Tour de France 2014

[cockjol]

Yep, in many ways I will enjoy the race more now, seeing guys have to go on the attack and a new winner be crowned

 

[beats1]

What a stage! I love the pave! The predicted carnage ensued. Nibali was utterly brilliant. Considering he is not a classics rider, that was one of the best stages he has ever ridden.

Disappointing that Froome is out. I was worried about his wrist before the cobbles and he said it was almost impossible to control the bike - even before he got to the pave, so probably a wise move... This stage was always going to be his weakness, wet or dry.

On the flip side, it does give Porte his chance to prove that he can one day lead a team as a GC contender. He won't have done too much work for Froomey in the early stages, so should still be fresh. Thomas did a brilliant job in dropping back to help him, per team instructions no doubt.

Wide open race now - should be interesting over the weekend.

I like Porte and will be supporting him all the way now

 

[yankspurs]

NBCSN just showed an interview they did before the race started i guess with Porte and it sounded like he is extremely confident andthat Froome is even more confident in him so I think Sky should okay. Although another one of their riders has abandoned the tour today.

 

[nidge]

NBCSN just showed an interview they did before the race started i guess with Porte and it sounded like he is extremely confident andthat Froome is even more confident in him so I think Sky should okay. Although another one of their riders has abandoned the tour today.

I just can't see Porte being able to make up the time required to win the yellow jersey. At a push I could see him getting on the podium in 2nd or 3rd.

 

[trnk]

I know Sky won everything lately, but 2nd or 3rd on the Tour is pretty good.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

I just can't see Porte being able to make up the time required to win the yellow jersey. At a push I could see him getting on the podium in 2nd or 3rd.

I don't know if I am underestimating Porte but I just can't see him making top 3. Top 10 maybe. Valverde, Contador and the like will attack him to bits in the mountains and he hasn't got the usual Sky train to protect him.

 

[nightgoat]

I don't know if I am underestimating Porte but I just can't see him making top 3. Top 10 maybe. Valverde, Contador and the like will attack him to bits in the mountains and he hasn't got the usual Sky train to protect him.

Nieve, Thomas, Lopez and Kiryienka isn't a bad team to have around him. Not on the same level as Astana, though. At least Sky don't have a yellow jersey to defend so they don't have to do any of the work.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

Nieve, Thomas, Lopez and Kiryienka isn't a bad team to have around him. Not on the same level as Astana, though. At least Sky don't have a yellow jersey to defend so they don't have to do any of the work.

That's true and I don't think Saxo Tinkoff are that strong either. I just have visions of Contador Valverde and Mollema being too strong for Porte. Whether Nibali can stay with them is the big question for me. It's going to be a fascinating weekend

 

[ravo]

I don't know if I am underestimating Porte but I just can't see him making top 3. Top 10 maybe. Valverde, Contador and the like will attack him to bits in the mountains and he hasn't got the usual Sky train to protect him.

But they won't be attacking him, they'll be attacking Nibali. He will just need to stay in touch with the leaders. Also, I wouldn't worry too much about Valverde, I can't see him being on the attack too much. He's nowhere near as strong a climber as Berti.

That's true and I don't think Saxo Tinkoff are that strong either. I just have visions of Contador Valverde and Mollema being too strong for Porte. Whether Nibali can stay with them is the big question for me. It's going to be a fascinating weekend

Contador has got an on-form Rogers this year for support (won two mountain stages at the Girto, incl the Zoncolan). Not sure on the form of Roche.

 

[ravo]

Love that they haven't categorised this (Sunday) as a mountain stage...

http://www.steephill.tv/players/pro.../2014/tour-de-france/resources/profile-09.jpg

 

[nidge]

Love that they haven't categorised this (Sunday) as a mountain stage...

http://www.steephill.tv/players/pro.../2014/tour-de-france/resources/profile-09.jpg

Fooking hell if that isn't a mountain stage then I would hate to see what is.

 

[nightgoat]

Fooking hell if that isn't a mountain stage then I would hate to see what is.

Monday.

 

[nidge]

Bloody hell 4 cat 1 climbs with the last them at the finish.

I'm going to have to find a way to watch the stage when I am at work.

 

[llamafarmer]

Planche des Belles Filles is brutally steep at the finish as well if IIRC... That is a brute of a stage!

Yesterday's pave was fantastic though, almost as good as Paris Roubaix!

 

[trnk]

Only 1035m tho. It'll be interesting if Contador & co attack Nibali, but there is still a lot of difficulties to come. So we might just see a "sprint" in the last climb, just like in 2012 when Froome won the stage.

 

[nightgoat]

Planche des Belles Filles is brutally steep at the finish as well if IIRC... That is a brute of a stage!

Yesterday's pave was fantastic though, almost as good as Paris Roubaix!

5.9km, average 8.5%, 20% for the last few hundred metres.

 

[ravo]

5.9km, average 8.5%, 20% for the last few hundred metres.

Pretty sure it's stage where Froome won when he was working for Wiggo.

 

[ravo]

Bloody hell 4 cat 1 climbs with the last them at the finish.

I'm going to have to find a way to watch the stage when I am at work.

steephill.tv - loads of different options.

 

[Kendall]

And what a charming, lovely town it is as well. Was there in 1994!
Once again well done!
Pity we are so far away. Three days here like you had would blow the world away!

Town? I'll hunt you down for that.

 

[llamafarmer]

Pretty sure it's stage where Froome won when he was working for Wiggo.

It is indeed