2014 Tour de France, Stage 16: Carcassonne–Bagnères-de-Luchon (237.5 Km)

[cineteq]

Nibali has been either making the Move or on the Right Move since day 1 of this race. He is an unstoppable force!!! My only concern is Astana in the next 2 days. They have been exposed and Movistar will try again.

I'm not sure about Valverde and Movistar. Today was his best chance to gain on rivals. I still think he won't podium.

 

[Kokoso]

7th place in his first Tour de France end secong GT, that's a dream for König. And if not for the stupid losses because of team, he could even higher. But nervermind, this is great. I think he gets some nice offers for next season.

 

[Carols]

Movistar will defend. Pinot was to strong today. Valverde will try to nullify the race to save his second place.

Yes Valverde has a decent gap for second now, he won't risk it by taking Nibs on.

 

[whittashau]

It's no shame to be put on your limit by Pinot, he's a damn good climber.

Maybe he was struggling to follow him, but it's the equivalent of being overtaken in the swim leg by a swimmer in a triathlon who can't cycle or run. Do you push yourself hard to follow, or do you realize you'll exert a fraction of the energy to overtake him in the next leg?

 

[yespatterns]

Serpa looks 1977 gangsta

 

[maxmartin]

Shouldn't Sky be doing what Tinkoff-Saxo are doing without their Plan A?

Or maybe Tinkoff should have MR as plan B at the beginning

 

[Carols]

It was great final hour of a show. They should do more downhill finishes!!!! Konig is impressing, Pinot is impressing.

Hey Oleg congratulating Nibs, nice

 

[Rollthedice]

Yes Valverde has a decent gap for second now, he won't risk it by taking Nibs on.

It was never his intention.

 

[ILovecycling]

7th place in his first Tour de France end secong GT, that's a dream for König. And if not for the stupid losses because of team, he could even higher. But nervermind, this is great. I think he gets some nice offers for next season.

Do you have a calculation how much did he lose? (excluding mighty Stage 5)

 

[jens_attacks]

great stage,both in breakaway and in the fav group

the record ascent of 2010-conta,samu &menchov is down

thibaut pinot climbed like a boss, even nibali couldnt follow the last strokes wow!

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/07/thibaut-pinot-signs-new-port-de-bales.html

 

[fantomas]

Serpa looks 1977 gangsta

Or Clark Gable.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

7th place in his first Tour de France end secong GT, that's a dream for König. And if not for the stupid losses because of team, he could even higher. But nervermind, this is great. I think he gets some nice offers for next season.

Konig was really good today. Especially in that descend. All alone closing a gap on that group while Movistar was riding... impressive.

 

[sir fly]

A classy design of the post rest day stage. Long, mountainous... A downhill finish will forgive you a minor rhythm loss, but nothing more than that. And many of riders suffered from the racing interruption.
Now, the rest of the race will be determined on the strength.

Rogers really was the logical choice for the stage victory.
Not that he's the strongest climber or descender, but that he can cope the stage difficulties the best.
Nice victory.

 

[kingjr]

Maybe he was struggling to follow him, but it's the equivalent of being overtaken in the swim leg by a swimmer in a triathlon who can't cycle or run. Do you push yourself hard to follow, or do you realize you'll exert a fraction of the energy to overtake him in the next leg?

It just shows that he can be hurt and maybe gapped in the mountains, by someone who is not called Froome or Contador. No more, no less.

 

[Liquigas]

König keeps impressing me, he catched alone the group of Nibali and co.

And man, I wish Pinot had a better team around him.

 

[Czapiewski]

Kwiat is a very strange rider lol

What do You mean?

 

[roundabout]

Great stage. Man, I love descent stages.

And Rogers used his skills to outwit the Europcar duo. A memorable win for him.

Some serious damage control by lots of GC contenders.

Looking forward to the next stage already.

More like the Europcars outwitted themselves.

But hey, better Mick then them.

And I say that as someone who likes Gautier. But after his brainless moment I kinda hoped anyone else would win.

 

[whittashau]

It just shows that he can be hurt and maybe gapped in the mountains, by someone who is not called Froome or Contador. No more, no less.

You're being overly presumptuous. You're talking about a rider who is going flat out in order to give himself leeway for his hugely publicized weakness, and a rider who has no rationale reason to follow a huge dig at the top as he knows there is literally almost no way Pinot will stay away

 

[yespatterns]

Nibbles in full control, but Unzue didn't sound overly confident in that post stage interview... Or maybe he was just downplaying their chances. His answers to the Quintana questions were a bit lame.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

More like the Europcars outwitted themselves.

But hey, better Mick then them.

And I say that as someone who likes Gautier. But after his brainless moment I kinda hoped anyone else would win.

The small games on the descent. Discussion.
Tactical mistakes, personal ambition getting in the way of team glory etc.
Others taking advantage.

Great stuff.

(not a fan of perfection in sports)

 

[Kokoso]

Do you have a calculation how much did he lose? (excluding mighty Stage 5)

+ 3:52 on Nibali.

 

[maxmartin]

Nibbles in full control, but Unzue didn't sound overly confident in that post stage interview... Or maybe he was just downplaying their chances. His answers to the Quintana questions were a bit lame.

for sure AV did not look particularly good even compared to his own teammate

 

[Kokoso]

Konig was really good today. Especially in that descend. All alone closing a gap on that group while Movistar was riding... impressive.

I think there was smaller gap on the top than you think. Agree, impressive descending.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think there was smaller gap on the top than you think. Agree, impressive descending.

No. Ten Dam said in a post race interview he was with Konig and Zubeldia at the top. And he knew they were a minute behind. Race reported that also.
So König closed a minute.

Ten Dam said he was screwed when Zubeldia punctured on a rock in the descend. Ten Dam had to brake, König was away and had cars and motors in front. Ten Dam had nothing in front anymore so had to brake on feeling rather then the lights of motards/cars (which he usually does)

 

[kingjr]

You're being overly presumptuous. You're talking about a rider who is going flat out in order to give himself leeway for his hugely publicized weakness, and a rider who has no rationale reason to follow a huge dig at the top as he knows there is literally almost no way Pinot will stay away

There is also no reason not to follow.