Le Tour
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="597361" data-time="1468667748">
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<p>It's the nature and the history of the sport that makes me question the validity of any extraordinary occurrence, a bit like any game of cricket involving the Pakistan cricket team</p>
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<p>Yeah - with cycling I've adopted an "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" line. Possibly unfortunate for Froome but if he doesn't like it he can take it up with the multitude of cheating fluffybunnies who preceded him.</p>
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<p>To me, Froome's performances in climbing and the time trial seem a bit too much like winning the Olympic 10,000 metres and picking up silver in the 800 metres.</p> -
I might be a sucker, but my view is Sky have got more to lose than most if they get caught up in a doping scandal - they are associated with so many sports, their brand gets seriously tarnished if associated with doping. It could affect them bidding for broadcast contracts. Hence their zero tolerance stance.<br><br>
Now I know that doesn't necessarily mean all their riders are clean, but I would imagine their contracts are such that Sky would absolutely take them to the cleaners if caught. Basically if you're going to dope my guess is you are better off doing it with another team. -
<p>I remember in 93 when I first learnt about the Tour de France I was in Pamplona for the San Fermin (running of the bulls) and Miguel Indurain was in yellow. The square out side the town hall was packed with people and the side streets where so crammed in. The crowd was sing Indrain, Indruain, Indurain and bouncing up and down, put we were so packed in it lifted you off your feet and you surged forwards and backwards above the cobble stones. That was one hell of a week and I have been a fan of Le Tour ever sense.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="597719" data-time="1468793968">
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<p>After today's stage I cannot work out whether Quintana is keeping his powder dry for the mountains next week, or if he's a busted flush. I hope it's the former and we see some proper attacks from him because he's shown very little so far.</p>
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<p>Judging by his attack and Froome's counter on Mont Ventoux, I'd say Froome has him well covered.</p> -
He is lead out for Sam Bennett. Bennett crashed quite badly very early on I think so has been struggling. I think in the sprint stages Archbold has effectively been left to his own devices. It's his first Tour so everything is probably a shock to the system too.
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This made me laugh too. From The Daily Mash ...<br><br>
Chris Froome abandons bike after realising they’re for kids<br><br>
CHRIS Froome has completed a stage of the Tour de France on foot after suddenly realising that cycling is not what a grown man should be doing.<br><br>
The 31-year-old leapt from his bike after seeing attractive girls watching the race, wondering if they were impressed that he was riding so fast, then abruptly understanding that his thinking was that of a 12-year-old.<br><br>
He said: “I was cycling along as usual, musing on who my ultimate Robot Wars champion was and whether I’d be able to stay up late to play Mortal Kombat at the weekend, when I unexpectedly realised I’d been stuck in a developmental rut for the past 20 years.<br><br>
“I dropped the bike, trying to give the impression I’d only been on it ironically as a joke anyway, and crossed the line sensibly and sedately like an adult would.<br><br>
“I’ll still finish the race, but in a car while listening to Fleetwood Mac. If there’s a nice view in the mountain stages I might even stop for a coffee.â€<br><br>
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said: “It’s natural for cyclists to go through this. We’ll get him back once he hits 40 and realises that being an adult completely sucks.†-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="scribe" data-cid="597852" data-time="1468829744">
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<p>He is lead out for Sam Bennett. Bennett crashed quite badly very early on I think so has been struggling. I think in the sprint stages Archbold has effectively been left to his own devices. It's his first Tour so everything is probably a shock to the system too.</p>
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<p>Thanks - that makes sense.</p>
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<p>I'd noticed him coming in at the back of the field in most stages recently and given his background in things like the points race, I was wondering what his specialty was supposed to be and if it was sprinting why he wasn't further up the field.</p> -
I'm really enjoying the Cavendish Renaissance and hopefully he'll have another crack today. I like way he can almost hide behind the bigger sprinters in the final lead out to the line and then seems to spring from nowhere. <br><br>
He isn't the most powerful sprinter by a long way, so has to rely on smarts and his ability to go well into the red on his RPMs. Probably why he's such a bolshy bugger when interviewed straight after. -
<p>Cavendish has announced that he is abandoning the race so he won't be in the final 5 stages.</p>
<p>I would have liked to see him give it a crack in Paris, but the word is that he is managing his fatigue levels because he has an eye on the olympics.</p>
<p>Still, a great tour for him.</p>
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<p>Froome I think has been great on this tour. Less robotic than the usual Sky tactics allow and he appears to have strategized really well for the route this year.</p>
<p>Can't make out what the story is with Quintana who I believe is the only real threat left for Froome. He could just be outclassed this tour, or maybe he is pulling one of the most audaciously brilliant deception stunts on his rivals we have seen in ages. I am hoping for the latter to make the last stages interesting, but I suspect it is the former.</p> -
I think Quintana took a big hit the other day when his attack was nullified not by Froome but by Wout Pouls of Sky (and he did it easily). It's going to take a bad day by a number of the Sky climbing domestiques for anyone to make any inroads over the Alps stages and even then Froome is likely to take back more time in the remaining Time Trial.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="598343" data-time="1469005352">
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<p>Think we will know today if Quintana has a chance of winning it. If he takes no time, then he can't win. If he can even take 15-20 seconds, there is always a chance.</p>
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<p>My gut says you're probably right, especially with the time-trial still to come tomorrow, but it is probablya touch early to call it definitively I'd say Hydro.</p>
<p>Stages 19 & 20 have some pretty severe climbing. Quintana as things stand now is only 3 minutes behind. It is very feasible he could make up that sort of time on one / both of those stages, even if he doesn't make up anything today.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Webb" data-cid="598368" data-time="1469013631"><p>My gut says you're probably right, especially with the time-trial still to come tomorrow, but it is probablya touch early to call it definitively I'd say Hydro.<br>
Stages 19 & 20 have some pretty severe climbing. Quintana as things stand now is only 3 minutes behind. It is very feasible he could make up that sort of time on one / both of those stages, even if he doesn't make up anything today.</p></blockquote>
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He always gets better after his rest day bag... -
<p>Good thing Quintana was saving himself for the third week...</p>
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Yeah, I think Quintana's race is run - be good to see Porte leapfrog him for a podium. Ideally I'd love Yates to win it, obv. won't happen but if he got in top 3 with Porte then happy days. GB road cycling team for Rio includes Froome, Thomas, Stannard, Cummins, Yates - some strength in depth there.
