2012 Tour de France: Stage 17, Bagnères-de-Luchon - Peyragudes 143.5KM

[robert_c]

Guts:

Guts all over his leg.

 

[killswitch]

I have the feeling Nibali set the entire team up because he knew he would probably come up short.
It was a way to hide his weakness.

+1 Finestre Giro 2011 repeat.

 

[the vagabond]

I blame Sky management for not letting Froome ride down Valverde, which he could have done. Wiggins would not have lost more than 30 seconds to Froome - probably much less. If absolutely necessary (i.e., Froome took monster time, which he wouldn't have) they could have held him back in the TT to assure Wiggins the win.

Overall, the benefit of letting Froome go for the win was greater than holding him back. It tells me Sky management is too conservative and slow-witted in making quick decisions - probably not very quick with numbers and nobody wanting to risk upsetting the apple cart (as the expression goes). Not sure about the rest of the crew, but neither Yates nor Wiggins (who says "them" for "those") strike me as the brightest bulbs in the room.

Nothing against Sky - I just think this was bad decision-making not trying to win the stage, which I think Froome would have done.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Things change when you're on a bike, I guess.
You can say you'll attack and then understand you don't have legs. I haven't seen Liquigas going full in today. Which leads me to believe Nibali knew from the beginning (or at least from Bales) this wasn't a good day for him.

But this is cleary speculation. You might be right anyway.

Ofcourse it is. If Nibali himself says he wants to win the stage. And the next day he doesn't let any break gain more than 3m by putting his team in front. It's pretty clear to me he wanted to try and win the stage. If he felt bad he would have called it off. He hoped for legs like he had on wednesday, but he didn't. Tough luck. Still I'm pretty sure the only reason Liquigas was in front was to try and keep the break within margin for Nibali to get back

 

[VeloMaster]

We cannot compare AC's situation with Froome. AC was already a 3 time GT winner, he had earned the right to attack whoever in that team. Hinuat was also a multiple GT winner so had every right to attack whoever. Froome has not won even one GT, so toe the line

I dunno. Carpe diem springs to mind. Froome could have won today, clearly, and picked up more time at several points throughout this tour. A champion can be made on the road, not in the team bus. I think he blew it and may well regret a missed opportunity.

Time will tell.

 

[Ripper]

Glad to see Valverde take today's stage.

Watching Froomie pace Wiggo was actually pretty funny. If Froomster wins the final TT it will be highly entertaining. Just like putting an asterisk next to Wiggo's names that says "not really the best man won".

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nibali set his entire team up only to come up short and lose more time. Couldn't even put in 1 attack himself today.
Evans was further on the decline
Froome was obviously the strongest but for some wild reason he kept waiting for Wiggins, who was 2nd strongest.
Zubeldia dropped off the pace causing Van Garderen to move up

That's it

So not interesting at all!

 

[Danilot]

So you think Froome would not have put time into Wiggins, had he been allowed to ride for himself?

I think he might have put time into Wiggins, and he might not have put time into Wiggins, had he been allowed to ride for himself.

All I'm saying is that you can't make a sweeping statement such as "Froome would have put huge time into Wiggins" unless you have a crystal ball, and I'm fairly confident no-one here has one.

 

[SuperH-]

I think he might have put time into Wiggins, and he might not have put time into Wiggins, had he been allowed to ride for himself.

All I'm saying is that you can't make a sweeping statement such as "Froome would have put huge time into Wiggins" unless you have a crystal ball, and I'm fairly confident no-one here has one.

Di Luca wannabe has talked.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Ofcourse it is. If Nibali himself says he wants to win the stage. And the next day he doesn't let any break gain more than 3m by putting his team in front. It's pretty clear to me he wanted to try and win the stage. If he felt bad he would have called it off.

So Nibali lets everyone know that he wants to win the stage. The next day he doesn't feel great, but according to you the best strategy would then be to all of a sudden NOT let his team contain a perfectly manageable gap.

That's showing your cards. The better strategy would be to keep them guessing for as long as possible to prevent attacks for as long as possible. It paid off, IMO. He lost 10 seconds to Van Den Broeck when it could have been much more.

 

[greenedge]

And now he shall win 3rd place as his ITT is better ( though the hilly one suited him more ).

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just found out that Michael Schar was hit by the doctor's car during this stage. The doctor was apologetic and Michael wasn't badly hurt.

 

[Ripper]

Just found out that Michael Schar was hit by the doctor's car during this stage. The doctor was apologetic and Michael wasn't badly hurt.

Ouch! A bit of irony being hit by the doc. Glad he's OK