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To make it even more complicated Cavendish indicated that he will only do the Tour de France if Levefere (Quickstep) offers him a better contract or salary. He is not prepared to take on the responsibility and media scrutiny of doing the TdF under his current minimum contract.

Well done to Richie... not bad at all for a 36 year old "domestique"... very happy for him G up to his own tricks again.... great rider, general good bloke and habitual crasher. 3x Ineos and 3 x Aussies in top 10. And Louis desperately hanging in to stay in the top 20. Well done. A shocker by Seb Kuss who looked so good at times.

Today should be a thriller. Will Richie be able to hold on to yellow or will he pay for going very deep yesterday? Those who did not do very much yesterday like Geraint might be stronger today. And then there is Louis.. will he hang on for a top 20 or maybe even a top 15?

Whether one likes him or not Valverde is one hell of an athlete. Great ride by Superman Lopez to set him up.. Movistar probably deserves this one. Also great to see Tao showing some form. I think Chris Froome looked better today?

Gee just could not help himself from attacking at that corner and in typical style nearly stuffed it up at the end ????

It is a pity that Pidcock will miss the Tour de Suisse next week. It would have been very interesting too see how he would perform at especially the mountain stages and time trials at World Tour level.

Based on my experience ( 2 collarbone ops) this is impossible. There is however a confirmed story about the ex Springbok wing Jannie Engelbrecht who broke his collarbone during the second half of a Currie cup final and was then forced to stay on the field by his captain ( no substitutes allowed back in those days). According to Engelbrecht the pain was severe and he was therefore determined not to be tackled again. As a result he ran twice round the opposition to score and his team (WP) won the final. I have no idea how he managed to catch the passes Personally I did 2 collarbones and it took me about 4-5 weeks after the ops before i was fairly comfortable to ride on the road again ( I did not lose much fitness though as I was back on the trainer very soon after the ops).

Great pic. Reminds me of the song "Bellville Blues" by David Kramer from many moons ago: "Voortrekker road is a wonderful straight road It streches for miles and miles But the most wonderful thing about Voortrekker Road is that it got so many traffic lights One after the other after the other And you can take your white Cortina out there And wheelspin it from one traffic light to the next traffic light to the next traffic light.. Now thats lekker"

I see Tom Pidcock also had a bad crash while training on his time trial bike. The frame snapped into 2 while he also broke his collarbone. As a result he is out of the Tour de Suisse. At least he was luckier than poor Froome.

Nice to see Postlberger hanging on to yellow by one second. He really put in an almighty effort today.

Seems as if Astana targeted this time trial.

A very good team obviously helps, but leading a very strong team like Ineos also put the protected rider under immense pressure. Imagine Bernal stuffed up today after all the work done by his highly paid teammates. It happened to Roglic last year.

haha... good idea, unless they start a senior Tour like they have in Tennis and Golf. Then they can have a jersey for the best "young" rider in that Tour too ( light Grey).

As a supporter of the Australian I have to point out that he made the Podium at the Tour as a team leader so I will not say he totally failed ????

I also think they will stick with the original plan of taking Thomas and Carapaz as "co-leaders" as well as Richie as super domestique and backup leader to the Tour. Richie signed on in the understanding that he will be a super domestique. The route of the Tour will also suit Geraint and Richie as they are both excellent time triallist. Brailsford indicated previously that Carapaz will have to race "differently" in the tour meaning that he will be allowed to go on the attack in the mountains. They might also send Tao to the Tour. A team comprising of Geraint, Carapaz, Richie P, Tao, Kwiatkowski, Luke Rowe, Rowan Dennis etc. is pretty scary looking. Yates is earmarked to lead the team at the Vuelta. Bernal, who is clearly their best rider, is just returning from a career threatening injury so I think (hope) they will manage his work load very carefully

Fair to say he is a very popular rider with a huge following.... the fact that he is so humble and also very articulate ( also in English) does him no harm either.

I just noticed Schmid finished 41st at Strade Bianche this year ( in same time as Buchman who also rode so well yesterday) so he might not be a star but is also is no pumpkin. Well done to whoever it is at Qhubeka Assos for spotting his potential and recruited and selected him for the team and the race.

Based on what we have seen of him in the past Bernal should even be better in the high mountains.... obviously only if his back holds out like you said. Yates looked better today ..perhaps playing the long game? Fantastic race to watch. Stunning even.

haha... and he could have made a lot more money if he played professional football and still rode his bicycle for fun. Hell, he might even have been able to afford a Colnago ????

Is Pascal staying with Bora?

haha.. he is probably not famous enough to cop that kind of flak.

Tim Merlier has now also gone home due to fatigue. If it carries on like this the GC riders will end up contesting the last flat sprint stage.

Like someone posted earlier on this thread Caleb is aiming to win stages in all 3 grand tours during a single season. It has been done only 3 times in cycling's history and only one of the 3 riders who achieved it completed all three of the tours. It was during the 1950's.

I was referring to Road only. Alan certainly has an outside chance for bronze imo too.

As much chance as the DA will have to win the next general election in SA.