uluchay

I don't think he was. At the time he thanked Roche and abandoned, they both had numberless bikes, meaning they both changed bikes.

Jakedatc

[QUOTE=Rhinelander;16937760]I think that many are under more pressure to push harder and get out of their comfort zone. The Schlecks have never been good at descending and have ended up crashing multiple times. many of the crashes have been mid pack on flat roads.. guys being either complacent or trying to move up when there isn't enough space. Scarponi's crash today was from a flat on a descent that he basically had to straight line a corner into the hay bales. Nibali reacted perfectly fine with carbon rims behind him to make the corner.

they used to run cork brakes that weren't worth much in the wet either. Beloki fractured his femur on a perfectly dry day into Gap on alloy rims. Lance went through the field on a carbon frame (or at least carbon fork). Guys ride full Cross seasons or multiple seasons on CF bikes and wheels without failures.

Nerull

[QUOTE=Rhinelander;16937760]The usual reason for running carbon forks - even on alloy bikes - is that their characteristics are exactly the opposite. Alloy forks are very unforgiving, while carbon absorbs road vibration and some shock.

Jakedatc

[QUOTE=Nerull;16937847]shhh bringing up facts gets their tin foil hats all disheveled

DLBroox

Really? Even after watching a week full of mayhem you think that's it? Nibali will win? Wow after today's loss of Contador I'd say just about anything can happen to change this race. I'm not wishing anything bad on anyone, but how many crazy things have we seen over the years?

Jakedatc

Not to mention Nibali and Kittel are the only repeat winners so far and the stages have been awesome racing.. 60km solo attacks.. break away wins.. uphill battles. shows that Laf is a casual fan that only looks at the leader board apparently.

Rhinelander

[QUOTE=Nerull;16937847]I respectfully disagree. Unless you wish to infer that I don't know the carbon fork on my Bianchi versus the alloy fork on my Colnago.

Rhinelander

[QUOTE=Jakedatc;16937972]Was wondering when I was going to catch condescending demeanor. But what can you expect from a disheveled tin foil hat. Must be that only the forum matadors really know whats up.

Jseis 

IMHO. Modern Hi tech bikes + super fit aggressive riders pushing the envelope at speed + crap roads + no margin for error in any condition + 20 stage toll ='s accidents. And accidents don't care if you are a previous Champion. This isn't NASCAR or F1 or LeMans. Marketing may like a Champion but the probability of repeat contenders is likely lessening.

Rhinelander

well said !

Jakedatc

[QUOTE=Rhinelander;16938049]So you throw out a post that is opposite of how physics work and don't expect some snark about it? perhaps the internet is not for you.

carbon fiber is more compliant than aluminum

Rhinelander

[QUOTE=Jakedatc;16938106]Quit trolling me Jake!

cincipeddler

I think we are kidding ourselves if we think Nibali isn't going to Waltz this now barring injury, and we don't want that happening in the name of excitement.

Nibali has left them all behind on back to back hill/mountain stages and even won a bloody flat stage, he won't be getting beat in the GC without stacking it on a bend.

laf

Unless he crashes or some random other accident, yes.
The tour is already a mess. Even if Nibali or anybody else wins it and even if its a great win, the winner will know deep down that he never defeated the best riders (Froome, Contador).
But he surely wont say it.

I will stay follow the tour, but will a little less interest. It lost some of its appeal.

Bacciagalupe

Crashes have been a part of cycle racing since the very beginning. DNF rates have gotten lower every decade.

I don't know if anyone has actually kept stats on the number of crashes, but I doubt they're much (if any) higher now than in the past.

Jseis 

The modern TDF has higher speeds and all things considered, crashes should be expected to be more severe. There could well be fewer crashes but I'd suspect they could be more violent. The TDF is somewhat like a rally except that the engine is human. Maybe the organizers want more dynamic stages. Well, that's easy to do as they pick the "course". You can include just about any road and up and down surface you wish. But auto racing (rally and off road aside) left the concept of say "road racing" a long time ago and the TDF is road racing in the classic sense. Comparing the modern TDF to the old days makes no sense. Athletes pushing the envelope with modern training and machinery tech and willing to accept the risk to win...that's where the risk comes into play. Jens Voigt seems to have sensed it regarding his comments about riders taking more aggressive moves.


Interesting graph here: Why Is the Tour de France Getting Faster Each Year? - bettingexpert Blog

Astrozombie

Hmm.........I can see that, on the other hand I can see them feeling like they did defeat the best riders.
"If they were the best they would not have crashed! HA!" You could have also been further up in the group to reduce the likelihood of going down in a crash

Giacomo 1 

Screw carbon fiber, Alberto should have rode a Schwinn!

Steel is real baby...

banditobrandino

I couldn't believe the cameraman, wearing an Astana glove would be so brash as to celebrate Contador's misfortune. I watched it back in slow-mo. The glove read "Australia", not Astana.

tinrobot

They all had the same road. the same weather, and the same peloton. One rider positioned himself well in the peloton, avoided road hazards, and is still in it. Two others didn't survive. How is that not a defeat?

laf

Its a defeat, but its down to bad luck. Not because of skill. A lot of riders crashed and they are still there.

Nibali even said this after today stage : "Shall I win the Tour, it'll be difficult to say I win because Chris Froome and Contador have crashed".
Here is the doubt.

And no, this is not a vendetta against Nibali. I would say the same about anyone.

Leinster

Nicolas Roche's tour diary about the day;



'We were so confident in Alberto, we didn't have a Plan B. Then Plan A went out the window' - Independent.ie

patrickgm60

I was rooting for Gallopin, so I could see his yellow bike again. Beautiful!

Jseis 

In principle I agree as it is truly grueling heads up racing with the added stressed of cumulative fatigue. The well oiled machine of say a Sky team almost demands steady state conditions to not upset their plan. But a dynamic series of stages coupled with weather sure messes that up!