The Official, 103rd Tour de France, thread

[Triggaaar]

Another man in a luminous green morph suit ran across 2 riders attacking a mountain inches from knocking them off.

Yeah I saw that one.

And they were the only ones we saw on camera.

Yeah I'm not against Froome for hitting the guy, I was just thinking that you don't want to piss off a fan that much - what if the same guy decides to watch another stage and punch him back? Tour over.

 

[Pantani]

Quintana really wants his own nickname. 'The Shadow' would cover it.

El Sombra de Boyacá

The Shadow of Boyacá

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah I'm not against Froome for hitting the guy, I was just thinking that you don't want to piss off a fan that much - what if the same guy decides to watch another stage and punch him back? Tour over.

Oh sorry my mistake.
I thought you were coming at this from 'sportstars should never punch fans in the face!'

Although in a roundabout way my point still stands.
It does happen all the time, and all the time it's over the moment it starts.

 

[Triggaaar]

Oh sorry my mistake.
I thought you were coming at this from 'sportstars should never punch fans in the face!'

Not at all, I particularly liked it when one karate kicked a fan.

 

[nickbrighton]

One fan was poleaxed today because he was standing too far out on a bend.
Another man in a luminous green morph suit ran across 2 riders attacking a mountain inches from knocking them off.
A 'sturdy' woman in a bikini running along side the riders was only shown from behind.

And they were the only ones we saw on camera.

how long before the barriers go up on the mountains to prevent this sort of thing?, Frroome said what the camera didnt show was his flag, inches from his wheel(or something like that), the guy today managed to stay on somehow after the numpty attempted to use the "zebra crossing" and walked out in front of him, dogs knock people off their bikes. Access to the race is one thing, but if numptys keep getting to close something has to give. Froome didnt even have to extend his arm, and as others have said, if thats the case he was too close

 

[Stat Brother]

 

[TrickyOne]

One fan was poleaxed today because he was standing too far out on a bend.
Another man in a luminous green morph suit ran across 2 riders attacking a mountain inches from knocking them off.
A 'sturdy' woman in a bikini running along side the riders was only shown from behind.

And they were the only ones we saw on camera.

A very entertaining show put on by the spectators today!!

 

[Stat Brother]

1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 5:16:24
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida 0:00:38
3 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team
4 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:01:39
5 Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar Team 0:01:57
6 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:02:30
7 George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:02:48
8 Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:52
9 Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:03:44
10 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 0:06:35
11 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky
12 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team

General classification after stage 9

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 44:36:03
2 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange 0:00:16
3 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:19
4 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:23
5 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:37
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:44
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
8 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky
9 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Lampre - Merida 0:00:55

 

[Stat Brother]

and we're back:-

Stage 10 preview: Escaldes-Engordany - Revel, 198 km

It's hard to think of any sprinter who rode last weekend and wasn't looking at today and tomorrow for pay back.
Although those of a Belgiumist persuasion have been under represented in this years route and will also be keen on today.





As he climbs better than all the others I'm going for:-

Cockhard
Greipel
Sagan

 

[Bold Seagull]

and we're back:-

Stage 10 preview: Escaldes-Engordany - Revel, 198 km

It's hard to think of any sprinter who rode last weekend and wasn't looking at today and tomorrow for pay back.
Although those of a Belgiumist persuasion have been under represented in this years route and will also be keen on today.

As he climbs better than all the others I'm going for:-

Cockhard
Greipel
Sagan

Are you going for Greipel in the top 3 simply as statistically he can't carry on getting his arse whipped all tour?

 

[Stat Brother]

Are you going for Greipel in the top 3 simply as statistically he can't carry on getting his arse whipped all tour?

Well yes but...

...he does spend most of the spring riding on the front of the Classics.
I've picked those 3 as sprinters less likely to be fazed by the Cat 3.

Instead of Sagan, Matthews Gallopin, et al, Cat 3 specialists who can also sprint.


Contrary to all the evidence provided, some thought does go into this.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Contrary to all the evidence provided, some thought does go into this.

As if I really doubted that!



Cavendish win it is then, with Kittel 2nd, Kristoff 3rd...

 

[Pantani]

This is a stage that could have done with some cross winds. Forecast has 15mph, so not really enough to split the peloton. I've gone small wagers on Sagan, Greipel and McLay.

 

[1066familyman]

This is a stage that could have done with some cross winds. Forecast has 15mph, so not really enough to split the peloton. I've gone small wagers on Sagan, Greipel and McLay.

After a few days of not going for anyone I've splashed out 25p e/w on Groenewegen @ 66/1.

He can usually get over lumps in the road and with a possible reduced bunch sprint, if he's there then he has as good a chance as any of the other sprinters. Cockhard is probably favourite though.

Navadaskas could be a good bet to go on a late attack, but then there's a few options for that scenario.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I reckon there'll be a breakaway today that takes it to the line - the peloton will roll along after a couple of very tough days in the Pyrenees, & we'll see 3 or 4 battle it out in the last km.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I reckon there'll be a breakaway today that takes it to the line - the peloton will roll along after a couple of very tough days in the Pyrenees, & we'll see 3 or 4 battle it out in the last km.

Got to stand a chance with the GC still so close. Froome might even let yellow go....

The Tour de France leaves Andorra after the first rest day. The next major appointment for the GC contenders is on Thursday at the Mont Ventoux. A traditional tactic by great cycling champions consists of letting the yellow jersey go for a day or two to please the crowds and make a few friends in the peloton. The last one to do so was Vincenzo Nibali who made a gift to Tony Gallopin and his French fans two years ago. Chris Froome might be well inspired to do so as well, as Paris is still a long way away and the daily defense of the yellow jersey is very taxing. Therefore, riders who are between five and fifteen minutes down on GC should try and get into the breakaway that will be probably formed over the Port d'Envalira, where a 5000-euros prime will be awarded as the Souvenir Henri-Desgrange in the name of the founder of the Tour de France because it's the highest summit of this year's race. Sébastien Reichenbach (FDJ) and Emmanuel Buchmann (Bora-Argon 18) are the kind of riders who could be allowed by Team Sky to go for a short interim on top of the results sheets. It's a day for attackers anyway. The côte de Saint-Ferréol with 7km to go is set to split a potential long breakaway. In 2005, neo pro Simon Gerrans took his first result at the Tour de France via the same finale as he finished third in Revel behind Paolo Savoldelli and Kurt Asle Arvesen. He's one of the numerous candidates for a stage win there again.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Sounds like a crazy first part of the race up the Port d'Envalira. Multiple breakaway attempts, Rui Costa now nearly a minute up the road with Nibali and Sagan chasing. Might be interesting if those 3 work together!

 

[Pantani]

Sounds like a crazy first part of the race up the Port d'Envalira. Multiple breakaway attempts, Rui Costa now nearly a minute up the road with a small chasing group in pursuit.

Indeed, does not sound good for a break staying away though. One man against the peloton, or a small group, could be another go slow today.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Indeed, does not sound good for a break staying away though. One man against the peloton, or a small group, could be another go slow today.

So Costa, Nibali, Sagan and Matthews are now in a leading group working together, Dumoulin, Izaguirre, Grmay and Cummings chasing. Now if they make it could have a great chance, although this could be as exciting as the day gets.

 

[1066familyman]

So Costa, Nibali, Sagan and Matthews are now in a leading group working together, Dumoulin, Izaguirre, Grmay and Cummings chasing. Now if they make it could have a great chance, although this could be as exciting as the day gets.

Can't see that lot being allowed to stay away. Sky have seemed keen to work so far and once the sprint teams recover from the cat 1 they'll take control to try to ensure a bunch sprint.

Most of those riders in this break would have been better off saving energy for a late attack on that cat 3. Costa and Dumoulin look like they were very keen on the KoM points though.

Edit: Landa in there passed me by. That makes things interesting.