2013 Tour de France

[BB73]

Shame on all of you for no comments on the fantastic last two days of racing.

Froome today riding alone in the Peloton to hold on to the yellow jersey and one of the most exciting mountain stages I've watched in Stage 8 to Axe 3 Domaines yesterday.

You can tell we have a much cleaner Tour with few men being able to recover from yesterday's brutal pace.

Suffering at it's finest.

I was disappointed in Contador and Valverde yesterday. They had a chance to attack Froome multiple times on the last climb after he was isolated, and they didn't do it.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I was disappointed in Contador and Valverde yesterday. They had a chance to attack Froome multiple times on the last climb after he was isolated, and they didn't do it.

Just sayin'; The strategy could be different this year. It could be that they actually realize that they just don't have the endurance (as riders had in past years) for the long haul of the race without "doping". If you actually believe that all the riders are "clean" this year.

 

[Oh8ch]

fify

I was disappointed in Contador and Valverde yesterday. They had a chance to attack Froome multiple times on the last climb after he was isolated, and they couldn't do it.

They watched Froome counter the attacks that were made. And they knew what they had in their own tanks.

 

[AKAK]

Shame on all of you for no comments on the fantastic last two days of racing.

Froome today riding alone in the Peloton to hold on to the yellow jersey and one of the most exciting mountain stages I've watched in Stage 8 to Axe 3 Domaines yesterday.

You can tell we have a much cleaner Tour with few men being able to recover from yesterday's brutal pace.

Suffering at it's finest.

Uggh, I have a ton of it on my DVR, jsut been busy, and mostly not home, I am gonna try to watch the last hour of so of those two stages, I'll nver catch up.

 

[Oh8ch]

Still trying to understand how the crash in stage 10 was not Cavendish fault.

In any case, what goes through a fans mind that makes them think it is their place to retaliate?

 

[Taosman]

Froome with an insurmountable leade? The worse nightmare for tv ratings. Just look at the Tour winners in this years race. Contador shows a big drop off of "form". Andy Schleck...the same big drop off of "form". Evans? Same.
The podium has already been decided. The race has already been decided.
Froome
Valverde
and I see Contador getting third.

 

[Oh8ch]

Froome with an insurmountable leade? The worse nightmare for tv ratings. Just look at the Tour winners in this years race. Contador shows a big drop off of "form". Andy Schleck...the same big drop off of "form". Evans? Same.
The podium has already been decided. The race has already been decided.
Froome
Valverde
and I see Contador getting third.

I would do a FIFY, but today proved your post is beyond repair.

One of the best stages since I have been following the Tour - and THE best flat stage. A cross wind that enabled several leaders to gain over a minute on yellow and Froome without a team that could help him respond.

Second man on the above referenced podium out of contention due to a simple flat tire.

And remarkably two sprinters in that breakaway as well - resulting in a great win for Cavendish who had to do a sprint to catch the break away before doing his sprint at the end to beat Sagan.

The next two days will be classic. Did the leaders who attacked today leave it on the road? Can Froome's team regain form? Still a big advantage for Froome, but far from over.

 

[BB73]

fify



They watched Froome counter the attacks that were made. And they knew what they had in their own tanks.

It was good to see the way they got over a minute back from Froome today, but I still think the only way to take back 3 more minutes is to take turns attacking him once he's isolated near the end of a climbing stage. Contador believed the other day that he didn't have the form to make a big expense of energy worthwhile. He's always thought that he improves as the race gets into the third week, so he might have be able to make a big move in the Alps. But I think he'll need the help of Quintana and one other rider attacking in order to crack Froome. Froome now doesn't care if he loses 5 minutes to Valverde in a future stage, but the loss of Boasson Hagen will further weaken an unimpressive Sky team.

Obviously Stage 18, when they'll go up Alpe D'Huez twice, will be a real battleground. I would really like to see a stage where about 5 guys have the chance to win the GC, but Froome might have too big of a lead for that to happen.

I've always thought they should spend more time talking about the team classification. Belkin (and later Saxo) took advantage of the sprint teams pushing the pace to keep Kittel away, and kept things ramped up in order to drop Movistar far out of the team lead.

 

[Oh8ch]

It was good to see the way they got over a minute back from Froome today, but I still think the only way to take back 3 more minutes is to take turns attacking him once he's isolated near the end of a climbing stage. Contador believed the other day that he didn't have the form to make a big expense of energy worthwhile. He's always thought that he improves as the race gets into the third week, so he might have be able to make a big move in the Alps. But I think he'll need the help of Quintana and one other rider attacking in order to crack Froome. Froome now doesn't care if he loses 5 minutes to Valverde in a future stage, but the loss of Boasson Hagen will further weaken an unimpressive Sky team.

Obviously Stage 18, when they'll go up Alpe D'Huez twice, will be a real battleground. I would really like to see a stage where about 5 guys have the chance to win the GC, but Froome might have too big of a lead for that to happen.

I've always thought they should spend more time talking about the team classification. Belkin (and later Saxo) took advantage of the sprint teams pushing the pace to keep Kittel away, and kept things ramped up in order to drop Movistar far out of the team lead.

If I hadn't been watching the tour for roughly ten years nothing you just said would make a lick of sense.

But it is really fascinating stuff.

 

[Taosman]

My God that was a brutal climb! If the altitude don't kill you the length of the climb will! 20KM at 7.5% grade!

Team bikes.
Priced the lovely orange Orbea Orca......$10K, yikes! That's before you add your customization. :tongue2:

 

[Thump]

For those of you who may not even be cycling fans, tape tomorrow's stage 18 as you will see the finest in physical suffering.

Glad to see Froome pull off the Individual TT today.

Look for Contador to crack tomorrow. Heck, they may all crack!

Wonder if anyone has ever won a stage pushing their bike across the finish line?

 

[AKAK]

My God that was a brutal climb! If the altitude don't kill you the length of the climb will! 20KM at 7.5% grade!

Team bikes.
Priced the lovely orange Orbea Orca......$10K, yikes! That's before you add your customization. :tongue2:

Don't look at the Colnagos or the Bianchis then.

 

[Thump]

Don't look at the Colnagos or the Bianchis then.

...or Cervelos.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

My God that was a brutal climb! If the altitude don't kill you the length of the climb will! 20KM at 7.5% grade!

Team bikes.
Priced the lovely orange Orbea Orca......$10K, yikes! That's before you add your customization. :tongue2:

Don't look at the Colnagos or the Bianchis then.

...or Cervelos.

You can add to that list Trek, Specialized, Kuota, BMC, Kestrel, Felt, Fuji, Pinarello, Parlee, et al, for bikes that can approach or exceed $10k...

 

[matcar]

You can add to that list Trek, Specialized, Kuota, BMC, Kestrel, Felt, Fuji, Pinarello, Parlee, et al, for bikes that can approach or exceed $10k...

Huffy?