OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
- Dumbledore
- Posts: 11475
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Best stage so far. Bertie doesn't have the legs any more which is a shame, love that he still has a crack though
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Great race
Barguil deserves it and is relatively safe on the mountain with 60 points on the closest chaser
Barguil deserves it and is relatively safe on the mountain with 60 points on the closest chaser
- guy smiley
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
That MJ group actually did ok despite the annoying looking cat and mouse stuff... the gap could have got right out on them and they didn't let it.BlackMac wrote:Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
Aru did what he had to but it must have been a gamble to leave Landa out the front like that.
- guy smiley
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Dumbledore wrote:Best stage so far. Bertie doesn't have the legs any more which is a shame, love that he still has a crack though
Hey little brother, I forgot to say... Happy Birthday

Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Aru's team was nowhere near the group.guy smiley wrote:That MJ group actually did ok despite the annoying looking cat and mouse stuff... the gap could have got right out on them and they didn't let it.BlackMac wrote:Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
Aru did what he had to but it must have been a gamble to leave Landa out the front like that.
Ag2R is stronger but not strong enough to do what sky are doing. They had 3 in top 10.
The team score shows Sky is 19 minutes ahead of AG2R...
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Attack Froome who was having a hard time yesterday and others. He's a crap TT rider but very good in descents, worst that could happen was to isolate a group of 3-4 along him while eliminating some other favourites. He clearly won't have any teammates around him in the mountain stages at any point later in the race, today had potential with Froome left alone.BlackMac wrote:Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
The worst are AG2R, they were 3 at some point in the lead group but didn't take any responsibility.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Yeah, Aru was isolated early, unlike Bardet.BlackMac wrote:Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
I think he could have cooperated a bit more with Uran and Bardet after the descent. The onus was really on the top GC riders to chase the threat, instead of leaving it to Martin. If those 4 had rode together, Landa would've gained a minute at the most. Now they've allowed another Sky rider right back into the mix in the GC.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Froome was never alone. When Nieve got dropped, Kwiatkowski came back to the yellow group. And as much as he hasn't been on his best in the Pyrenees, he's covered most of the attacks. If Aru is going to put time into Froome, he has to do it in the Alps.GDBFC99 wrote:Attack Froome who was having a hard time yesterday and others. He's a crap TT rider but very good in descents, worst that could happen was to isolate a group of 3-4 along him while eliminating some other favourites. He clearly won't have any teammates around him in the mountain stages at any point later in the race, today had potential with Froome left alone.BlackMac wrote:Not sure what else Aru could have done.GDBFC99 wrote:Contador still showing what a real champ is about, kicked it off for our enjoyment.![]()
Shame to Aru, Bardet and the likes. Top tactical race from Sky.
The worst are AG2R, they were 3 at some point in the lead group but didn't take any responsibility.
- Dumbledore
- Posts: 11475
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Cheers amigo! Got up nice and early to watch the Bombers dick the Saints, then caught Bertie wheeling back the clock a bit. Been a very solid day so farguy smiley wrote:Dumbledore wrote:Best stage so far. Bertie doesn't have the legs any more which is a shame, love that he still has a crack though
Hey little brother, I forgot to say... Happy Birthday

- Beaver_Shark
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
I'd love for Landa to go rogue!
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Landa is some rider
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Yeah same. Next yearBeaver_Shark wrote:I'd love for Landa to go rogue!

Vamos!
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
I hate cycling but the tour is the best thing since sliced bread, today's stage was utterly gripping!!
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Only for that bollox Armstrong they could have filled poor old Dan with fizzy juice by nowDOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
I am like that every time I get off a bike!!EverReady wrote:Only for that bollox Armstrong they could have filled poor old Dan with fizzy juice by nowDOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/

Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
There's bottles of TK red lemonade on the bus there. He'll be bouncing off the walls for tomorrow's stage.EverReady wrote:Only for that bollox Armstrong they could have filled poor old Dan with fizzy juice by nowDOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
- rugbot 2.0
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
It's a sickener, he should be heading for the podium.DOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
His dad and Stephen Roche don't get on well going back to when they were both racing. Neil Martin was dropped by a French team which had just signed Stephen when they were both trying to establish themselves on the continent. Neil felt Roche could have done more to help his career as he returned to England and never really made it in Europe. That's all Roche said about it in his book, maybe there's more to it than that.Frog Flair wrote:what,s the issue between Dan Martin and his uncle ?
I ve seen it mentioned a few times and they just talked about it on the US feed I am watching.
I know he is not too friendly with Nicolas Roche too
I'm not aware of any issues between Nico and Dan - they always seemed quite close to me.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Nico and Dan have appeared together in various meet-and-greet events in Ireland. I don't think there's any bad blood between them.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Tbf I look like that getting off the jacksDOB wrote:There's bottles of TK red lemonade on the bus there. He'll be bouncing off the walls for tomorrow's stage.EverReady wrote:Only for that bollox Armstrong they could have filled poor old Dan with fizzy juice by nowDOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
- Beaver_Shark
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Matthews and GvA will love today's finish. An perhaps Gilbert as well.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
They've lost two of the lead-outs, and I think Kittel said he prefers to take other wheels sometimes.jezzer wrote:Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
So why not have some domèstiques who can support the GC bid if Kittel doesn't need a team full of lead out guys?Hawk97 wrote:They've lost two of the lead-outs, and I think Kittel said he prefers to take other wheels sometimes.jezzer wrote:Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
QS put a lot of that budget into the classics (where they got a fair few wins) and the Giro (ditto), as opposed to Sky who throw everything at the Tour, and allow the lads go out and pick up other wins where they may.
Of the squad of 9 at the Tour, Trentin is out and would have been an important part of the leadout, probably Kittel's last man. Brambilla is presumably looking after Martin during the first few hours, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's part of Gilbert's job to keep an eye on him in the final 20km. The rest of the lads have been spending a lot of the day on the front chasing down breakaways; probabky having to use more men doing that as other teams have become less and less keen to help out the more Kittel burns their lads in every sprint.
Of the squad of 9 at the Tour, Trentin is out and would have been an important part of the leadout, probably Kittel's last man. Brambilla is presumably looking after Martin during the first few hours, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's part of Gilbert's job to keep an eye on him in the final 20km. The rest of the lads have been spending a lot of the day on the front chasing down breakaways; probabky having to use more men doing that as other teams have become less and less keen to help out the more Kittel burns their lads in every sprint.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
They left poor oul' Bob Jungels out there on his toblerone in a lot of the mountain stages of the Giro too, and he did alright. I think it's just the way they do things. Brambilla hung on with Martin as long as he could on Thursday tbf, and Stybar did a good ride for him on I think Stage 5.jezzer wrote:So why not have some domèstiques who can support the GC bid if Kittel doesn't need a team full of lead out guys?Hawk97 wrote:They've lost two of the lead-outs, and I think Kittel said he prefers to take other wheels sometimes.jezzer wrote:Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
I just don't think there's anyone on their books that they didn't bring who could have made a significant difference. Maybe Alaphilippe, who's injured. They're a classics squad, and they helped Dan get to 2nd in Flèche Wallone and Liege, so they are living up to part of their bargain.
Not like Kristoff, say, who got told less that a week before Düsseldorf that his usual 2 leadout men wouldn't be going to the Tour with him.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Vermote was dragging the peloton around in the first week. Maybe he was trying to fry Greipel and co.
- rugbot 2.0
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Quick Step are the Belgian Classics team. So domestiques and lead out trains are for pussies are far as they are concerned.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
rugbot 2.0 wrote:Quick Step are the Belgian Classics team. So domestiques and lead out trains are for pussies are far as they are concerned.

- blindcider
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
The Lead out train is to protect him until he gets into the final km. At the tour there are too many sprint teams to form proper lead out trains currently. Also why form your own if you can muscle your way onto someone elses wheel?jezzer wrote:So why not have some domèstiques who can support the GC bid if Kittel doesn't need a team full of lead out guys?Hawk97 wrote:They've lost two of the lead-outs, and I think Kittel said he prefers to take other wheels sometimes.jezzer wrote:Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Jungels; Leadouts are for lasses and benders.rugbot 2.0 wrote:Quick Step are the Belgian Classics team. So domestiques and lead out trains are for pussies are far as they are concerned.
- rugbot 2.0
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Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
I get the horn looking at that to be honest.DOB wrote:Jungels; Leadouts are for lasses and benders.rugbot 2.0 wrote:Quick Step are the Belgian Classics team. So domestiques and lead out trains are for pussies are far as they are concerned.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
I'm not questioning the tactics. I'm just wondering why the team can't have a couple of domèstiques to assist the GC if not everyone is needed to drive Kittel to the line. Others have answered me though, team is set up for classics...blindcider wrote:The Lead out train is to protect him until he gets into the final km. At the tour there are too many sprint teams to form proper lead out trains currently. Also why form your own if you can muscle your way onto someone elses wheel?jezzer wrote:So why not have some domèstiques who can support the GC bid if Kittel doesn't need a team full of lead out guys?Hawk97 wrote:They've lost two of the lead-outs, and I think Kittel said he prefers to take other wheels sometimes.jezzer wrote:Question on Quickstep.
If they're one of the bigger budget teams, how is it that Kittel is winning sprint stages with no lead-out help and Martin is having to contend for GC on his tod too? WTF are the rest of the team doing?
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
A thing of beauty.rugbot 2.0 wrote:I get the horn looking at that to be honest.DOB wrote:Jungels; Leadouts are for lasses and benders.rugbot 2.0 wrote:Quick Step are the Belgian Classics team. So domestiques and lead out trains are for pussies are far as they are concerned.
It's a bit windy today, too. BMC and Sunweb keeping the break in check. This could get dramatic in the final 40.
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Fabio Felline's abandoned. His ds tells NBC "he was just too tired to pedal any more." Jens Voigt on commentary; "Zat sounds like effery day on ze Tour de France for me."
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Kittel off the back of the bunch!
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
What is a showpiece nature break??
Re: OFFICIAL - Le Tour 2017.
Yeah, but that's more down to your choice of bike...Openside wrote:I am like that every time I get off a bike!!EverReady wrote:Only for that bollox Armstrong they could have filled poor old Dan with fizzy juice by nowDOB wrote:Video of Dan Martin after getting off his bike in Foix;
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news ... ge-legend/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JscQXDs ... tu.be&t=45