Patchelicious Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Guys guys, before we feel too sorry for them, let's not forget that they are Ausies!!
Jay_B Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 My punt for the day: Sky to come out swinging. If I'm right, that means a lot will be asked of Kiryienka, Siutsou and co. to put in huge pulls and make racing super hard for the others. Looking at the weather report, it predicts a sunny 24 degrees with a 10 km/h SSW wind, so a bit of a crosswind for the mid-part of the race (see red arrows in pic below). Not really enough for a strong team to force echelon splits, but Sky will have to take any little bit of assistance where they can. I wouldn't be surprised to see Quickstep, BMC and Sky collaborating to break up the field along that stretch. hmmm I thought the same but then reconsidered... I don't think they will panic and go all out every chance they get. There is some big mountain stages to come where they will now more than ever need there guys to work hard and put some hurt into astana and tinkoff. I think they will be better off staying patient until they get to the real GC terrain. Matthews and OGE have targeted todays stage from the start so expect them to chase down any real breaks... that being said im backing Chavannel or Gilbert for todays win. Its there type of stage
American Flyers Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Porte could have taken his teammate bicycle and get back to the bunch.. He wasted his time without thinking carefully and his whole team should have dropped back and bring him back..He paid the price of mistake...
tombeej Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 hmmm I thought the same but then reconsidered... I don't think they will panic and go all out every chance they get. There is some big mountain stages to come where they will now more than ever need there guys to work hard and put some hurt into astana and tinkoff. I think they will be better off staying patient until they get to the real GC terrain. Matthews and OGE have targeted todays stage from the start so expect them to chase down any real breaks... that being said im backing Chavannel or Gilbert for todays win. Its there type of stage 3 minutes down - they have no choice - they have to take back time now. It's not about panicking, but about realising they're in the *** and every stage counts now. If Ritchie has a blinder in the TT he might get 1:30 back on Contador. But that means another 1:40 to find elsewhere. I don't see how he'll do that in the 5 mountain stages after that against Aru and Contador. If he has a blinder in each of those days he might get a couple of second back each time. Not enough. Their backs are against the wall, so now it's all about how much they want this.
tombeej Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 A fly is sitting on the wall in the Team Sky bus this morning and hears this: Ring ring, ring ring… Peiper: Hello? Brailsford: Allan, we need to talk. Peiper: Hi Dave, I was expecting your call. Brailsford: Ok let’s cut straight to it: I’ve spoken to Peeters over at Quickstep and he’s in. I want to know where you stand? Peiper: Ok that’s fine, but you know you’re going to owe us for this one. Brailsford: If we get Ritchie back in the game then yes. If your man wins, then we’re square. Peiper: Fine. Brailsford: Good, that’s settled. Bye. (Turning to his glum looking riders in the bus) Brailsford: OK boys, here’s the plan. Kosta, Bernie, Elia, Leopold and Vasil, you guys have a huge day ahead of you. Make it count. Ritchie will be on your wheels all day – break up that peloton and make it super hard for those pesky mountain goats. Mikel, Sebastian and Salvatore, you three need to get into the break. I don’t care if you choke up a lung doing it – just make sure you do it. I need you guys up the road and stay fresh so that Ritchie has you at the end of the stage when the other guys are blown. So don’t do any work in the break – sit at the back and save your legs. If you miss the break then don’t stop pedaling when you reach the finish line – just keep riding because there won’t be any place for you on this bus ever again, do you hear me? Ritchie, once we get to the final climb you make sure you are on Gilbert's wheel when he goes. Our goal is to get at least 30 seconds back today, plus time bonuses. Everyone got the plan? Good, now let’s go….
rock Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 I hope we see a Floyd Landis style comeback today. Porte in a solo 100km break. Whats the worst that could happen?
T-Bob Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Meh... Maybe instead of marginal gains and a motor home Dave B should have had everyone swatting on the UCI rule book. The one that now includes the new rule that you can't, as a mechanic, lean out the window and fix a bike and the rider can't hold on to the car. Most teams seem to have missed that one.
'Dale Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 That begs the question of support Teams at Epic, technically aren't they separate teams? I reckon that Team A being helped by Team B must be reviewed. ***Ping Kevin***
Patchelicious Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Meh... Screen Shot 2015-05-20 at 10.19.52 am.png Maybe instead of marginal gains and a motor home Dave B should have had everyone swatting on the UCI rule book. The one that now includes the new rule that you can't, as a mechanic, lean out the window and fix a bike and the rider can't hold on to the car. Most teams seem to have missed that one.So they condone it on Social Media, then ban stick the guys... Wonder if the Hub mods work there But seriously, what about other things now. Like people giving other teams bars, water, pacing back through the motorcade.... there are tons of examples where the blind eye gets turned. Surely SKY will be quick to point those out now.....
T-Bob Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 So they condone it on Social Media, then ban stick the guys... Wonder if the Hub mods work there But seriously, what about other things now. Like people giving other teams bars, water, pacing back through the motorcade.... there are tons of examples where the blind eye gets turned. Surely SKY will be quick to point those out now..... 100% look back at the Roubaix incident with the rail crossing nothing happened there at all. How many times have you seen a big name literally sucking bumper on a team car to get back up to the peloton after a mechanical. The cut off time gets flexed a fair bit and even down to trade team mates working in for their trade team captains rather then their countries in the World Champs... the idea of 'advantage' seems very fluid.
rock Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 2 mins is nothing, if the UCI really enforced rules, Team Sky wouldnt even be there, and Astana and and and......oh wait no race. take drugs, make it exciting to watch, but dont for heaven's sake mess with another team's wheel.
Gen Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 I hope we see a Floyd Landis style comeback today. Porte in a solo 100km break. Whats the worst that could happen?So that he fails his next blood test? A certain erm astana boss also had one of those miraculous come backs.[emoji10]
Gen Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 So they condone it on Social Media, then ban stick the guys... Wonder if the Hub mods work there [emoji14] But seriously, what about other things now. Like people giving other teams bars, water, pacing back through the motorcade.... there are tons of examples where the blind eye gets turned. Surely SKY will be quick to point those out now.....It's not the race oranisers that give penalties, but the UCI commissaires at the Giro.
'Dale Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Porte could have taken his teammate bicycle and get back to the bunch.. He wasted his time without thinking carefully and his whole team should have dropped back and bring him back..He paid the price of mistake... Apparently, in a media article, he also parked himself out of sight of the team car (on the left or something) which have led to them not even seeing him
Bianchisti Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 So that he fails his next blood test? A certain erm astana boss also had one of those miraculous come backs.[emoji10]That ride was pure class and guts, the likes of which we wont ever see from today's kids. His gold medal in London was pure proof of his clean riding at a very ripe old age I might add.
Frosty Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Remember this...http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jul/18/tour-de-france-stage-18-chris-froome? Chris Froome extends Tour de France lead despite penalty in stage 18 thriller• Christophe Riblon first Frenchman to win stage this Tour • Closest rival Alberto Contador drops further minute behind • Froome penalised 20 seconds for taking illegal late feed
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