2017 Tour de France

[Bub Marley]

I have a cousin that works in Dubai and the pictures he has sent from the rides they have done looks amazing. Also getting top equipment there is easy and much cheaper apparently - especially if you earn tax free.

Buying online is fantastic. I buy everything from Wiggle and CRC and so far i havent paid any customs yet. Most expensive item was a wheelset for 600USD and they charged me no customs which is just fantastic.

 

If you buy locally though its moer expensive. Bikes, accessories, clothing everything is expensive. Much more expensive than South Africa.

[s14phoenix]

South East France is not that far away . . . but . . . .

 

Until the Vuelta is on your door as well....   still neon green...

[Imploder]

I figured out why Froomey declined all the pressers yesterday. He's booted his mech and decided to work on his own bike!

[kosmonooit]

Froome def. has an A+ grade Team to help him - but that what they are good at putting together, and also no-problem-with-the-budget-thanks-to-the-Murdock-empire-money surely sure helps.

 

I was puzzled why Pete was left out after he did well in the Dauphiné, but I think it has something to do with a baby arriving.

 

Will be interesting to see if they let that Basque man go up the road if Froome falters (again) and has no hope in redemption, i think he has the legs and form and frame of mind, but would they give it to someone who is leaving the team? (so it is said)

[Bonus]

Will be interesting to see if they let that Basque man go up the road if Froome falters (again) and has no hope in redemption, i think he has the legs and form and frame of mind, but would they give it to someone who is leaving the team? (so it is said)

 

 

Surely then it would be a no brainer?

 

If you def can't get the man a win then get the team a win.

[kosmonooit]

Surely then it would be a no brainer?

 

If you def can't get the man a win then get the team a win.

 

 

One would think so but is there bad blood? .

[splat]

Agreed.

 

Also, Naaier being silly with "The Double" attempt also didn't help.

 

I'm sure "Peaks all Year" Valverde must be wonder "what if" when he watched his little Columbian friend getting dropped. Surely Movistar would have switched GC guys....

 

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

[Bub Marley]

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

Agree with this.

 

Would be nice though if Froome could target another Grand Tour just one year. Like the Giro.

 

Personally I think having won all 3 grand tours on your CV looks better than multiple Tour De France. Each to their own though.

[Shebeen]

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

AFAIK it used to be

vuelta- april

giro -  may

TDF - july

 

 

with so much focus on the TdF, I don't think the Giro/Vuelta double is impossible (Berto did it in 2008).

 

from the 91' TdF Indurain won 5 of the 6 Grand Tours (with a 2nd at a Vuelta to warm up and a DNC at another vuelta)

[Shebeen]

indurain in 1992/94

 

vuelta - 27 april - 17 May - DNC

Giro - 24 May - 14 June - Win

TdF - 4 - 26 July - Win

 

vuelta - 26 april - 15 May - DNC

Giro - 23 May - 13 June - Win

TdF - 3 - 25 July - Win

 

in 94 he came into the Giro a bit undercooked and could only manage a 3rd. but won the TdF the next month anyway

[s14phoenix]

AFAIK it used to be

vuelta- april

giro -  may

TDF - july

 

 

with so much focus on the TdF, I don't think the Giro/Vuelta double is impossible (Berto did it in 2008).

 

from the 91' TdF Indurain won 5 of the 6 Grand Tours (with a 2nd at a Vuelta to warm up and a DNC at another vuelta)

 

We did say dope free...

 

The only way would be with a similar tactic to CF and Sky where they target late form at TDF in hope that they will have good form on the next GT.

[Bateleur1]

The Double is a thing of the past, I think.

In the era of so called/hopefully cleaner riders, It's not possible any more.

And certainly not against riders who only target Le Tour.

 

What is the difference in Prize money between the Giro and the Tour?  There in lies your answer me thinks.

[Pah Bear]

What is the difference in Prize money between the Giro and the Tour?  There in lies your answer me thinks.

Prize money at the GT are not even secondary. No matter if you win, it's shared amongst the team anyway so can't see that as being a factor.

[Vetplant]

What is the difference in Prize money between the Giro and the Tour?  There in lies your answer me thinks.

 

 

Prize money at the GT are not even secondary. No matter if you win, it's shared amongst the team anyway so can't see that as being a factor.

Probably comes down to the preference of the sponsor, Sky. A victory in the biggest annual sporting event is clearly more important exposure for them compared to getting a result in the Giro or Vuelta.

 

If they had to choose, they would probably prefer a win in TDF compared to a win in both the Giro and Vuelta... The TDF is simply that big...

[Bateleur1]

Prize money at the GT are not even secondary. No matter if you win, it's shared amongst the team anyway so can't see that as being a factor.

 

Quick google showed GC winner at TDF gets 450 000€ but the Giro 115 000.  Stage wins are slightly more for the Giro.  Me thinks it is a factor.

[Vetplant]

Somewhat technical run-in to the finish today...

 

Cummings can attack them with 2km to go, with the rest of the team sitting in the sprint train as backup to launch RJVR and EBH for the sprint.