[Closed] TdF Stage 17 - No Miracle Comebacks [Spoilers]

I was amazed by Pinot's revelation when I heard about it yesterday. That must blow pretty hard to devote yourself to becoming a rider of such strength only to be brought low by your inner demons.

Be a big struggle for him to get decent contracts I imagine too, especially as he feels like he doesn't even deserve to be there. This could be the end for him.

Pinot ... what a shame, feel really sorry for him.

I thought he was great value in Velogames... he ended up not scoring a single point.

On a brighter note, it was nice to see Stannard & Thomas still there until the last climb yesterday perhaps they are both on the mend.

Porte however is looking really good, is it possible he could be team leader & go for a Vuelta GC spot as payback for his efforts on this Tour? I guess it rather depends on how Sir Wiggins is feeling.

Wiggo is not riding the Vuelta

He's doing Tour of GB instead ... 🙄

@mtbfix - i missed the revealtion - what was it?

Murray - Member
@mtbfix - i missed the revealtion - what was it?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pinot-out-of-tour-de-france

Ro5ey, how do you know? I dont see any team info on the Sky site yet for the Vuelta?

I was just guessing.

Pinot = Hindenberg

Like a hot balloon, he will not come down. But when he does, it ends in disaster.

(had a bad crash as a kid now is soooo scared of desending, it's wreck any thoughts of being France's next great hope)

Re wiggo

Think I must have heard it... can't remember reading it.

But found it here anyway... google is great 😀

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/news/sir-bradley-wiggins-injury-free-targeting-2013-tour-of-britain-win/

EDITED,
Sounds good, so still wonder who the Vuelta pick will be. Then Porte must be in with a chance of the team leader & crack at the GC.

Isn't Uran penciled in for the Vuelta?

Normally I would have thought he was up for the spot, but he is leaving Sky after this season so I cant see him getting a top slot, race yes, but not the team leader.

What is Froome wibbling about? Last time I looked, it's a race he is in, so should probably expect a race. If he thought Contador was going too quickly, or being dangerous, then he could have let him go. Or am I missing something?

tough call for todays stage. Froome has to be favourite though.

Almost went over your head @albertocontador.. Little more care next time?

Come on now Froome, keep your cool, you don't want to sound like Schleck now do you?

'When I saw that I was not able to stay on the wheel of a rider like Mark Cavendish on the descent off a mountain pass, I asked myself: ‘What am I doing on the Tour?'

Froome comment, is he pissed off at contador attacking on the downs (which is a bit whiny) or just about contador throwing himself infront of his wheels (fair enough I guess 🙂 )

oh and contador having a dig at quintana riding away post crash, is this the same guy who left schleck when his chain fell off?

The strain on Froome showed when he responded tetchily to the question of why, if Contador was being reckless, he followed him. ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ he said. ‘I should probably let him go up the road and get the yellow jersey.’

Does not sound too whiney

And Contador's point of view is equally valid.

Contador defended his actions and said he would keep pushing all the way, adding: ‘For me there is no motivation to be calm and sit on their wheel in the bunch.
‘Whenever I see there is a chance, I’ll try, either at the beginning or the end of a race, and we’ll see what the result is in Paris.’
Contador promised further entertainment, saying: ‘My legs are getting better and I hope I can provide a spectacle. I don’t know if we’ll win but I hope the people watching TV will enjoy it.’

What is Froome wibbling about? Last time I looked, it's a race he is in, so should probably expect a race. If he thought Contador was going too quickly, or being dangerous, then he could have let him go. Or am I missing something?

I think it was more a case of recklessness almost costing them both time/injury. Coming off at those speeds could be career let alone tour ending.

can't figure out if he's saying "well cav is pure shite downhill so if I can't even keep up with him I'm oot" or sincerely thinks he should be able to keep up with him.

I thought it was an odd comment, isn't Cav regarded as a good decender? Although maybe it was lost in translation that being a GC hopefull and getting overtaken by Cav on a mountain stage was bad, rather than the decending per-se?

^^ Was thinking that last night, he's not shy of taking advantage when it suits him is he.

As an absolutely terrible descender on the road bike I still think MTFU about the whiney descent bitching. It's a race, get on board or go home (mainly aimed at Schleck from a couple of years back). Also agree with the comments ref Froome, if it was that dangerous don't go with him, good chance it would have came back together anyway.

Pinot needs to do a day with jedi.

;o)

dammit, Pinot was a bad velogames choice.

People bag Froome for being too nice and civil, and now for being too whiny when some he nearly gets taken out by someone wiping out infront of him on a notorious deeeescent (as he calls them). The guy can't win.

Lot of talk about rain, especially tomorrow. Might mix things up a little.

Contador wants, to use a city phrase, the put and the call.

"I'll attack you, but if I get it wrong by attacking too hard, over cook it and crash... you aren't allow to go past me, alright."

You what? How does that work?

Mollema has said he was uncomfortable attacking Froome .... how so?. It's not a mechanical, it's racing .... get on with it.

ok then. How is Froome at going downhill in the rain?

Make 2 minutes on the up, lose a minute on the down... he will be fine.
🙂

will they be on TT bikes? or road bikes with stick-on bars?

Since Froome still had Porte with him I think he was foolish to ride right in Contador's wheel on that descent - he could have just given him a 10 sec lead and let him fill his boots knowing that the minor loss could be neutralised on the flat run to the finish anyway. I like the instinctive combative style - not giving an inch - but a little bit of wisdom and good judgement is important also. Would love to know what the team were telling him. As it was he was lucky not to catch a puncture or somesuch. It was a risk not worth taking.

brakes, I wondered that, Road bikes with stick ons at a guess.

brakes - Member
will they be on TT bikes? or road bikes with stick-on bars?

Talk of people changing to TT bikes for the final descent but I think most will be on road bikes.

I think Froome's comments were a bit soft/Schleck.

It's a race. Froome can make his own mind up how fast he wants to ride down the hill. No one is forcing him to ride at Contador's pace. If he thinks Contador is going too fast then ride at a slower pace. He has Porte to help him catch Contador on the flat. Don't see what his problem is.

If he thought Contador was going too quickly, or being dangerous, then he could have let him go. Or am I missing something?

Perhaps For the first Time Froome was a bit emotional in interviews about the race but that is no bad thing.
perhaps Bertie has an edge as theywont follow him as they think he descends liek a mad man..perhaps they will push him to make him crash in some sort of death race
As for today Froom will gain a bit of time on them all but not huge about - less than 30 seconds

Looking forward to seeing how the non natural TT but hill climbers do on this stage

In the context of the interview I don't think it was whiney or 'soft' (grrrrrrrr), he was asked about it and replied pretty matter of factly.

Bit different to the one at the Giro and the Tour of California, but most of the top guys rode their TT rigs. I'd expect to see the top guys on their TT bikes (unless the climbs and descents are quite twisty.)

They all used road bikes on the hilly TT in the Giro.

Did they? Maybe I'm confusing with ToC. There was definitely a mix of road and TT bike there.

there was definitely a hilly TT this year in one of the Tours where they used a mix. can't remember which one it was though.

Anyone know what the two climbs and descents are like today? Tight and twisty or just big ramps?

Edit: Looks a bit wiggly on the map!

Were riders not changing bikes halfway through in the ToC?

Some were (e.g. Rogers I think) others just rode their TT bikes up the hill (e.g. Teejay.) Though I think the hill was just a straight drag.

Edit: anyone know what the riders who've completed the stage are riding?

Double edit: Looks like Tony Martin is about to set off.

According to Eurosport Tony Martin is planning to change bikes three times and Froome once.

Surely they should only be allowed to pick one steed from the quiver 😉

We have a very long time to wait!! Wont know the outcome of it all until about 4.20pm...

The rule should be:

every time you change your bike, you drink a pint. Sorted.

Contador complaining about Quintana is a bit rich considering what he did to Schleck. Infact ignore that, Contador complaining about unsportsman like behaviour is a bit rich considering he was banned for being a drugs cheat!

ooooh, rain from 2pm.

yes it is that starage weather lottery but at least all the main GC players get the same weather

Does Shleck miss the rain?

"With these levels of hypocrisy and lack of self awareness I am wondering which poster on here is Bertie"

LOL'd.

D0NK - Member

'When I saw that I was not able to stay on the wheel of a rider like Mark Cavendish on the descent off a mountain pass, I asked myself: ‘What am I doing on the Tour?'

can't figure out if he's saying "well cav is pure shite downhill so if I can't even keep up with him I'm oot" or sincerely thinks he should be able to keep up with him.

DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

Westra made up 42 seconds from check 3 to the finish, so rain could make all the difference later.

tinsy good point, hadn't thought of that, makes sense (i have no idea whether cav is a good descender of not btw)

tinsy - Member
DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

Or maybe because Cav was ill yesterday and taking it easy.

CaptJon, you put the link up about Pinot, he had bailed before yesterdays stage, he was talking about a previous mountain stage 8 & following Cav.

It was only a theory on why he chose to mention Cav as a reference to his decending.

DONK, I wonder if he meant it as Cav has no real urgency down mountain stages as he is on a very different agenda (survive to fight another day) so probably not trying too hard?

that's how I read it; not that Cav is a poor descender, just that he has no reason to descend "quickly" in a mtn stage as he's only interested in the sprint stages (and as long as he finishes in the gruppetto, who all have an interest in staying together).

yes I read it as I cannot keep up with someone who is not really trying to "race"

the highlights wont be exciting, so im happy to watch the STWupdates roll in this afternoon

who can see what?

I saw a cyclist in the distance looking at a side road just now; I bet he's going for my sneaky KoM on the back road near the office. If you mean regarding the tour, I can see Eurosport 😛

just as interested in real people riding real roads, without all the support they get in the TdF

dont see them having to carry keys and phones do you.

just as interested in real people riding real roads, without all the support they get in the TdF

dont see them having to carry keys and phones do you.

I'd be way faster than the pros if only I didn't have to carry my keys and phone. 🙄

Anyway, rain due apparently. That could really hamper the late starters.

umberrrellas out

What are the chances that the rain falls at exactly the right time to hamper Froome but not Mollema and Contador?

sorry ransos, referencing the runners/molgrips thread.

Or

It pees down on Berti the cheat geet.... and then there's a break in the clouds for Froome and as his maillot jaune gleams in the rays of sunshine, a host of angels sing allelluia as swoops down the hill to VICTORY 😀

[quote=portlyone ]What are the chances that the rain falls at exactly the right time to hamper Froome but not Mollema and Contador?

It's already raining. I'd hope conditions wouldn't change too much between the top 6 riders.

sorry ransos, referencing the runners/molgrips thread.

Spectacularly missed!

I had Froome down as a cert for this stage, but the rain could really scupper it.

Surely they should only be allowed to pick one steed from the quiver

Surely another arrow from the stable? 😯

It's pissing it down now!

Crash time!

would you change your bike set-up in the rain? maybe tyre pressures?

Reports of hail ... see told you it'll be biblical

TeeJay for the win?

It pees down on Berti the cheat geet.... and then there's a break in the clouds for Froome and as his maillot jaune gleams in the rays of sunshine, a host of angels sing allelluia as swoops down the hill to VICTORY

Surelyy the angels would stop briefly to mock Contador as he gets overtaken by Froome

It hasn't actually rained at all throughout the Tour until today has it?

would you change your bike set-up in the rain?

I dunno, softer tyres maybe? Slower but grippier..?

Will be interesting to see how Contador approaches the descents if it is wet. He's said he doesn't really care about podium places and he just wants to win so may see this as an opportunity to gain a chunk of time over Froome who has a lot more to lose. Looks fairly dry out there right now though.

"[...]raining men..."

[img] [/img]

Did Carlton Kirby really just say that Contador had overcome so many problems then sort of nod verbally towards doping like it wasn't his fault?

I've got the same issue with some online bike news places who conveniently ignore the doping past of their favourite riders in order to do sycophantic "interviews"

Yes he did.

Valverde going well, a minute up on Teejay at the second split (despite commentary saying he was only a second up.)

Peraud is nails though... chapeau.

Peraud riding his TT bike as well. I think I'd just stick to the road bike. Chapeau indeed.

Edit: Andy Schleck... blimey!

What's most surprising is that Schleck took a minute back from Van Garderen on the last descent.