The Cycling Thread - Page 70

**vinceprince** · July 15th, 2018, 11:09 AM

Porte out already, and we haven't even got to the cobbles yet.

**rupertramjet** · July 15th, 2018, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinceprince

Punctures were about the most interesting thing. (I haven't had a puncture for over 2 years now since switching to Gatorskin Hardshells, saved loads on inner tubes, thoroughly recommend

)

At about £30 each thsat makes sense and add the lack of hassle!!!

Slightly better day and large gaps appearing on the GC board, three Brits in the top ten! Is that a first? Some individual great rides too especially by Landa, even if it was just to limit loses!

**countjimmoriarty** · July 15th, 2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footstep

7 boring days.

If you think that, you don't know anything about bike racing. Friday's stage was pretty dull, but every other stage has had a lot of interest.

**mizlaplan** · July 15th, 2018, 11:08 PM

cobbles = catastrophe.
In light of some of the above posts I'd like to say that the 15 July stage was brutal and entertaining.
Whoever planned this stage was obviously a sadistic genius.
Did Romain Bardet actually have 4 punctures?
Poor sod, still, he recovered well.
Off the record, I don't see any point in the cobble stages.
They negate skill and tire riders, a complete lottery

**cicciobuki** · July 15th, 2018, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizlaplan

cobbles = catastrophe.
In light of some of the above posts I'd like to say that the 15 July stage was brutal and entertaining.
Whoever planned this stage was obviously a sadistic genius.
Did Romain Bardet actually have 4 punctures?
Poor sod, still, he recovered well.
Off the record, I don't see any point in the cobble stages.
They negate skill and tire riders, a complete lottery

I think i have to disagree.

First of all, riding cobbles does take skill (benefitting 'classic' riders and sprinters), just like time stages (is that the term?) or climbing (and descending). A good tour should have a bit of everything, though i see your point about it being somewhat of a 'lottery' (and it wasn't even raining today!)

Second: most falls happened off the cobbles, didn't they? (like the horrible fall of Richie Porte. Auch!)

**vinceprince** · July 16th, 2018, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

I think i have to disagree.

First of all, riding cobbles does take skill (benefitting 'classic' riders and sprinters), just like time stages (is that the term?) or climbing (and descending). A good tour should have a bit of everything, though i see your point about it being somewhat of a 'lottery' (and it wasn't even raining today!)

Second: most falls happened off the cobbles, didn't they? (like the horrible fall of Richie Porte. Auch!)

For most of us (unless you're Belgian) ridding over rough cobbles is more a test for mountain biking now. Mountain bikes are actually quicker over cobbled sections in tests.

However, the whole TDF is an unrealistic test of bikemanship really. How many of us that ride a road bike ever have to (or want to) continuously cycle 20 miles uphill. In the UK you can't even find a road that goes steeply uphill for more than a couple of miles or so.

**countjimmoriarty** · July 16th, 2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinceprince

For most of us (unless you're Belgian) ridding over rough cobbles is more a test for mountain biking now. Mountain bikes are actually quicker over cobbled sections in tests.

However, the whole TDF is an unrealistic test of bikemanship really. How many of us that ride a road bike ever have to (or want to) continuously cycle 20 miles uphill. In the UK you can't even find a road that goes steeply uphill for more than a couple of miles or so.

Britsh climbs tend to be short and steep in comparison to those in the Alps/Pyrenees, which are mostly much longer but with less gradient.

**Motorboater** · July 17th, 2018, 09:53 AM

Looking forward to some crazy antics from the French public after the WC win.

**judy84** · July 18th, 2018, 05:41 PM

A very good day for Team Sky at the Tour. Garaint Thomas looked amazing and leads GC, with Froome second.

**vinceprince** · July 18th, 2018, 07:52 PM

From Thomas interview there's no doubt that Froome is the team leader for GC.
With only one proper summit finish after tomorrow, anyone bar Dumoulin and Sky may be forced to take a huge gamble tomorrow if they want to even get on the podium. They'll need a big GC breakaway group to even get as far as the foot of Alpe D'Huez. Let's hope for some fireworks tomorrow, could be do or die day for some.

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Cyclocross	18	9.23%
Cruiser	9	4.62%
Mountain	103	52.82%
Recumbent	3	1.54%
Road	119	61.03%
Tandem	7	3.59%
Track	6	3.08%
Triathlon/Time Trial bike	6	3.08%
Tricycle	2	1.03%
Other	22	11.28%
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July 15th, 2018, 11:08 PM	#694
mizlaplan Good show! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Marches Posts: 2,526 Thanks: 102,983 Thanked 31,901 Times in 2,528 Posts	cobbles = catastrophe. In light of some of the above posts I'd like to say that the 15 July stage was brutal and entertaining. Whoever planned this stage was obviously a sadistic genius. Did Romain Bardet actually have 4 punctures? Poor sod, still, he recovered well. Off the record, I don't see any point in the cobble stages. They negate skill and tire riders, a complete lottery __________________ motley crew though they were, they were all happily united in the roisterous, bawdy camaraderie of lust.

July 15th, 2018, 11:09 AM	#691
vinceprince 13th Duke of Wybourne Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Me, Here? In a sixth-form girl's dormitory? At 3 in the morning? With my reputation? Posts: 2,089 Thanks: 8,082 Thanked 21,965 Times in 2,076 Posts	Porte out already, and we haven't even got to the cobbles yet.

July 17th, 2018, 09:53 AM	#698
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,335 Thanks: 41,570 Thanked 38,544 Times in 4,309 Posts	Looking forward to some crazy antics from the French public after the WC win.

July 18th, 2018, 05:41 PM	#699
judy84 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wilts Posts: 2,008 Thanks: 34,481 Thanked 21,442 Times in 2,021 Posts	A very good day for Team Sky at the Tour. Garaint Thomas looked amazing and leads GC, with Froome second.

July 18th, 2018, 07:52 PM	#700
vinceprince 13th Duke of Wybourne Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Me, Here? In a sixth-form girl's dormitory? At 3 in the morning? With my reputation? Posts: 2,089 Thanks: 8,082 Thanked 21,965 Times in 2,076 Posts	From Thomas interview there's no doubt that Froome is the team leader for GC. With only one proper summit finish after tomorrow, anyone bar Dumoulin and Sky may be forced to take a huge gamble tomorrow if they want to even get on the podium. They'll need a big GC breakaway group to even get as far as the foot of Alpe D'Huez. Let's hope for some fireworks tomorrow, could be do or die day for some.