TDF 2018

[beesonthewhatnow]

But if they were interested in being transparent they could have released the evidence they submitted.

Why, so every armchair expert can go through that as well and say it's wrong?

 

[sleaterkinney]

Why, so every armchair expert can go through that as well and say it's wrong?

No, because they would be being transparent.

But look, they released some data on feeding stops!. It's just smoke and mirrors.

 

[hash tag]

Should we be starting another thread re Froome/drugs and be leaving this with the TDF proper?
I see it's starting at 09.30 on ITV4 Saturday 7 July - TV Guide
but not until 10.55 (or is that 09.55) on Eurosport Eurosport

I can't find any coverage of the introductions or any reviews anywhere?

PS. The presentations would appear to be on in 10 minutes on Eurosport only.

 

[planetgeli]

I love this stage

because I know it well, having stayed in Bagneres De-Bigorre and picnicked on top of Col d'Aspin and been up Col du Tourmalet. They are monsters. And the scenery is incredible.

 

[stavros]

I've been watching the TdF since mid-Indurain. I'm looking forward to it less each year recently, as it's come to resemble the peak-Armstrong era in the GC monotony.

 

[hash tag]

Just remembered there reduced team sizes to 8 this year. Anyone know the thinking behind it...giving extra teams an entry?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Just remembered there reduced team sizes to 8 this year. Anyone know the thinking behind it...giving extra teams an entry?

Safety and stopping Sky from controlling things so much.

Peletons are still dangerous places and Sky will still win

 

[sleaterkinney]

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Yeah, the whole team was booed when on the podium. Pretty grim viewing if that continues for 3 weeks.

 

[twistedAM]

Not a surprise. People are fed up with a team that entered the sport saying they were going to be clean but conveniently lose a laptop with medical records on it. I think it's more to do with Wiggins than Froome in many ways.

Anyway is Froomey coming home?

 

[hash tag]

There was the Hinault thing, where sky slagged of a local sporting hero just days before

 

[twistedAM]

There was the Hinault thing, where sky slagged of a local sporting hero just days before

Yeah bad PR. You don't comment on things like that and Sky are usually good at not commenting viz. Brailsford after the Vuelta.

 

[stavros]

Anyway is Froomey coming home?

They're not going to Monaco this year.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Pity that there are not expected to be winds tomorrow. In their absence it’s a nailed on sprint. At least the sprints should be good, with arguably the best cast of sprinters ever. There are more good sprinters these days than ever before and almost all of them are there. All of which is just as well because there are a lot of fucking sprint stages this year.

The only missing top drawer guys are Viviani, Bennett and Ewan. Bouhanni and Coquard are also missing, but I don’t think they’d have seriously contended. I’m sorry that Bouhanni isn’t going though because the feud between him and his former lead out Laporte would have been hilarious. If anyone thinks I’m being unfair in treating the first three differently to the two French lads, Viviani, Bennett and Ewan have 7, 8 and 7 World Tour wins in the last year and a half. Bouhanni and Coquard have 1 and 0.

So can the old guard, Cavendish, Kittel and Greipel, dominate the sprints one last time? Or will it be the young pretenders like Gaviria and Groenewegen? Sagan will probably win a stage or three, although maybe not big bunch sprints. Démare seems to have established himself as the actually top class French sprinter, he won a stage last year and he beat Gaviria and Sagan in a stage at Suisse recently. Kristoff has started wining again recently and has won at the Tour before. That’s without even mentioning Matthews, Degenkolb, Colbrelli, Boasson Hagen, Laporte.

The sentimentalist in me wants Cav to somehow rediscover his form and dominate once more.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Speaking of Cav, he’s done quite a good stage by stage guide for the BBC:

Tour de France: Mark Cavendish's stage-by-stage guide to 2018 race

 

[Nigel Irritable]

I’d say let’s have a row about sprinters for once rather than all shouting at each other about Sky as usual, but I suspect that pretty much everyone here mostly wants Cavendish to win.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I’d say let’s have a row about sprinters for once rather than all shouting at each other about Sky as usual, but I suspect that pretty much everyone here mostly wants Cavendish to win.

Him and Greipel.

Cav just to see the all time stage wins record taken from Merckx, Greipel because he seems like a thouraghly nice bloke.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Him and Greipel.

Cav just to see the all time stage wins record taken from Merckx, Greipel because he seems like a thouraghly nice bloke.

Agree about Greipel seeming like a good dude. The best of the younger sprinters have looked better than the old big three for a while now, but I can’t help hoping that the old guys find it again.

 

[Hollis]

I mean if Froome crashes in the first week, the GC would be very interesting... especially with the Movistar team of '3 leaders' working itself out. I suppose there is a slight chance Froome will be fatigued from the Giro.. but I'm not expecting it.

 

[1927]

Him and Greipel.

Cav just to see the all time stage wins record taken from Merckx, Greipel because he seems like a thouraghly nice bloke.

I think Cav's chances of closing in on Merckx have gone, sadly. I'd be happy just to see him stay on the bike this year.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Taylor Phinney:

"I will say that people dressing up as giant inhalers is a lot better than people dressing up as giant syringes. It seems a step forward."

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Taylor Phinney:

"I will say that people dressing up as giant inhalers is a lot better than people dressing up as giant syringes. It seems a step forward."

 

[twistedAM]

I’d say let’s have a row about sprinters for once rather than all shouting at each other about Sky as usual, but I suspect that pretty much everyone here mostly wants Cavendish to win.

I like Cav but want to see Gaviria repeat his Giro haul though I'm not so sure that will happen as Iijo Keisse is injured and he was the one that pretty much organised the QS train.
I've a feeling Dylan Groenewegen could well be the fastest and Demare should take a stage as FDJ are dedicated to him.

 

[DownwardDog]

There was the Hinault thing, where sky slagged of a local sporting hero just days before

What did they say about him? I'm sure le blaireau will react with his customary calm.

 

[hash tag]

I think Cav's chances of closing in on Merckx have gone, sadly. I'd be happy just to see him stay on the bike this year.

I'm sure I heard cab saying that as long as he could ride, he will keep trying for the record as he has nothing else to go for. In another interview he said he wouldn't mind another yellow. Cav to win today?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Cav to win today?

That or a crash

 

[The Boy]

What exactly is Naesen doing?

 

[The Boy]

Also, the nats being a week or two before the tour always messes with my ability to recognise a handful of riders.

 

[twistedAM]

Also, the nats being a week or two before the tour always messes with my ability to recognise a handful of riders.

It won't affect the Brits as none of the fuckers go to their nat champs.

 

[twistedAM]

Froome down. Shouldn't Bora stop riding at the front.
Quintana punctured!!