The Cycling Thread - Page 59

**footstep** · July 1st, 2017, 04:47 PM

Here we are again : Le tour de France 2017.
Valverde off. Sad for him after his fall today.

**vinceprince** · July 1st, 2017, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footstep

Here we are again : Le tour de France 2017.
Valverde off. Sad for him after his fall today.

Whatever happens it couldn't match the excitement or controversy of the Giro. Maybe this is Moviestar's 'Karma' Nibali was talking about for attacking pink jersey Dumoulin when he was having a shit.

**footstep** · July 1st, 2017, 05:23 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen your winner please:
Porte Froome Quintana Aru Bardet Contador ? and some more
I start here : Froome by ko.

**mizlaplan** · July 2nd, 2017, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footstep

Here we are again : Le tour de France 2017.

Vive da Tour

The Dusseldorf stage was as wet as hell

The Valverde crash:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hBKt_RSbJ8
I'd like to see Froome win but I've got this nagging feeling that it's Quintana's time.

**footstep** · July 2nd, 2017, 05:03 AM

Absolutely mizlaplan. Hell with rain and wind.
But that's the way we love it...
Heroes today : Dusseldorf Liege. 203 kms. And I wish them sun!

**pierrelm** · July 2nd, 2017, 09:21 AM

I can't see Quintana besting Froome if Froome stays error free; Quintana doesn't seem to have the old 'Pirate' spirit and Froome is just too good an all round cyclist - if Froome avoids spills and stays out of trouble, then he'll take some beating.

I loved Geraint Thomas' stage win yesterday and all the more enjoyable as this was his first GT stage victory. Saddened over here though about the misplaced nationalist tossers who wibble on about him being Welsh first and last, and resent the British identity. Oddly enough, I'll celebrate anyone I ruddy I like with a GB passport, and anyone I like without one. On that note, one rider who has given me as much pleasure to watch as any other over his career, is Thomas Voeckler - this is to be his last Tour. He's been a magnificent rider and I'll bet he will be looking to get to the front and chancing it at some stage - and I'll be cheering him on as loudly as the rest.

I wonder if we'll see a French podium challenge this year? I do hope so - it's long overdue, and with the Green and Yellow jerseys almost completely predictable, Kittel looking like the man to beat in the sprints, then the interest may be in the mountains and watching Cav trying to add to his total of stage wins. I love it...

**rupertramjet** · July 2nd, 2017, 10:03 AM

Whilst absolutely delighted with Geraint Thomas winning the stage, and Yellow too, agree with pierrelm, proud that he has a |British Passport, despite my playing for Wales! I too will admire any rider, whatever nationality if he wins my respect!

Very sad for Valverde, a great contender who is a loss to the Tour!

**vinceprince** · July 2nd, 2017, 10:47 AM

My prediction looking at the lack of summit finishes, time advantage Sky already have and the strength of their team is that they'll take the yellow Jersey again on Wednesday's 1st mountain stage and defend it all the way, probably a bit boring.
But crashes and mechanicals can change everything.

The course with lack of TT seem to be to try to stop Froome from winning. However, to do that I think next year may well have 2 long TTs which will enable Dumoulin (when he gets a few decent climbers in his team) to crush everyone. IMO Tom is the new Indurain.

**countjimmoriarty** · July 2nd, 2017, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Very sad for Valverde, a great contender who is a loss to the Tour!

The sport's most notorious unrepentant convicted doper is no loss to the race. Screws up Movistar's tactical plan though - will be interesting to see how they pilot Quintana through the race now.

**rupertramjet** · July 2nd, 2017, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countjimmoriarty

The sport's most notorious unrepentant convicted doper is no loss to the race. Screws up Movistar's tactical plan though - will be interesting to see how they pilot Quintana through the race now.

I completely accept what you say, and agree, but my interest was as you say, how much it will handicap Quintana. Without him to pilot, will the wee man be a contender this year?

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July 1st, 2017, 04:47 PM	#581
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,801 Times in 7,170 Posts	Here we are again : Le tour de France 2017. Valverde off. Sad for him after his fall today.

July 1st, 2017, 05:23 PM	#583
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,801 Times in 7,170 Posts	Ladies and Gentlemen your winner please: Porte Froome Quintana Aru Bardet Contador ? and some more I start here : Froome by ko.

July 2nd, 2017, 05:03 AM	#585
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,801 Times in 7,170 Posts	Absolutely mizlaplan. Hell with rain and wind. But that's the way we love it... Heroes today : Dusseldorf Liege. 203 kms. And I wish them sun!

July 2nd, 2017, 09:21 AM	#586
pierrelm Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Midst the fen mists Posts: 5,450 Thanks: 55,798 Thanked 72,925 Times in 5,422 Posts	I can't see Quintana besting Froome if Froome stays error free; Quintana doesn't seem to have the old 'Pirate' spirit and Froome is just too good an all round cyclist - if Froome avoids spills and stays out of trouble, then he'll take some beating. I loved Geraint Thomas' stage win yesterday and all the more enjoyable as this was his first GT stage victory. Saddened over here though about the misplaced nationalist tossers who wibble on about him being Welsh first and last, and resent the British identity. Oddly enough, I'll celebrate anyone I ruddy I like with a GB passport, and anyone I like without one. On that note, one rider who has given me as much pleasure to watch as any other over his career, is Thomas Voeckler - this is to be his last Tour. He's been a magnificent rider and I'll bet he will be looking to get to the front and chancing it at some stage - and I'll be cheering him on as loudly as the rest. I wonder if we'll see a French podium challenge this year? I do hope so - it's long overdue, and with the Green and Yellow jerseys almost completely predictable, Kittel looking like the man to beat in the sprints, then the interest may be in the mountains and watching Cav trying to add to his total of stage wins. I love it...

July 2nd, 2017, 10:03 AM	#587
rupertramjet R.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cloud cuckoo land Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 26,852 Thanked 54,117 Times in 4,288 Posts	Whilst absolutely delighted with Geraint Thomas winning the stage, and Yellow too, agree with pierrelm, proud that he has a \|British Passport, despite my playing for Wales! I too will admire any rider, whatever nationality if he wins my respect! Very sad for Valverde, a great contender who is a loss to the Tour!

July 2nd, 2017, 10:47 AM	#588
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	My prediction looking at the lack of summit finishes, time advantage Sky already have and the strength of their team is that they'll take the yellow Jersey again on Wednesday's 1st mountain stage and defend it all the way, probably a bit boring. But crashes and mechanicals can change everything. The course with lack of TT seem to be to try to stop Froome from winning. However, to do that I think next year may well have 2 long TTs which will enable Dumoulin (when he gets a few decent climbers in his team) to crush everyone. IMO Tom is the new Indurain.