Dauphine
Last Post 06/14/2017 10:13 AM by Stefan Eckardt. 10 Replies.
Author Messages
jookey

Posts:197

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06/03/2017 12:48 PM
I'm excited for the Dauphine. All the major contenders for the tour are there except Q. Should be telling. Froome and Contador will likely battle. I bet Porte plays it down a bit. Aru is just looking to see where he is at. If they all came out firing, it will be fun. Just depends on what the plan is leading to the tour.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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06/03/2017 09:30 PM
I'm going with Valverde for the win....he knows he can't win in July and this would be a nice consolation prize.

But yeah, it is a helluva lineup.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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06/12/2017 10:31 AM
Ballsy moves in the last day of the Dauphine.....not certain Porter handeled ti that well tactically, but he was also short of teammates and there is only sp much you can cover at some point.

Props to Fulgsang for taking a big win. Porte also rshowed something by riding back up to, adn droping most of, the GC contenders on the final climb.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
jookey

Posts:197

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06/12/2017 11:45 AM
Porte showed something. Froome needs a bit of work. I think Contador was holding back. Astana has TWO players in the mix. Problem is usually if you have two leaders, you have none. In their cases, I don't think that either FA or JF can really win the tour. In order to do so, they need to alternate attacking a la Simoni/Cunego from years ago. Maybe hope that they let one go free at some point. If they sit and follow wheels they are done.

If I had to pick a podium right now, I'd go Porte, Froome, Bardet. Maybe slip Quintana in at #3 if he is recovered.
Scanz

Posts:8

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06/12/2017 12:30 PM
Nice to see Jakob get the win. One of those: "Oh yeah. That guy!" moments. Didn't realize he didn't have a pro-tour win until this Dauphiné. Always been a solid rider. He's also at "that age."
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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06/12/2017 03:33 PM
Fantastic stage. Even in the era of race I radios some real racing!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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06/13/2017 09:01 AM
I don't get Porte's whining about negative racing....those guys went out and attacked him. They didn't sit back on his wheel abd then sprint around him. Porte elected to focus solely on Froome....and his tactics cost him.

When isolated, you gotta race from the front...not follow one guy's wheel.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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06/13/2017 10:10 AM
Seems that Contador was keeping his cards close and not showing anything; like he's trying to keep a low profile and have a steady build-up to the Tour. If that's what he's doing, that's pretty smart. Let the other guys have the limelight, put the main focus on them so he can concentrate on what needs to be done and maybe have a "surprise" for everyone come July. He's getting up there in years, so a nice steady ramp up probably serves him best.
Not my favorite rider, but would like to see him have one last solid GT. Would be a nice distraction from Froome & Co. as well.
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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06/13/2017 01:14 PM
Contador has many times in the past 'blown his wad" in build up stage races that really didn't matter. The guy as about as competitive as there is. Maybe as he nears the end of his career, he si getting smarter. He has the "one the road" smarts at the highest level. Just, in the past not always the "looking down the road" smarts.

Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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06/13/2017 03:53 PM
Contador was a non-factor because he is a non-factor. Trek wasted their $$ on him.

IMHO, of course.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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06/14/2017 10:13 AM
I hope you're wrong, but you could be right. Time will tell. I've wondered before if he's not past his winning days.
Still, I think it would be fun to watch him turn the screws on the Skybots -- if he can....


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