2014 Tour de France, Stage 5: Ypres – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut: 156km

[Broth3r]

Martin and Acevedo down.

 

[ggusta]

I dont like Froome, but I really dont want him to lose cos of crashes. Want him to be beaten fair and square

agreed .

 

[burning]

Acevedo crashed as well

 

[JimPanzen]

I'm a bit blinded by the TinkoffSaxo kits

 

[sultanofhyd]

Staying upright is a part of bike racing. This is as fair and square as it gets.

 

[Frosty]

Apparently Sky are hedging their bets today - rather than throwing everyone back they are going to keep some with Richie Porte

 

[Walkman]

Porte is your new leader at Sky. Which would actually make Froome the most dangerous super domestique ever.

That was 2012.

I don't get you guys.People are acting like Porte will go mutant and climb even better than last year. I struggle to see him do as well as last year.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Jani Acevedo down as well.

 

[Publicus]

Tony Martin crashed in the break? It's going to be pure carnage today.

 

[Cimber]

Yeah but this is pretty excessive. Sky will risk the fine no doubt, they skirt the rules where necessary (illegal feeds)

After a crash I think pacing is ok

 

[Pricey_sky]

It's turning all the competitions into snnozefests ...

Kittel vs Cav ... nope
Sagan vs Cav for green ... nope
Contador vs Froome ?

This years tour had the most potential of any TDF in a long time imo but it's completely being squandered

It's ok, just goes to show the class of some that they are happy to have people hurt.

 

[MartinGT]

FFSS My feed has died, Martin down?

 

[Frosty]

That was 2012.

I don't get you guys.People are acting like Porte will go mutant and climb even better than last year. I struggle to see him do as well as last year.

A reserve option is necessary

 

[purcell]

I dont like Froome, but I really dont want him to lose cos of crashes. Want him to be beaten fair and square

If he can't handle his hike, that is fair and square.

Kind of a basic skill for the job.

 

[argyllflyer]

Why do I get a feel that Brailsford (and Froome) are starting to regret not putting Wiggins on the team...

A pretty tiresome argument - they're not. Wiggins would not commit 100% to backing Froome. Additionally, Brailsford is on record that Wiggins is not there in order to have a higher overall team morale. He would have split the team into 'Pro Wiggo' / 'Pro Froome' and 'neutral / afraid to join one or other'. He believes a strong team in harmony will beat a team with stronger individuals racing for themselves.

Porte is the GC fallback.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Skyborgs back in the pack. Should give Oss a present.

Acevedo back in the pack after the crash.

 

[Scott SoCal]

Tony Martin crashed in the break? It's going to be pure carnage today.

This. Wait till the charge to the first sector.

 

[Cimber]

Staying upright is a part of bike racing. This is as fair and square as it gets.

But you do know that all the SKY fans will go: "oh but he only lost due to crashes". I want to avoid that.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Froome nearly back, no more crashed please and that goes for all the GC guys!

 

[sultanofhyd]

Froome struggling to hold on to his own team

 

[ILovecycling]

Schleck with Froome lol

 

[Matt92]

Puncture for Dumoulin.

 

[JimPanzen]

Froome doesn't look convincing and confident to me.

 

[rhubroma]

The problem for Froome now is exactly Wiggins' last year at the Giro: loss of confidence in your means in conditions like this...and with the cobbles.

 

[Justico]

Froome riding alone in the bunch? Same thing yesterday, the crash wouldn't have happened if he was properly protected.

yes exactly

as i said yesterday

Sky is a **** team

Eisel , Portal and the other 7 Sky riders didn't do their jobs