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Lets hope for Ben..at this stage mist us smashed so if he has a good day he might just do it.DDD sure needs it right now.

I have feeling he just needs to be there when Froome goes and it is game over for Yates..if 2 riders like that combine it will be hard to manage.But I also think it will be hard for Sky..everybody expects them now to be the main aggressors. I want TD to win it and Froome to give it everything he has..then I am happy! Froome please go apes$%t!!!! So Gen what is the perfect outcome for you??

Looking forward to last 2 stages..this is now where we will see if Yates spend to much and can hang on.He is young and will be feeling the heat big time! I think he is going to loose this one..the big question will be can TD follow Froome when he goes...

I still think he is going to be very very strong in week 3..unless the crash affected him more than we know.That does not mean he has a shot at winning but he will be dangerous and will impact the outcome of the race.

Have a look at this..last year hammer series.To put some context..Tao was really smashed in this race because day 1 he was their man in the break..day 2 he had to do lots of the chasing for their sprinter and then this all-out effort. What is important is that last moment when he drops..have a look at what happens when the 3 Sunweb riders try and pass him..absolute refusal..there is something about the guys that can make themselves hurt that much but also completely refuses to give up. Froome and Contodor has that...Quintana not so much. This kids I think has got it...lets see https://youtu.be/dx2Y3dfbkNQ

Yeah right now TD is in full control of this..Yates is looking good and he was full gas on that climb but TD is in control.Unless he finds new ways to loose time he is going to walk it.Pinot and Froome will probably be the main instigators during week 3. Yates will do well to follow them in the big mountains but I think we going to see something simular to Cadel leading the Giro when he was still so young..cracked with 2 days to go.

So Tj in the lead..I like Bernal but would not mind Tj taking the win.Feel for the guy and he probably needs thus win more than the rest. Best thing is my man Tao...really showing good progress..have been watching him for the last 2 years and I am a fan for sure..love his attitude and fight.Man is still a kid but watch out gor him..he can climb and TT

Yes will for sure but up to now Froome have been surrounded with team mates but the competition is redhot and he has had bad luck and trying to time form and manage fatigue looks like a bad idea right now. I think when we hit the 3rd week the smaller team will make a difference.When you trying to control from the front it will be hard and keeping the race in check day after day might become a challenge.Lets see if it creates the incentive to be more attacking. Conto would have loved a 3rd week with smaller teams...

The plan mostly worked because of the easier first week in Tdf and the lack of TT competition.He was never forced into the red really so he could manage fatigue and form..even when he was ready in the 3rd week no-one really tested him so he basically got a free pass at Tdf..even with all that in his favour he still was smashed at the end of the vuelta.Now this double is completely different..difficult first week..serious TT competition for once and climbers all over.If he wins this it is going to mess him up big time.Not going to plan thats for sure..I am hoping to see a fighting Froome..thats all.

Froome not so race ready at the moment..but to be fair the last time they followed the race ready approach was Wigo days..and maybe Froome year 1 and 2. Trying to win 2 grand tours is way different so we have nor seen them win like that for some time.

Yeah we have to remember that hitting form this early in the year will be new ground for him..he is normally very avg in May so he probably had to adjust his approach a bit.Think we will see him strong in the 3rd week and potentially also peak at vuelta..let hope for some good days for DDD.

Great win by Sagan!! Would not have predicted him going that long and have to say that when he attacked I thought he got it wrong. I think it surprised most and once he got the gap it was done. Also great to see Dellier working so hard al the way to the finish.

Also with the first half of classic season almost done Sky can not be happy..absolutely nothing happening there!! Kwaito got a stage race and Poels and Thomas had 1 or 2 ok days but classic wise I think this has been their worst season ever..

It is crazy to think some of these guys will line up at Pais Vasco today..a classic like that must generate big fatigue but these guys are just amazing. Imagine doing a 400 pluss tss day the day before you start a tour...????

Sagan must be careful that he starts to sound like a broken record.There is always some small reference to the other riders and their tactics. There was a number of team leaders that was far more committed to the chase than Sagan..plus when he did get clean air he made no impression on Terpstra's lead. Just take it that the stronger rider and team won and move on. He is getting stronger by the week so I think PR Sagan will be very close.

How long was he in break? I only got to see the last 45km

Yes masif effort by Pedersen...might still see big things from him.QS did not have to use too many tactics today..they just used the strongest man in the race and asked him to go long again...helps that they have backup options but its clear no one rider in that chase group was going to match him.

Don't think we have seen such a strong Belgian lineup for a ling time..the ein will be a Belgian one I think. Hoping for Sep!! This year it feels like there's a lot of riders at the same level..so winning this thing is going to be crazy difficult! Anybody that beat QS will have to be strong like hell and very clever.

Thanks for the feedback all!! We will be based in Auckland. Start work on the first of May and flights booked for 28 April so going to be a very busy first couple of weeks.

Really strong sprint from him but a smart win..good tactical riding.

Should be a Sagan, Demare and Viviani showdown now..10km to go!!

Sounds like he was describing pretty normal race tactics...maybe GvA and Benoot should also feel unhappy that Gilbert just sat on with a big smile on his face..or maybe they know that teams are not going to hand it to them on a platter and there is a reason they are race favourites.

Ok so offer made and accepted!!Visas handed in with Medical and police Certificate. Doing work to resident with accredited employer. If nothing goes wrong from here plan is to fly 28 April. Things happening fast now!! Some questions for you all. 1. Not planing on shipping anything but want to try and bring bikes.Should be able to take 2 with on plane but want to try and bring down the rest also...plus trainers etc. What options do I have and is it worth it or should I just sell rather. Also do you have like a bikehub equivalent that side? Just want to get a feel for second hand bike prices. 2. How easy is it to get finance that side for a small car.If I am permanently employed but want to get it done on day 1 without any Salary history in Nz? Stressing bigtime now that something goes wrong with visa because we full on committed now..resigned...house in market..half our stuff already sold..eish!!

He has shown very little form this year sofar..no doubt he is not in the same place as last year. Especially when the road goes up...But he might still pull it together before PR Quickstep had a great race but in the end it was real close..Bmc had numbers also but struggled to convert.

Quickstep in full control!! But lets see what Benoot or Greg can do from here..