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

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1. ITA NIBALI Vincenzo 41 ASTANA PRO TEAM 76h 41' 28''
2. ESP VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro 11 MOVISTAR TEAM 76h 46' 54'' + 05' 26''
3. FRA PINOT Thibaut 127 FDJ.FR 76h 47' 28'' + 06' 00''
4. FRA PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 76h 47' 36'' + 06' 08''
5. FRA BARDET Romain 82 AG2R LA MONDIALE 76h 49' 02'' + 07' 34''
6. USA VAN GARDEREN Tejay 141 BMC RACING TEAM 76h 51' 47'' + 10' 19''
7. NED MOLLEMA Bauke 61 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 76h 53' 27'' + 11' 59''
8. NED TEN DAM Laurens 67 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 76h 53' 44'' + 12' 16''
9. CZE KONIG Leopold 201 TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA 76h 54' 08'' + 12' 40''
10. FRA ROLLAND Pierre 151 TEAM EUROPCAR 76h 54' 43'' + 13' 15''

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Just awesome.

Still, he's in trouble tomorrow.

We surely hope so, don´t we?

 

[whittashau]

Even as a Nibali fan I didn't enjoy that. I want to see Nibali being pushed, but it's just a procession.

However, I do think this Tour has been especially draining. So maybe Nibali has been on the limit

 

[GuyIncognito]

Valverde 5:26
Pinot 6:00

Those are my least favorite 34 seconds in the world.

How many of them are because Pinot freewheels the last 20m to the line every time?

 

[rehy90]

hope Konigs bad day is behind him and that he takes some time back tomorrow

 

[doperhopper]

Valverde gained time on Pinot and Bardet, LMAO

gets "most aggressive wheelsucker" jersey

 

[Afrank]

Even as a Nibali fan I didn't enjoy that. I want to see Nibali being pushed, but it's just a procession.

However, I do think this Tour has been especially draining. So maybe Nibali has been on the limit

I doubt anyone is capable of pushing Nibali.

 

[Carols]

Tremendous recovery by Valverde, finishes in front of those he needed to. He just needs a friendly wheel in front of him

 

[Publicus]

Even as a Nibali fan I didn't enjoy that. I want to see Nibali being pushed, but it's just a procession.

However, I do think this Tour has been especially draining. So maybe Nibali has been on the limit

This has been true since Contador left the race.

 

[whittashau]

Majka barely even tried for that. Best climber in the race by a mile.

No, not even close. He just looks good because he's more fresh than the GC men. Overall he isn't the best climber.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Tremendous recovery by Valverde, finishes in front of those he needed to. He just needs a friendly wheel in front of him

Stick a fishing rod on his bike with a wheel hanging off the hook and he'll win the Tour

I also love the irony of some people chastising him or it who I distinctly remember defended Evans. Said Evans was just being smart....

 

[Rollthedice]

Tremendous recovery by Valverde, finishes in front of those he needed to. He just needs a friendly wheel in front of him

There's been countless times recently when we appearred to be dead and suddenly he's back to where he has to be.

 

[rehy90]

everybody complains about valverde but it was pretty impressive to survive that french attacks like that...

 

[l.Harm]

Good tactics Bjarne

 

[ILovecycling]

Even as a Nibali fan I didn't enjoy that. I want to see Nibali being pushed, but it's just a procession.

However, I do think this Tour has been especially draining. So maybe Nibali has been on the limit

He was,he tried to drop Peraud,esp on last 300m,he couldnt.
edit: but like I said, still best climber in the race

Tremendous recovery by Valverde, finishes in front of those he needed to. He just needs a friendly wheel in front of him

Lol

 

[ILovecycling]

Good tactics Bjarne

yep, genius he is,saved Tour

 

[doperhopper]

Bjarne's tactics paid off (said Rafal) - to wait for the last climb

 

[Rollthedice]

He was,he tried to drop Peraud,esp on last 300m,he couldnt.

Lol

You think so? He was just doing a Froome impersonation while getting bored to drag Peraud up to a few seconds to Valverde.

 

[GuyIncognito]

You think so? He was just doing a Froome impersonation while getting bored to drag Peraud up to a few seconds to Valverde.

I swear I can't tell Nibali fanboys from Froome fanboys since this Tour started

 

[Cance > TheRest]

No, not even close. He just looks good because he's more fresh than the GC men. Overall he isn't the best climber.

Judging from his performance on stage 13, 14 and today, I think he's one of the top 3-5 climbers, but also partly because the Tour has become a race for the 2nd tier GC riders with the absence of AC and Froome

 

[damian13ster]

yep, genius he is,saved Tour

Having by far the strongest rider in the breakaway helps too
I liked how they used Roche though, impressive.
So right now Tinkoff-Saxo must be pretty happy about the tour. Not sure they could get 3 stage wins even with Contador since they probably wouldnt chase each breakaway (of course placing high or winning GC is more valuable but still)

 

[ILovecycling]

You think so? He was just doing a Froome impersonation while getting bored to drag Peraud up to a few seconds to Valverde.

yeah,but if you high your speed up,you are trying to drop,at least I think

 

[kingjr]

I swear I can't tell Nibali fanboys from Froome fanboys since this Tour started

There has never been a difference between fanboys, they're all annoying by definition.

 

[Rollthedice]

I swear I can't tell Nibali fanboys from Froome fanboys since this Tour started

Same here. I can't tell Contador fanboys and fangirls from Froome fanboys since the Tour started.

 

[kingjr]

Bjarne's tactics paid off (said Rafal) - to wait for the last climb

I'm impressed that Majka needed Riis to tell him that.