La Grande Boucle - Tour de France 2016

[twistedAM]

I'm terrible at in-play betting. Plus I quite enjoy trying to figure out who is gonna get in the break.

True but on stage races and especially grand tours you never know when the peloton will let a break succeed so imo it's often better to wait and not waste money. Classics are different and I like a bit of fun with a match accumulator if I manage to remember to do it the night before.

 

[The Boy]

True but on stage races and especially grand tours you never know when the peloton will let a break succeed so imo it's often better to wait and not waste money. Classics are different and I like a bit of fun with a match accumulator if I manage to remember to do it the night before.

No doubt it makes more sense, but I always get it wrong when calling it from a small group for some reason. I'm only betting pennies for bragging rights so more fun for me to place a bet the night before, and try to anticipate the break.

 

[The Boy]

Rewatching yesterday's stage* and it is really noticable how much Pinot and Yates appear to be struggling on the major climb of the day. Then again, Pinot was one of three riders to react immediately to Bardet's attack at the end so who knows.

*incidentally, I love watching stages in this part of the country. I spent a lot of time nearby-ish when I was growing up so cycled on similar roads to those being followed the last couple of days.

 

[twistedAM]

I watched it yesterday on ITV4 for a change and they kept remarking on Alaphillippe struggling but he turned out alright. Maybe he was just - as Carlton bloody Kirby would say - "meerkatting", a term he seems to use overtime the camera catches Steve Cummings at the back of a peleton.

Anyway i think I'm going to make the switch to ITV4 after a couple of decades of Eurosport.Mainly because Liggett and Sherwin have gone but Kirky is a annoying me. I'll probably switch back after a couple of stage as I reckon I'll miss Kelly.

 

[hash tag]

I don't want to say too much in case you haven't seen today's stage yet. I've just seen it. So very pleased n happy. Still all 198 still in as well

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Video clips of all 29 Mark Cavendish Tour de France stage wins

All 29 of his stage wins so far.

 

[Ponyutd]

 

[hash tag]

Congrats to Cav for second overall in all time wins and green to boot. get in.

 

[twistedAM]

I don't want to say too much in case you haven't seen today's stage yet. I've just seen it. So very pleased n happy. Still all 198 still in as well

Apart from the resurgence of Cav it has been a bore of a week and I suspect the final week will be Sky Train overload. There hasn't even been any echelon action to speak of. Maybe on flat stages they should set up turbines
to create crosswinds. Only joking but this procession is dull until the last ten clicks.
Much prefer a crazy Giro.

 

[hash tag]

Today is looking interesting

PS. Stop use of radios?

 

[sleaterkinney]

Steveo!

 

[hash tag]

Wheres my bike? Poor yatesey

 

[Supine]

Collapsed inflatable is a new road hazard!

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Great ride from Cummings. Great ride from GVA too. Cummings really making a mockery of British Cycling's Rio selection. If he was part of the Sky/BC fold he'd be one of the first names down. What British rider would you rather have in a break on that course?

Mother of God, the flamme rouge.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Thibault Pinot: Is he just too flakey to be a GC rider?

 

[The Boy]

Thibault Pinot: Is he just too flakey to be a GC rider?

Got his prep all wrong according to interview post-stage.

Hopefully heading to giro next year

 

[The Boy]

Re: collapsed flamme rouge: could have been worse. Wasn't it on a wet descent when same happened in suisse?

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Got his prep all wrong according to interview post-stage.

Hopefully heading to giro next year

How can he get his preparation that wrong? This wasn't him getting dropped by all of the podium contenders or even all of the serious top 10 contenders. It was every halfway competent climbing domestique in the Tour putting minutes into him. Support riders who had deliberately let go to save energy were rolling in ahead of him. A Pinot who has mistimed his peak still shouldn't be worse than 60 plus riders. I'm not convinced that the whole problem was physical. I'd be willing to believe it if he'd said he was sick, but not that he got his preparation that wildly wrong. What is he supposed to have been doing? Training by playing PCM and getting stoned?

As for the Giro, ordinarily I'd say great news. But next year's Giro may have an insane field of contenders as it's number 100.

 

[The Boy]

training by playing PCM and getting stoned?.

Aka the Warren barguil approach according to the cycling podcast ( though only when he lived in nice).

He was poor at the dauphine too. Strong early season, poor now. Whole season has obviously been misplanned.

Not too fussed about the potential field at giro. Cooler weather and no French media should still make a good result more likely.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

I really like the guy, but he is quite possibly the most frustrating rider in the sport.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Adam Yates gets given the correct time after a long delay. Now in 2nd and in White, one second ahead of Alaphillipe.

 

[stavros]

Has anything actually been revealed about what happened with the inflatable, or rather how it happened?

 

[The Boy]

Has anything actually been revealed about what happened with the inflatable, or rather how it happened?

Spectator caught something with their belt apparently.

 

[twistedAM]

I was presuming it was the Orica bus driver until I saw Yates.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

 

[hash tag]

All 198 finished again yesterday; that can't have happened for a while.

 

[The Boy]

All 198 finished again yesterday; that can't have happened for a while.

Never, apparently.

 

[Ted Striker]

Crazy footage of the moment the arch collapsed and Yates' crash

 

[Ponyutd]

Thats the new way to descend
Thoroughly enjoyed that race.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Say what you like about him, but that was a hell of an attack. Chapeau!