Le Tour de Pharmaceutical 2017

WideWally wrote:At the moment, Froome seems to be around $1.36 to $1.38 to win the tour.

I'm thinking of having a small wager on Rigoberto Uran at $12.00.

Well worth a crafty tenner INHO, Wally.

Whilst Uran may not *catch* Froome in the normal sense, there are still three days before the TT and Champs Elyssee.

Plenty of time for Froome to be caught and damaged in a pile-up, or an incident with a vehicle (was it last year he & Porte ran into the camera-bike?). Or, of course some drunken arse in a mankini running alongside interfering with him.

Nodded off & missed the finish. Bugger!

Interesting stage today. Should be a beauty.

Growler wrote:

WideWally wrote:At the moment, Froome seems to be around $1.36 to $1.38 to win the tour.

I'm thinking of having a small wager on Rigoberto Uran at $12.00.

Well worth a crafty tenner INHO, Wally.

Whilst Uran may not *catch* Froome in the normal sense, there are still three days before the TT and Champs Elyssee.

Plenty of time for Froome to be caught and damaged in a pile-up, or an incident with a vehicle (was it last year he & Porte ran into the camera-bike?). Or, of course some drunken arse in a mankini running alongside interfering with him.

I've changed my mind & won't be backing him. One of the commentators had claimed that Uran would be able to time trial well enough to not lose much time to Froome but having now researched this, I believe it is garbage. For Uran to be a chance, he would need to get a significant lead over Froome in the mountains over the next two days.

Fair enough Wally, it's your money of course - but I may still have been slightly tempted to take a chance on Chris F crashing out with a broken wrist/collar bone. It goes without saying I wouldn't wish it (especially as a pom) - but it could happen, and in that case Uran is as good a bet as anyone.

You would have to think he will have a go in the mountains. I still think he is a chance. Just wish Uran, Aru or Bardet could time trial a bit better.

Froome usually seems to survive incidents quite well. Not like the Tasmanian who always finds trouble at the Tour.

Kittel gawn

Kittel abandons.

He had a nasty fall earlier in the day. So, Michael Matthews only has to finish the tour to win the Green Jersey.

Whilst I don't think anyone ever wins a GT through luck alone, it is true that Porte, G Thomas and Kittel today to name but three have had rotten luck. Contador too - wonderful ride so far today, but not really in contention for the podium due to events in the previous two weeks.

While CF does usually survive incidents quite well - a pretty innocuous couple of falls saw his 2014 TDF wrecked, if memory serves me.

Porte and Thomas always screw up their chances all the time. Think there more than luck to it.

Wally: fair decision. He hasn't had many good time trials since 2015.

Another great stage today with a classic uphill finish to the Col d `Izoard.

Crunch time for Froome.

taipan wrote:Crunch time for Froome.

More likely for everyone else.

JGK wrote:

taipan wrote:Crunch time for Froome.

More likely for everyone else.

He cracked a bit on a previous mountain top finish.

They need a couple of minutes on him ahead of the time trial, surely.

beamer wrote:They need a couple of minutes on him ahead of the time trial, surely.

One would think so, but he still needs to make sure he doesn't concede too match.

beamer wrote:They need a couple of minutes on him ahead of the time trial, surely.

I think you are right. Short of an accident, i can't see Froome losing from here.

Probably done and dusted, but the margin is still small and Froome can't afford a crash. Bardet may not be a threat in a time trial but Uran apparently is pretty capable against the clock. Aru the big loser of the day on GC as he loses fourth to Sky no.2 Landa.

The longest stage of the tour. This will sort the wheat from the chaff.

Is it normal to have an intermediate sprint line at the top of a hill?

Well that stage was a waste of time with all the GC riders happy to stay back & protect their positions. Bring on the TT.

Boring stage.

That stage was always going to be boring. I didn't bother watching it.

I was hoping for more ... thought on elf the other contenders might have attacked Froome, but it looks like they've all conceded.

The climb could put a bit of life in the TT although its probably going to work more in Froomes favour.