CafeVelo

Wheel touch

Blue Belly

Wow, that's too bad.

DLBroox

Yeah I don't think we'll see him tomorrow. What a shame. Has so much heart to finish even today.

CafeVelo

He's always got plenty of fight, but he's been saying it's his last tour. I don't see him staying if he's not in contention. He looked like his back was bothering him, by tomorrow he's going to be board stiff.

jyl

Froome has been improving his positioning - made the split yesterday, perfectly positioned for the turn onto the Mur today.

The GC guys are covered by three minutes. Froome first, TvG 0:13 back, Contador 0:36, Nibali 1:38, Quintana 1:56, Bardet 2:54, Pinot 2:58.

Leinster

I can't see him being competitive on the cobbles (which was surely a stage he's been targetting) a day after doing a somersault like that, but I can definitely see him sticking around for the TTT, especially if Mollema is there or thereabouts.


How unlucky is Tony Martin? Obviously, if Cav was a team player, he would've tracked Froome to the top of the Muur and denied him those bonus seconds. I eagerly await the outrage directed at Uran for looking after his own time and not drifting back a little to help Tony get up 2 seconds quicker.

CafeVelo

I'm Sure he was going after the cobbles, and even though we've seen comebacks before (contodor's giro?) I don't see it this time without a miracle (or advanced pharmacology)

CafeVelo

I'm also keeping an eye on Pinot, he's better every year.

patrickgm60

Wow; what a brutal Stage 3. Those post-crash photos are sickening - looks like a truck plowed through the peloton. ~200 riders on long, flat, fast stages with a variety of wind/road conditions is the correct recipe...

What gearing does Froome use? 16-19% grade near the finish, and he's seated, spinning like a banshee.

Blue Belly

One one hand, it's great to have early "shake up" stages. On the other hand, it really cuts a lot of excitement out of the mountain stages. Today's accident was terrible, unnecessary event: no fault of the stage design, obviously. Someone said it though, the tour is so much more hectic. So much faster. Maybe team selection should be a little more select. Too damn many nervous riders. Tomorrow, with the forcasted rain, could be the worst carnage of the tour. While I enjoy the competition of a good race, this just seems to be a little counter productive.

CafeVelo

The live coverage looked like a war movie.

I always assumed froome was just a freak with sick watts. Even a compact couldn't provide enough advantage to spin. It was impressive to see him lay out power and push the bike uphill though.

DLBroox

Bonnet has a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

Cancellara went to the hospital with back pain. I've seen it several times and still can't believe he got back up and got back on the bike.

PepeM

Great job from Rodriguez there. Froome did quite well too obviously.

While Quintana can go up a mountain with anyone, I was always worried that he would lose too much time on the first week. Well, it is looking worse than I expected. Only two days of racing and already two minutes behind Froome. I can only see that gap widening during this week too, so I just don't think he will be a challenger. Nibali also a bit behind already but I think he might be able to make some time up in the next few days.

I see what you mean, but I think I prefer every stage being important than having a procession for a few weeks and then two/three stages where everything is decided. I was really looking forward to the first week of this Tour and so far it has not disappointed.

RJM

Cancellara dropped out due to a fractured vertebrae.

Blue Belly

i agree, in part. I do enjoy the race more(in the first week), but we end up with a 1 horse show for the last two weeks if things go south, as they did last year.

PepeM

Yes, I really hope that doesn't happen. Unless some top guys crash out, I really don't think (hope) that will be the case, it is a strong field.

rousseau

I know we're a couple days in already, but I thought this was a well done and very entertaining preview of the race:

jyl

This sort of random, pointless accident really irritates me. Might as well pull riders' names out of a hat every day and expel them from the race.

For most of the GC guys, today was a wash. Losing 11 sec to Froome (TvG, Nibali, Quintana) or 18 sec (Contador) isn't a big deal. You've got to think guys are going to break each other in the mountains, not mark each other for two weeks of MTFs. But Pinot losing another 1:33 isn't good.

LMaster

Not popular around here? Sky does all their marginal gains stuff, but I don't really have a problem with that as long as you're playing in the rules. Makes me a little concerned being a Nibali fan.

PepeM

Nibali needs to have a big day tomorrow. If he can make some time he will be in good shape.

I agree it is not that big of a deal. Losing over a minute in a completely flat stage was way worse. But being two minutes behind so early in the race is a bit worrying for Quintana. Nibali might be able to gain time back before the mountains. Quintana, I am not too sure.

jyl

The thing is, when is the last time you saw Nibali drop Froome or Contador on a MTF - like never? And how often have you seen Nibali dropped off the back by those guys - not uncommon, I think. Nibali needs a lead going into the Pyrennes, and he knows it, hence the panic yesterday.

Quintana, on the other hand, dropped Contador at Tirreno. I don't recall him dropping Froome on any climb, so I'm thinking the danger men in weeks 2-3 will be Q and F.

I'm sure Movistar's plans included Q losing time in week 1, everyone expected him to. And Sky must be thrilled with Froome's positioning and race sense to date, he's gotten them car #1 position for the cobbles.

I'm rooting for Martin to take yellow tomorrow. He needs to pick up a second on Froome. TvG is 13 sec behind Martin; Gallopin a bit more; GVA Sagan Uran Contador about 30-40 sec back; a minute back to the next guys, Thomas and Stybar. Anyone know how Martin is on cobbles?. Surely EQS will try to put Martin in yellow?

sprince

Tomorrow's stage could take minutes out of Froome and Quintana. Nibali should gain back time just by staying on his bike and having an average day.

PepeM

Yes, I agree. What I meant to say for Nibali is that he needs to gain some time, not just cut on what he has already lost. I agree that Quintana is capable of making up time on the mountains, but if he gets to the Pyrenees, say, 5 minutes behind then it is going to be tough for him.

RJM

For GC, it doesn't seem like a lost race for any of the "big four" or whatever they were calling them. Tejay is really looking good too. Sagan is currently top in the white jersey competition but he needs to pick it up for the green jersey.

LMaster

You're right the answer is never. But then again Nibali wasn't Nibali 2.0 until 2014 TdF, and unfortunately those guys crashed out so we never got to see how that panned out. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens this year with Nibali in the mountains, and whether or not he will have his 2014 form.

I don't know how much weight I put into the Quintana dropped Contador but not Froome in races that happened several months ago. Riders form could be in rather different places. That said, with the Giro in Contador's legs, he probably will need as much margin as he can get heading into the third week. Froome definitely looks good so far though, was impressed how good of a punchy climb he did today. 600+W for 3:30 is some pretty serious power.

Right there with you on Martin, he's worked hard for it and I'd love to see him get it for a day or two. However, I have no idea what sort of cobble rider he is. Hopefully a solid one!