sarals 

<sigh> When she becomes a world class cyclist, she'll thank you.

I really wanted TeJay to get it today, but yeah, I agree that it was sort a fitting thing for a French rider to win such an iconic (there's that word again) stage.

I'm loving seeing Contador fall behind. I don't know why, but I just don't care for that guy. Froome is showing he's human, but wow, he's still amazing. Quintana is just an animal, what a rider.

revchuck 

I had to laugh when Froome called Porte back. Karma...

thechemist

You and me both! Porte needed to wave his hand back to him like come on man, buahaha

mattm

did di2 fail tejay today?

chasm54

Irrespective of all the doping/not doping controversy, this has been one of the more animated Tours for a while. Froome hasn't merely defended his early lead, SaxoTinkoff have attacked pretty consistently, Movistar have looked excellent, the sprint stages haven't been a procession. Not much not to like, imo.

revchuck 

Apparently it was bad luck, not bad stuff. From VeloNews:

MDcatV

2011 wasnt very long ago.

echappist

he's excused for being new to cycling

btw i decided not to sign up for getting LBL (Lost in the Backwoods of Limbo), aka Lost River. Took a look at the sign-up: 11 pre-reg, half of which are veritable leg breakers. That and the fact i'll be racing in the mid-80's heat under direct sun basically made it a no go. I'll see you out in Page Valley. Also, tried to say hi after the race last week but was told that you left already.

MDcatV

^how did coppi go for you?

sucky race for us. our early break guys missed the early break (that had horsepower), and we didnt react to it very well, tried a futile chase after the break had a looong leash, and it resulted in me outta gas and OTB. i got popped on 2nd to last lap and DNF'd. since i rode my bike to the race, I just kind of rolled on home. the win ended up coming from the early break. unusual for that race.

echappist

okay; rolled in at the tail end of the front group. kinda what i expected, really. Maybe if this were 3 years ago before my crash i'd have saved up for the final gallop up the hill, but these days i'd much rather either roll in front of the pack or be a spectator at the finish. I didn't race for a good month and lost a bit of my racing acumen. That meant I lined up late and took a good 50 minutes to surf to the front.

I attacked at the wrong spot (on old-hundred after the start-finish on the third lap), bridged up to a lone rider, spent a few miles OTF, got caught, and the day was over after that. After i was caught i drifted back again, content to just get a few more training miles in and save things for another day, though my legs were kinda dead by then and it wasn't like i could have done much anyway. I was surprised that i actually passed a few people up that final hill, despite averaging a measly 18mph on it.

rankin116

Jack Bauer went face-first into a barbed wire fence today. Yowzas.

Grumpy McTrumpy

ssdd

mattm

Loved seeing Kittel destroy everyone! (just caught up)

thechemist

I want his shoes(those shimano's are hot!)...but that is beside the point. I think this was mentioned in the RTT but I dont see any issue with a sprinter finishing in like 165th place if he wins four stages?

I thought quintana was great!
I feel a little bit for Sagan, I mean the green jersey seemed almost bittersweet to him and it's like he upgraded by race volume rather than wins.
Loved watching team ST put some time into froome on that rolling sprinter stage 9?
Orica green edge TTT was great as was martins ITT.
I was pleased schleck did terrible, just being truthful here.
Valverde is an idiot for not taking his domestique's bike...can anyone explain that mechanical? I haven't watched that stage yet.
hesjedal was a disappointing as was voeckler.

thechemist

https://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...-france_296653

JohnKScott

I finally caught up this weekend. I enjoyed this TdF. I enjoyed watching the emergence of Kittel & Quintana. I especially look forward to watching Quintana mature. Sagan is a beast. The final laps and awards ceremony at twilight/night was just a joy to watch (and I'm not big on pageantry). It was just beautiful.