2016 Tour de France

[HappyMartin]

I think it's time for Frank to retire.

['Dale]

Committed to an afternoon MTB ride so will have to record it and give the Hub a miss until then.

Poor decision-making in July

 

????

['Dale]

Contador going to Trek Segafreddo next year.

Say what?!

 

I've heard rumours

????

['Dale]

Yip... the rumour was going around a few weeks ago.

 

Wonder if Frank Schlek will retire or if he will stay on and work for Bert..that would be something hey [emoji23]

Frankie as super workhorse for the dancing one ????

['Dale]

Stage 8

 

It has been a grey morning in Pau, where riders have signed on and are now preparing for the roll-out.

['Dale]

????????????

 

Ok so it's all happening in the neutral zone for once. Geraint Thomas and Jan Bakelants have both crashed, Winner Anacona has punctured, and Tom Dumoulin is back at his team car.

[scotty]

Poor decision-making in July

 

 

I know and today's the 1st real tester, expecting plenty of action.

['Dale]

With so many big climbs and KOM points on the menu, there should be no shortage of attackers today. The polka dots are up for grabs.

['Dale]

We've had a flurry of attacks in the opening kilometres, including Thomas De Gendt, who clearly has his eyes on extending his spell as king of the mountains. Nothing has stuck just yet, though, and the peloton remains vigilant.

['Dale]

The speed is high out there as we wait to settle on a situation everyone's happy with. Not even Matthieu Ladagnous is allowed any time off the front to pass through his home town of Nay in front of fans, family and friends

['Dale]

Given the profile of this stage, there would have been plenty of riders hoping for a calm start to proceedings before the suffering commences after 65 or so kilometres. They're not getting their way, however.

[Benjamin]

????????????

 

Ok so it's all happening in the neutral zone for once. Geraint Thomas and Jan Bakelants have both crashed, Winner Anacona has punctured, and Tom Dumoulin is back at his team car.

Come ous, shine up. Winner and Tom in my fantasy team.

[scotty]

Any idea if the race has full compliment of riders or have some withdrawn. 

['Dale]

Groupon Compacto after 25 kms

 

(See what I did there?) ????

['Dale]

Today's stage is a variation on a Pyrenean classic. Pau and Bagnères-de-Luchon are Tour de France staples, and the Col du Tourmalet is once of the race's most iconic climbs.

['Dale]

The Dimension Data duo of Bernard Eisel and Serge Pauwels are the latest to attack. Pauwels was in the break on the Massif Central stage a few days ago and was involved in a mountain breakaway at last year's Tour.