Tour De France 2017 - A Meandering Thread ...

[sunny-dave]

It all got rolling yesterday - an interesting route this year including some new climbs, and a more open than usual race, with Froome looking out of sorts and some of the other 'usual suspects' also not in the best of nick.

I'll add to this thread after I've watched the highlights ...

[sunny-dave]

Interesting, snags, I wonder what the Court for Arbitration for Sport may make of that - the UCI may have acted in haste and need to repent (possibly expensively) at leisure?

[Garaman]

Blimey that does make things look quite different. I thought disqualification a bit harsh anyway, but it looks plain wrong from that video.

[Khandro]

//'He deserved the disqualification'' Did he? //

Of course he did, just look again at where Sagan's front wheel was as cav was going down, there was no road left for him.
A good and fair decision.

[Garaman]

Here is a tweet from Andre Greipel who knows a thing or two about sprinting, and who had criticised Sagan after the race.

'Sometimes I should watch images before I say something. Apologies to @petosagan as I think that decision of the judge is too hard.'

[Garaman]

That looked very easy for Kittel. I am not sure why everyone else went so soon.

[sunny-dave]

I think the sprinters were paranoid about the sharp left bend at 700m and so all wound up at the front rather too early. The overhead shot of Kittel accelerating to the front was quite something though - a different class to those around him at that point.

[Khandro]

An amazing two days, yesterday and today, what bike racing should be about and just when it appeared that the Sky machine was going to lead all the way to Paris.
On a side issue, during today's ITV 4 transmission we were taken back to the UK for a not very comprehensible account of the race from a Phillippa York, "Pippa", someone of whom I've never heard of and who had a rather strange voice, so much so that I have just looked her up on the internet, am I the only person who knows that 'she' is Robert Millar who has changed his sex!

[sunny-dave]

A very interesting week - Froome back in yellow, but not looking invincible by any means - can any of the climbers take enough minutes out of him to compensate for his almost certain time gain in the final time trial?

It seems unlikely, but should be fun to watch.

[Garaman]

Great for the spectator, much better than one team dominating proceedings.

How many do you think are 'enough minutes', sunny-dave? The time trial is only 23k, with a bit of a climb too, so I would imagine quite a few of those in contention would fancy their chances with a 2-minute lead.

I

[Khandro]

I really think there are some strange things going on here; why, earlier in the week, should the Tour have waited for Froome when he has mechanical problems, in yellow or not, it's not just about him if the team have not fitted the bike up properly or chosen faulty equipment then too bad! Can you imagine formula 1 drivers waiting for a leader because he had mechanical problems? They did not wait for Dan Martin and his crash, or to see if Richie Porte could continue.

And yesterday, what was that all about? Aru simply gave the jersey back to Froome, he has the strength and skill to glue himself to Froome's wheel in the closing stages and stay there, why did he let himself get so much out of position?

[Garaman]

Whether you agree with it or not, it is an accepted gentleman's rule not to attack the leader when he has mechanical problems, or has been involved in a crash, so that bit wasn't strange.

[sunny-dave]

Rest Day ... phew ...

I think the true climbers (Aru, Uran etc) probably need about 3 minutes on Froome before the time trial, Bardet might be in with a shout if he has 90 seconds - but with only one summit finish this week (the Izoard) it will need Froome to crack rather than individual heroic efforts from others I think.

At least it's better watching than the cricket ...

[Garaman]

Aru was third in the time trial (stage 18) last year, only 33 seconds behind Froome.

[sunny-dave]

That was a proper mountain time trial, garaman - short and sharp and uphill all the way.

This year it's a fairly flat loop around Marseille (just a brief uphill conk to the Cathedral) - it will suit Froome and the power riders much more than the mountain goats.

[Garaman]

Yes, you are right of course, sorry, I am getting my facts muddled up and thinking it was actually a longer time trial with one climb in the middle.

[Garaman]

Perhaps not the best exercise for attractive legs!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWshQ0FhGhY/

[sunny-dave]

Ouch ....

[Garaman]

Uran, 25 seconds behind Froome in the time trial, just sayin'...:)

[sunny-dave]

:+)