2017 Critérium du Dauphiné 4 - 11 June

['Dale]

'Froome's improvement in descending is remarkably impressive. When I was racing we'd leave a gap to him before corners in case he crashed.'

 

Daniel Lloyd, on Tweetiebird ????????

['Dale]

"I think I showed in the end that I'm going well and I'm on track for July. It's bitterly disappointing to lose it by such a small margin but credit to Jakob Fuglsang. I think I was up against it from km zero as it seems there were a few guys who preferred to see me lose the race and they lose their podium as well. I don't know what you can really learn from a stage like that. I guess that's racing but bring on July."

 

Porte, aggravated somewhat

[J Wakefield]

I really love this race this year, so unpredictable and full of excitement every day. All top riders had very good and very bad days but they all raced hard.

If we have this type of racing for 3 weeks over the Tour and not the usual procession that happens, we will all be needing recovery shakes at home after stages.

[Pah Bear]

"I think I showed in the end that I'm going well and I'm on track for July. It's bitterly disappointing to lose it by such a small margin but credit to Jakob Fuglsang. I think I was up against it from km zero as it seems there were a few guys who preferred to see me lose the race and they lose their podium as well. I don't know what you can really learn from a stage like that. I guess that's racing but bring on July."

 

Porte, aggravated somewhat

Who was he throwing stones at? I can think of 3 main rivals including Froome who all ended up off the podium. But ... they (Froome) supposed to be good friends so was he referring to Bertie and Valverdi?

[Pah Bear]

Impressive finish by Main Cheese. 3rd on the day and 8th overall not bad at all. And he looked good on that last climb, dropping Bardet too. BLooming nicely.

[Christie]

".... I think I was up against it from km zero as it seems there were a few guys who preferred to see me lose the race and they lose their podium as well."

Porte, aggravated somewhat

Childish of him to blame his competitors - did he perhaps expect CF to defend 3d rather than go for broke? How about rather blaming his team for not having a climber in support.

 

That said, CF does not look like he has many friends in the peleton. Also not best buds with Sir Brad.... He does not look like winning another TDF this year, at least without his inhaler.

 

Conto also not the same without "team Bruneel" behind him.

Valverde more or less the same as usual - up there but not quite.

 

So, fot the TDF that leaves the Astana duo (team should not even be racing imo), Quintana, Porte. Who else?

[dsw]

"I think I showed in the end that I'm going well and I'm on track for July. It's bitterly disappointing to lose it by such a small margin but credit to Jakob Fuglsang. I think I was up against it from km zero as it seems there were a few guys who preferred to see me lose the race and they lose their podium as well. I don't know what you can really learn from a stage like that. I guess that's racing but bring on July."

 

Porte, aggravated somewhat

 

 

“I’ve been in that situation myself a lot of times.  “That’s when the weight of having the yellow jersey really falls on your shoulders. It feels as though the whole world is out to get you. That’s bike racing.

- Chris Froome. 

[Gen]

 

 

Who was he throwing stones at? I can think of 3 main rivals including Froome who all ended up off the podium. But ... they (Froome) supposed to be good friends so was he referring to Bertie and Valverdi?

 

 

Maybe if we had tv coverage from earlier we would've been able to see what went on..but sadly we didn't... from the updates it sounded like it was CF that did the damage early on in the stage and the others just used that.

 

 

 

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['Dale]

That's racing.

No one to blame other than your own engine and maybe your team.

 

It is peculiar how he had better 'sensations' later on in the stage. The fitness is clearly there.

 

Otherwise, he had a brilliant race, ol' Porte ????????

[Gen]

That's racing.

No one to blame other than your own engine and maybe your team.

 

It is peculiar how he had better 'sensations' later on in the stage. The fitness is clearly there.

 

Otherwise, he had a brilliant race, ol' Porte ????????

Yip

 

Come TDF all the GC guys will have their strongest team with them..how it goes then is a whole different story.

 

Dauphine is generally seen as the "checking your form against the rest race" . Will be interesting to see who did some bluffing during this week, I think Porte is guilty of showing his cards too soon.. needs to play more poker [emoji48] He has now put down the marker the rest have taken notice.

 

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[Pah Bear]

I think that poker can probably work 2 ways. But for him the opportunity to win the Criterium was probably high on the list. Love the comment his (Director?) made regarding Richie should not be riding as if he owes CF something. If the 2 of them are such close friends I suppose that is possible. But after this race, from now on its definitely war when the cleats are locked in.

[Pah Bear]

 

 

Maybe if we had tv coverage from earlier we would've been able to see what went on..but sadly we didn't... from the updates it sounded like it was CF that did the damage early on in the stage and the others just used that.

 

 

 

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From the "entertainers" comments it was clear that CF was on the attack on both the first 2 climbs. They had to hunt him down and that effort caused BMC to lose the whole team isolating Richie 

['Dale]

Check the actual sequence of attacks here.

 

[Pah Bear]

Sad to not have seen the whole stage today. 

[Gen]

It's good to see Froome go for it from far out, it may not always work. .but damn it makes for great racing..

 

 

 

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[Pah Bear]

He sure does look like a Crane on a bike doesn't he? A Blue Crane nogal. Lol. Loved the way he raced in the past and these days even more.

 

So what's next?