2014 Tour de France July 23, Stage 17: Saint-Gaudens - Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d'Adet 1

[maxmartin]

Fair enough...no I don't agree with how he said it, but I do think your a crazy VN fan. Sure you can label me an insane AC fan.

fair enough, then we will get along fine

 

[MBotero]

AV looks shaky to me today. I think TP might want to one more spot up and put more time into JP.

I don't know,he was looking very good on the last climb in my opinion and his team worked hard,but suddenly disappeared in the last hundred meters but he recovered fast on the descent, they not showed how the **** he was dropped.

 

[SafeBet]

Excellent design once again.
This would be perfect for FdJ to go full gas from the get-go if only they had a good team. With Nibbles probably fading a bit and consequently riding defensively I agree the breakaway has a fair chance of arriving. I fancy a win by Purito, he's probably going all in for this stage.

Pinot will drop Nibali, I'm pretty sure of that. Shark should pace himself and limit his losses, there's no need to follow the attack with such a solid lead.

I reckon Bardet will do much better than today.

 

[Netserk]

Excellent design once again.
This would be perfect for FdJ to go full gas from the get-go if only they had a good team. With Nibbles probably fading a bit and consequently riding defensively I agree the breakaway has a fair chance of arriving. I fancy a win by Purito, he's probably going all in for this stage.

Pinot will drop Nibali, I'm pretty sure of that. Shark should pace himself and limit his losses, there's no need to follow the attack with such a solid lead.

I reckon Bardet will do much better than today.

I disagree. If you're going to have a short mountain stage the least you can do is not to have it start off with 50km of flat. Heck they even saved Menté today, so they could've started out with that tomorrow. Same starting town, same last 95km:

 

[maxmartin]

I don't know,he was looking very good on the last climb in my opinion and his team worked hard,but suddenly disappeared in the last hundred meters but he recovered fast on the descent, they not showed how the **** he was dropped.

he cracked a little bit according to the some interviews I heard. And he already showed some weakness in Alps, I would not put my money on him for tomorrow. Pinot is still an upward trending stock.

 

[MBotero]

he cracked a little bit according to the some interviews I heard. And he already showed some weakness in Alps, I would not put my money on him for tomorrow. Pinot is still an upward trending stock.

Well Bardet was very good and you saw what happened to him,veterans have better resistance

 

[SafeBet]

I disagree. If you're going to have a short mountain stage the least you can do is not to have it start off with 50km of flat. Heck they even saved Menté today, so they could've started out with that tomorrow. Same starting town, same last 95km:

I forgot to add "by Tour standards".
Yours would be perfect design nonetheless.

 

[Arnout]

^^ I think the Tour did a brilliant job with their design this year. Of course it'll never be perfect, but I'm really happy with the racing this year.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

Pinot has the initiative. Let's see what he can do with it. Tomorrow will tell if he can seize the moment or not. #2 through #5 goes to the toughest mentally.

 

[Orbit501]

21 man breakaway today and Cofidis didn't have a single man in it!

They're all in for Rudy tomorrow then - Molard stage win is obvious

Jokes aside, I'd love to see that, but I think the shortness of the stage and the fact they let the break go today means GC will ride hard tomorrow and I think most likely is Nibs for the win.

 

[Netserk]

^^ I think the Tour did a brilliant job with their design this year. Of course it'll never be perfect, but I'm really happy with the racing this year.

Yes a lot of good design this year (edit: primarily Vosges and first week, though it was missing a prologue ), but it is quite sad when tomorrow is the best chance for a long range attack.

 

[Orbit501]

^^ I think the Tour did a brilliant job with their design this year. Of course it'll never be perfect, but I'm really happy with the racing this year.

Can't argue with that. Organisers have delivered on the parcours and the riders have raced them! It's been great so far.

 

[manafana]

Pinot the only man who can seem to put Nibali on the rivet and has been really good in the mountains.

Majka will waste energy fighting with Rod for kom points for sure.

 

[Netserk]

Pinot the only man who can seem to put Nibali on the rivet and has been really good in the mountains.

Majka will waste energy fighting with Rod for kom points for sure.

Like he did on Izoard?

 

[fantomas]

Pinot, Nibali or Majka. It's a sure bet.

 

[Orbit501]

Pinot the only man who can seem to put Nibali on the rivet and has been really good in the mountains.

Majka will waste energy fighting with Rod for kom points for sure.

If he's confident of taking the stage win he could let Purito take the 30 points on the road then snaffle the double bubble 50 points on the finish line when the GC lot reel in the break. Bit of a gamble, admittedly.

 

[trevim]

I disagree. If you're going to have a short mountain stage the least you can do is not to have it start off with 50km of flat. Heck they even saved Menté today, so they could've started out with that tomorrow. Same starting town, same last 95km:

That would guarantee a Valverde stage win on the Champs Elysees

 

[Fight.The.Power]

I disagree. If you're going to have a short mountain stage the least you can do is not to have it start off with 50km of flat. Heck they even saved Menté today, so they could've started out with that tomorrow. Same starting town, same last 95km:

And risk missing out on the intermediate sprint !!!

 

[damian13ster]

If he's confident of taking the stage win he could let Purito take the 30 points on the road then snaffle the double bubble 50 points on the finish line when the GC lot reel in the break. Bit of a gamble, admittedly.

I think thats what he will try to do. Stage wins seem to be more important and with newly gained confidence he might try to go for it. Also, depending whats the advantage of the break that can change mid-stage. And even if he fails to win a stage, he will grab som epoint at the finish and can make it up tommorow on Tourmalet since he appears stronger than Rodriguez anyway.

I cant wait but unfortunately wont be able to watch again because of work.

 

[Netserk]

And risk missing out on the intermediate sprint !!!

They will still pass that point, so no they won't risk missing that

 

[Carols]

Majka or Purito for me.

 

[orangerider]

Nibali takes it. Vino not satisfied with just yellow jersey, demands more stage wins from him.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Frank Schleck from the break, alah alpduez '06.

 

[yespatterns]

Pinot over Piti, but Nibbles still in charge. Hating the lack of Contie and Froome on a stage like this.

 

[Jagartrott]

De Marchi, Purito, Majka, Martin in breakaway.
This course should suit Pinot. I hope he will deliver.