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  • S Offline
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    wrote on last edited by
    #41

    I think Quintana took a big hit the other day when his attack was nullified not by Froome but by Wout Pouls of Sky (and he did it easily). It's going to take a bad day by a number of the Sky climbing domestiques for anyone to make any inroads over the Alps stages and even then Froome is likely to take back more time in the remaining Time Trial.

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  • H Offline
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    hydro11
    wrote on last edited by
    #42

    <p>Think we will know today if Quintana has a chance of winning it. If he takes no time, then he can't win. If he can even take 15-20 seconds, there is always a chance.</p>

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  • Billy WebbB Offline
    Billy WebbB Offline
    Billy Webb
    wrote on last edited by
    #43

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="598343" data-time="1469005352">
    <div>
    <p>Think we will know today if Quintana has a chance of winning it. If he takes no time, then he can't win. If he can even take 15-20 seconds, there is always a chance.</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>My gut says you're probably right, especially with the time-trial still to come tomorrow, but it is probablya touch early to call it definitively I'd say Hydro.</p>
    <p>Stages 19 & 20 have some pretty severe climbing. Quintana as things stand now is only 3 minutes behind. It is very feasible he could make up that sort of time on one / both of those stages, even if he doesn't make up anything today.</p>

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  • WillieTheWaiterW Offline
    WillieTheWaiterW Offline
    WillieTheWaiter
    wrote on last edited by
    #44

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Webb" data-cid="598368" data-time="1469013631"><p>My gut says you're probably right, especially with the time-trial still to come tomorrow, but it is probablya touch early to call it definitively I'd say Hydro.<br>
    Stages 19 & 20 have some pretty severe climbing. Quintana as things stand now is only 3 minutes behind. It is very feasible he could make up that sort of time on one / both of those stages, even if he doesn't make up anything today.</p></blockquote>
    <br>
    He always gets better after his rest day bag...

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  • antipodeanA Online
    antipodeanA Online
    antipodean
    wrote on last edited by
    #45

    <p>Good thing Quintana was saving himself for the third week...</p>

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  • C Offline
    C Offline
    Cookie
    wrote on last edited by
    #46

    Yeah, I think Quintana's race is run - be good to see Porte leapfrog him for a podium. Ideally I'd love Yates to win it, obv. won't happen but if he got in top 3 with Porte then happy days. GB road cycling team for Rio includes Froome, Thomas, Stannard, Cummins, Yates - some strength in depth there.

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #47

    <p>George Bennett has got in the early break away today! Looks like quite a strong group.</p>

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  • H Offline
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    hydro11
    wrote on last edited by
    #48

    <p>Hard to beat those guys. Even just being in the break is good for Bennett's name recognition.</p>

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  • SammyCS Offline
    SammyCS Offline
    SammyC
    wrote on last edited by
    #49

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="599018" data-time="1469186097"><p>
    George Bennett has got in the early break away today! Looks like quite a strong group.</p></blockquote>
    <br>
    Good stage for Bennett too, hope he goes well

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #50

    <p>Astana spoiling the break today by chasing early.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>One of those strange and slightly pointless tactics that almost never become clear.</p>

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #51

    <p>I foolishly watched this (my parents know George's parents, so I'm especially interested to see how he gets on).</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>George did alright - the breakaway group eventually got caught by the elite of the peleton on the downhill valley before the final climb. It was raining and it was carnage - about 20 people crashed (including Froome and Mollima) and unfortunately George got taken out by someone who came off in front of him. Disappointingly didn't get to see how he stood up trying to climb against the top guys. I guess he sat up a bit after the crash and ended up about 50th on the stage.</p>

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  • mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #52

    So a guy dominates the whole race without any real challenge, despite crashing twice. And still strong in week 3. Hmmmmmm

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #53

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="599640" data-time="1469316856">
    <div>
    <p>So a guy dominates the whole race without any real challenge, despite crashing twice. And still strong in week 3. Hmmmmmm</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>With Dumoulin probably breaking his wrist, Froome's going to be the favourite to win the Olympic time trial, and he's got the power to weight ratio to stick with the best climbers.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>If he's not doping then he's certainly a marvel.</p>

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  • SammyCS Offline
    SammyCS Offline
    SammyC
    wrote on last edited by
    #54

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="599640" data-time="1469316856"><p>
    So a guy dominates the whole race without any real challenge, despite crashing twice. And still strong in week 3. Hmmmmmm</p></blockquote>
    <br>
    Not only that, final climb of the tour and pretty much his whole team are in the group fighting it out with the other main tour contenders....<br><br>
    Call me sceptical

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  • H Offline
    H Offline
    hydro11
    wrote on last edited by
    #55

    <p>Froome is a great cyclist. He gained most of the time in the time trials and then won on a descent. He never really had to put in a blistering attack which destroyed his opponents on a climb. Froome would always be up there and no one had a bad day. Poels also seemed to neutralise most of the other attacks. Porte lost time due to misfortune, Quintana was out of form, Nibali rode the Giro, Contador crashed, Yates is young, Mollema was lucky to be up there and only gained time back in the breaks. Bardet is good but not elite. This wasn't like when Armstrong ripped shreds out of everyone. They raced around in France for three weeks and Froome won by four minutes. He was dominant but better cyclists have come before and will come again.</p>

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  • H Offline
    H Offline
    hydro11
    wrote on last edited by
    #56

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="599653" data-time="1469321499">
    <div>
    <p>Not only that, final climb of the tour and pretty much his whole team are in the group fighting it out with the other main tour contenders....<br><br>
    Call me sceptical</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>Team Sky just buys fantastic riders.</p>

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #57

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="599654" data-time="1469321585">
    <div>
    <p>Froome is a great cyclist. He gained most of the time in the time trials and then won on a descent. He never really had to put in a blistering attack which destroyed his opponents on a climb. Froome would always be up there and no one had a bad day. Poels also seemed to neutralise most of the other attacks. Porte lost time due to misfortune, Quintana was out of form, Nibali rode the Giro, Contador crashed, Yates is young, Mollema was lucky to be up there and only gained time back in the breaks. Bardet is good but not elite. This wasn't like when Armstrong ripped shreds out of everyone. They raced around in France for three weeks and Froome won by four minutes. He was dominant but better cyclists have come before and will come again.</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>He may be and, if so, it is a pity that he's always going to be under the cloud of what has gone before.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I don't really like that he's never looked in the slightest bit of trouble in the whole three weeks - maybe a tiny bit the other night when he crashed and had to ride the whole of the final climb on Thomas' bike. And, as above, I don't like that he can dominate both disciplines - TT and climbing. I can't recall anyone previous who was as good at both and didn't later turn out to have been doping. I guess it would be interesting to see some comparative stats on some of his times compared to what Armstrong put up.</p>

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  • mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #58

    Your team having 3 times the budget of nearly everyone else helps. <br><br>
    It also buys you the best chemists

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  • mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #59

    Regarding no one else having a go. A theory is tje peleton knows what's up, and knows there's no point, so aim for the minors.

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  • H Offline
    H Offline
    hydro11
    wrote on last edited by
    #60

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="599664" data-time="1469323376">
    <div>
    <p>He may be and, if so, it is a pity that he's always going to be under the cloud of what has gone before.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I don't really like that he's never looked in the slightest bit of trouble in the whole three weeks - maybe a tiny bit the other night when he crashed and had to ride the whole of the final climb on Thomas' bike. And, as above, I don't like that he can dominate both disciplines - TT and climbing. I can't recall anyone previous who was as good at both and didn't later turn out to have been doping. I guess it would be interesting to see some comparative stats on some of his times compared to what Armstrong put up.</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>I think Merckx was good at both.</p>

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