Tour de France 2018

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:30 pm

Stage one is...

Noirmoutier-en-Ille to Fontenay-le-Conte

Come on Froome! Silence your critics and do what you do!

Winstonswhite · Post by **Winstonswhite** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:33 pm

Did they start earlier than normal? Went out for a ride early doors, got back and they’d already done a load of km.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:35 pm

Yeah, coverage started at about 9:30

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:42 pm

Any particular reason for the early start? Handy that the stage should finish before the footy starts but I doubt the convenience of English football fans was a consideration when making the decision.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:00 pm

I read that they have brought in a double points sprint. Every day about 16km before the finish. Now I can’t find anything on this but on the stage map below there is a (B) roughly that distance from the finish. Could make things very lively in the points comp.

: D80DCAB7-C971-4B8F-AF22-9A076A85EE88.jpeg (147.41 KiB) Viewed 4994 times

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:33 pm

Froome crashes with 4k to go, outside the protected zone but he’s quickly up and chasing.

Leisure · Post by **Leisure** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:46 pm

Froome finished about 50 seconds behind the winner.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:56 pm

Froome doesn't half fall off a lot.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:56 pm

Not terrible, but certainly not what he would’ve wanted. He was looking comfortable for coming in with the first pelaton.

thatdberight · Post by **thatdberight** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:59 pm

TheFamilyCat wrote:Froome doesn't half fall off a lot.

Probably his asthma.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 4:02 pm

TheFamilyCat wrote:Froome doesn't half fall off a lot.

He does but he was ridden off the road today.

Flyingboltclaret · Post by **Flyingboltclaret** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 4:58 pm

Leisure wrote:Froome finished about 50 seconds behind the winner.

Yes lost around 51sec.. YATES, QUINTANA and PORTE all lost time as well .

Nibali safely home in the first group , Froome losing that time should even things up a bit re Nibali as I expect he will lose time in the TT Trial with Team Sky being so strong, so might make for a more interesting time in the mountains.

Hope it’s as exciting as the Giro.. looking forward to the mountain stages, and stage 9 with the cobbles of Paris - Roubaix

And stage 17 is only 65 km but a grid start for the first time based on GC.. can’t see it will make any difference but we shall see

Should be exciting

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:20 pm

TheFamilyCat wrote:Any particular reason for the early start? Handy that the stage should finish before the footy starts but I doubt the convenience of English football fans was a consideration when making the decision.

It was for the World Cup - planned months in advance - also why the tour is starting a week later than normal so the WC final doesn't clash with the final stage into Paris

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:48 pm

Yes, knew they'd started a week later to avoid clashing with the football but I didn't think it was to avoid the final clashing with the final stage.

Doesn't the tour usually start the first weekend of July (last week) so would've finished a week after the WC final anyway?

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:39 am

Hope Froome smashes it big style.

Hinault and Merckx getting involved in the politics of it all and dishing it out to Froome about what’s legal and what isn’t. When those two were on the tour it was absolutely FULL of French/Belgian pill heads. A bit rich coming from those two imho.

burnley007 · Post by **burnley007** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:51 am

Nibali will smash the cobbles too. He looks good to me. That's where I've put my ££££'s

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:02 am

bobinho wrote:Hope Froome smashes it big style.

Hinault and Merckx getting involved in the politics of it all and dishing it out to Froome about what’s legal and what isn’t. When those two were on the tour it was absolutely FULL of French/Belgian pill heads. A bit rich coming from those two imho.

They are more bothered about Froome beating their 5 win total. They got the record back after Armstrong was stripped of his wins.

deanothedino · Post by **deanothedino** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:10 am

piston broke wrote:I read that they have brought in a double points sprint. Every day about 16km before the finish. Now I can’t find anything on this but on the stage map below there is a (B) roughly that distance from the finish. Could make things very lively in the points comp.

D80DCAB7-C971-4B8F-AF22-9A076A85EE88.jpeg

It's not a points sprint, it's a bonus time sprint. It's the B you mention on the route

Rumbletonk · Post by **Rumbletonk** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:14 am

Not being a cycling buff, I've not paid much attention to the Froome "doping" scandal. Doping scandal WTF! It all comes down to if he used is asthma spray more than the allowed 8 times per stage. I'd assumed he'd been sticking fire bombs up his bottom or whatever the big name cheats in cycling did. The French crowd booing his every word at the pre tour interview is an absolute disgrace. I wasn't that arsed before but I hope he smashes it crap out of them now

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:49 am

Over 22km of cobbles in around fifteen sections today. Got a feeling that Van Avermaet will do well today, but Froome should also enjoy the terrain. It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure!

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:57 am

It’ll be a strange day. A one day race terrain in the middle of a stage race. They’ll ride it differently and the stars will need protecting by their teams but an accident or a badly timed puncture could totally screw someones Tour.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:01 pm

Richie Porte down already. Holding his collarbone. Looks like an abandon to me.

SpringHillClaret · Post by **SpringHillClaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:02 pm

Last time the Tour was on cobbles one rider retired - Froome. Ironically he fell, but not on the cobbles just the ordinary road sections!

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:03 pm

First stage this year im wanting to a watch the full day coverage rather than just the eve highlights

Today could be telling of Sky's strategy around what they see as Thomas role and whether he'll have the freedom to ride for himself and his own GC standing

I hope Sky have a bad day with both Froome and Thomas losing time so they have to attack next week in the mountains which could really produce some great cycling

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:04 pm

The most talked about stage of the year and Porte is out with a broken collarbone before he hits the cobbles - unluckiest man in the world contender?

SpringHillClaret · Post by **SpringHillClaret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:17 pm

Porte - there goes our big Australian hope! Was always likely to happen with nobody wanting to lose too much time.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 12:28 pm

No disrespect to the riders efforts but I wish they would make them ride the cobbles. The breakaway will all be on the smooth mud either side of the cobbles, almost as fast as the road. I know they’ve earned their advantage but they are not riding the cobbles.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:29 pm

Felt for them all today, especially Bardet. That was practically a lottery staying on your bike.
At least there was no damage to the Sky lads.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:58 pm

Bardet looked absolutely destroyed in those last 5km

Stevie2112 · Post by **Stevie2112** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:01 pm

Great stage today,terrible for Bardet and Porte.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 8:58 pm

The GC is looking like G has a good lead on all the other contenders. Sky in a perfect position 1 week in. No yellow jersey to defend but G and Froome sitting pretty.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sun Jul 15, 2018 9:13 pm

I had to ride up a cobbled street to get home every time I was out on my bike as a kid in Nelson.

Don't know what all the fuss is about.

burnley007 · Post by **burnley007** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:50 pm

Great stage yesterday. Loved it

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:39 pm

A super-impressive breakaway and stage win by Ffance’s own, Alaphilippe, this afternoon, on the first of three days in the Alps.

Very likely that tomorrow will see a serious changing of the guard. I’m sensing that Van Avermaet’s stint in yellow is all but up, but what a brilliant ride he had today. Living it so far, and can see it getting incredibly exciting over the next few weeks.

karatekid · Post by **karatekid** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:41 pm

How did froome do today ?

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:53 pm

Sorry Robbo but I found it boring. Congrats to Alaphilippe on his ride and victory but the day after a rest day can be difficult for some riders and they all seemed happy just to get through the first mountain stage, with two more successive to come. I’m surprised Sky chose to ride on the front of the peleton all day when they had no intention of attacking. Wasted energy for me.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:03 pm

I never said it wasn’t boring. I wanted it to turn out differently, but found the breakaway and execution, first class. Froome will be content right now I’d imagine but don’t disagree with your comments about SKY’s strategy today.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:53 pm

I’m starting to wonder if Froome has had down time, necessary, after the giro and is building back up to be at his his best for the Pyrenees?
If other teams start thinking the same we could see some fireworks. Otherwise we have to accept that everyone else is in total awe of their team strength and are riding for second.

SPOILER.
Movistar finally go to the front and two gc contenders immediately dropped.

exilecanada · Post by **exilecanada** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:38 pm

I’m not a cyclist or fan of professional cycling per se, however I do watch the Tour de France on occasion. I’m truly in awe of these athletes, that has to be most grueling of sporting events. I can’t comment on the doping accusations, as I don’t follow the sport. I did follow the Lance Armstrong debacle to some extent, fascinating to read how orchestrated his cheating was, hopefully the cheating has been minimized since then.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:49 pm

Dimension Datas timing system is a disgrace and I hope they are canned for next year.
They are often more than a minute out and then they correct themselves in two second segments. Shocking.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:41 pm

What a stage. Fantastic racing once they opened up and raced.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:55 pm

I sat alone in the house and applauded the telly when Thomas went at the end. Tough decision for SKY, do they keep Thomas as a domestique, or allow him to race Froome. It reminds me of Porte dragging Wiggo up the mountains and having to wait for him at times.
Personally I'd let them race. Was it last year Thomas crashed out when he was looking really handy. He deserves any success he gets.

Lord Rothbury · Post by **Lord Rothbury** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:14 pm

Great ride from Thomas to win the stage .For once I have to hand it to the French for keeping the attractive young ladies at the presentation of the various shirts.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:15 pm

Awesome ‘G’ at the end of a brilliant stage. All set up for SKY now.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:53 pm

Fantastic ride by Thomas.

I believe Sky want to win the race first and foremost and if and when they have to pick between them will go with whoever provides them with the best chance.

Ideally they will stay first and second and they will be allowed to fight it out between them on the final mountain stage.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:27 am

Alp d'Huez today

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:21 pm

I don't have a bucket list but if I did, watching the Tour on Alp d'huez would definitely be on it. Coupled with having a go at riding up it myself.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:23 pm

14 kn, 1,100 metres in height.

I'd need some serious training though!

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:26 pm

It might have to wait until I'm old enough to buy an electric bike!

14km of continual uphill doesn't bear thinking about - and it's not even the longest of the classic Tour climbs. Cragg Vale is Britain's longest continual stretch of uphill road and what's that? About 5 (fairly gentle) miles?

claret wizard · Post by **claret wizard** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:24 pm

All the sprinters have gone now. Looks like it's too severe a test for the guys who bring the spectacle on those town finishes. In fact you can see how the organisers have made the sprinters job harder and harder over the last few years with uphill finishes, narrow twisty streets and punishing mountain stages. Probably all to stop Cavendish breaking the stages victory record. Well the show piece on the Champs Elysee will be a stroll for Sagan now as he wins green again.