Le Tour 2018
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@chester-draws Pretty good predictions!
Quintana finally did something that worked. He, Thomas, Dumoulon and Roglic the winners on the day - Froome and Bardet the losers.
So - a flat stage tonight and then one last big mountain stage, before the time trial.
Froome needs a miracle, so it's a good thing they're departing that stage from Lourdes.
I guess the biggest question is how much time Thomas needs to keep Dumoulin at bay in the TT. Froome saying in the papers that the 2 minutes Thomas has is comfortable.
Probably is - though I just had a look at the times at the World Champs last year when Dumoulin killed the field. Of course that wasn't after three weeks of racing. But interesting to note how far down Hamish Bond was after a puncture.
So Thomas can't afford anything much to go wrong - unless he puts more time on Dumoulin in the mountains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_UCI_Road_World_Championships_–_Men's_time_trial
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Yeah, apart from getting Quintana badly wrong, I was pretty pleased with my guesses. It helps I'm on holiday and watching full coverage of the Tour (and Giro before).
Froome is just suffering from the Tour/Giro double though. Yes good he's good, but it would take Eddie Merckx dominance to do it these days. He'll struggle to hold onto third now -- not that he will much care if he doesn't win.
Dumoulin looks like he might get a Tour/Giro second place. But I think he'll be back next year, and not riding the Giro first. He needs one or two better domestiques though -- he's badly hampered by not having the power of Sky in the hills.
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@scribe said in Le Tour 2018:
@chris-b I wouldn't be surprised if G beats Dumoulin in the TT; he has recent TT form over a v similar course.
Roglic is no TT mug either and could conceivably end up 2nd overall.
Roglic is certainly doing very well. Not quite the edge needed to win but very very good.
This will make things interesting at TLJ as their trial run at having different lead riders at different events looks sound. Now they can pick which course and which support team suits Bennet best and which suits Roglic and target properly.
My understanding, from a GB interview was that he only had a crack at the Giro because they thought at the time everyone else was targeting the TdF/Vuelta again. The Giro line up turned out to be one of the strongest yet.
Both Roglic and GB need better team support on the mountain stages but GB probably needs more help there. -
My theory on today is that the Sky train will control the front and any breakaway will only be from the odd also ran looking to gain a stage win. Hardly any sprinters left and Sagan is still uncertain to start.
The scenario could change if Sagan doesn't start as Kristoff has won this stage before and he could look for a repeat to secure the green jersey lead.
Latour looked completely shot after the climb otherwise I'd peg him for a breakaway crack that Sky would allow.
Astana may challenge Sky and try and position Fugslang up the road but if Sagan starts I would put an Ayrton on Roland having a breakaway crack. -
Peter Sagan: “I’m in pain but happy”
July 26 th 2018 - 19:09It could have been worse. I have pain everywhere, but still I am quite happy I can keep racing. My physical condition is a bit worse than it was, but I took advantage of it to live the race from a different perspective. It was a painful ride, but it still was better than it will be tomorrow. But I can’t complain since I am still on the race. The big goal is to finish the Tour de France, to survive the mountain stage and reach Paris. The time trial on Saturday will be fine. The big challenge is the mountain stage of tomorrow. I’m not afraid of anything. I’m going to suffer a little bit, that’s it.
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@mariner4life said in Le Tour 2018:
@crucial i love that bloke. Rock star.
Travesty he got kicked out last year. Bullshit decision.
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The shutdown from Sky has worked. Bardet looking like the only one with potential to decrease his deficit although the possibility exists for Dumoulin to try something in this last climb. 2 minutes is too much to make up in the TT, he needs to bring that down.
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2 mins 5 secs for Thomas going into tomorrow's time trial.
Wales' first Tour Champion is getting ever closer.
As one former-pupil of Whitchurch High School retires from the top flight (Warburton), another hopefully takes his seat at the table.
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@mikethesnow said in Le Tour 2018:
2 mins 5 secs for Thomas going into tomorrow's time trial.
Wales' first Tour Champion is getting ever closer.
As one former-pupil of Whitchurch High School retires from the top flight (Warburton), another hopefully takes his seat at the table.
I will give him credit as a worthy champ if it happens. Unlike the horrid Wiggins days he hasn’t spent the tour in the middle of the peloton with his team blocking the front. He has taken on everything thrown at him.
Pity he rides for the asswipe Sky team though. -
Classic impartial reporting from the BBC
Thomas and Poulter
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@mikethesnow In future I think the ABs should play "Western Province" when we tour the NH, since we never get to play them in Jaapieland anymore.
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@mikethesnow To be fair Mike, that might be something to do with the particular sport. it was always GB's Bradley Wiggins not England's. Nor Kenya's Chris Froome come to that. However in golf Woosnam for instance is nearly always referred to as Wales' Ian Woosnam.
But yeah it still grates seeing the contrast like that.
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@catogrande said in Le Tour 2018:
@mikethesnow To be fair Mike, that might be something to do with the particular sport. it was always GB's Bradley Wiggins not England's. Nor Kenya's Chris Froome come to that. However in golf Woosnam for instance is nearly always referred to as Wales' Ian Woosnam.
But yeah it still grates seeing the contrast like that.
😁
Try telling Murray that 😉
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Thomas looking to do this in style
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And there it is
Chwarae teg Geraint Thomas
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@catogrande Bradley Wiggins wasn't born in Britain and is the son of an Australian.
He's British, but any "Englishness" would be based on moving to London as a kid. I can see why people refer to him as British but not as English. (I have a British passport and two English parents, but would never describe myself as "English", even though I am technically British.)
Geraint Thomas is the first TdF winner born in the British Isles, I was informed today by a TV commentator. I wonder how Stephen Roche feels about that!
(My wife and I always refer to Colin Montgemerie was "Scott Colin Montgomerie", so often did they call him that. It seems random really, who gets to be British and who doesn't.)