scotty Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 As I say when sitting down to a "all you can eat buffet" bring it on. Go Sky
tombeej Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 I think today the GC guys will take time from everyone else but I would be surprised to see too much energy expended. Tomorrow is a monster. No sense in doing too much today. But what do I know. Sooner or later someone will have to do something unexpected and take it to Sky to try and disrupt their rather clinical plans. Don't worry, I'm with you on that! I'm wrong much more often than I'm right. But that just makes this race more fun to watch . If it was as predictable as that, then it would just become a boring procession, like F1. I think the other teams have to come up with surprise tactics to disrupt these super powerful teams. So I agree, we should expect to see the others trying to disrupt the big boys and put them off their game. They've also learnt that they need to do this early in the Tour, not leave it to week 3 when the damage has already been done.
EmptyB Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Saturday is going to be a bit of a tester. Almost 5000m of climbing in 183km. I think I'm going to chop extra firewood and lay on some serious snacks. Sunday is a nasty bugger of a day too!!!
tombeej Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Astana: Ok so Nibali is now 14 minutes down on GC. He's put himself well out of contention and so he can go off on a flyer without worrying about the other teams chasing him down. Will we see Astana play the Nibali leapfrog card today? That downhill is perfect for a guy like him, one of the best descenders in the world. If he can get ahead early, then Aru attack near the top, bridge across to Nibali's back wheel and hitch a ride to the bottom....
Plentipotential Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Here's the profile of the climb, showing its very regular/consistent gradient. The true mountain goats prefer the steep, irregular ramps where they can put in short attacking bursts to knock out the legs of their opponents. They don't really care for these straight-line climbs that require an ability to hold high power numbers for long periods of time. Taylor made for Sky to keep it under control.
EmptyB Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Astana: Ok so Nibali is now 14 minutes down on GC. He's put himself well out of contention and so he can go off on a flyer without worrying about the other teams chasing him down. Will we see Astana play the Nibali leapfrog card today? That downhill is perfect for a guy like him, one of the best descenders in the world. If he can get ahead early, then Aru attack near the top, bridge across to Nibali's back wheel and hitch a ride to the bottom.... If he's got the legs....I still don't think the other teams will let him get away
Slowbee Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 will teams work together to defeat sky .... or does sky control the peleton as Sagan was saying ?
Plentipotential Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 The biggest difference between the winners of the race and the hopefuls are that the winners have the ability to race well every day, have good support every day from a team dedicated to one rider and a bit of luck, well perhaps a touch more than a bit. Sky support one rider, period, and that rider has two titles to his name. Tinkoff are supporting 2 riders, or at least Sagan is not supporting AC. Alberto has had his share of bad luck which will detract from the race. So to did Port but perhaps his team were looking after TJ vG instead of having a rider alongside Port with a similar sized bike to switch, that flat will cost him in the end unless he has something "special" in the tank. Quintana has always been at a disadvantage because Valverde is in the mix IMHO. Quintana is a real talent capable of winning lots of grand tours, Valverde is after all a competitive cyclist yet to win the Tour. A small part of him must be thinking I've got a shot here. The rest of the GC contenders are all good and perhaps one of them can come out of that pack and surprise us but can they string 21 solid days together? Winning the tour is not rocket science. DDD and Doug Rider, like some of the other teams have a different agenda and Doug has been a genius. Three wins from a has-been sprinter Brilliant. Just had to put that in. Hats off to Doug Rider and his team, I'm a big fan.
Bonus Posted July 8, 2016 Author Posted July 8, 2016 Today's stage ends as close to our house as le Tour gets this year (about 80km away) . . . and I'm in England on a trip. #bad planning.com
BDF Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Today's stage ends as close to our house as le Tour gets this year (about 80km away) . . . and I'm in England on a trip. #bad planning.comNooit man!
Bonus Posted July 8, 2016 Author Posted July 8, 2016 In my defense, this trip was supposed to be done and dusted in June - but the French went on strike and there was a fuel shortage which prevented us from driving up then. That's also why my passport ran out half way through the trip and had to be replaced. The french have a lot to answer for! Grrrrr.
Frosty Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Haven't read every post, so if this has been mentioned, sorry. If all 198 riders sign on and start the stage today, it will be a new record.
Mntboy Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Haven't read every post, so if this has been mentioned, sorry. If all 198 riders sign on and start the stage today, it will be a new record.It has yes and the record was achieved yesterday. So if everyone starts again today they extend the record.
meathead Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Astana: Ok so Nibali is now 14 minutes down on GC. He's put himself well out of contention and so he can go off on a flyer without worrying about the other teams chasing him down. Will we see Astana play the Nibali leapfrog card today? That downhill is perfect for a guy like him, one of the best descenders in the world. If he can get ahead early, then Aru attack near the top, bridge across to Nibali's back wheel and hitch a ride to the bottom.... Using Nibali and hitch a ride in the same sentence is not always a wise choice of words. We all remember him hitching a ride
Frosty Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 It has yes and the record was achieved yesterday. So if everyone starts again today they extend the record.Thanks, looks like I can't count either. The news feed said stage 6, and today is 7. I've chosen not to follow this Fred and other feeds too, as I only get to watch the Tour after 6pm. I don't want to know the results and let it spoil the excitement as if watching live. So I catch up on the comments in the morning after each stage.
EmptyB Posted July 8, 2016 Posted July 8, 2016 Thanks, looks like I can't count either. The news feed said stage 6, and today is 7. I've chosen not to follow this Fred and other feeds too, as I only get to watch the Tour after 6pm. I don't want to know the results and let it spoil the excitement as if watching live.So I catch up on the comments in the morning after each stage.Ditto....I avoid all social media like the plague until I've watched the stage on PVR!!
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