TdF Discussion thread *spoilers* - VeloNation - Cycling Forums, Bicycle Forums, Community Forums

Posts:4209

07/04/2015 09:25 AM
Rohan Dennis throws down a HUGE time....can the big boys match it's? Lots of new TT lids....the new Giro lid looks both ugly and sweet. Interesting that the Trek team is racing with rear blinks lights ....

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/05/2015 08:59 AM
Oh jeez....that weather at the finish is looking nasty today. Hope it blows through before the riders get there, or it is gonna be carnage.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/05/2015 11:14 AM
Never would have expected a stage like that today.....Nibali and Quintana lost a big chunk of time. Quintana's job just got harder, but is still within reach. But he can't afford to lose any more time, which will make the TTT vitally important. Etixx and Cav completely fooled up that finish. Not only does Cav lose the stage, but he costs Tony Martin the jersey. Unbelievable.

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Posts:3180

07/05/2015 12:25 PM
AC is doing exactly what he needs to do. I liked that S-T rode the front and was quick to drive the pace as soon as the crosswinds started. It took them a couple of tries, but they split off two of their three rivals for a minute loss. On day two? That's pretty impressive. Contador talked after about how deep he had to go. Yes, it is early and he needs to save his matches, but the payoff for his efforts was huge. Smart riding and great teamwork. Ben

Posts:2881

07/05/2015 03:39 PM
Yeah, why did Cav go so early? PS Nice ride TJ, a top 6 seems very attainable.

Posts:4499

07/05/2015 07:45 PM
Between last year and this year LeTour has definitely managed to eliminate boredom of week 1. I like it. I biked in Zeeland couple times. Yeah its a little windy even on a nice day.

Posts:344

07/05/2015 11:19 PM
Good stuff if you're one of three guys. Great viewing.

Posts:338

07/06/2015 09:02 AM
Huge crash. Spartacus down.

Posts:4209

07/06/2015 09:08 AM
I have never seen the officials stop a race because of a crash!! That was a nasty pile-up....fast speeds and lots of riders w/o skin. Ouch. Dumoulin is reportedly out of the race.

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Posts:338

07/06/2015 09:43 AM
The reason apparently was the need to have medical personnel ready for a potential next medical incident. Several abandons. Astana / Tinkoff putting the hammer down now.

Posts:4209

07/06/2015 09:50 AM
Oh man....Tinkoff is ripping riders' legs off right now!! So much for a "boring 1st week" this year!! And we still have the cobbles tomorrow!

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Posts:338

07/06/2015 10:02 AM
Livestream coverage may have a concussion, too: they keep looping 20-30 second segments before resuming live coverage. Quite annoying.

Posts:4209

07/06/2015 10:16 AM
restart the app or refresh your browser. I had that happen a few weeks ago during the Giro and restartin it solved the problem. I am streaming right now on the NBC Sports App and everything is fine.

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Posts:4499

07/06/2015 10:37 AM
Froome is showing yesterday and today that he's learned big time from last year. If he makes it through tomorrow then he's odds on favorite with a cushy lead. I'll say that tomorrow is Nibali's last chance to dance and turn the tables.

Posts:4209

07/06/2015 10:47 AM
Teejay impressed me today....hardly the type of stage that suits him, but he lost only a handful of seconds to Froome and picked up time on AC. Tony Martin screwed by a time bonus.....again.

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Posts:1767

07/06/2015 11:39 AM
How does Froome avoid crashing when all he watches is his stem? (somebody make this link live or post the pic. 'Fanks) http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/07/000_DV2077354-659x440.jpg

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07/06/2015 11:49 AM


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Posts:338

07/06/2015 11:50 AM
Loved him in T2

Posts:338

07/06/2015 11:51 AM
Mister Roboto. Time bonus should be offset by style deductions.........

Posts:4209

07/06/2015 02:32 PM
Fabian is out of the TdF.... https://twitter.com/f_cancellara/status/618135375576461312

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Posts:1767

07/06/2015 03:01 PM
crap I see it's not just the Cat 4/5 that can't ride a straight line. Dude just swept across the guys front wheel and, BAM!, lights out.

Posts:2881

07/06/2015 04:18 PM
The crash was BS Mur trivia question: how fast was the ascent today compared to the spring Classic? Yes apples and oranges as 160k with a few climbs today is a lot, lot easier than the spring version, and on the other hand no need to save any energy in a one day race, but the comparison would be interesting.

Posts:568

07/06/2015 06:01 PM
whoa that crash was ugly, not sure if I saw Cancellara go head over heels more than once, or was that his bike? Those guys were moving when that happened. Cobbles tomorrow, will Nibali crush it like last year? I see Quintana losing more time possibly, seems like the smaller guys have a tough time over the rough stuff, and Froome hates this stuff, dude just looks so frail.

Posts:3180

07/06/2015 08:07 PM
Quintana showed up for at least one of the cobbled classics and did not so and as I recall. Did you guy see the crash on the far side after everyone else stopped moving? The teams and rider's union ought to be demanding a required boot camp for upcoming riders. One where they actually get it that eyes stay straight ahead when you hear the bikes go down and other really basic riding/racing skills. I will always be grateful to have raced in the old and still there club NEBC out of Boston where older riders taught us that stuff. Ben

Posts:537

07/06/2015 08:34 PM
Posted By Frederick Jones on 07/05/2015 03:39 PM Yeah, why did Cav go so early? PS Nice ride TJ, a top 6 seems very attainable. Because he believed all the hype about the new Venge and how fast he would be on it

Posts:568

07/07/2015 09:41 AM
Nibali is right there, AC's right there, where's froome?

Posts:568

07/07/2015 09:45 AM
Nibali's got skills.............AC's not bad either...

Posts:4209

07/07/2015 10:06 AM
Froome is bouncing all over the place....but hanging in there. Tinkoff and Astana desperately trying to break things up, but no one is cracking yet....only 2 sections to go. next section sounds pretty long, however.

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Posts:4499

07/07/2015 10:38 AM
Martin gets his revenge. The Tour...might as well stop it now; from here on its about power numbers with the stem looking dude already in the driver seat. Contador looks like little off when it comes to power; he's allowing gaps at critical moments which doesn't bode well.

Posts:4209

07/07/2015 10:46 AM
Yeah, the advantage certainly lies with Froome right now.....bummed that Quintana is so far back. 2' is a lot to make up now, but there are still 2.5 weeks to go and a LOT of climbng. He needs to think of taking small chunks, not getting it all back at once. Congrats to Martin....ballsy ride to finally take yellow!

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stronz

Posts:447

07/07/2015 11:40 AM
FDJ ds Yvon Madiot: 'The battery in Thibaut's dérailleur went. It was charged. It happened once in the Classics. Maybe it's the vibrations.' Wait what? Seriously? O and Contador's wheel was fractured during the last 25km? There is a place for new tech but the cobbles apparently isnt it. Mech groups and aluminum wheels if its me trying to win.

stronz

Posts:447

07/07/2015 11:48 AM
and also take a look at this picture from stage 3 --This is the guy Bonnet who has a fx of his C2 vertebra -- hangmans injury -- and tell me why he isnt immobilized and in a collar -- I mean there were a lot of medics -- he obviously hit his head. He is lucky he didnt damage his cord. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-injuries-galore-from-stage-3-crashes

Posts:3180

07/07/2015 02:38 PM
This is the second time Contador has fineshed a cobbled TdF stage on a damaged rear wheel. Remember '10(?) when he rode a rear wheel that got steadily worse after he was hit from behind when he stopped for a crash in front of him. I give Contador a lot of credit for having the clear head to recognize the a dying wheel probably hurts his chances less than the wait for a wheel change. Both times, he got what he needed to have, time wise; within a minute of Schleck to eventually beat him and today, same time as all of his rivals. But putting Contador on wheels that aren't up to the job? Someone somewhere ought to pay. This is the big stage. YOu give the frontrunners gear that works. Ben

Posts:4209

07/07/2015 03:16 PM
You guys realize that Contador had the same wheels as the guy who won the stage, right?

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Posts:3180

07/07/2015 03:33 PM
Tony Martin is an animal! He won that on a bike with a seat 2 cms too high and the brake levers switched. But that's really good battlefield decision making by him and his teammate. Plus the priorities for Martin/QS and Contador/T-S should ve very different. AC - see to it that nothing bad happens. Martin - go for the stage win! Wear it the next 5 days. Successful Tour if they do nothing else. So I can see Martin riding the fastest possible wheel, but AC should be on a wheel that will finish. And yes, the wheel did finish, but gambling like that ? Not too smart if you ask me. Ben

Posts:4499

07/07/2015 03:44 PM
The wheel, that's just random, $4it can and will happen with any type of build if you hit something with enough force. The only thing I have against carbon rims is their brake performance. Pretty sure the guy who dumped himself into the pileup yesterday 2 full seconds after the crashing was already done had some sort of brake lockup issue. For that reason I won't ride carbon rims.

Posts:537

07/07/2015 05:55 PM
The Specialized marketing department must be hitting the sauce tonight, they need someone on the new Vinege to win one of these things. They had that pre tour huge marketing roll out, if only they had enough bikes to go around. Ok TM might not have ridden one today anyway but still they need a tour stage win on that bike or it really is a lost opportunity.

Posts:2881

07/07/2015 08:39 PM
He won on teammate Trentin's bike. Simply reflects Martin's awesomeness, or a have they discovered new strategy?

Posts:833

07/07/2015 08:47 PM
Martin's nickname is "Panzerwagen". For some reason I thought he was a small guy, 6-1 165. Hell of a race..

Posts:4209

07/07/2015 08:47 PM
AFAIK, there are only two riders on the new Venge - Cav and Sagan. Specialized had one of the best and biggest product launches for that bike. 1) they'll get their stage win at some point. 2) no one is going to think the bike is crap, even if they don't. Martin was on a bike with a seat height that was higher than his normal position and had the brakes reversed, after having to chase back on from a late puncture. Stud.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:537

07/08/2015 05:27 AM
You have to admit they would sold more than a few more bikes if they had images of TM on a Venge ( with the new skin suit he also wasn't sporting yesterday ) going solo off the front and holding off a hard charging peleton in the Tour. Marketing opportunity loss I'd say. Things like that don't come around your way every day.

Posts:4209

07/08/2015 08:33 AM
Damn few people watch the TdF....I would wager that the majority of their target demographic doesn't. And Specialized is not the clothing sponsor for Etixx, so TN would not have been wearing the skinsuit, regardless.

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Posts:4209

07/08/2015 09:13 AM
Cav is not on the new Venge today......just had a wheel change, but kept the same bike, which is the older venge.

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Posts:537

07/08/2015 11:51 AM
Man Griepel made that look easy. He came from a looooooooong way back to take.

Posts:537

07/08/2015 11:51 AM
Sorry Cav , it's not the bike, it's the motor.

huckleberry

Posts:824

07/08/2015 01:17 PM
Love this part of my Summer ritual - working on my house with the Tour on my laptop… Now we just need to get this 2 weeks plus of obscene temps and smoke behind us here. Looks like Saturday we break out of the heat - woohooo!!! Did some hard intervals yesterday and so far, so good. Hoping I have some kind of recovery happening here soon...

Posts:4209

07/08/2015 02:18 PM
Christ...send the heat my way, PLEASE. July 8 and it won't break 70* today (or yesterday). Lovely May we are having in July. I hate Chicago..... As for today's stage, no shocker....Etixx spent a lot of energy riding tempo and keeping control. No way they were gonna execute a flawless leadout after that. The head wind helped mess things up, too. But man, Sagan was moving once he launched his sprint.....(oh, and he was on the new Venge. )

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Posts:4499

07/08/2015 05:11 PM
Interesting that Cav hasn't been able to get it right. For most of seaon he was going well and Sagan wasn't able to touch him in a straight up high speed sprint. Its been bone dry and hot on the wet coast since May. Eerie, now we're also shrouded in smog from forest fires. I have feeling that on most of my long training rides I return with minor heat stroke although I drink a ton. Blinded by the light...

Posts:537

07/08/2015 07:11 PM
I'm really interested to see which bike Cav throws a leg over for tomorrow's stage. He does seem to have lost it Mentally or physically it's hard to tell

Posts:4209

07/08/2015 07:30 PM
Apparently Sagan was on an old-style Venge as well today.

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Posts:537

07/08/2015 08:19 PM
Hmmm. Now that is getting interesting. Wonder what the reason is. Bet we will never know.

Posts:4209

07/08/2015 10:15 PM
Casey Fritz from VN claims that Cav is not a fan of the integrated brakes and doesn't want to ride them in the wet or on mountain stages. Cannot speak to the veracity of this report, but was supposedly said directly to him.

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Posts:537

07/09/2015 04:57 AM
And next up, the disc brake road frame in the peleton. Man that was quick.

8art8

Posts:11

07/09/2015 08:10 AM
Hi all, I don't stop in here or anywhere much anymore, so apologies in advance for only showing up when I want something, but.... anyone got a link? Going through steephill links many aren't working very well for me this year. tia

8art8

Posts:11

07/09/2015 09:58 AM
Posted By b will on 07/09/2015 08:10 AM Hi all, I don't stop in here or anywhere much anymore, so apologies in advance for only showing up when I want something, but.... anyone got a link? Going through steephill links many aren't working very well for me this year. tia here you go 8art http://www.yopika.tv/20150703/v-haha_sport_9_name-1099375-5596b3655ec9e4.24574060.html

Posts:4209

07/09/2015 10:33 AM
If you have NBC Sports as part of your cable package, you can stream it live through their app or online. You just sign in through your provider. If you don't have it as part of your package, you can subscribe for the online coverage for $30, I think...pretty good deal, IMO given the quality of the feed (HD). Points deducted for having to listen to Phil & Paul. I'll also add that the online coverage has zero commercials.....given the amount of repitition you experience with commercials during the Tour, this makes the online coverage well worth it!!

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:568

07/09/2015 10:56 AM
what the heck was Martin doing? on the overhead shot, he just seemed to go right, and boom!! Does not look good for Tony, broken clavicle? Crazy weather here Cosmic also, looked like it snowed 6" yesterday, hail storm destroyed my garden, looked someone hacked it all up with 100 machetes!! We need the moisture down here in NM though, we'll take anything we can get!! MTB rides are getting crazy, dropped to 38 degrees the other day when we were at about 9000 feet, hailed like crazy, it was nuts!

Posts:4209

07/09/2015 11:00 AM
I'd say Martin's tour is over.....at least partially through his own doing. leaving aside why he was bumping other riders, he grabbed a handul of brake, whcih is what dumped him on his shoulder. Damn shame....guy finally gets yellow and now crashes out of it.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/09/2015 11:06 AM
Jeez....props to Martin. Makes a point to go over and congratulate Stybar during his interview, even though he is clearly injured. Class.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

07/09/2015 11:12 AM
Ettix get their win. Martin caused the crash from looks of it. I'm sure Nibali is non too plussed about what happened there.

Posts:3180

07/09/2015 12:07 PM
Maybe Martin was confused about which brake he was grabbing. (Tuesday's bike swap.) Ben

Posts:568

07/09/2015 12:13 PM
funny pmooney, I laugh because everyone who comes to Santa Fe fro Germany, always ask if we could reverse the brakes!! Mostly on MTB's, but we did have a guy with a road bike request it. It was to match a Motorcylces brakes, which I get, still funny though. Froome should be glad he's out of the yellow right now, seems to be jinxed at the moment

Posts:833

07/09/2015 12:14 PM
They say Martin has a broken collar bone, does not look good for him... too bad....

Posts:3180

07/09/2015 12:17 PM
I've been reading the Cyclingnews live updates. Fast reading, efficient and pretty dry. THis morning I remembered the LUGnut, googled Charles Pelkey, and got to read the long, slow and fascinating version of the Tour coverage. I was thinking that Mr. Pelkey should upgrade from LUG nut to QUICKrelease with his rise in the world from VeloNews editor to lawyer then law firm founding partner then state legislator. Then I followed today's stage. No, LUGnut it is, It takes an impact wrench's level of exertion to get the the end of the stage as a reader. Nothing "quick" about it! Good to see Mr. Pelkey doing well! Ben

Posts:3180

07/09/2015 12:24 PM
Maybe we should come up with a better name than "yellow jersey". Yellow fever? Should team doctors start vaccinating riders for yellow jersey? Would that require a TUE? More questions than answers. With enough research, maybe the Tour will be able to get through next year with fewer succumbing. 'Til then it is damage control time. Could be a long two weeks. Ben

Posts:2881

07/09/2015 01:47 PM
Froome back in yellow.

Posts:4209

07/09/2015 02:22 PM
Posted By Frederick Jones on 07/09/2015 01:47 PM Froome back in yellow. I certainly hope he is not wearing the jersey during the stage tomorrow...

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Posts:833

07/09/2015 03:55 PM
Martin is out...crying shame....

Posts:1767

07/09/2015 05:31 PM
Huge breach of etiquette if he's in yellow. The jersey is earned by racing, not acquitted by accident.

Posts:3180

07/09/2015 09:49 PM
If Froome was smart, he'd refuse to wear the jersey, saying he hadn't ridden to deserve it. That might spare him the inevitable "yellow fever". Ben

Posts:1767

07/10/2015 06:34 AM
acquired.. not acquitted. Some days I just hat autocorrect

Posts:625

07/10/2015 08:47 AM
Gonz: Germans like reversed brakes? I thought that was only an old school Italian road bike thing? Dale: I turned auto correct off on my iPhone. Makes it a bit of pain with the small keyboard, but it's my meaningless rage against the machine. Here's to deciding whether to fork out the whopping $20 for the tour app since I ditched cable. N

THE SKINNY

Posts:506

07/10/2015 09:22 AM
i like the nbc sports web thingy. i usually just jump ahead in 15 minute increments and scan the little preview window as i do so. that way i don't have to watch 5 hours of bike racing and the preview window is big enough to see if there has been a wreck or interesting castle or something. that guy matthew keenen that starts the show isn't too awful but he needs someone else to talk with. i like the ridley bikes with the old school graphics. red frame with the simple ridley logo on the down tube. also the look frame with the stem flush with the top tube. snazzy.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Posts:1767

07/10/2015 09:45 AM
If anyone has a reason to run reverse brakes it would be Stybar from his day of racing cyclocross.

Posts:568

07/10/2015 10:45 AM
ha ha nick, yeah, I had forgot about that!! Yeah, I don't know, maybe we don't get a bunch of Italian tourists here? Germans for sure, they are so enamored with the wild west thing, Old Santa Fe Trail, crazy. Had a guy here from a German company that bought our solar company years ago, he had a 57 convertable Chevy fully restored, and then he was going to do the Santa Fe trail, and the whole wild west thing, Billy the Kid Tour, etc....then have the car shipped back to Germany Cav gets a win today, looked like Greipel again, but then Cav came out of no where. He's a punk, BUT, he's a punk with 25 TDF stage wins!!

Posts:323

07/10/2015 11:00 AM
I'm looking forward to Sunday. I'll be riding a fundraiser century tomorrow, crashing at my girlfriend's place afterwards, getting up Sunday and heading home to mow the lawn, do laundry etc. then will watch the rebroadcast and enjoy a couple adult beverages. Should be interesting with the climb at the end. Which teams will get it right and which will screw it up?

Posts:625

07/10/2015 11:45 AM
Well, that was easy. Bought the app. Totally worth it. I cut the cable over a year ago, and now I can watch the TDF, and now that I caught up on Dr. Who, I just keep up on PBS. Good decision. Gonz, Funny about the Germans. I haven't hit any "tourist" spots in Santa Fe in awhile, but I guess it's really surpassing Taos as the place for the rich and famous to hang. I had a friend who grew up there who remembered buying underwear at the Walgreen's on the Plaza. LOL. Last time I was on the plaza a few years ago with my visiting dad, it was a sea of black jeans and turquoise jewelry. Mama mia. I visited Paris in the early '90's. In NYC (where I was living) people were smoking Gitanes and Dunhills and drinking Bass Ale or whatever. Got to Paris, and they're smoking Marlboros and drinking Budweiser. LOL. Well, the stage. No wrecks at the end. Strategy. Gaps opening. Fun to watch. N

Posts:3180

07/10/2015 12:27 PM
Dale, you are tipping your hat to autocorrect? "... Some days I just hat autocorrect" Ben

Posts:625

07/12/2015 08:57 AM
Does anyone remember a case where an entire team was ever eliminated due to not making the time cut during a TTT?

Posts:625

07/12/2015 09:23 AM
An Astana mis-step, and despite "fashion" who the hell would want to ride an entire tour with Grizzly Adams facial hair. You'd need a dog grooming comb just to get the snot out.

THE SKINNY

Posts:506

07/12/2015 03:40 PM
that was a close one. next week is going to be interesting.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Posts:537

07/12/2015 07:32 PM
I feel bad for TJ , he had a chance this week to wear Yellow for a few days. Those kinds of things are pretty special. Hope his career doesn't pass without at least one day in yellow.

smokey52

Posts:493

07/12/2015 07:51 PM
Official update: http://www.theonion.com/video/breaking-tour-de-france-on-hold-as-cyclists-ride-o-36474 (One of the indicted FIFA officials actually cited an Onion article as evidence of US conflict of interest.)

Posts:1767

07/13/2015 07:06 AM
A bunch of people in airport gate area are wondering why I'm busting out laughing.... thanks smokey.

Posts:3180

07/13/2015 11:39 AM
Tough break for Basso. (Diagnosed hours ago for testicular cancer after injuring the testicle when he crashed the other day.) I hope they have caught this early and he recovers fast and without it coming back. I've always liked Basso, liked his riding style, loved his Giro win in '06(?). But I have to wonder if this cancer was brought on by drug use. Two testicular cancers in a population of what, 2000? pro bike riders. And in the general population, how many of us have ever heard of even one? I am not saying this as a moralist. This isn't judgement. But it is recognition that our actions often have consequences. I have paid heavily for some of mine. I lost a dear friend to pancreatic cancer, almost certainly brought on by his heroin addiction in his twenties. He was 30 years clean when I met him. I wish Ivan Basso well. May he get the best treatment and luck. My prayers go with him Ben

Posts:833

07/13/2015 11:44 AM
I just read the clip on Basso over at VeloNews. I hope he recovers well and continues to ride...I had a friend who experienced Testicular cancer back in the early 80's. He is still alive and kicking...

Posts:4209

07/13/2015 11:51 AM
Testicular cancer is suprisingly "common" than many people realize...I have now at least two people with it over the years. That said, Basso is slightly on the older side of things for this disease. Best wishes to him.....cancer sucks.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:3180

07/13/2015 12:00 PM
And a RR (race related) thought ... the loss of Basso hurts Tinkoff-Saxo and Contador a lot, especially in the mountains. But for Contado'rs rivals, this might be a mixed blessing. Contador and Basso are friends. Contador is a man with a big heart. He says his legs are lacking spark after riding the Giro. But this rest day may put a spark in his heart: to ride this Tour for his friend. Contador already knew this Tour would push him deeper than he has ever gone if he wanted to win it. Having a reason that is "bigger" than him might help him get there. And pure speculation - Contador/T-S working with Quintana/Moviestar and TJ/BMC to wear down Sky? In the Pyrenees? Contador banking that in the Alps he can take time back from TJ and Quintana will make one mistake countering the time he probably can gain on Contador. This could be fun to watch or it could just be a Froomefest. Let's hope the former. Ben

Posts:625

07/13/2015 12:51 PM
If the cancer hasn't left the testicle, it's super curable, beyond that not as sure, but better odds than lots of other types, I think. I believe that it's typically diagnosed in the 20's. My gut tells me that getting it older may be a bad prognostic factor Nick (worked for five years in on oncology in a non-medical capacity) PS: Here's a recent study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150413110632.htm

Posts:4499

07/13/2015 01:23 PM
Raw deal for Basso. My feeling is that irrespective of the outcome this will likely spell retirement as he was pretty close to that point anyway. As to the Tour, to the degree that the deal for #1 spot wasn't sealed already after Stage 4, tomorrow is tailor made for Froome/Sky to put the nail in the coffin. There are maybe 2-3 stages that lend themselves for competitors to try to isolate Froome. But the scenery is nice and I'm looking forward to watching some of the alps stages as i will be doing a number of those climbs in August.

Posts:2881

07/13/2015 01:40 PM
There are different types of testicular cancer. The most common has a very high success rate for cure, even when advanced. ( that's not the type Armstrong had. He truly was lucky to survive.) I hope Ivan has the easy type.

Posts:2881

07/13/2015 05:42 PM
Back to the race: With two of the big 4 looking vulnerable, and also considering the luck factor (both good and bad), what are the odds that TJ van G finishes on the podium? I'll guess maybe 1/4.

Posts:1767

07/13/2015 05:52 PM
Back to the equipment... WTH is with the pie plate on the TT bike? That's just wrong. 0712-20150712-DSC_4851-659x440.jpg

Posts:1767

07/13/2015 05:54 PM
hmmm, upon further review that might just be a pipeline decal on the disc wheel. Still wrong, however. You know, the appearance of evil thingy.

Posts:3180

07/13/2015 07:19 PM
Dale, I think it is a really light, really aero pie plate that will never work as intended. (ie keep the chain on the cogs and prevent expensive damage.) All show and no go. Ben

Posts:4209

07/13/2015 10:46 PM
Big day tomorrow...someone's Tour always implodes on the day after a rest day....especially when there is only a summit finish. I'm guessing Teejay goes backwards tomorrow...

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

jookey

Posts:197

07/14/2015 06:48 AM
Excited to see if Nibali or Contador have something in the tank. If I were Movistar, I'd attack with Valverde. He's close enough and good enough to make Skye work hard. Teams don't do that anymore like Lampre did with Cunego years ago at the Giro. If they let him go, he can be in the drivers seat. If they chase, Quintana can unleash the fury.

Posts:323

07/14/2015 07:35 AM
Ah, the mountains. Conundrum day . . . for me! DVR is recording for watching when I get home this evening, but I will be so curious that I may not be able to resist checking the results mid-day! I hope somebody makes this interesting, makes Froome and company actually work to hold yellow. If it turns into a runaway because other teams won't attack and force the issue, it could end up a snooze-fest.

Posts:323

07/14/2015 07:36 AM
Also, where is Keith R? We got all the way through the first rest day and we haven't been treated to any "Come on, son" moments. It just feels wrong!

Posts:4209

07/14/2015 09:27 AM
Movistar looks like they mean business today....taking up the work at the front.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/14/2015 10:33 AM
Bummer....race is over after the first day in the mountains.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:2881

07/14/2015 10:39 AM
Even Froome basically said so.

Posts:4499

07/14/2015 11:23 AM
Like I said, perfect stage to put the nail in the coffin.

Posts:2881

07/14/2015 11:42 AM
So at this point the race is for the other podium spots. I still think TJ is in the running but a lot of riders looked at least as good or better today. Porte tends to flame out and he has to work for Froome anyway. Alberto may rally, he's a great third week rider. Maybe valverde, gesink or someone else after Quintana.

stronz

Posts:447

07/14/2015 01:59 PM
wow they all just disintegrated..... Nibbles -pop! Berto -- pop! Qunitana -- pfffffft. And suddenly Porte is better than all of those guys. Cycling is weird. I can kind of understand Contador being less than sparkling, but the others not so much. Of course the other explanation is that as ungainly and uninspiring he is to watch, Froome is in a class by himself. We'll see if he can hold it there -- 10 days is a long haul to defend.

Posts:323

07/14/2015 02:19 PM
Should I even bother with the DVR when I get home? Was it that bad? My plan was to get oriented watching the beginning, then fast forward to the climb for an exciting finish . . . but it sounds disappointing. I'm not a Froome fan, but hey, if he's the best, so be it, but at least make him earn it!

Posts:323

07/14/2015 02:20 PM
Was there any of that post-rest day discussion/theorizing going on?

Posts:4209

07/14/2015 02:27 PM
Nothing to watch before the climb....Griepel easily won the intermediate sprint (not exciting) and it was one large peloton at the bottom. Just FF to the final climb and watch the last 15K....that was the whole race.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

SideBySide

Posts:444

07/14/2015 03:21 PM
Knowing what is going to happen saves a lot of time when watching the race. I hope this isn't going to be as boring as it appears.

Posts:323

07/14/2015 05:32 PM
Watching it now and thinking . . . hmmmmm. All those years of doping and the resulting cynicism. Damn, he is just riding away like it's nothing. He just accelerated like he was going downhill. Okay, I get AC and the Giro gassing him. Nibali, I figure he is off his "program". TJVG, never expected him to keep up but maybe a podium, still possible. But crushing Quintana like that, and Porte chasing him back down? I guess I am still cynical. Hope it's not all over.

Posts:833

07/14/2015 06:43 PM
It ain't over till the fat lady sings...lot's of time for errors and mishaps...although, as long as Froome can stay upright, that is a huge lead...

Posts:4499

07/14/2015 07:43 PM
Good thing there's no rerun on tonight, displaced by soccer. Watching Canada get crushed by Costa Rica, that should be fun. Thinline - exactly.

Posts:2881

07/14/2015 08:54 PM
Yes, resisting the Skybots is futile, at least today. Froome looked like Lance riding up to Sestriere in '99, just erasing everyone behind. As for Canada, they are making it very difficult for CR. Like the Tour, it ain't over yet.

Posts:4209

07/15/2015 09:42 AM
Well, Tinkoff has clearly thrown in the towel on the overall as Majka is off and gunning for the stage win today.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:2881

07/15/2015 10:33 AM
Nice win, otherwise not much action. Tomorrow could be better unless the Skybots run such a high pace no one can attack.

Posts:4499

07/15/2015 10:52 AM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 07/15/2015 09:42 AM Well, Tinkoff has clearly thrown in the towel on the overall as Majka is off and gunning for the stage win today. Not sure that is it...today was simply not a stage where life could be made sufficiently difficult for Sky/Froome. Tomorrow is one of the 2-3 stages remaining that might offer an opportunity.

Posts:568

07/15/2015 11:12 AM
wow, not a Froome fan, but that was one hell of an attack, looks like a fight for second at this point. Saxo needs a new gameplan, you know there will be some trciks, but I think Froome is just too strong right now, but all it takes is one bad day

Posts:338

07/15/2015 11:49 AM
I agree with OC. I think that Majka / Tinkoff was just taking advantage of the shell-shocked peloton, and there was of course no reason for Froome to be concerned. Great efforts by Majka and Martin both. I am not a Froome / Sky fan either. Is it wrong to hope for a critical puncture, a jour sans, or a windy day to splinter the peloton?

Posts:537

07/15/2015 09:12 PM
We need it to rain, seems like the only thing that could slow Froome down.

Posts:625

07/16/2015 08:46 AM
Even the yellow jersey contest is now pretty boring, I'm enjoying all of the smaller contests in the mountains: overall podiums, top ten, stage wins, etc. N

Posts:4209

07/16/2015 09:36 AM
Majka lights the fuse....game on.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/16/2015 09:39 AM
or not....that was short-lived!!

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/16/2015 10:10 AM
Pffffffttt..... I'm kinda disgusted now. Was trying to remain positive, but really? Gerraint Thomas, a classics guy, resisting the best climbers in the world? Where Keith when you need him.....

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

07/16/2015 11:00 AM
Disappointing stage...way too much flat between the penultimate and final climbs for an adventurous yellow jersey attack. I am liking how Gesink is riding after family health and personal physical problems last years. Dumb bad luck today, flat at foot of final climb cost a minute.

Posts:2881

07/16/2015 12:00 PM
Well it rained, and Froome did lose time :-; Weird how the break was rained on for what seem like hours but when the bunch got to same spot 10 minutes later no rain, until the final kms.

Posts:833

07/16/2015 04:15 PM
I'm thinking the rain was a blessing during that last climb....

Posts:3180

07/16/2015 06:36 PM
Ride On, the race needs snow to slow the Sky train down. (UCI should be infornmed snow might well INCREASE viewership!) Il neige, si vou plait! Ben

Posts:3180

07/16/2015 06:55 PM
My thinking on today's stage is that the GC contenders needed to ride the next to last mountain as a finish, then go like h*** on the decent, form up and TTT to the base of the final climb. In other words, descend in small groups or solo far faster than Froome should or would, gain minutes then work together closely. And since all the teams knew months ago when they looked at the race profile that if Froome had minutes this is what they needed to do, no collaboration outside the rules would be needed. I cannot claim I had this idea months ago, But I sure knew it when I went to be last night and watched this morning primarily to see if Contador, Quintana, Valverde and Nibali would. Instead they followed like sheep and made a few moves in the final kilometers where one of them could have made what, 90 seconds? Maybe get a step higher on the podium. It is racing like this that makes it tougher for me if the winner did indeed dope. Do the other riders deserve a step up the podium when they rode like sheep? (Like when FL won by minutes. Yes he doped and could not have won without. But he gambled the peloton would fight over scraps like hungry dogs instead of teaming up as a big TTT to take 5 minutes out of his lead on the 20 miles of flat they had before the final stage. I watched that at the French bakery where I watched today's fiasco, telling my table mate they had to TTT if they wanted to hang on to their podium spots. They didn't and got their podium spots instead completely unearned.) Ben

Posts:2881

07/16/2015 07:07 PM
Ben, the sky train would have gobbled them back up in the valley. That might have set up a showdown of the contenders with Froome exposed, I don't know.

Posts:3180

07/16/2015 07:23 PM
For that to work, they would have to ride the valley as a TTT. Astana could have dropped Fugslang back. This is tossing all ones eggs on one basket, but letting Froome crack them one stage at a time isn't working at all.

Posts:4499

07/16/2015 08:13 PM
What LSD said. Wouldn't work with this stage profile and the headwind. They will at some point need to go crazy like Ben said but this stage wasn't the one.

Posts:625

07/17/2015 09:08 AM
I noticed a Ridley in the break today. I was thinking how there's three American and zero Japanese riders, but between the frames and the components, at least the branding of the majority of equipment on the road reflects a tiny fraction of the riders.

Posts:4209

07/17/2015 09:12 AM
???? Ridley is a Belgian brand.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:625

07/17/2015 09:22 AM
Peraud, that looks like some brutal road rash, and back on the bike. Damn.

Posts:625

07/17/2015 09:23 AM
Oh, my bad. Embarrassed face.

Posts:4209

07/17/2015 09:23 AM
Yeah, nasty crash by Peraud....that is gonna hurt for awhile.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4209

07/17/2015 11:07 AM
Jeez....I woulda put a pretty penny on Sagan being able to finish that one off, especially for how long he was on GvA's wheel. Nice win for BMC.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:2881

07/17/2015 12:41 PM
Nice hook by the winner, just enough to throw Sagan off.

Posts:537

07/17/2015 06:26 PM
CK, if only Segan had been on the new Venge he could have come around him, no problem.

Posts:344

07/18/2015 09:51 AM
Hannah and her hoarse............., wish they wouldn't have had an HC w/that finish after their first rest day. Could have let the boys warm up, you get three teammates out of 180 guys riding well AFTER A REST DAY! And this is what you get, it's the winning formula Lance proved it over and over. The only thing real about this tour is the money Hannah is banking on residuals.

Posts:344

07/18/2015 10:21 AM
Or. Dang Sky has it together in all areas. AC beat from the tour, TJ growing strong!. NQ hasn't reall done any thing wrong. Froome and the boys are just to good.

Posts:537

07/18/2015 07:00 PM
Man it has to be tuff on TJ. He actually is riding great , for him it seems. He is right there with the top 4 or 5 GT guys. He doesn't have that extra gear to hang with them but he is better than the rest. It must be hard to be right there and not get there as an athlete. I really hope he can hang in there but even if he doesn't and gets another 5th this year, it's a much better 5th

THE SKINNY

Posts:506

07/21/2015 07:48 AM
did sagan make any time on that last downhill? he looked fast but it looked like he overcooked some turns.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

ChinookPass

Posts:809

07/21/2015 11:25 AM
Just looked at the finishing times of the top 5 relative to Froome. This does not include time bonuses. If I did this right, TJ would be 2nd if not for time bonuses. Also, Quintana and Valverde have got to be regretting stage 2. Cumulative finishing times relative to Froome: Quintana TJ Valverde Contador 1 00:11.0 -00:08.0 00:06.0 00:08.0 2 01:39.0 -00:04.0 01:34.0 00:12.0 3 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 4 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 5 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 6 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 7 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 8 01:50.0 00:07.0 01:45.0 00:30.0 9 01:53.0 00:06.0 01:48.0 00:57.0 10 02:57.0 02:36.0 03:49.0 03:48.0 11 02:57.0 02:36.0 03:47.0 03:48.0 12 02:57.0 02:36.0 03:46.0 03:48.0 13 02:57.0 02:36.0 03:46.0 03:48.0 14 02:58.0 02:37.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 15 02:58.0 02:37.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 16 02:58.0 02:37.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 Actual 03:10.0 03:32.0 04:02.0 04:23.0

Posts:833

07/21/2015 12:11 PM
I'm more excited about seeing T.J. get on the podium than Froome finishing first. Of course I biased...

ChinookPass

Posts:809

07/21/2015 12:23 PM
Oops, made a typo on stage 14. Quintana would be ahead of TJ even with time bonuses Quintana TJ Valverde Contador 13 02:57.0 02:36.0 03:46.0 03:48.0 14 02:58.0 03:16.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 15 02:58.0 03:16.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 16 02:58.0 03:16.0 03:50.0 04:07.0 Actual 03:10.0 03:32.0 04:02.0 04:23.0

Posts:537

07/21/2015 09:16 PM
I want to see how fast they can get down that decent on disc brake bikes in the future. It is amazing what some athletes will do for a win or a few seconds gained. It was entertaining that's for sure

Posts:323

07/22/2015 09:12 AM
Bummer. TVG abandons due to illness! What a drag. I was really hoping to see him on the podium.

ChinookPass

Posts:809

07/22/2015 10:27 AM
3 more days left in the mtns and this podium looks fully baked. Big bummer for TJ but that's life on the racer's edge.

Posts:4499

07/22/2015 12:11 PM
Bummer for the honorary Dutchman but I don't think TJ would have been on podium in Paris regardless. Illness often is a sign you've reached the end of rope in terms of recuperation. Today was more like it, Froome was at least briefly isolated. But it doesn't look like Quintana has the necessary horsepower to properly distance him. I don't think much will happen tomorrow but Friday and Saturday might offer last possibilities to do something on GC. Nice ride by Gesink again, he's surprised me this year. As VN put it the other day "His father died mountain biking in 2010. He fractured his leg in 2011. He returned, but a heart problem nearly ended his career. In 2014, Gesink decided to undergo surgery and skipped the Tour as a result. On his comeback, he had to abandon the Vuelta a España after his pregnant wife needed surgery twice and was not improving. Despite early knee problems, the 2015 season appears to be on track." Tomorrow we'll enter the area where I'll be doing some suffering myself in about a month time :-)

Posts:833

07/22/2015 06:08 PM
Super bummer, I was rooting for T.J. They said he was fighting a respiratory infection. Sad, sad...

Posts:625

07/23/2015 07:35 AM
Yeah, it's been said, bit I feel bad for Tejay as well...

Posts:4209

07/24/2015 03:35 PM
Finally some chinks in the armor of SKY and Froome....but likely too little, too late. But I remembered something today.....anyone remember the 1990 stage to l'Alpe d'Huez? Indurain sacrifices his chances at a podium / win by steaming along the valley floor with his team leader Delgado (and all the other GC favorites) in his wake. At the time, that team was Banesto, but the team management has largely remained the same since then.....but is now known as Movistar. So maybe....MAYBE....we could see them repeat those tactics. Movistar sets a fierce tempo on the Croix de Fer, Valverde and Quintana attack in tandem near the top and, no matter who else gets on, goes full-on to the base of l'Alpe d'Huez ad lets the chips fall where they may. It is really the only chance they have....

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:4499

07/24/2015 03:59 PM
Something like that...but it will be harder to dislodge Froome's support on Croix de Fer, which is long but not very steep, than on Chaussy today, which had some brutish ramps. They may be facing headwind too since today they had tailwind going the other way.

Posts:344

07/24/2015 11:53 PM
Nice post CK. let's hope, heck I'd take another 20-30 seconds just to raise the speculation for next year. BMC with Riche, Sky, and Movistar.

Posts:4499

07/25/2015 10:34 AM
Good action today...nice to see Pinot rescue his Tour and Quintana making it interesting. In the end Quintana only 1:12 behind Froome on overall. So Froome effectively won the Tour on Stage 2 where he gained 1:28 over most of his competitors on the windy Dutch dykes.

Posts:4209

07/25/2015 12:53 PM
Yeah, I said the same thing to a buddy today....stage 2 was the difference. I also think it was because Quintana gambled on hitting top form for the Alps while Froome came into or Tour with guns blazing and grabbed the early lead, hoping to hang in the last week. The last 2 days redeemed the race. A bit boring in the middle, but overall, pretty satisfying.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!

Posts:2881

07/25/2015 10:55 PM
Oh Lord gotta love typos! Flatulent Dutch female homosexuals cost Quntana yellow. You read it here first!

Posts:833

07/26/2015 12:55 AM
hmmmmm you mean dykes...

Posts:625

07/26/2015 07:43 AM
Jeebus, cops chasing and shooting at car at TDF finish. Hope it's random and not part of some plot.

Posts:4499

07/26/2015 10:51 AM
Posted By Frederick Jones on 07/25/2015 10:55 PM Oh Lord gotta love typos! Flatulent Dutch female homosexuals cost Quntana yellow. You read it here first! Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Posts:4499

07/26/2015 11:37 AM
Not a typo BTW - despite several decades on this side of the pond I am still a Euro, I like variant/deviant spell.