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Sky and Ag2r had a falling out today...wonder when we will see pay back?
I’ll make a big call here, he’ll be the next Brit to win his first grand tour. Froome may well win again but Tao will win one before Dan Martin and The Yates’s.
No, he's got a couple of years on super-domestique duties before Sky will unleash him as a leader. Nice guy; even as a Junior he was so polite. Simon Yates will have learnt loads from the Giro, he'll be a big threat if he can have the right team 100% dedicated to him.
G I think is just too unlucky / flaky to ever win a Grand Tour. He goes really well and then has one spectacular day of falling to pieces. Brilliant on one-day races and races up to a week or so but longer than that and the gremlins raise their heads and he decks it.
Sky and Ag2r had a falling out today…wonder when we will see pay back?
I *think* G was sort of joking, the tone of voice and half-smle as he said it...
However Ag2r had already attacked at the point that G punctured. This bollocks about "thou shalt not attack the leader if he punctures" is confusing to everyone including the riders and there seem to be a lot of grey areas of "etiquette". No-one really seems to know which ones apply at any given moment.
Also, Sky need a new tyre supplier, they seem to puncture with alarming regularity, usually at critical moments and why the hell is no-one using tubeless?!
Pros still ride tubulars because you can ride OK on a deflating/flat tyre, particularly a rear, whilst you wait for the team car. Carbon tubular rims are lighter and stronger too. You can however put sealant in tubulars too....
I'm hoping to be in Bourg Saint Maurice when the Tour comes through. Are there any detailed maps of the route yet? I've had a google but I can only find the national overview.
Ha! I looked really well! Cheers chap.
In an attempt to leave doping discussion elsewhere, shall we talk about the race here?
Mur de Bretagne (Stage 6) is one of those interesting lumps that could leave some big gaps.
Stages 11 and 12 are the ones to decide the race overall, though. Shirley!
Really looking forward to it, if Froome has some Giro fatigue in his legs then it could be quite open too. I still think he'll win mind you but I think Landa will push him hard. And what about green? A walk in the park for Sagan?
I think the fantasy tdf is open now. Happy to set it up for stw but I know someone else mentioned setting it up earlier.
That was me. It's here
League Owner: NBT
League Name: STW Fantasy TDF 2018
League Code: 155370120
https://www.velogames.com/tour-de-france/2018/leaguescores.php?league=155370120
and I'll join you there
I'm hoping that Adam Yates will be inspired by his brother's exploits in the Giro.
Got my team entered, I've gone for under the radar riders...ie losers I expect!
didn't realise out picks were all hidden from each other until the start!!
I’m in. Gone for some stronger riders in the hope that they will vastly outperform the 4 pointers I have got!
Plenty of terrain in the first week to keep event the GC men on their toes. I like the look of Stage 17. Only 65km starting straight up the Peyresourde and a new gravel HC finish. 10,16 and 20 have relatively short descents the the finish line which could be fun.
17 is the one with the grid start, IIRC.
What about Rigo? Second in GC last year - anyone think he has a chance of improving on that?
17 is the one with the grid start, IIRC.
A yes I'd forgotten that gimmick. I reckon they should do it Le Mans style - sprint across the road from the hotel to your bike.
good question Nick - no reason why he can't go well again but it depends on whether the smaller teams help level the playing field or just make it even harder - the TTT I suspect will just leave Movi and Sky and maybe BMC with clear air from the rest (really hope I'm wrong on this though, I don't understand why they don't do the TTT for the opening stage and just as a cash prize with no individual GC times).
Dan Martin could be the other dark horse, he did really well the other year until he was taken out by porte on that dodgy descent, but again it depends on Merida's ability in the TTTT
Wilco Kelderman out... that's a big loss for Tom Dumpoolin.
I'm in.........
In as well. 🙂
Looking at Steephill last night it appeared Direct Energie have a team of 14! Surely that's cheating. Where's Hinault now?
Well now that we know you know who is riding, and the fall out is being discussed elsewhere, I'm starting to get a bit excited. It's sneaked up on me recently, probably because of the World Cup.
Team Sky for the Tour de France: Chris Froome, Egan Bernal, Jonathan Castroviejo, Michal Kwiatkowski, Gianni Moscon, Luke Rowe, Wout Poels, Geraint Thomas
That's a hell of a strong team, with 5 really strong TT'ers. I think their task will be keeping a viable Plan B going for as long as possible. Froome will be on running on fumes by Week 3.
I think this year has the deepest field of GC riders for years. It's going to be a good one.
Movistar have a very climby looking team.
other news, no Steve Cummings !! 🙁 it seems the team is built solely for one job, delivering Cav which I can't blame DD for especially now that there is one less spot
Balanced team from Sky, super strong climbers, 2 back up GC options (Thomas and Bernal) and some TT fire power as well. Glad to see my man-crush in Kwiatkowski is in as well, the most well rounded rider in the peleton IMO.
Seems a risk by DD. I hope I'm proved wrong but I can see Cav not winning a stage this year. Groenewegen, Gaviria, Matthews, Colbrelli, Sagan, Demare, Kittel all riding.
Bouhanni, isn't riding as he's crackers. He also ignored team orders by going for a win instead of leading our Laporte at the Route d'Occitanie. So he's on the naughty step again.
From cyclingnews.com: 'A closer inspection reveals one of the most testing Tour de France routes in living memory. There are stages for the sprinters but they often come at a price with the opening stages, for example, run off against a backdrop of coastal winds and tight roads.'
With so much of the parcours creating unpredictable racing, you;d have thought a rider like Cummings would have had a couple of stages pencilled in. DD might have been better as stage hunters.
the most well rounded rider in the peleton IMO
Ahem:
you;d have thought a rider like Cummings would have had a couple of stages pencilled in.
Pulled out of his last race with a mystery breathing problem didnt he?
Movistar have a very climby looking team
Also a confused looking team with 3 ‘leaders’ and 5 domestiques
Yes, same reason he didn't contest the Nationals.
He's had a shit year after a stellar 2017. Shame. I'll miss him cruising a arriere du peloton.
As we edge closer to the start the Anti Cycle Cycle Club has been in full swing. If you don’t follow them on Insta or FB then you are missing out of some very witty/sarcastic posts..
I'm in. Hard to get the riders I wanted due to the categories.
Shame Cummins isn't in as he had an awesome couple of years, but he's been nowhere this year.
I'm hopeful Cav can get amongst it in stages that aren't nailed on lead-out sprint stages and maybe contest the green jersey with Sagan? But he's been pretty absent this year and deep down I think Cav is now just a billboard / clothes peg.
I'm in, not read how you score points though so doubt illI do very well!
Looks like there is a problem at velogames......
I see Sky got a typical french reaction at the presentation today, i do hope its not a sign of things to come in the race.
Thats a heck of a squad from Sky... You'd be hard pushed to not see them winning it.
It would be a shame for Bernal not to get a crack at something big in the next year though. Once Froome stops winning every GT ever ! If that happens.. lol.
I like the idea of the yellow bands... i'd wear one just to irritate a few 🙂
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BigR
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<div class="">Subscriber <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem;">Looks like there is a problem at velogames……</span></div>
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I just found that out, a bit of a shame as I find having a fantasy team in adds a bit more interest, especially if it's being dominated by Sky.
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Blimey, what happened to that quote, it looked fine when I previewed it 😆
https://www.velogames.com/tour-de-france/2018/
<h2>IMPORTANT NOTICE</h2>
Due to a recent legal notice, entries into the current Fantasy Grand Tour game are currently suspended until further notice.It is fair to say I am absolutely gutted about this turn of events, but do not want to comment further until the situation progresses.
At present it is looking unlikely that the current Fantasy Grand Tour game will go ahead as planned.
Yours in fantasy cycling, George
Everyone thought Cav was washed up years ago and he came back and dominated in 2016 (?)
He's had a run of bad luck again this year with crashes, so will be interesting to see how he gets on.
Due to a recent legal notice, entries into the current Fantasy Grand Tour game are currently suspended until further notice.
Yeah, bloody annoying is that 🙁
I'm sure that's it's completely unrelated to the launch of this:
https://fantasy.letour.fr/
I’m looking forward to see Cav rattle one out at least.
Bad luck? He’s pretty much had most of the peloton s all on his shoulders, poor lad. Whilst I have never been a fan of the lead out train he had, and the way they dominated, they did break the mould on “how to win a sprint”
Now everyone employs his techniques, it’ll be difficult unless he’s going to do something different.
lead out train he had, and the way they dominated, they did break the mould on “how to win a sprint”
I think Cipo & the saeco cannondale team might have an issue with Cav "inventing" the lead out train
Due to a recent legal notice, entries into the current Fantasy Grand Tour game are currently suspended until further notice.
It is fair to say I am absolutely gutted about this turn of events, but do not want to comment further until the situation progresses.
At present it is looking unlikely that the current Fantasy Grand Tour game will go ahead as planned.
Yours in fantasy cycling, George
ouch
I might register a team on the letour site with some (in?)appropriate commentary as a team name - for all that some of their amendments seem decent, they're bastards if they've shut down the opposition
Road CC still up and running wonder if they've licensed it from ASO or if they're on a countdown...
Not entering the ASO version out of sheer bloody-mindedness
Blimey, what happened to that quote, it looked fine when I previewed it
You included the poster's name and status when you copied. The editor messes this up, just copy the text of the post and it's fine as in the above example.
team Velogames_were_robbed has been registered. I'm not impressed.
We've entered teams at
http://fantasy.road.cc/
Site requires manual approval for new registrations so we had to wait till this morning having tried to register last night. Entries close at 10am.
Interestingly, road.cc have Egan Bernal worth more than Chris Froome
I'll try to set up am stw mini league and post details shortly
Might I suggest we keep this thread for general Tour chat, and Lunge's excellent day by day threads for each individual stage?
Sounds good to me Cap
So, a 100% success rate for discs so far!
😁
I can't believe they've been out and filmed more adverts for the watch people and still haven't used a proper slow-mo camera. "Nah, just do it slowly, it'll be reet"
I'd just like to say that I had Gaviria in my velogames team!!
A few years late, but...
yay it's the stage so teams can justify having a proper tt bike for all riders 🙂
Stage thread is posted.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/tour-de-france-stage-3-cholet-cholet-ttt/
Thanks, Lunge!
As previously suggested, can we use this one for general chat on the Tour, and Lunge's excellent day by day threads for discussion of each individual stage?
Am I the only one that quite likes the EF Drapac kit (although not in TT mode!)
So, Team Nibbles are thinking of bringing a case against ASO.
Failure to provide a safe working environment, maybe?
Really, where did you hear that?
I'm no fan or barriers, I am a fan of supporters showing respect to riders though.. and those bloody media motorbikes ought to be slimmed down to 3 max, with the water bottle dispensers down to 4..
We get plenty of decent shots form the Heli's and front of group Moto's, no need for one moto in every bloody gap on a mountain.
IMO.
Probably about time, the should have had the flares shoved up them who wants to ride through that
Anyone know if you can get GPX routes for the stages? I'd like to ride one in the next couple of years, and this years stage to Aple D'Huez looks fantastic.
Plenty on strava.
Or Garmin Connect.
Popular routes, plenty of choice..
Anyone else see David Miller pointing out Sky are carrying whales (Wales) on their backs this year?
I'm just waiting for a wry smile from Brailsford as he says “It was there in plain sight - did you not work it out?”
richardk - Romain Bardet puts all of his race days (and most of his training) on Strava. So you have the routes and also the depression about how he's on a different planet to you