Le Tour
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<p>One of my favourite TV sporting events, mainly because the visuals are incredible. </p>
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<p>I was going to make the comment that it had become so very boring over the past few years. Every stage has looked the same, with a breakaway full of guys with no chance to win, and the peloton with 6 Sky riders at the front, and the yellow jersey in the middle of them. Every stage of every year, looking the same, completely dominant. </p>
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<p>But this year, it appears that's because i am missing the best bits. Chris Froome is having a real go at breaking his competitors, and in different areas than on the climbs. He's attacked on a descent, successfully. And then last night in a breakaway on the flat, again successfully. Any other GC competitor has done precisely nothing. </p>
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<p>Tonight's big climb looks like it will probably be shortened because of the wind, meaning this race is probably over (if it wasn't already)</p> -
<p>sorry mods, please move to the Sports forum for me? Cheers</p>
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<p>Gutted that Mt Ventoux will likely be shortened, as will Quintana no doubt.</p>
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<p>Does open up a fe betting options though, I've chucked a lazy 10er on Voekler as he likes a breakaway and any breakaway is a good chance of staying ahead now.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="596426" data-time="1468456961">
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<p>Any other GC competitor has done precisely nothing.</p>
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<p>Precisely why it's boring as shit. I stopped watching after the Pyrenees. Everyone else appears perfectly happy to let the Sky train dictate the pace and ride for second. Quintana did nothing on Stage nine while Richie Porte and Adam Yates were attacking.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="596442" data-time="1468458532">
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<p>Precisely why it's boring as shit. I stopped watching after the Pyrenees. Everyone else appears perfectly happy to let the Sky train dictate the pace and ride for second. Quintana did nothing on Stage nine while Richie Porte and Adam Yates were attacking.</p>
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<p>Quintana made huge ground on froome in the final week last year, would make sense that he's waiting for the last 4 days, which pretty much in the mountains (except for the time trial)</p>
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<p>I think that's where Movistar plans to bring it to sky.</p>
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<p>But then again you never know when someone is having a bad day, you should be ready for that as Froome has shown he is.</p> -
<p>The problem this year is it is basically between Quintana and Froome and both of them are so boring. Quintana never seems to like to attack. What Sammy says about his third week tactics are true but that approach isn't going to win you fans. Froome has done some interesting things but it is hard to root for someone who can't convey a personality. Then there is the fact that Team Sky buys riders who could maybe be competitive in their own right and turns them into domestiques.</p>
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<p>The cool thing about the tour is that something is always going on. Sagan has one of the best personalities of any professional athlete (both on and off the bike he is great). We finally seem to have developed a New Zealand cyclist who can stick with it on the tough days in George Bennett. He clearly can't climb with the best but at least he can be competitive. Then we have the cool scenery, stage winners and the minor jerseys to worry about which gives us plenty of entertainment even if the main show hasn't been thrilling so far.</p> -
<p>Sagan is awesome. He pretty much does all this by himself, what a machine. </p>
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<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="596426" data-time="1468456961"><p>One of my favourite TV sporting events, mainly because the visuals are incredible. <br></p></blockquote>
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I'd love to spend the tour and two weeks either side just doing the campervan thing through France, or backpacking -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="596559" data-time="1468499876"><p>I'd love to spend the tour and two weeks either side just doing the campervan thing through France, or backpacking</p></blockquote>
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If you plan carefully you could even find the French equivalent of Palmerston North or Wanganui to stay at.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="596559" data-time="1468499876">
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I'd love to spend the tour and two weeks either side just doing the campervan thing through France, or backpacking</p>
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<p>Me too. And the good thing about it is, it's in France, so the missus is on board. Definitely an option in a couple of years.</p>
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<p>Sounds like utter carnage this morning, not a good look for an event this televised. </p>
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<p>Froome all over this with little competition. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="596573" data-time="1468507177">
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<p>If you plan carefully you could even find the French equivalent of Palmerston North or Wanganui to stay at. ;)</p>
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<p>Wanganui was charming, actually
Would go back.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="596614" data-time="1468536797">
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<p>Me too. And the good thing about it is, it's in France, so the missus is on board. Definitely an option in a couple of years.</p>
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<p>Oh right - I was going to ditch the ball and chain as its unlikely she'd EVER do the campervan or backpacking thing. EVER.</p> -
<p>lets just work through that particular conversation shall we?</p>
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<p>"hey Mrs Mariner, we've sorted out our destination for our annual boys sporting piss trip"</p>
<p>"ok, cool. Where too? Footy in Sydney this time?"</p>
<p>"nah, we're going to to get a campervan and follow the TdF for a couple of weeks"</p>
<p>" "</p>
<p>"what? you never want to come on my boys trips"</p>
<p>" "</p>
<p>"fuck"</p> -
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<p>This just got interesting.</p> -
I think it's been a great Tour de France so far. Lots of attacks and no shortage of incident. Just shows how costly that puncture was for Richie Porte. He's looking very strong and would have been challenging for GC for sure. I hope Quintana is saving something for the last week because he's not looking good at the moment and likely to lose more time on the time trial today.<br><br>
As others saying, hard to see anyone challenging Froome at mo, which is a shame as the race has got everything else. Oh and punching spectators who wave a flag in your face should become mandatory. -
<p>Pleased to see common sense has Froome retaining the yellow jersey. They need to do something about the idiots in the crowd. Some fatal beatings from gendarmes would be a start.</p>
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<p>Froom just killed them today in the TT. He's just to strong at the moment and the others don't have an answer. This years tour course was supposed to suit<br>
Quintana but he hasn't had an answer to Froom in the mountains, on a descent, on flat or in the TT. He should sack his chemist :whistle: :fishing: :mocking:</p> -
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<p>Froom just killed them today in the TT. He's just to strong at the moment and the others don't have an answer. This years tour course was supposed to suit<br>
Quintana but he hasn't had an answer to Froom in the mountains, on a descent, on flat or in the TT. He should sack his chemist :whistle: :fishing: :mocking:</p>
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<p>Froome - best climber, second best time trialist, sprinting with Sagan a few stages back.</p>
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<p>Not surprised people have questions about him.</p>
