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The Official, 103rd Tour de France, thread



Pantani

Il Pirata
Dec 3, 2008
5,445
Newcastle
Hopefully not any time soon. Lumped on Matthews about 3-4km out at 7/2.

I nearly did that too, but they dropped the odds before I could get on it :down:

Had Sagan at 11/2 before the start :down:
 




Bozza

You can change this
Helpful Moderator
Jul 4, 2003
55,768
Back in Sussex
I nearly did that too, but they dropped the odds before I could get on it :down:

Had Sagan at 11/2 before the start :down:

Bet365? Matthews went 7/2 -> 11/4 and then they took the market away and replaced it with a Sagan v Matthews head to head. I was tempted to double up but resisted.
 


tigertim68

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2012
2,328
I think Sky and Froome might pay later in the Tour for being so defensive . They have only won 1 stage and Quintana will be very strong in the Alps , and Froome will need as many minutes lead as he can get .
 


Pantani

Il Pirata
Dec 3, 2008
5,445
Newcastle
Bet365? Matthews went 7/2 -> 11/4 and then they took the market away and replaced it with a Sagan v Matthews head to head. I was tempted to double up but resisted.

Yep, I had already bet my 50p for the day, so decided to keep my money in my pocket at the shorter odds.
 


Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
29,808
Hove
I think Sky and Froome might pay later in the Tour for being so defensive . They have only won 1 stage and Quintana will be very strong in the Alps , and Froome will need as many minutes lead as he can get .

Interesting take on it - just when they've been complimented as being as positive as they've been early on a tour. I thought Froome and Henao attacking on Saturday was really aggressive. Ventoux on Thursday is mouth watering with so many close in the GC.
 




Pantani

Il Pirata
Dec 3, 2008
5,445
Newcastle
I think Sky and Froome might pay later in the Tour for being so defensive . They have only won 1 stage and Quintana will be very strong in the Alps , and Froome will need as many minutes lead as he can get .

Not sure about that, if they pay later it will be because Quintana is stronger. Fact is with the Ventoux to come on Thursday Sky will be best off keeping their powder dry until then. I expect Sky to drill it from the off to try and take Quintana's legs away from him before the climb. If Quintana is this close to Froome after the first time trial that would be the time to start criticising Sky. As it stands Quintana and Movistar deserve criticism for wheel sucking and questionable tactics.
 


Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
29,808
Hove
Not sure about that, if they pay later it will be because Quintana is stronger. Fact is with the Ventoux to come on Thursday Sky will be best off keeping their powder dry until then. I expect Sky to drill it from the off to try and take Quintana's legs away from him before the climb. If Quintana is this close to Froome after the first time trial that would be the time to start criticising Sky. As it stands Quintana and Movistar deserve criticism for wheel sucking and questionable tactics.

Feel a bit sorry for Froome being called defensive after that descent peddling on his cross bar at 50+ mph.
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex
Hopefully not any time soon. Lumped on Matthews about 3-4km out at 7/2.
I hope your winnings are going towards your buy-a-bike fund.

I think Sky and Froome might pay later in the Tour for being so defensive . They have only won 1 stage and Quintana will be very strong in the Alps , and Froome will need as many minutes lead as he can get .
As others have said Sky aren't defensively, everybody else is.
Quintana is setting himself up for one do or die stage in the Alpes.
Everybody else is too scared to miss out on a potential podium, by virtue of being last man standing.

There's currently 6 other teams (not Sky or Movistar) with a rider inside a minute of yellow, and that doesn't even include BMC..
If you want to look for defensive teams start there.

Interesting take on it - just when they've been complimented as being as positive as they've been early on a tour. I thought Froome and Henao attacking on Saturday was really aggressive. Ventoux on Thursday is mouth watering with so many close in the GC.
Froome's style has always been arse kicking attacks, after the team has done it's job.
I love the way he rides, he seems to have more than a hint of f*** you, about him.

Thanks BS for making me revisit today's stage prognostications, I don't look too silly now.
 




Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
29,808
Hove
As others have said Sky aren't defensively, everybody else is.
Quintana is setting himself up for one do or die stage in the Alpes.
Everybody else is too scared to miss out on a potential podium, by virtue of being last man standing.

There's currently 6 other teams (not Sky or Movistar) with a rider inside a minute of yellow, and that doesn't even include BMC..
If you want to look for defensive teams start there.

A consequence of a far cleaner peloton perhaps? :shrug:
 


Stat Brother

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Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex
A consequence of a far cleaner peloton perhaps? :shrug:
That's what I chalk most things up to.

One the one hand it's hard not too.
There are so many little 'pointers' just because the racing is now so different.
I think the transition from drug fueled to clean has been difficult for everybody because the racing is just not what we're used to.
Sure Sky drilling it at the front is very reminiscent of Discovery, but then again they both have the best riders with only one purpose.

But it seems now everybody else has to be so careful because there's no 'back up plan'.

Alternatively the entire peloton could be as high as a runner.
 


Stat Brother

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Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex



1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 4:22:38
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
5 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
6 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-BikeExchange 0:00:02
7 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 0:01:10

Points classification

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 242 pts
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data 204
3 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step 182
4 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 124
5 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 112
6 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie 112
 




Stat Brother

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Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex
Oh and People of the Tour.

Tomorrow, as an aside from the bikes, castles, world heritage sites, churches, ruins, quaint villages etc keep your eyes peeled for some serious barge-porn.

The Canal du Midi is part of the main thoroughfare from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, they'll be some floating palaces on view.
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
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Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex
Feel a bit sorry for Froome being called defensive after that descent peddling on his cross bar at 50+ mph.
Oh yeah.
At the track last night as usual there was a few lads from Preston Park Youth CC.
One of the boys was saying they were racing on Sunday.
Before the off they were all called together by the commisaire, who said:-

'lads did you all watch Froome descending yesterday?'.
'oh yes, great wasn't it?'.
'Yes it was, and if I see any of you doing that I'll disqualify you'. :lol:.
 


pb21

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2010
6,329
On the subject of doping and a cleaner peloton I have definitely noticed that riders interviewed post race always seem as though they have just been racing for the past 4 or so hours and sprinting at the end and not just having been on a half hour spin. That is very telling IMO.
 








Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,771
West west west Sussex
Stage 11 preview: Carcassonne - Montpellier, 264 km

I'm going to whisper this very quietly because I know how excited you all get.
Today could be a day for echelons.
Being ripped apart by crosswinds is exactly what the GC boys don't want the day before Ventoux, but if the opportunity arises there'll be some hard racing today.

On paper it's a benign day for the sprinters, having caught the break 8,3kms from the finish.

stage-11-profile.jpg

stage-11-finish.png

Prognostication

Either way this doesn't effect Cav (Sorry Mr Missile)

1 - Cav
2 - Kittel
3 - Greipel.
 






Indurain's Lungs

Legend of Garry Nelson
Jun 22, 2010
2,260
Dorset
Currently 70km/h crosswinds so could be brutal - especially as all the teams know it's coming and will be jostling for position.

Unfortunately that same wind could mean no Ventoux! 110km/h gusts on ventoux today!
 


Pantani

Il Pirata
Dec 3, 2008
5,445
Newcastle
Currently 70km/h crosswinds so could be brutal - especially as all the teams know it's coming and will be jostling for position.

Unfortunately that same wind could mean no Ventoux! 110km/h gusts on ventoux today!

Not so windy tomorrow by the forecasts I have seen. Fingers crossed.
 


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