[Closed] Anyone watching the Dauphine? (SPOILERS!)

What an idiot I am - just couldn't resist, despite the title

Is the highlights show going to be worth a watch ?

Yes, well worth watching. Loads of action on the last climb too. Great stage.

Ta,

... and I'm out of the room

Sets things up very nicely for tomorrow too.

Some descent, as you say - even if everybody else was coasting a teeny bit

FFS, STW hates my phone this week, constant crashing! Try again...

It's been a great race so far, even with my Bouhani hate! It was really interesting to see so many guys blow up big style very early on in the TTT!

Brilliant to see the young Bardet drift off over the top and smash the descent, awesome stuff!

Meh @ TJvG.

Nibali in a carbon copy of last year.

Froome was expecting the win and the yellow there, I reckon Sky will be tired tomorrow.

Tejay going well. Is he named after a motorway services somewhere or am I mistaken?

Great stage, really entertaining; sets things up nicely for the mountains.

Tejay going well. Is he named after a motorway services somewhere or am I mistaken?

That descent was excellent. I was shitting myself. The motorbike did well to stay with him. It's been good but eurosport have been a bit hit and miss and I really wish they would stop "improving" eurosport player. Looking forward to today.

Watch it on ITV, David Miller is rather good if you can cope with his accent.

Watch it on ITV, David Miller is rather good if you can cope with his accent.

He has been very good - some brilliant "current peloton" insights and info'. However, Ned Boulting... please stop trying so hard; the racing is good enough, you don't need to try and inject excitement all of the time.

I'm hoping Ned, David, Matt, Chris and Gary can between them oust Phil and Paul from the TdF. They're sounding a bit tired these days.

Ooh good rides too yesterday from Simon Yates (up to 6th overall and Pete Kennaugh finishing alongside the likes of Valverde and Costa after doing a lot of work earlier).

I thought Nibali looked OK and then suddenly decided that he didn't want to show his hand of sorts. Like he just decided, nah I don't fancy pushing it today. I full expect him and his team mates to be practically invincible when the Tour comes around again.

Nibali seems to fancy pushing it today - away with Tony Gallopin, Alejandro Valverde, Tony Martin and Rui Costa. Pretty tasty breakaway group

I for one will be gutted if Astana dominate the Tour this year, absolutely gutted. I don't mind Nibbles winning but an entire team bossing it for the whole tour and having 6 riders placed to 25 smells horribly late 90's to me.

Watch it on ITV, David Miller is rather good if you can cope with his accent.

The accent I can cope with, it's the innate smugness in every word I can't stand!

I don't mind Nibbles winning but an entire team bossing it for the whole tour and having 6 riders placed to 25 smells horribly late 90's to me.

Or TdF 2012 for that matter.

Or TdF 2012 for that matter.

I'm hoping Ned, David, Matt, Chris and Gary can between them oust Phil and Paul from the TdF. They're sounding a bit tired these days.

I've tweeted ITV4 to say if they do this I'll cancel my Eurosport - I pay £4 a month not to listen to Statler and Waldorf. "A bit tired" is an understatement - drivelled cliche from Sherwen (and you know...job of work...in this the sport of professional cycling) and wrong rider wrong mountain wrong race wrong generation from Ligget.

and yes, that was a proper watched-through-fingers descent, you could hear the camera bike decking out and scraping everything trying to keep up and there was no escape route if he got it wrong.

and yes, that was a proper watched-through-fingers descent

Yay for Diego Costa 😳 - who'd have thought that a footballer would win

Interestingly he was described in the commentary as a "local lad" but he claimed at the end he didn't know the descent.

Blimey how did they get away? Going to have to watch the highlights of that one.

I thought Nibali looked OK and then suddenly decided that he didn't want to show his hand of sorts. Like he just decided, nah I don't fancy pushing it today.

Did almost looked pre-arranged like he'd hit some training target.

Today was definitely his sort of stage though.

Be interesting now to see how he gets on when it gets properly steep again tomorrow.

Blimey how did they get away?

Looks like Eurosport coverage started just after the break had gone clear. Sounds like they went off uphill on the Croix-Haute.

Is it just me or is the new Eurosport player a bit rubbish? Seems to be a massive resource hog and is a pain on Safari on OS X.

Oooft that was some stage!! Go Yatesy, bloody strong ride! Gutted to see Bardet go down 🙁 that was a heavy fall, hopefully he's not too banged up. Lolz at Costa's wee gesture eh!

My man crush is confused/disappointed that Nibali rides for Astana...

Lolz at Costa's wee gesture eh!

what was that about?

He banged his chest (me big man winner, me strong) then pointed at his world champs stripes (me ex World Champ), Miller suggested that this was aimed at Nibali after the 2013 Worlds where it was suggested that Costa worked Nibali over and didn't deserve the win.

ah, makes sense.

SPOILERS

Oooff that was a great stage to watch for the Froome supporters. Reminiscent of Ventoux, and you can see how much that meant to him. Awesome viewing. And crazy how much time the rest of GC lost.

Loving Millar's "Yellow Jumper"!

Great stage...as they say, Froome put the hammer down 🙂

Watched yesterdays stage on catch up.....epic conditions

Tomorrow should be interesting, unless Froome just concedes and takes a rest - even then, one of the others might have another go

It's a pity a weasel like froome hasn't been banned yet, it ruins the racing when someone like him "wins"

I suppose you'll be needing to provide your evidence, thedoc

The times I've really wondered about Wiggo & Froome have been when looking at their domestiques towing a peloton for hours every day. I have zero evidence for any naughtiness on their part though - and they were high calibre riders in their own right before they signed to sky

Not sure what you mean TheDoctor.

Froome comes across as someone who turned up to ride (as opposed to someone who just needs to raise their profile for the chat show circuit) - I like that.

His team mates are on record saying they don't mind riding all day for him because they know he'll try and finish the job for the team. That was as I recall Gerant Thomas - and the implication was that they'd deliver him to the last climb and he'd try and take time out of his rivals on it. I wondered if that was Sky saying they did what they had to with a previous champion but watching someone trying not to lose time on climbs and waiting for the TT just wasn't inspiring.

Oh yes and given the way Wiggins repeatedly snubbed and disrespected Froome going back to that Vuelta, it showed remarkable disipline to assist Wiggins to that TdF. But he did - and then Wiggins failed to pay the win bonus for 12 months (allegedly - and Froome was singled out for that treatment, allegedly)

So unless you have some other dope on him?

TheDoc, would you be happier seeing Astana keep on winning? Or perhaps Bertie the Beef juicing his way to the top? Both have some proven history, yet you reserve your ire for Froome? Seems odd.

Unless, of course, you have some compelling evidence.

And yes, I know he could well be on the juice. After all, a certain Texan was. However, innocent until proven guilty. Astana and Contador are both guilty stains on the sport in a way that, as yet, Froome is not.

Suppose it depends on your stance on TUEs

Another great stage!

I can't be bothered with the doping talk, there's zero evidence that Froome is doping other than he's won a couple of races in his time. He's hardly just took 6 minutes out of the peloton in a Lance stylee.

He's hardly just took 6 minutes out of the peloton in a Lance stylee.

No he went from literally nowhere, climbing with the grupetto to in a space of 2 years suddenly out climbing the best climbers in the world whilst also being able to out timetrial multiple TT world champions! Indurain, Nibali, Contador, Quintana, Tony Martin, Cancellara etc have never been able to pull that off. Theres a reason TT specilists are poor climbers, they need power and are therefore heavier. no spindly 60kg rider can pull both off without considerable extras thrown into training!

Contador is a better climber and almost as good TT - but to be fair eats beef.

Froome is not the best climber on short stuff - he seems good when you have to pace a long effort (a bit like a TT)

Froome is not the best TTer - he's good after the mountains or if there's some gradient.

Doesn't seem that odd to me. And it wasn't over night if you remember the Vuelta the year Wiggins got the Tour.

And the accusation you make could be made about many others - Evans or Wiggins to name two.

My only evidence that I'd cite against Froome is his style - **** me, even I look better on a bike that that !

I wondered if that was Sky saying they did what they had to with a previous champion but watching someone trying not to lose time on climbs and waiting for the TT just wasn't inspiring.

Sometimes winning isn't pretty, sometimes you do what you need to do and play to your strengths. The course that year suited a very strong TT rider, the Sky team that year were exceptionally strong. The year after needed a different approach, with the 2012 team they could probably have dictated the pace again, not having a very strong team makes the racing more exciting.

My only evidence that I'd cite against Froome is his style - **** me, even I look better on a bike that that !

Yes I certainly don't like watching him.

From that perspective he was a rubbish replacement for Wiggins for Sky. I know he is successful but how many folk want to be him, have a man crush on him or he is the housewives' favourite for? Aesthetically in every sense of the word he is a marketing damp squib.

And that's before the pretend Brit jibes are made.

Why all this Froome bashing? Maybe an British thing.

I don't recall so many questions when Nibbles won last year. No form all season, a distinctly dodgy DS sending him derogatory letters about the same, then suddenly the TdF supreme form.

Reading Froome's book at the moment. A very driven, but honest person imo. Admits his bike handling skills are cr**. Something for his opponents to work on on the pave me thinks.

From that perspective he was a rubbish replacement for Wiggins for Sky

The team they built was a juggernaut that (tried to) crushed all comers under the power of the train. The stages in that "wiggo" year were made-to-measure for a time-trialler with a powerful team and so it went

If all they want is to say that they won, Froome's (or possibly Bertie, if it wasn't for that pesky declaration he'd have to sign) probably their boy for a more "conventional" tour course. Nobody in Sky's markets is going to cheer harder for Quintana than they do for Froome.
... And anyway, Wiggo [b]was[/b] good box-office as well as that but, honestly, how many Sky boxes would they have shifted on the back of that ?

No he went from literally nowhere, climbing with the grupetto to in a space of 2 years suddenly out climbing the best climbers in the world whilst also being able to out timetrial multiple TT world champions!

That kind of reasoning will kill any enjoyment you have in the sport because its logical conclusion is to doubt any rapid rise through the ranks or stand out performance.

My strategy is to take all results at face value and just enjoy the racing until there's some solid evidence against a rider or team. I'm not aware of any evidence of that nature against Froome or Sky.

I'm not aware of any evidence of that nature against Froome or Sky.

Bit like Postal 😀

The sad legacy of the sport is we will always doubt good/great/exceptional performers

TBH its not helped with Bertie and his beef and Astana than Nibali rides for

IMHO its highly unlikely the entire peloton and all teams are clean.

Do i believe Froome is clean yes. Would I faint with surprise if he was not . No

It will always be thus with the sport sadly.

part of it is taking team Sky's commitment to be clean, ie not offering anything to Miller, dropping anyone who has the slightest infringement etc. they are setting a bar for clean (I hope) not much about the results says otherwise. None of the crazy breaks and the rest just a lot of hard work. Think most of the guys are sick of the questions from my evening chatting with one of them. It's impossible to prove a negative some days.

I'll say it again. For cycling to become clean (and importantly to have public recognition of this), it requires medals to be stripped if other team members are caught. It's not acceptable that a domestique who is instrumental in your win can be caught doping and the winner gets to keep their medal. Never mind the guilt-by-association of being on a team that dopes. I suppose Hincapie is the obvious example.

For that reason, Wiggo's and Froome's wins do stand taller than most, and any proof of doping would be especially damaging to Team Sky.

Nice bit of training for the Panzerwagen.

Awesome finish, absolutely awesome

Wow! That's racing at its best.

Just caught the last 5 mins. Great result. Not sure about the nipple gesture though 😉

Bloody Hell!

Not sure about the nipple gesture though

🙂 Made me smile that one. But what is it with this pointing thing? Is it the start of a slippery slope? Will one day, someone pull out a mic and start doing a short infomercial?

Cracking race anyway. How close? Personally I like Froomey. A man of heart. And it's always on his sleeve when riding. Always looks in pain. And always gives it some more. Much prefer to see that than some of the poker faces in the peloton.

No he went from literally nowhere, climbing with the grupetto to in a space of 2 years suddenly out climbing the best climbers in the world whilst also being able to out timetrial multiple TT world champions!

Froome had bilharzia which was only diagnosed in 2010 and it took 2 years to return completely negative results.

That was a great final stage of racing, the attack was entirely predictable but brilliantly done although he did profit from Nibali setting the pace for the lower 4km of the climb. Amazing scenery too.

Was nice to see such a good result from Simon Yates getting 2nd on the stage and Stephen Cummings had a top ride being up front for so long too.

ITV4 is doing a fine job on cycling coverage too, Ned Boulting has moved over to commentary with David Millar while Gary Imlach and Chris Boardman do the studio punditry. Not having to listen to Phil Liggett or Hugh Porter is a huge bonus!

That was great - real drama and exciting racing. I like Wiggo as a personality, but Chris Froome is way more exciting to watch. Say what you want about his style on the bike, the way he pushes everyone to breaking point and then steps up a gear and snaps the elastic. It's mesmerising.

Highlights on ITV4 at 2200 tonight.

Timed perfectly, executed with determination.

T'is all you need.

Well done Chris.

8)

I wonder what Nibali's intentions were in his steamtrain leadout. It's almost as if he wanted to help Froome because Scarponi was clearly never going to win the stage. Or maybe he just wanted to create some drama.

Have Sky changed equipment supplier?

Froome's stem seems much less captivating this year.

Not having to listen to Phil Liggett or Hugh Porter is a huge bonus!

mrblobby - Member
Nice bit of training for the Panzerwagen.

How does D Millar manage to sound like he's from Bristol?

wasn't his dad RAF, so probably brought up all over and mostly exposed to "averaged" english accents - I suppose if you add that to a scottish base you gets a funny accent, dunnit ?

wasn't his dad RAF, so probably brought up all over and mostly exposed to "averaged" english accents - I suppose if you add that to a scottish base you gets a funny accent, dunnit ?

Yep, RAF and then Cathay in HK. As such, much (most) of his early life would have been around people who spoke with a fairly RP accent.

I don't recall so many questions when Nibbles won last year. No form all season, a distinctly dodgy DS sending him derogatory letters about the same, then suddenly the TdF supreme form.

Lolz, you must have missed every single forum thread about road cycling during and for 3 months after last years Tour.

Amazing win for Froome, heartbreaking for TJvG! Can't wait to see what Yatesy does at the tour! Are the two Yates twins on the same racing program? I wonder if that's why one was on and the other off?

I like Froome, no style points but seems a genuine chap.

Chapeau, great win although a bit gutted for TvG...

I'm always slightly perplexed that people go on about whether they 'like' Froome, or how he looks, as if that's as important, or even more important, than how good he is at riding.

I'm a big fan of Wiggins but Froome can do things Wiggins could never do. And Froome's a great racer. Roll on the Tour.

I'm always slightly perplexed that people go on about whether they 'like' Froome, or how he looks, as if that's as important, or even more important, than how good he is at riding.

I'm always perplexed that people don't understand that this is important. Long gone are the days (if they ever existed) that professional sport had very much to with discovering who is the best at whatever it is they do. It is entertainment for the masses pure and simple and more importantly entertainment paid for by the sponsors who feel being associated with a sport or a specific competitor can enhance their brand identity. A sportsman/woman can be 'liked' equally for their performances, attitude, personality, style or aesthetics. I have no opinion on Froome's ethics(has he ever juiced, does he? etc); appreciate his ability and often his attitude but don't warm to his personality or his aesthetics (in the broadest sense). If a marketing man was wanting to appeal to me, putting Froome in front of me is not going to push a lot of buttons. I won't be alone.

+1 cor what convert said, Wiggins had a great personality and the press conferences were fun.
Same as Josh/Greg & Steve and the syndicate/this is peaty vids actually showing some personality out there rather than reading the script/sponsor spiel for everyone.

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Whoever you support and whatever the outcome, that has to be one of the best races ever. I particularly enjoyed Nibbles playing domestique yesterday. Didn't achieve much but it the others think a bit - loved Valverde's shake of the head.

All a bit tedious and been done to death in many other threads. Can we get back to talking about the racing?

people go on about whether they 'like' Froome

Save that one for the playground at break time 🙄

butcher - Member
Not sure about the nipple gesture though
Made me smile that one. But what is it with this pointing thing? Is it the start of a slippery slope? Will one day, someone pull out a mic and start doing a short infomercial?

A sportsman/woman can be 'liked' equally for their performances, attitude, personality, style or aesthetics.

Again, nothing new there. Or maybe it's only new to us because there are now a range of 'Brits' to support.* People supported bike racers simply because of their personalities all the way back. Look at Anquetil v Poulidor, Coppi v Bartali....., and sponsors cashed in on it.

*I've even got a choice of properly local riders to support. Good grief!

Long gone are the days (if they ever existed) that professional sport had very much to with discovering who is the best at whatever it is they do

You really think this?

You think riders are chosen for something other than how good they are at cycling?

I'm all for marketing... but to suggest it comes [i]before[/i] talent is, well, a bit sad. The marketing men really have got right into you 😉