tombeej Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Ja. I am just wondering if the big effort that Thomas has been and is still doing is going to be an issue for them later on, we know Porte always has 1 shocking day. They will need to manage their efforts very carefully. . And the rest as I've said have to let Sky do all the work during the stage and hope some cracks appear. Agreed, I'm expecting some of these guys to have some bad days and Froome to maybe be isolated on certain days, esp. in the last week. But maybe they took all of that into account and planned it this way: have one all-out effort early on to get that cushion while legs are still relatively fresh, impose the psychological dominance early on, and then ride defensively from there (expect other teams to ride in front and hitch a free ride).
Nedrider Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Sounds like a well hatched plan. Heard SKY said "its better to be in front defending than behind chasing" I still think Berto suffered for his Giro win. When was the last time someone did a double?
Bonus Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Chris certainly isn't carrying any spare weight. I'm sure that's the only thing that slows me down . . .
tombeej Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Sounds like a well hatched plan. Heard SKY said "its better to be in front defending than behind chasing" I still think Berto suffered for his Giro win. When was the last time someone did a double? Pantani in '98. Doped to the eye balls.
isn Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Sounds like well hatched plan ard SKY said "its better to be in front defending than behind chasing" I still think Berto suffered for his Giro win. When was the last time someone did a double?Yeah most realise that the Giro does have some negative effects for TDF. Its soon after giro but if they trained for it the muscles ain't the problem with TDF. It's the mindset and determination that will bring out the best of the riders. It's the media, the paparazzi, the millions of FANS that expect just the excitement that TDF brings that eventually push that rider to make his muscles go beyond it's limits(damn hope it's not dope).
isn Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Weather: sunshine with some cloud cover in the mountains, warm with 31˚C in the valleys and a light N-NE wind making a headwind early on then a tailwind in the finishing straight.This headwind you mentioning, any idea for how many kms and the knots of it? If it's light and short enough then it will have minimal effect in separating them in smaller groups. If long enough then this headwind might just be the start of some trouble?
GaryvdM Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Hmm not so much LA was also tested to death and came up "clean" better budget = being ahead of the curve. Not committing that he is or isn't, but history is not on his side. LA had positive tests but managed to explain them away with post dated TUE's ('99 TdF corticosteroid) or hidden with "donations" to the UCI ('01 TdS EPO). It was less to do with being ahead of the curve, and more to do with a morally weak UCI.
tombeej Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 This headwind you mentioning, any idea for how many kms and the knots of it? If it's light and short enough then it will have minimal effect in separating them in smaller groups. If long enough then this headwind might just be the start of some trouble? It's only a 10 - 12 km/h breeze - just enough to make the 30+ degree temps in the valleys more bearable today. Personally, I think the heat is going to be more of a factor. The wind probably won't be felt at all in the forested valleys. The only time it will be felt is on the exposed slopes of the Col d'Aspin and the Tourmalet, but by that stage it will be a pleasant tailwind up those big climbs today. But to answer your question more specifically, they run eastwards until La Barthe-de-Neste, then turn south to Arreau and then west to the finish. So looking at the stage profile below: Headwind from the start to La Barthe-de-Neste (85.5 km)R-L crosswind from La Barthe-de-Neste to Arreau (20 km)Tailwind from Arreau to the finish (80 km)
Squier Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Some time to be made on the descents today... Froome will not throw caution to the wind, whilst all other contenders have no other choice.
Bub Marley Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Today would have been the perfect course for Nibali with that last descent just before the final climb. Real pity he's not been at the races this year. I agree with the comment earlier that he hasn't looked right after that disaster stage 2.
'Dale Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Can we all take the doping suspicions and keyboard warrior stuff related to doping to this thread big pleeeze? It'll help to enjoy the Tour as a pure racing spectacle through this thread and its original intention. Here's the thread for doping:https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/152193-froome-braces-for-doping-questions/
Gen Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 #TDF2015 Bob Jungels fighting hard with Westra, Kwiatkowski and Baosson Hagen to break away from the pack.
Gen Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 It amazes me that on a stage like today we don't have TV coverage from earlier..pfft.. apparently the pace is high
Gen Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Moved my response as 'Dale requested.I have no idea how to do it, but admin can move it for me
Gen Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 #TDF2015 Break with @BobJungels caught after about 1 hour of racing. Average speed 47,1 km/h.
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