Who Will Win The Tour De France?
07-18-15, 06:53 PM
#501
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That's a bit much, don't you think?
There has been some very exciting racing and finishes up to this point, and most of it has had nothing to do with either Sagan or Contador.
There has been some very exciting racing and finishes up to this point, and most of it has had nothing to do with either Sagan or Contador.
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07-18-15, 07:35 PM
#502
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Maybe. But I'm disappointed in Valverde and Quintana who seem to be in pretty good form but are not being aggressive enough to make it a race up to this point. Then there is TJVG, I don't expect anything from him except more plugging away and eventual time loses. I'm sure there will be interesting individual efforts outside of the gc/points standings, but it's not looking good nearing the end of the second week as far as competition for the overall unless Contador does something.
07-18-15, 07:49 PM
#503
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Maybe. But I'm disappointed in Valverde and Quintana who seem to be in pretty good form but are not being aggressive enough to make it a race up to this point. Then there is TJVG, I don't expect anything from him except more plugging away and eventual time loses. I'm sure there will be interesting individual efforts outside of the gc/points standings, but it's not looking good nearing the end of the second week as far as competition for the overall unless Contador does something.
Contador is definitely waiting for his legs to improve, and it seems they are getting a bit better.
TvG is purely defending, has no intention of attacking, and I think Contador or Valverde will knock him off the podium. In just 2 km of final climb, a weakened Contador took 21 sec out of TvG; heck, even Nibali took 10 sec from TvG.
I admire Nibali for trying to attack, but his pride is not backed up by his legs.
Tomorrow stage 15 is a sprint stage.
Monday stage 16 looks like a breakaway stage. Weather forecast is 40% chance of afternoon rain in Gap, but the descent from the last peak to the finish line doesn't look too technical.
Tuesday rest day in Gap.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday stages 17-20 are in the Alps. Yaay! Weather forecast calls for rain and afternoon thunderstorms on most of those days. Yaay!
Last edited by jyl; 07-18-15 at 08:58 PM.
07-18-15, 08:05 PM
#504
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A few more musings on the race -
- Why didn't MTN Quebeka go after the green jersey? While Farrar is not the sprinter he once was, I think he could compete for the green.
- Where are all the American riders? Why aren't they here?
- I admit to having Hannah fatigue, but she still beats the heck out of the Michelob Ultra guy from last season!
- I really like the NBC/SN coverage of the race this season. (I know, I know, a lot of you hate it!)
- Where is Kristoff? He was the winningest rider this season coming into the Tour.
- Does anybody like Cav?
- The huge number of British and Dutch fans that came out the past 2 seasons are making the French fans look sad in comparison.
- Who looks worse on a bike, Froome or Dan Martin?
- A lot of miles behind us, and still haven't seen a pot hole, cracked asphalt, bad patches or broken curbs. The French know how to take care of their infrastructure.
- The peloton really calmed down and settled in in the second week. The first week was a scary, hairy and nerve wracked group of riders!
- The TDF really brings this forum alive! I hope everyone sticks around for the Veulta, World Championships, and other races!
OK, done for now...
- Why didn't MTN Quebeka go after the green jersey? While Farrar is not the sprinter he once was, I think he could compete for the green.
- Where are all the American riders? Why aren't they here?
- I admit to having Hannah fatigue, but she still beats the heck out of the Michelob Ultra guy from last season!
- I really like the NBC/SN coverage of the race this season. (I know, I know, a lot of you hate it!)
- Where is Kristoff? He was the winningest rider this season coming into the Tour.
- Does anybody like Cav?
- The huge number of British and Dutch fans that came out the past 2 seasons are making the French fans look sad in comparison.
- Who looks worse on a bike, Froome or Dan Martin?
- A lot of miles behind us, and still haven't seen a pot hole, cracked asphalt, bad patches or broken curbs. The French know how to take care of their infrastructure.
- The peloton really calmed down and settled in in the second week. The first week was a scary, hairy and nerve wracked group of riders!
- The TDF really brings this forum alive! I hope everyone sticks around for the Veulta, World Championships, and other races!
OK, done for now...
Froome looks worse on the bike, Martin looks worse off the bike.
07-18-15, 08:35 PM
#507
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Something that just hit me today is that I cant remember the last dog related race incident. For a few years there it seemed that one was bringing down a rider seemingly every stage.
07-18-15, 08:39 PM
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07-18-15, 09:10 PM
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07-18-15, 09:27 PM
#511
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...Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday stages 17-20 are in the Alps. Yaay! Weather forecast calls for rain and afternoon thunderstorms on most of those days. Yaay!
Well perhaps Quintana is keeping his powder dry until they get to the Alps but at this point I doubt it. The climbs in the Alps favor TJ but it looks as if reality is setting in and he's starting to fade. Contador is a long shot and Nibs is toast.
G Thomas has been awesome so far. Froome's enforcer, worth his weight in gold.
Something that just hit me today is that I cant remember the last dog related race incident. For a few years there it seemed that one was bringing down a rider seemingly every stage.
We almost had a cow incident the other day but yes no dogs so far. The fans don't seem quite as berserk as I remember either.
Well perhaps Quintana is keeping his powder dry until they get to the Alps but at this point I doubt it. The climbs in the Alps favor TJ but it looks as if reality is setting in and he's starting to fade. Contador is a long shot and Nibs is toast.
G Thomas has been awesome so far. Froome's enforcer, worth his weight in gold.
Something that just hit me today is that I cant remember the last dog related race incident. For a few years there it seemed that one was bringing down a rider seemingly every stage.
We almost had a cow incident the other day but yes no dogs so far. The fans don't seem quite as berserk as I remember either.
07-18-15, 09:41 PM
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...Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday stages 17-20 are in the Alps. Yaay! Weather forecast calls for rain and afternoon thunderstorms on most of those days. Yaay!
Well perhaps Quintana is keeping his powder dry until they get to the Alps but at this point I doubt it. The climbs in the Alps favor TJ but it looks as if reality is setting in and he's starting to fade. Contador is a long shot and Nibs is toast.
G Thomas has been awesome so far. Froome's enforcer, worth his weight in gold.
Something that just hit me today is that I cant remember the last dog related race incident. For a few years there it seemed that one was bringing down a rider seemingly every stage.
We almost had a cow incident the other day but yes no dogs so far. The fans don't seem quite as berserk as I remember either.
Well perhaps Quintana is keeping his powder dry until they get to the Alps but at this point I doubt it. The climbs in the Alps favor TJ but it looks as if reality is setting in and he's starting to fade. Contador is a long shot and Nibs is toast.
G Thomas has been awesome so far. Froome's enforcer, worth his weight in gold.
Something that just hit me today is that I cant remember the last dog related race incident. For a few years there it seemed that one was bringing down a rider seemingly every stage.
We almost had a cow incident the other day but yes no dogs so far. The fans don't seem quite as berserk as I remember either.
07-18-15, 09:56 PM
#513
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Last year, the race had one heck of the start as the Brits went nuts last year in their own homeland and it carried over into the French mainland. This year, the start didn't have the enthusiasm and thus, also has carried over into France. Even with a top notch GC field this year, I agree, they don't seem to be as interested.
07-18-15, 11:34 PM
#514
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Don't forget Porte getting punched by a fan.
The French riders fell by the wayside pretty quick, and the sky-doping talk is strong in the French media, so that is probably hurting interest.
The French riders fell by the wayside pretty quick, and the sky-doping talk is strong in the French media, so that is probably hurting interest.
07-19-15, 04:14 AM
#516
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Barring a massive race ending crash or 10 minute delaying mechanical the GC winner was decided a few days ago. Contador/Valverde can't even keep up the pace with Froome on a Cat 2 mountain...forget about attacking and doing any kind of damage. Quintana can't even attack hard enough to open and hold a single second gap on a Cat 2 mountain, although he can at least keep his wheel. GC is done, aside from the lower podium steps. The Lanterne Rouge contest is more exciting at this point.
07-19-15, 05:01 AM
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Last year, the race had one heck of the start as the Brits went nuts last year in their own homeland and it carried over into the French mainland. This year, the start didn't have the enthusiasm and thus, also has carried over into France. Even with a top notch GC field this year, I agree, they don't seem to be as interested.
Regarding no dog incidents lately - maybe three years ago a dog ran out in front of Philippe Gilbert and he was pissed. Even got off his bike and sort of went after the dog owner, or who he thought was the dog owner.
07-19-15, 10:34 AM
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I can't believe an Animal House reference went over people's heads.
Greipel strongest again today. Also he had the best positioning in a technical finish. Hard to see him being beaten on the Champs. I was looking forward to Kristoff and Degenkolb being competitive in the green jersey this year, but they've been very much also-rans.
Greipel strongest again today. Also he had the best positioning in a technical finish. Hard to see him being beaten on the Champs. I was looking forward to Kristoff and Degenkolb being competitive in the green jersey this year, but they've been very much also-rans.
07-19-15, 10:46 AM
#520
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Let me just say again...I love watching The Gorilla beat Sagan in a sprint 
07-19-15, 10:51 AM
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I was sort of dozing off during the last 10 km - hey, getting up early to watch every stage of the TdF live on the west coast has been a challenge - and for some reason there was no commentary on my Eurosport UK feed - no idea why - so I was puzzled by this: why was BMC driving at the front for so long?. They looked like a sprint train, except they were doing the TTT thing way too far out, and they have no sprinter anyway. Surely no one thinks GVA is competitive with the sprinters on a flat finish.
07-19-15, 11:09 AM
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TJ said after it was just to stay out of trouble, but that seems a lot of work just to avoid trouble. Maybe they thought GvA could mix in there and find the right wheel before that last corner? Like I said, it was a very technical finish.
07-19-15, 12:42 PM
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I can't believe an Animal House reference went over people's heads.
Greipel strongest again today. Also he had the best positioning in a technical finish. Hard to see him being beaten on the Champs. I was looking forward to Kristoff and Degenkolb being competitive in the green jersey this year, but they've been very much also-rans.
Greipel strongest again today. Also he had the best positioning in a technical finish. Hard to see him being beaten on the Champs. I was looking forward to Kristoff and Degenkolb being competitive in the green jersey this year, but they've been very much also-rans.
07-19-15, 12:46 PM
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[h=2]Public Servce Announcement: TdF ProTour Racers: DO NOT accept car riders from strange men before the finish:[/h]
Sepulveda pulled from Tour for 100m car ride - VeloNews.com
Sepulveda pulled from Tour for 100m car ride - VeloNews.com
07-19-15, 01:00 PM
#525
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So stupid of him. But also of the Ag2R team for giving him a ride.