The Official, 103rd Tour de France, thread

[1066familyman]

14:00:07 CEST

A group of nine riders has formed but the peloton is closing the gap.

The nine are: Sagan, Matthews, Nibali, Costa, Cummings, Landa, G. Izagirre, Sam Dumoulin, Caruso.

 

[1066familyman]

Gallopin is trying to bridge now. That would be about as serious a group of riders for the stage win here as it's possible to get if he makes it across.

Would be madness to give this lot too much rope.

 

[Pantani]

This group will stay away now. None of the teams that missed the break will go deep enough to bring them back, and it is not in the GC teams interest to do so.

Pretty decent break this. World Champ, former world champ, Giro winner, former yellow jersey holders, multiple TdF stage winners. Should still be interesting.

 

[Pantani]

Or not. IAM burning riders to bring this back for no apparent reason. Good luck with that.

 

[Pantani]

Possibly Etixx looking to help out as well.

 

[Pantani]

Still 6 minutes for the break though.

 

[Stat Brother]

I do like the Scott Foil bikes.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Still 6 minutes for the break though.

That has dropped 1 min down to 4'57" very quickly. Into a head wind too...

 

[Pantani]

That has dropped 1 min down to 4'57" very quickly. Into a head wind too...

Not fast enough now. Who knows though?

 

[Stat Brother]

I'll say one thing for the ITV adverts.

They are allowing me to empty and refill the dishwasher.


#marginalgainshousework

 

[Bold Seagull]

Not fast enough now. Who knows though?

Weird isn't it. One minute all the teams look lined up and motivated in the peloton, next minute Voekler is left on his own at the front again...going to need to go some now, it's pretty much a 30km lead out if they're going to catch it.

 

[Pantani]

Cross winds now though. Could set it up, though looks like they have slowed down.

 

[Pantani]

Back out to 4 minutes, Sagan, Eddy Boss, GVA vs Orica Bike Swap

 

[Stat Brother]

Now it's all over.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Talk about sitting up, the peloton have lost 2mins in 4km!

 

[Stat Brother]

Talk about sitting up, the peloton have lost 2mins in 4km!

Made to look all the slower by the speed of Sagan's group.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Made to look all the slower by the speed of Sagan's group.

Looking forward to this last climb

 

[Bold Seagull]

Has Dumoulin in the front group got his saddle high enough, or borrowed a bike too big for him?

 

[Pantani]

When will Sagan learn

Always doing too much work in groups like that.

 

[Bozza]

When will Sagan learn

Always doing too much work in groups like that.

Hopefully not any time soon. Lumped on Matthews about 3-4km out at 7/2.