2017 Tour de France

[graham418]

Does anyone have any thoughts / predictions on who will be the leaders this year? Froome? Not as many mountains this year, so he could do well, although he hasn't done much this year. Romaine Bardet? young up and comer. Richie Porte ? has been doing very well this year. Nairo Quintana? Alberto Contador? Is he too old?
It could be an interesting race.

 

[Tom K.]

I think Froome has one more in him before one of the "youngsters" push the old guard aside.

But an upset, or even an almost-upset, would make it so much more interesting.

Mostly, I hope for the absence of scandal and/or runaway victory by anybody.

 

[scott43]

Froome has been building up for the Tour..hard to judge his form because he hasn't done many races. Quintana tried hard in the Giro..hard to do the double. Probably Froome is looking better. Contador is done I think. Porte seems on the up but I don't believe it. I can't see anyone beating Froome other than Quintana and I think he did too much in the Giro. That's why they race though cuz you never know!

 

[tch]

Just read that one of Contador's lieutenants (don't remember the name) was kicked off for doping violations.
....plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[graham418]

Yes. Andre Cardoso, rides for Trek / Segafredo, Contadors team, has tested positive for EPO. The sample was from an out of competition test, one week after the Criterium de Dauphine .
1 down, 197 to go (riders)

 

[graham418]

Wow. Taylor Phoney gets a 12th in the opening TT. Good for him. His first big race since a major crash that broke his bones big time.

Alejandro Valverde crashed out , broke his kneecap. Tough to train all season for a race , only to be out in the first morning

 

[scott43]

Wow. Taylor Phoney gets a 12th in the opening TT. Good for him. His first big race since a major crash that broke his bones big time.

Alejandro Valverde crashed out , broke his kneecap. Tough to train all season for a race , only to be out in the first morning

Yeah and that's going to make Quintana's life more difficult as well. Froome is looking good. Can Thomas usurp him? Doubt it.

 

[Tony S]

Long-term time fan of the Liggett/Sherwen/Roll/Vandevelde/et al commentary on the series of cable channels whose most recent incarnation is NBC[SN]. Other than the ads, naturally.

I no longer have a cable tv subscription, but I do have Apple TV. So this year I sprang for the "NBC Sports Gold Cycling Pass" so I could watch the tour.

What a huge disappointment. I had assumed, like an idiot, that since it was NBC it would be the same coverage, only without the ads. Not! Appears it's the "English language international feed." Totally different. Anyone know if there's a way too get the NBCSN coverage on line?

Thanks.

 

[Tom K.]

Thomas in yellow! I read his book, and really enjoyed it.

I'm also a fan of the current commentary team, but wish they'd add Phil Gaimon in some capacity.

Wicked, dry sense of humor!

 

[graham418]

Taylor Phinney has another amazing day, and gets the polka dot jersey. For while I thought he might win the stage.

 

[Tom K.]

^^^ Breakaways were (arguably) more fun to watch before race radio got so sophisticated.

 

[Tom K.]

Sagan unclips during final sprint, checks shoe for any pebbles, clips back in, proceeds to win stage.

Sheesh!

 

[graham418]

Sagan unclips during final sprint, checks shoe for any pebbles, clips back in, proceeds to win stage.

Sheesh!

We all do that, don't we? and just as casually?

 

[mikel]

When he unclipped I thought for sure Mathews was going to pull it off. Not that I wanted him to.

Did you watch stage 4 this morning?

 

[scott43]

And big crash...that looked..umm..crushing...

 

[graham418]

Lets see if Cavendish starts tomorrow.

 

[mikel]

**** SPOILER ALERT**** not that many cyclists would be on here to find out about the Tour.

There is MUCH more than just the crash at the end. Sagan was DQ'd

I'm kind of surprised. I'm sure we've all used our elbows, or even leaned on others, sometime while racing. I understand the points and the time penalties but to get DQ'd wow. Yes he caused the crash. Yes it was dangerous.

 

[graham418]

Originally they gave him a 30s penalty, and 115th place finish. I guess some people thought that wasn't enough.

 

[scott43]

Not like Cavendish hasn't caused some crashes in his day..some intentionally.. Sagan really didn't leave anywhere for him to go. Reminds me of Steve Bauer and Claude Criquelion..

 

[mikel]

Yep, and I wouldn't have given him any room either. I guess Cav thought he could force the issue though. When Cav 1st took the line it appeared there was reasonable room. He had to know Sagan would move over. Yes Sagan got a bit aggressive with the elbow. My guess Cav is done.

I guess based on what happened today and the pissing and moaning of elbow use yesterday and probably some petitioning by DD , Sagan is gone.