Recent content by Old&slow

Re: Re: Thank you for the kind words although I would disagree with your implication that posters here are lacking knowledge. There are lots of extremely smart posters here who have a lot more cycling knowledge than me. The problem is there is so much hate and bias in this forum that most of...

Re: Re: 2015 was his normal. 2016-2018 he did not come in at 100%. In 2016 and 2017 he came in undercooked hoping to do the double and was able to win the tour at less than peak shape. In 2018 he was unable to do that. Is that because of age, better competition, illness, bad luck or some...

Re: Stage 17 is his only real opportunity. GT. would have to crack and lose a minute for Froome to get close enough to have a chance in the ITT. The stage one crash at 4kms looks to be his undoing. But Grats to G. He deserves some good luck. Froome will get number 5 next year.

Re: I would argue the two are not in the same class. Contador's best finish on a Tour mountain stage (Cat 2 or higher) when not in a breakaway since his win in 2009 was 6th place. Here G. just won back to back stages against arguably the strongest GC field since 2005.

Re: Yes, if you looked at the Par Cours or read my prediction in this thread you would have known that Nibali stood no chance. The only riders with a chance this tour are those that can ITT and have a team that can TTT.

Of the big 5 favorites for the race 4 are left and in a position to win in Thomas, Froome, Roglic and Dumoulin. The only big favorite not left in contention is Porte. So far this tour has gone as expected.

Re: Lotto will make a deacon in the morning if Benoot will ride tomorrow. Unfortunately, he does not appear able to contest the stage.

Groenwegan is my prediction to be the star of this years tour. To bad for Ewan not getting included. In terms of GC the winner will need three things: 1. A strong TTT team 2. The ability to do a good ITT 3. Not losing massive time on stage 9 or on any of the 3 MTFs. I only see 6 riders that...

Re: Re: I agree with you and Nibali and I will add Valverde to that list. But not Contador. While Contador could time trial he had poor bike handling skills, was a bad descender, very poor tactically, had no instincts, and no attention span. Not an all arounder or smart rider. He is not a...

If Froome holds on tomorrow he won this race thanks to his descent on the Finestre. His descending skills today put him in the lead. In an era where GC riders the last 15 years have been one trick ponies with little all around skills he is a throwback He wins not just because of the watts he...

Re: I agree this was the most boring grand tour I can recall. It really was not a grand tour just a tour for climbers. Sprinters, classic riders and ITT specialists were all left out for arguably the least skilled and most boring riders the climbers. Although I will give Froome credit...

Re: Re: Contador fans are the definition of insanity. Ignore all reality and make excuse after excuse. The reality is plain. Contador had 5 years and 5 attempts to race against Froome. As the poster above so intelligently pointed out the score is: Froome 4 Conatdor 0. The results were not...

Re: Re: Between 2006 and 2012 the field was indeed very weak. When you examine the list of riders that suddenly became contenders it is clear that there was no competition. In regards to Contador it is true that in the mountain stages the last 5 years he was not been even remotely...

Anyone have any information on Kristoff? Is he able to sprint today? Is he planning on trying to sprint?

I rated it an 8. I would have given it a 9 if the choice was available. I loved that Cavendish came back and won 4 stages. To me the most exciting stages are sprint stages. Generally, mtn. stages and mostly boring won by riders whose main claim to fame is genetic not any skills they have...