Keeeeennnnnnnnnnyyyy!!!! 
Before some stage race or another I told where to to keep an eye on that kid and he promptly repaid my hype by barely showing his face for most of the year. Proper heart in mouth will-he-won't-he end to the stage, too.
Looking at the GC, Pinot lost a minute and a half on the stage with the echelons plus another minute when the peloton split on the final descent of the stage won by Gilbert (I think it was that one anyway). Add some other odds and sods here and there where he lost time through inexperience and he would be looking at a top 5, and that without his big disadvantage due to being a piss weak tester. Genuine prospect imo.
On balance I'm glad Roche held onto his position today despite his being a Saxo boy. Was a bit worried he was going to pop completely given how early he was dropped. But fair fucks to the lad, the change of scene has obviously worked out well for him. Put in some nice rides, and had the balls to try something on more than one occasion.
What's the script with Pozzo? Massive TT (which still has me worried, tbh), but pretty poor by his standards when the road has gone uphill. Never really thought of him as anything more than a top 10 contender GC-wise, but he can be such a stylish rider and a joy to watch. Would have thought the climbs here would have suited him.
Big mention for Net-App Endura for showing the wildcard teams how it's done, too.
Tbh, if it wasn't for the awful winner (not to mention Valverde getting yet another podium) then this would have been a belting GT. Some proper ballsy rides, and not a dud stage that I can think of.
Oh, and Barguil
Before some stage race or another I told where to to keep an eye on that kid and he promptly repaid my hype by barely showing his face for most of the year. Proper heart in mouth will-he-won't-he end to the stage, too.
Looking at the GC, Pinot lost a minute and a half on the stage with the echelons plus another minute when the peloton split on the final descent of the stage won by Gilbert (I think it was that one anyway). Add some other odds and sods here and there where he lost time through inexperience and he would be looking at a top 5, and that without his big disadvantage due to being a piss weak tester. Genuine prospect imo.
On balance I'm glad Roche held onto his position today despite his being a Saxo boy. Was a bit worried he was going to pop completely given how early he was dropped. But fair fucks to the lad, the change of scene has obviously worked out well for him. Put in some nice rides, and had the balls to try something on more than one occasion.
What's the script with Pozzo? Massive TT (which still has me worried, tbh), but pretty poor by his standards when the road has gone uphill. Never really thought of him as anything more than a top 10 contender GC-wise, but he can be such a stylish rider and a joy to watch. Would have thought the climbs here would have suited him.
Big mention for Net-App Endura for showing the wildcard teams how it's done, too.
Tbh, if it wasn't for the awful winner (not to mention Valverde getting yet another podium) then this would have been a belting GT. Some proper ballsy rides, and not a dud stage that I can think of.
Oh, and Barguil
