The Cycling Thread - Page 71

JBeesting · July 19th, 2018, 07:44 AM

The other GC teams were tactically inept, both Movistar and Bahrain Merida rode on the front on sections of the early climbs.

They should have forced Sky to ride on the front for the whole race to burn their domestiques. If Kwiatkovski had cracked even 3km earlier on the climb then yesterday's finish would have been completely different.

Unsurprisingly neither the commentators for ITV4 or Eurosport mentioned this despite it being glaringly obvious. Even the usually reliable Chris Boardman trotted out the trite platitudes about them 'animating the race' without discussing the disastrous consequences.

Their teams mistakes were then compounded by Nibali and Quintana not following Froome which will surely force them to attack today, although someone will have to explain the concept to Quintana first.

I fear for Dumoulin, he rode 15km on the front all uphill yesterday and looked absolutely shattered at the end, he could be today's big loser.

As for Thomas, saying Froome is the team leader and believing it are 2 different things. We are definitely in Wiggins/Froome territory. Sky have lost a lot of credibility recently and letting the 2 of them race properly would help their PR but I doubt their care enough about that to let it happen.

**countjimmoriarty** · July 19th, 2018, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBeesting

The other GC teams were tactically inept, both Movistar and Bahrain Merida rode on the front on sections of the early climbs.

They should have forced Sky to ride on the front for the whole race to burn their domestiques. If Kwiatkovski had cracked even 3km earlier on the climb then yesterday's finish would have been completely different.

Unsurprisingly neither the commentators for ITV4 or Eurosport mentioned this despite it being glaringly obvious. Even the usually reliable Chris Boardman trotted out the trite platitudes about them 'animating the race' without discussing the disastrous consequences.

Their teams mistakes were then compounded by Nibali and Quintana not following Froome which will surely force them to attack today, although someone will have to explain the concept to Quintana first.

I fear for Dumoulin, he rode 15km on the front all uphill yesterday and looked absolutely shattered at the end, he could be today's big loser.

As for Thomas, saying Froome is the team leader and believing it are 2 different things. We are definitely in Wiggins/Froome territory. Sky have lost a lot of credibility recently and letting the 2 of them race properly would help their PR but I doubt their care enough about that to let it happen.

The simple reason Nibali and Quintana didn't follow Froome is that they couldn't, as was proved again today. The only man who can stop Froome and Thomas now is Tom Dumoulin, who looks very strong, and is the world time trial champion, so won't lose time next Saturday. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't have a team to match Sky (not that anyone else does).
Chapeau to Steven Kruijswijk for a huge ride today.

**mizlaplan** · July 19th, 2018, 04:42 PM

Absolutely brilliant win by Thomas on Stage 12 today.
The Alpe d'Huez section was riveting and I really felt for Kruijswijk after his brave breakaway was whittled away by the Sky Train.
Incidents galore and great racing

Incidentally, I was pleased to see the emergence of a "British Corner" at the base of the climb

Marcsimus · July 19th, 2018, 04:50 PM

Thomas for the win!

Marcsimus · July 19th, 2018, 08:25 PM

In all fairness Geraint Thomas deserves to win the race overall. If team Sky want Froome to win how can they expect Thomas to drop a 1.39 minute lead.....

It would also be nice to see someone different win.

Froome is a great champion, but maybe he has bitten off more than he can chew.....

Either way, team Sky have a real conundrum to get round!

**cicciobuki** · July 19th, 2018, 10:05 PM

Today's stage was pretty exciting near the end, but i was really disgusted by (some of) the audience on that climb, makes me hate humanity.

Pity that Dumoulin made a mistake changing gears deep in the finale, which ruined his chance of victory. I like that guy.

**vinceprince** · July 20th, 2018, 07:21 AM

Nibali out after suffering a fractured vertebra in his fall.

He still finished the stage. Screaming diving baby footballers like Neymar please take note. And footballers complain they're tired if they play a couple of games in a week?

So now basically it's Team Sky v Dumoulin.

**countjimmoriarty** · July 20th, 2018, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcsimus

In all fairness Geraint Thomas deserves to win the race overall. If team Sky want Froome to win how can they expect Thomas to drop a 1.39 minute lead.....

It would also be nice to see someone different win.

Froome is a great champion, but maybe he has bitten off more than he can chew.....

Either way, team Sky have a real conundrum to get round!

All depends on how it goes in the Pyrenees. Climbs there are more suited to more natural climbers like Froome and Quintana than power climbers like Thomas and Dumoulin, and Thomas has never managed to last a whole 3 weeks before. Interesting times to come.

**mizlaplan** · July 20th, 2018, 04:35 PM

Well done to Sagan on a perfect dive for the line finish.
Do you remember when everyone was moaning about how dull the current Tour was in the first week?

**countjimmoriarty** · July 21st, 2018, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizlaplan

Do you remember when everyone was moaning about how dull the current Tour was in the first week?

Only the ones who know knack all about bike racing!

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July 19th, 2018, 04:42 PM	#703
mizlaplan Good show! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Marches Posts: 2,526 Thanks: 102,981 Thanked 31,900 Times in 2,528 Posts	Absolutely brilliant win by Thomas on Stage 12 today. The Alpe d'Huez section was riveting and I really felt for Kruijswijk after his brave breakaway was whittled away by the Sky Train. Incidents galore and great racing Incidentally, I was pleased to see the emergence of a "British Corner" at the base of the climb __________________ motley crew though they were, they were all happily united in the roisterous, bawdy camaraderie of lust.

July 19th, 2018, 04:50 PM	#704
Marcsimus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Number 22 Acacia Avenue....... Posts: 286 Thanks: 83,498 Thanked 3,341 Times in 269 Posts	Thomas for the win! __________________ "Are you not entertained"?

July 19th, 2018, 08:25 PM	#705
Marcsimus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Number 22 Acacia Avenue....... Posts: 286 Thanks: 83,498 Thanked 3,341 Times in 269 Posts	In all fairness Geraint Thomas deserves to win the race overall. If team Sky want Froome to win how can they expect Thomas to drop a 1.39 minute lead..... It would also be nice to see someone different win. Froome is a great champion, but maybe he has bitten off more than he can chew..... Either way, team Sky have a real conundrum to get round! __________________ "Are you not entertained"?

July 20th, 2018, 04:35 PM	#709
mizlaplan Good show! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Marches Posts: 2,526 Thanks: 102,981 Thanked 31,900 Times in 2,528 Posts	Well done to Sagan on a perfect dive for the line finish. Do you remember when everyone was moaning about how dull the current Tour was in the first week? __________________ motley crew though they were, they were all happily united in the roisterous, bawdy camaraderie of lust.

July 19th, 2018, 07:44 AM	#701
JBeesting Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 136 Thanks: 19,720 Thanked 1,844 Times in 108 Posts	The other GC teams were tactically inept, both Movistar and Bahrain Merida rode on the front on sections of the early climbs. They should have forced Sky to ride on the front for the whole race to burn their domestiques. If Kwiatkovski had cracked even 3km earlier on the climb then yesterday's finish would have been completely different. Unsurprisingly neither the commentators for ITV4 or Eurosport mentioned this despite it being glaringly obvious. Even the usually reliable Chris Boardman trotted out the trite platitudes about them 'animating the race' without discussing the disastrous consequences. Their teams mistakes were then compounded by Nibali and Quintana not following Froome which will surely force them to attack today, although someone will have to explain the concept to Quintana first. I fear for Dumoulin, he rode 15km on the front all uphill yesterday and looked absolutely shattered at the end, he could be today's big loser. As for Thomas, saying Froome is the team leader and believing it are 2 different things. We are definitely in Wiggins/Froome territory. Sky have lost a lot of credibility recently and letting the 2 of them race properly would help their PR but I doubt their care enough about that to let it happen.

July 19th, 2018, 10:05 PM	#706
cicciobuki supermoderateur Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Belgium Posts: 24,401 Thanks: 157,881 Thanked 321,700 Times in 24,316 Posts	Today's stage was pretty exciting near the end, but i was really disgusted by (some of) the audience on that climb, makes me hate humanity. Pity that Dumoulin made a mistake changing gears deep in the finale, which ruined his chance of victory. I like that guy.

July 20th, 2018, 07:21 AM	#707
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 21,964 Times in 2,076 Posts	Nibali out after suffering a fractured vertebra in his fall. He still finished the stage. Screaming diving baby footballers like Neymar please take note. And footballers complain they're tired if they play a couple of games in a week? So now basically it's Team Sky v Dumoulin.