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Morning all, so that's it, done and dusted, the race over? I'm not so sure. I do love a TT day though, cycling equivalent to test cricket, something purists enjoy whilst others only want to see mountains/Twenty20. Anyway, I digress...
Three riders are in contention for the overall victory: Chris Froome, Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran are separated by less than thirty seconds ahead of the 22.5km individual time trial in the streets of Marseille. Suspense is high! Froome is the favourite. But once upon a time, Uran can race amazingly against the clock and Bardet is extremely motivated. The venue is unique: never before a Tour de France stage started and finished in a stadium. This one has a great name for a bike race: Orange Vélodrome. The last time it hosted a Tour de France stage finish was fifty years ago, the day before the tragic death of Tom Simpson. The cycling track has been partly destroyed in 1971, so it's mainly a football stadium since then but Canadian singer Céline Dion was last to perform there on Tuesday this week. More than 60.000 spectators are expected to fill up the grandstands. The whole course is in the city centre on a scenic route via the Vieux-Port (the old harbor) and Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, the chapel that overlooks France's second metropolis. France's national anthem is called La Marseillaise. That's what locals would like to hear in Paris looking at Bardet in the yellow jersey but it's a pretty big call…
The Route: a very different route to the usual time courses, this 22.5km is an urban course that twists around the city of Marseille like a sight-seeing tour. The first novelty is the start in the Orange Vélodrome, better known as le Stade Vélodrome but re-branded in the name of the French telecoms operator. Despite the name it’s a football stadium and one of France’s largest and over 60,000 free tickets have been made available.It’s out along the Prado, a big shady boulevard and then along the coast and corniche to the first time check at 12.3km before they ride around the Vieux Port and a U-turn at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations then it’s back around the port and then the main feature of the course, the climb to the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.
The climb starts with a tight turn and a bend up a ramp and then a turn onto a 300m long steep ramp, then a right turn onto an evener steeper ramp, a left turn onto another ramp and onwards still towards the foot of the basilica and the second time check. It’s just 780m uphill but close to an 11% gradient on average and with some sustained 13-14% parts.
After a climb defined by rectilinear ramps comes the opposite, a snaking descent that will see those hunting every second taking risks while team cars will be screeching around the corners especially on the first part of the descent. The descent is longer than the climb and the further down they go they more the slope evens out, as do the corners. The lower points will see riders in an aero tuck working the biggest gear they’ve got. Then it’s back along the coast and back up the Prado to the stadium on flat roads to finish in front of the waiting crowds in the stade.
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Who to back?
Chris Froome has won time trial stages before and the course suits him, he can hold his own on the flat boulevards but it’s the sharp climb to the city’s Bonne Mère that can see him take time on the specialists. Team mate Micha? Kwiatkowski could be close too and Vasil Kiryienka was close in the opening stage too.What can Rigoberto Urán do? Applying the logic that Froome a strong pick for the stage win and that Urán has beaten Froome before in a time trial then this makes the Colombian a pick too. It’s hard to see him winning but who envisaged he’d be starting today to secure a podium finish and with a short at the yellow jersey? In the famous words of Greg LeMond in 1989 “if he has a bad day and I have a good day then anything’s possible“. Still the evidence points to Froome’s superiority against the clock.
Tony Martin‘s just not the safe pick for a time trial that he used to be. He’s good at hilly courses though and if he’d surely prefer not to have the climb it’s short rather than Alpine so he can limit his losses and turn that giant 58T chainring on the rest of the course.
Primož Rogli? is versatile, able on short to mid-length courses and good on the climbs. As such he might not be the fastest up the hill nor the fastest on the flat but he’ll be close on both sections and this makes him a pick for the stage win, especially as Lotto-Jumbo have worked hard on the time trials and unlike “Drizzledorf” they won’t be slip-sliding all over the road. Win and he can make a name for himself as double Tour de France stage winner rather than junior ski jumper.
Stefan Küng (BMC Racing) is a TT specialist and he was second in Düsseldorf. He’s had the chance to rest relative to others but the hill doesn’t suit him, Google says he was 83kg and even if he’s lighter today that’s a lot of bulk to take uphill. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) is a time trial specialist who is very good on courses with lots of corners like this. A win would be an upset but it’s within his range. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) did a great ride in Paris-Nice’s Mont Brouilly time trial and can use his power to sprint out of all these corners.
Want to watch it? times below in CEST, 1 hour earlier for those of us in the UK (I think).
16h46 Alberto Contador (ESP/Trek-Segafredo)
16h48 Warren Barguil (FRA/Sunweb)
16h50 Louis Meintjes (AFS/UAE Emirates)
16h52 Simon Yates (GBR/Orica-Scott)
16h54 Dan Martin (IRL/Quick-Step Floors)
16h56 Fabio Aru (ITA/Astana)
16h58 Mikel Landa (ESP/Sky)
17h00 Rigoberto Uran (COL/Cannondale-Drapac)
17h02 Romain Bardet (FRA/AG2R La Mondiale)
17h04 Chris Froome (GBR/Sky)
Customary glance back at yesterday? or course.
France really is rather stunning isn't it?
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Cracking to see EBH take the win.
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Cheers, Lunge. These threads have been great fun.
So what will Rigo do? A time trialling enigma, will he beat Froome or lose out to Bardet? Who knows.
Advantage is certainly with Froome. Is in yellow (though not his favoured Castelli skin suit) so has time in hand and he starts last so will be getting time checks on Rigo and Bardet. Course seems to suit too. And he's not one to crack under pressure. But all it would take is an ill timed puncture or a tumble on one of the tight corners.
All hail Lunge for these threads!
Martin FTW, Froome to ride a very calculated race to second and the yellow jumper.
Also, rather good read here - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/21/allez-allez-le-tour-de-france-a-photo-essay
I hope it's settled with legs and not mechanicals/crashes/dodgy motorbikes etc..I think Froome has done enough to deserve the win.
Got to like Rigo...
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Probably not one for the Panzerwaggen today with the hill and the twisty course, though Katusha do need a result in this Tour. My money's predictably on Roglic or Froome. Will Froome continue the theme of this Tour though and just do enough to stay in yellow or will he let it all hang out and go for the stage win?
Boooooooorrrrrrrring TT's.
Betterer things to do today, enjoy the snooze fest lads.
Barguil FTW.
See y'as t'moz.
A major upset would be quite entertaining.
Primoz Roglic for the win, then Steve Cummings 😉
Actually what will be interesting is seeing what bikes they're all on. I'd say this is actually a course for a decent crit racer. Tight and technical means handling skills rather than pure aerodynamics and power.
Women's race at midday might be good too although I'm not especially a fan of trial format racing on this level, I'd rather they'd have stuck with a crit race. Hopefully it'll work out well though.
Love TTs! I've seen 5 or 6 stages live in France and TT in the fields near Bordeaux was my favourite. (year of chaingate). Wine was involved and I got an aero water bottle chucked at me.
interesting is seeing what bikes they're all on
Really? No question anyone at the sharp end will be on TT bikes.
Marseille Cathedral looks stunning.
Less stunning is this new format but that might be down to Rochelle Gilmore's annoying commentary. Such a jarring change from the excellent Millar/Boulting discussions and punditry, this is just "she's SUCH a strong rider, she's having a fantastic ride..."
Utterly worthless in terms of actually describing tactics or the race.
tactical error by Lizzie D to wait for the group? Could she have closed the 40-odd seconds by going full gas and then sat on VV to try and recover? Quite like the format concept but it hasn't really worked out to make it exciting - at least not for the win.
To be fair though, AVV did put in one hell of a ride there. Wonder what would have happened if she hadn't crashed in the Olympics cos that is dominance in the style of Marianne Vos.
Don't think the Lizzie group ever fully committed. They weren't making much effort to get aero when pulling on the front, and didn't give the appearance of doing full gas pulls either.
An ideal course for Michal Kwiatkowski; it'd be nice to see him take the stage after his big efforts over the last few weeks.
Not seen it yet. What happened to Lizzy? Did the group not work well enough together or not big enough to drag back VV?
@mrblobby
Lizzie sat up from the start to wait for the two behind, so basically a group of 3 starting 1:30 down over 20k.
But once they got together they appeared to be taking pulls at their individual TT pace rather than properly hard pulls. End result, the group of 3 actually lost time to AVV.
In Lizzy's interview beforehand she was asked what tactic will she go with. She said something along the lines of...
Not being a great time triallist so the 43 seconds would be difficult to catch up, where as waiting for a group might work. She added something like... if I TT it I'll finish second, if I sit up and try and work with a group we might make the catch and I could win. Worst case I'll still finish second. Alluding to her having a better sprint than any of those around her.
Sounds like she was just being completely realistic.
I currently have Jonathon Vaughters baffling me with science. Bloody vortex whadjamacallit.
Really? No question anyone at the sharp end will be on TT bikes.
Yep, my mistake, the description of the course made me think it was more technical than it actually is.
Sounds like she was just being completely realistic
Realistic but then didn't even seem to try on the road?
Shame they don't ditch TT stages.
Cheers, Lunge. These threads have been great fun.
Agreed - my first port of call each morning to check out what the score is for each day's stage. Big thanks to Lunge.
I reckon whoever set out that time trial has a similar sense of humour to the guy who does our club ones, considering how hilly it is.
Zen assed dued
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Sounds like she was just being completely realistic
Realistic but then didn't even seem to try on the road?
If the group isn't working then why would you work? They dropped Meghan Guarneri quite easily on the climb which suggests they were working at a reasonable rate.
Surprised to see Roglic not go quicker (edit... ah missed the mechanical.) Having seen the course and times so far this is definitely one for Froome if he goes for it.
Great photo on the cyclingnews feed...
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I'd never ridden a TT, so inspired by today's stage, I headed to the Velo park in Buenos Aires to ride a 22.5km TT!! 1.1 km circuit with a little hill in the middle of each lap. I managed the 22.5k in 38 min, averaging 34.5kph. As a 13st8 mtb'er im happy with that!
Lovely to see Barguil smile as he left the ramp.
Good Lad.
What a noise for Bardet:) wonderful
Yes, quite the cheer! Boos for Froome?
sounded like it 🙁
Not a surprise, not the first time in this Tour either
Splits at first time check pretty much as expected. Surprisingly steep ramp that.
So far, so predictable.
Awww, poor Bardet 🙁
Argh Bardet losing a lot of time, might lose his podium here. Froome flying, 3s back on Kwiatkowski at the 2nd check. Will he play it safe?
Wow, Bardet totally cooked and dribbling all over himself
dribbling all over himself
At least he's mastered that part of time trialling 🙂
Oooh Rigo into the barrier! Back on his way. 2nd place looks safe.
oo bardet could lose his podium place 🙁
Hope Bardet holds his podium place!
I hope Froome doesn't do the same!
Nice carrot for Froome.
Into the barrier, I mean!
oh
Looks like he might just have done it!
Edit: By a single second!
They need to get over that booing lark.
Happy hour at the Bistro du Coin, couldn't be happier to see Froome chasing his man down 8)
Good luck to Bardet, he could win one day just not now 😉
They need to get over that booing lark
Plus 1 Just shaming themselves 🙁
1 second, incredible. soooo boring
Hell yeah!
Bardet, just.
Great result for Bodnar, so often on domestique duties.
Wonder if Froome will try and go for his stage win tomorrow 😉
Nice one Bardet!
Well done Froome
Relieved for Bardet!
I sure felt for Bardet, quite anxious at times..certainly on that climb in-out-in-out of the saddle. 😯 🙂
Huge roar when into the stadium, which was superb. Sadly I think he cracked under the weight of expectation and internal pressure. I do hope he is able to win a Tour in the near future.
Glad Uran did well, such a cool a performance under pressure.
Any intermediate sprints for Landa tomorrow? 💡
Blimey...like the French don't hate them enough already!Any intermediate sprints for Landa tomorrow?
If they are going to boo anyway, may as well give them something to boo about 😆
😀 ...Landa will get his chance for payback in next years one.
He's got to try and break Bardet surely? Even though it's not usually the done thing
What's the etiquette? Is Landa allowed to race for 3rd? He wouldn't be attacking yellow. I suspect SKY might not want him to but theoretically??
He's had his chance...I guess if Bardet gets dropped or something then fair enough, but to actually attack him would be a bit off.He's got to try and break Bardet surely? Even though it's not usually the done thing
Sadly I think he cracked under the weight of expectation and internal pressure. I do hope he is able to win a Tour in the near future.
There are reports he was ill.
Tactically brilliant work from Sky and Froome, did exactly what was needed to win the race.
In theory anyone can attack tomorrow, Landa, Uran and Bardet included. I practise, Landa isn't going to finish top 3 as there are a pile of sprint team who will make sure it ends in a sprint finish. In the same way a break won't stick, this is the world cup of sprinting and those teams won't let anyone spoil the party.
Lunge, he doesn't need to win the stage, just split the pack?
Bardet sure looked completely drained sitting on the kerb. I always say ride till you puke, but actually in this instance I feel for him.
I have the utmost respect for him.
Now shouldn't this have been tomorrow? So much better than the time waste of the current normal end stage which is tedium that you can predict until the last 100 yards.
TTing isn't the greatest spectator sport I know but anything is better than a bloody procession.
Paris TT to finish certainly wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and would make an interesting change from going round and round waiting to see which sprint leadout gets to the final bend first.
Paris TT to finish certainly wouldn't be the worst thing in the world
Yeah, but the last time they did that, Greg Lemond beat Laurent Fignon. I can't see them ever doing that again...
I think a TT on the last day in Paris would be an awesome idea.
Much as I enjoy the spectacle that is the sprint on the Champs Elysee, imagine how good it would be if it went to the last day on a TT on the Champs!
The booing of Froome was poor show.
Much as I enjoy the spectacle that is the sprint on the Champs Elysee, imagine how good it would be if it went to the last day on a TT on the Champs!
Frequently the TT is boring and doesn't do much for the final top places. Having a sprint ensures that there's a race rather than just watching a load of single riders on a mostly flat parcours which, if there's no mixup in the race, would be dull as ditchwater. Also it means more of Paris gets to see the peloton.
Yep, in my mind the race finishes after the saturday stage and the sunday is like the closing ceremony, and so should it be. So the folks that have busted their balls for the last 3 weeks can have a ride around and say well done to the other teams, share a laugh, drink champagne in formation and other fripperies. Then the retirees can ride around Paris for a bit, maybe make a crack at escaping off the front one last time (in full tongue out mode, I'm sure - Tommy V, don't let us down) and then the sprinters can have a last whack to make it seem like a race.
That's the point of sunday.
+1
And Lunge, thankyou for your efforts, much appreciated. God knows what I'm going to read over breakfast tomorrow...
We were in the stadium yesterday, the booing for Froome leaving the start hut was deafening. The cheering for Bardet as he re entered the stadium was also deafening, but that only lasted a few seconds until the spectators realised that Froome was right on his tail, beautiful silence! We had no idea Chris had made up so much time as there was no flow of information of events outside the venue. More respect showed to him when he was on the podium but there were still pockets of fans booing, very disappointing!
It's a procession on Sunday & feels like a totally separate race with nothing to do with the Tour.
Basically a crit.