HardyWeinberg

What the heck happened with the arch? Did that Orica rider get launched over the top of it?

DLBroox

I knew I shouldn't have picked Pinot in the fantasy tour! but we have seen guys have a really bad day and come back the next day and win the stage...

Ken Brown

Yes, the moto driver said he did a flip over the barrier. Video showed his bike on one side and him on the other.

DLBroox

Apparently a fan's belt caught on a cable and disconnected the motor, deflating the arch. Adam Yates got clobbered or knocked down, not sure which, and wandered around dazed until he sat down in the middle of the road. Hope a concussion doesn't put him out of the race.

work4bike

I just saw video of the 1K banner actually falling; I can't believe how fast if fell. That would have been very bad if it happened during a bunch sprint. They have barricades around the power source now, but seems like a reason for a re-design of those banners.

USAZorro

I hate Froome.

Steve B.

Impressive move and ride though

Gallo

superb riding by Froome today. Never been a huge fan as he always seemed so stiff but had huge respect for his talent. After today though might change my mind. Smacked a fan in the way on a climb. Attacked when none suspected. Rode on his top tube to victory. Smiled at the end appearing humble and thanked his team. I am beginning to like this guy. Sky looked very strong today. Tomorrow will tell alot about this years tour. Unless there is a successful attack by a rival tomorrow barring any bad luck this could be the last man to wear yellow this year

HardyWeinberg

I guess this definitely makes me like Froome and I am annoyed at Movistar and BMC. I'm not chasing, I've got a bottle. I'm not chasing, I'm the team leader, wait for someone else to do it. No you chase...

gpsblake

This is what Quintana deserves, he wants to simply sit on the back of Froome's wheel during the first two weeks of the tour and now it's cost him dearly again just like last year. And with the time trials toward the end of the race, Froome has to be the massive favorite now. Nibali also used a great tactic on a spot a few years ago where no one expected it.

Well one Froome

seypat

At least Froome showed some heart and guts. I can't say the same for the rest of the GC contenders with him. What a bunch of pansies! When someone takes off you better give chase instead of looking around hoping another another rider will do it for you. That's what winners do.

DLBroox

You just saved me a lot of typing!

DLBroox

What happened to the rider who wiped out in the curve on the way down? I don't remember his name. His bike looked really messed up. More than just had he slid sideways. Almost as if the fork snapped. The other rider was trying to get his bike out of the tangle and he yanked a wheel loose and the rim was free of the tire.

dstrong 

His tubular tire apparently came unglued and rolled off the rim. A bare rim on pavement have very little traction. ;-)

MinnMan

Attacking on a descent like that takes guts. It's totally different from attacking on a climb.

Watching the GC group chase was strange. For those in the back or middle of the pack, I'm sure it wouldn't have been easy to maneuver around the others to try to attack, but the ones in front just didn't have the cojones today.

MinnMan

Who is this guy Adam Yates in second place and in the white jersey? He's 23? Are we glimpsing the future?

dstrong 

Here are the last 10 years of white jersey winners at the TdF and their finishing place that year.

2006 Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre–Fondital 12th
2007 Alberto Contador (ESP) Discovery Channel 1st
2008 Andy Schleck (LUX) CSC–Saxo Bank 12th
2009 Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank 2nd
2010 Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank 1st
2011 Pierre Rolland (FRA) Team Europcar 10th
2012 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 5th
2013 Nairo Quintana (COL) Movistar Team 2nd
2014 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) FDJ 3rd
2015 Nairo Quintana (COL) Movistar Team 2nd

Glimpse of the future? I suppose so. Except for Schleck (retired) and Cunego (rode the Giro), every other white jersey winner is their team leader/GC contender this year.

Caretaker

No, they chose not to take the same risks on the descent as Froome. At one stage the lead was 23 seconds but once they were on the flat they cut it by 10 seconds.

The Tour wasn't won or lost today.

seypat

I'm talking about the initial reactions, particularly Q's. He was looking around saying someone please help me instead of stepping on the gas. Froome got a big part of the gap when he jumped and nobody else went with him. I think they were drawing straws to see who would start the pursuit!

MinnMan

Maybe. Q. just happened to take a water bottle at exactly the wrong time. Once he realized what was happening, he tossed the water bottle, but he had already lost a vital few seconds.

Caretaker

Froome caught everyone by surprise but the few seconds weren't vital. He stretched a few seconds to 23 by taking big risks. If the GC group had been prepared to take them as well they'd have caught him on the run in to the line.

Credit to Froome but if he'd come off we'd be all saying how foolish he was taking the risk so early in the Tour.

seypat

That's the way it is with us armchair quarterbacks! We gripe about wanting to see fireworks, but when it happens we find problems with that also!🤔

TCR Rider

That's how it is when you're willing to take a risk. Big risk equals big reward or massive fail. Froome was willing to take the risk. Loved the move dude had some big balls. I would say the Tour started in earnest today and if Froome didn't dig too deep it just might have been decided. Sorry Sky haters but who has a stronger team?

Caretaker

Been looking at video of Froome punching a Colombian fan. He gave him a fair old whack.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...=0&FORM=VDQVAP



Edit: see where Froome got fined 200 SF (about $200) for that side swipe. They should have given him 2,000 SF IMO.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froo...our-de-france/

DLBroox

Wow, smacked him hard! Stunned the guy big time. But he deserved it. He was so close to the peloton he was bound to take someone out with all his flying and fluttering paraphernalia!