Le Tour de Pharmaceutical 2014

tricycle wrote:

taipan wrote:

tricycle wrote:Not all the time. When Schleck and Contador were the contenders, the TT used to be on the second last stage, as with this year.

Lemond's first win was sealed by a TT on the final day.

Don't you mean his last one? The 89 tour with Fignon, as opposed to Hinault.

Probably. Memory is going, but it was definitely v Fignon.

And I read this https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11435656-slaying-the-badger only last year.

Good stuff... liking the first review.

tricycle wrote:Good stuff... liking the first review.

Very good read. After a bit of thought I have worked out my confusion. 1989 was the first one shown live here"

Everything seems to be going wrong for Contador today. Had a nasty crash earlier & has now lost considerable time.

Contador has now abandoned the tour.

So the two pre-tour favourites have both abandoned.

Nibali's to lose now. This year's Vuelta looking far stronger than the tour does now. Quintana, Froome, Contador, Rodriguez all should be targeting that race.

Brilliant stage and Nibali must be unbackable fave now.

Sorry for Rodriguez who was a scrot away from the win.

Fractured tibia for Contador.

tricycle wrote:Nibali's to lose now. This year's Vuelta looking far stronger than the tour does now. Quintana, Froome, Contador, Rodriguez all should be targeting that race.

I think Wiggins might also be in the mix.

taipan wrote:

tricycle wrote:Nibali's to lose now. This year's Vuelta looking far stronger than the tour does now. Quintana, Froome, Contador, Rodriguez all should be targeting that race.

I think Wiggins might also be in the mix.

He won't be selected to race Froome, if he wants another go at one of the big ones he will have to find a new team for next season.

While not a fan of Contador it's a shame that the Tour has probably ended as a contest this early due to the retirement of two of the three favourites, unless the same happens to the one remaining.

beamer wrote:

taipan wrote:

tricycle wrote:Nibali's to lose now. This year's Vuelta looking far stronger than the tour does now. Quintana, Froome, Contador, Rodriguez all should be targeting that race.

I think Wiggins might also be in the mix.

He won't be selected to race Froome, if he wants another go at one of the big ones he will have to find a new team for next season.

It was something I read before the TDF that Wiggins was to lead. Obviously Froome's failure has now changed the scenario.

Must admit I was under the definite impression that BW was leader for the Vuelta. with Froome obviously not being a factor originally. As a former TdF winner I think he's earned the right to remain leader....... if Sky expect him to be a bag-carrier under these circumstances, then frankly they will deserve to lose him.

However ........ he's said at a sponsors event in Italy that he intends to sign a new deal with Sky, specifically looking to target Paris-Roubaix, and the Hour record. It sounds like he's resigned to not competing to win another Grand Tour, but he'll still ride as support.

Just yesterday Wiggins admitted that his grand tour days were over. He should be riding the Vuelta, but only as a preparation for the TT world championships.

He's staying with Sky apparently, but he's targeting the Paris Roubaix and hour record next year and looking at the track for 2016. Will be sharing leadership there too with Sky reportedly close to landing Boom and already having Thomas and Stannard.

As predicted, Nibali was just saving himself for stage 10 & reclaimed the Yellow, helped by the withdrawal of Contador. Orica's hardman Mat Hayman also withdrew.
Porte moves up to second.
Rest day today.

Another withdrawal

Fabian Cancellara has announced he will not start stage 11, he is to have some time off then preparing for the Road World Championships which take place in Spain during September.

Following the departures of Andy Schleck & Danny van Poppel team Trek have been left with only six riders. I'm guessing the remaining racers will have (almost) free rein to chase individual glory when the opportunity arises.

Growler wrote:Another withdrawal

Fabian Cancellara has announced he will not start stage 11, he is to have some time off then preparing for the Road World Championships which take place in Spain during September.

Following the departures of Andy Schleck & Danny van Poppel team Trek have been left with only six riders. I'm guessing the remaining racers will have (almost) free rein to chase individual glory when the opportunity arises.

Weak qunt

Is there a minimum number a team can continue with?

Hopefully someone (Sky?) will have a go in the mountain stages, Tinkoff were supposed to be the team to go on the attack for Contador but they seemingly have no GC plan B (Kreuziger would have fitted the bill had he been there) so again will probably look for individual breakaway glory instead. Nibali needs to be made to earn it by someone anyway.

beamer wrote:Is there a minimum number a team can continue with?

Hopefully someone (Sky?) will have a go in the mountain stages, Tinkoff were supposed to be the team to go on the attack for Contador but they seemingly have no GC plan B (Kreuziger would have fitted the bill had he been there) so again will probably look for individual breakaway glory instead. Nibali needs to be made to earn it by someone anyway.

I think Porte has every intention of doing just that although i'm not sure that there is anyone left in the Sky team that is capable of supporting him.

rofl.......dont think Sky have enough riders left and Porte is just an 'honest' journeyman (tho only the drug tests can prove he has not eaten contaminated donkey)

There is, BD.

Geraint Thomas is more than capable of stepping up to be de-facto number two. He's done 6 Grand Tours, so he knows what its about. Also, last year he finished 15th in the Criterium de Dauphine helping Froome & Porte to a 1 - 2 finish, so I think he'll be able to keep the little Tassie going ....

Growler wrote:There is, BD.

Geraint Thomas is more than capable of stepping up to be de-facto number two. He's done 6 Grand Tours, so he knows what its about. Also, last year he finished 15th in the Criterium de Dauphine helping Froome & Porte to a 1 - 2 finish, so I think he'll be able to keep the little Tassie going ....

You are right. I was forgetting him.

They've also got Nieve.

Tour heads south but still a few hills to keep the sprinters honest.