TheKillerPenguin

I think it's telling that the only one that didn't put in a dig on that stage before the rest day was Quintana...he knows how everybody else is going but nobody knows for sure how good he is.

So... I think Froome does exactly what he needs to do to win and generally doesn't dump watts when it isn't necessary. He can't rely on longer flat TTs to build a cushion, and I think that based on his experience at the tour last year and not entirely knowing how strong Quintana truly is this year he's thinking Quintana will take his lunch money if he only leaves it to the climbs. So he's grabbing time where he can, which comes off as more dramatic than his past performances. He probably could've done the same in past years but going off the front to grab a handful of seconds did not make sense after running a cost-benefit analysis.

TMonk

Nice analysis TKP.

Also, I'm sad for Alberto. Apparently Eurosport is too, because they assembled this nice vid:

Top 10 Alberto Contador Career Wins (2016/)

hubcyclist

oh man, this is crazy, froome jogging trying to get a bike

echappist

wow that's bull****

Grumpy McTrumpy

I'm sure glad I am not the one making the official ruling on this.

TheKillerPenguin

*#u)($*%)(#$*%)(#$

echappist

neutralize at the place of accident.

whoever was leading at that time would have gotten wallopped

crash not fault of rider. no idea why they didn't have the gendarmes lined up holding hands to quell the crowds (like they do in Italy)

Doge

He is a prettier runner than cyclist.
Looks like he's done that before.

Flatballer

Running in cycling shoes, uphill, on pavement, is a feat in itself. I almost slip on the driveway half the time (I'm using older Keo's without the grips though, maybe he has grips on whatever cleats he uses).

I can't believe the motorbikes and the crowds. That looks like a hellish way to ride, let alone race. The bikes have got to stop crashing into riders, it's getting ridiculous. Use quadcopters and get rid of the motorcycles, I dunno.

globecanvas

True. But 10 seconds later, Froome on a bike 6 sizes too small with the wrong pedals is about the ugliest thing I have ever seen, or will ever see.

echappist

i was expecting you to call for him to be penalized for advancing without his bike

hack

That must have been quite a sight. With everything having happened so quickly and density of the people on the road, the fans some 50m past the incident wouldn't have known about the crash. So, they see Bauke and co. ride past and then Froome running up the hill ... surreal.

Doge

That was too obvious and already pointed out. I think you may miss the factitious nature of my posts on rules.
I question why they bothered to write and complicate things with rules they seem to always give exception to.

There is no rule that says you can't punch a spectator, yet Froome was fined for it.
There are rules about pushing, drafting, getting pulled by a motor, carrying bikes, switching equipment ... all done this year without penalty that I have heard of.

As long as it isn't labeled "doping" (or numbers without pins) seems everyone is pretty reasonable.

hack

It sucks for Bauke. He got up and moving ASAP and finished really strong all to have it neutralized.


The situation is a crappy one, but I'd lean toward leaving the times end how they end. Re-evaluate and re-write the rules after the race is done for implementation next year.

Flatballer

I can't decide how I would like it to have gone. Certainly a motorbike stopping short in a tunnel of fans only wide enough for one bike wasn't Froome's fault.

On the other hand, that's racing sometimes. I dunno.

canuckbelle

There's a consistency issue: the 1km arch coming down was dealt with the same way they dealt with the motorbike slamming on the breaks a couple feet in front of charging riders. Seems fair.

Doge

However if time is taken from the crash, the race is over. So running without a bike, or any other violation would not matter. Of course no one knew that, but the jury made a bunch of issues go away by ending it when they did.

Doge

Would you then DQ Froome for advancing without his bike? Clearly something he had the option to do.


As posted above - I think they didn't want to deal with that and cutting it off before he ran gave them an out.

hack

Is it against the rules? I don't think the rules state you have to advance with a bike, just that you have to do it under your own power and that you finish with a bike.

Doge

Good point. You're going to make me work.
Well then they also avoided that controversy...

Also I was WRONG !!
There is a rule against violence. Froome was fined - but not eliminated. Hmm.
30.2. Towards anyone else Rider: elimination and 200
https://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/R...-E_English.pdf

globecanvas

Phil was adamant while it was happening that you are not permitted to advance at all without a bike, whether under your butt or over your shoulder.

And he's never been wrong about anything! I am pretty sure he got Froome's name right at least half of the time that he was making the point about the rules.

canuckbelle

G. Thomas's joke about Froome being Kenyan, so they expect him to run...was gold.

hack

I heard that from Phil, but then the fanatics on the pro cycling forums were quick to correct him.


Unrelated, but kind of related, I think there were at least three instances on today's telecast where the Phil/Paul duo were shouting about a break only to have it be a shot of the back of the field. A bit humorous, but I can't imagine their jobs are particularly easy in that they don't get footage in a particular linear format and are having to really guess what is what while making it captivating for the viewers.

hack

Dig dig!!


Also, I was perusing the rules and noticed that the rules state video motos have to film from behind riders on the mountain ascents. Since Porte's face was slammed into the camera while it was filming, I'd venture a guess that the moto was in violation of the rules and should be subject to some kind of penalty.

Flatballer

Now you've got me reading the rules.

First, I learned what a "flying relay" is (hand sling, like Madison). Then, I learned that there's a difference between sheltering behind a car (rule 19) "briefly" or "for some time". Apparently "for some time" is considerably worse. Who knew.

And mountain biking has "failure to use the handlebar plate in training", which will cost you 100, somethings. Euros I guess? That seems harsh for not training with a handlebar plate, but what do I know.