, looked at overpriced riders. Though I have gone for those that made that front group yesterday. So:

Henao 40-1 and Meintjes 125-1 Both each way again, as I am expecting it to be between Froome and Quintana for the stage.

I hope you lot know what you're on about, because that money looks really tasty.....

 

[Stat Brother]

I hope you lot know what you're on about, because that money looks really tasty.....

Have you not read any of the previous 208 posts

Although a £1 ew is a perfectly fine way to spend a Sunday.

Nobody should be counting their winning in Le Tour, at the best of times, and certainly not while the race is still so finely balanced.

 

[Worthingite]

Have you not read any of the previous 208 posts

Although a £1 ew is a perfectly fine way to spend a Sunday.

Nobody should be counting their winning in Le Tour, at the best of times, and certainly not while the race is still so finely balanced.

To be totally fair, I'm not even sure how an e/w bet in cycling works. Either they win or they don't! Regardless, it'll be on in the background, as it was yesterday. Difference is that a quiet punt with some pennies makes it all the more interesting. And it's sad to admit that I am a bit of a killer.... The last e/w bet I put on the horse had to be put to sleep, so fingers crossed for the guys I've picked today...

 

[Stat Brother]

To be totally fair, I'm not even sure how an e/w bet in cycling works. Either they win or they don't! Regardless, it'll be on in the background, as it was yesterday. Difference is that a quiet punt with some pennies makes it all the more interesting. And it's sad to admit that I am a bit of a killer.... The last e/w bet I put on the horse had to be put to sleep, so fingers crossed for the guys I've picked today...

1st, 2nd or 3rd pays out.

As said Eduardo Sepúlveda will need to be in the main break of the day.
If he doesn't make that then he doesn't have a chance at the finish, with the 'big boys'.

 

[1066familyman]

It always baffles me why most days we don't get full live coverage from the organisers. The break forming is one of the most exciting bits to me and yet we have to follow it teletext stylee via a live ticker.

See... Bert has attacked already today and yet we can't watch it happening

 

[1066familyman]

Pinot looking nailed on KoM this year now. Was only about 4/1 after yesterday though.

 

[Pantani]

It always baffles me why most days we don't get full live coverage from the organisers. The break forming is one of the most exciting bits to me and yet we have to follow it teletext stylee via a live ticker.

See... Bert has attacked already today and yet we can't watch it happening

It has been on Eurosport since the beginning.

 

[1066familyman]

Alejandro Valverde, Winner Anacona, Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Diego Rosa, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Rafal Majka, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-LaMondiale), George Bennett (Lotto-Jumbo), Mathias Frank, Stef Clement, Jérôme Coppel (IAM), Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data), Tom Dumoulin (Giant), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Rui Costa, Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida), Thomas De Gendt, Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Dani Navarro, Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).

Loving the composition of this break, especially so with 3 Movistar riders, 2 Astana in there and no Sky. Surprised Bert and Henao aren't in there as they were off the front early.

Fingers crossed for some long range GC attacks today or at least the Sky train to be burnt up much earlier than normal.

 

[1066familyman]

It has been on Eurosport since the beginning.

Bollox, didn't realize that.

Thanks. Kodi it is then until 1pm

 

[Pantani]

Break getting reeled in. Be all back together in the next ten minutes, unless some riders jump off the front of the break.

 

[whitelion]

The rafting looks great - loving the scenery of the Pyrenees.

 

[Triggaaar]

As Boardman said 'if the fan can be punched without overreaching he's far too close'.

The Colombian chicken was less than a foot away from Froome while trailing a flag around his handlebar and front wheel.
Fair game as far as I'm concerned, getting a 200 SFranc fine would suggest the organisers feel the same.

Fair game, yes, but you don't want to get punched back while you're doing a tour. A gentle push should get the same result of moving them away.

 

[Stat Brother]

Fair game, yes, but you don't want to get punched back while you're doing a tour. A gentle push should get the same result of moving them away.

The thing is it will happen again today, it'll happen up Vonteux, it'll happen again in the Alpes.
It is a fact of cycling and it's always dealt with the same way, either by the riders or other fans. (It looked like the chicken was going to receive more of the same from a fan)
Yesterday was highlighted because it was Froome, nothing more.

Youtube loves a montage of fans ruining races.
There isn't a sportsman in the world who, when faced with his entire year of effort ended by a giant Colombian chicken, would be handing out a gentle push.