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

[VeloHuman]

I still don't fully understand why Saxo would want a train going. They should want AC to jump time and again. The change of pace is what will get AC the victory if it is meant to be for him. They should want to get someone ahead and have AC leapfrog.

Astana I get. They have a great mountain team and Nibali is in terrific form. AC isn't going to just ride him off his wheel, but he can attack and get time.

Talansky, Valverde, TJVG and the others will also have to take the fight to Nibali and not just Contador. I hope that we see some action (not just reaction) from those guys, too.

Add Van Den Broeck to that list: he is definitely playing for keeps in this year's Tour and had a great ride today.

 

[deValtos]

Add Van Den Broeck to that list: he is definitely playing for keeps in this year's Tour and had a great ride today.

Yup seems like 4th place is in the bag !

 

[L'OgreDeRostock]

For those interested in watching the replay again, try the link below.
It is from France Televisions which is TdF main broadcaster in France. The replay is available for a week. The comments are a bit annoying and I really prefer watching Eurosport UK...

However I have absolutely no idea if it works well outside France. Just try...

http://pluzz.francetv.fr/videos/tour_de_france_france_2.html

 

[Cimber]

Apart from Froome crashing out, what happened today is the best thing that could have happened for the race. Berto and Valverde now have to go out and gain alot of time in the Mountains. Nibali, Fuglsang and to some extend Porte (if he relies on his TT skills) have to defend.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Sounds spot on to me. What's the issue?

Riis said Contador had mechanical issues, while there is no mention of that in the race report.

 

[Hayabusa]

Great stage today, sadly the race has lost Froome which is ashame as it would have been a great battle in the mountains between him and Contador.

Still I expect a great battle between Nibali and Contador with Porte/Valverde and TJVG up there as well.

 

[Cimber]

Riis said Contador had mechanical issues, while there is no mention of that in the race report.

It wasnt a mechanical that made him get off the bike. It was a minor Mechanical he had towards the end where he lost contact to the Valverde Group. Something with the gear. He couldnt put it into a higher gear so that maybe cost him 30 secs.

 

[Race Radio]

With all the complaining about the cobbles and weather only one rider dropped out today, Chris Froome

 

[TourOfSardinia]

With all the complaining about the cobbles and weather only one rider dropped out today, Chris Froome

but probs he had a broken wrist.

 

[armchairclimber]

The replay is worth watching, if only for Van Den Broeck's spectacular "understeer".

 

[step23]

Astana recon pave in April http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=AXx6_fs7j4s

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Great stage today, sadly the race has lost Froome which is ashame as it would have been a great battle in the mountains between him and Contador.

Still I expect a great battle between Nibali and Contador with Porte/Valverde and TJVG up there as well.

...ang Talansky

 

[Jagartrott]

The replay is worth watching, if only for Van Den Broeck's spectacular "understeer".

The one flipping over into the ditch was Lars Bak I believe.

 

[willbick]

The average speed for the stage was shown as 47kmph - surely that cant be right?!

 

[ChewbaccaD]

With all the complaining about the cobbles and weather only one rider dropped out today, Chris Froome

Thomas' interview where he says that he didn't think the stage was that bad really puts the kibosh on all of the bullsh!t about it being too dangerous.

 

[willbick]

Lol Thomas after the stage didnt seem that upset at Froome's demise!!

 

[ChewbaccaD]

I finally got to see the end of the stage, and my take-away is:

1. That is what a real bike race looks like

2. One of my favorite stages ever.

3. My respect for Nibali grew exponentially.

4. My disrespect for the way Froome rides and races hasn't changed at all.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Lol Thomas after the stage didnt seem that upset at Froome's demise!!

In any way. It was kind of surprising, and kind of funny...I think we know which camp he'd have been in if they had brought Wiggins.

 

[ggusta]

seem to be finding a lot of disagreement on ac having shifter problems or not, and i get no streaming media from der web uberlordes, so did he or did he not have shifting problems that caused any loss of time?

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Brailsford seems to think today was a good day ???!!!

 

[Pricey_sky]

In any way. It was kind of surprising, and kind of funny...I think we know which camp he'd have been in if they had brought Wiggins.

Yet one of the first things he tweeted was how gutted he was for Froome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

seem to be finding a lot of disagreement on ac having shifter problems or not, and i get no streaming media from der web uberlordes, so did he or did he not have shifting problems that caused any loss of time?

I think he didn't. No mention of it in the race report.

 

[armchairclimber]

The one flipping over into the ditch was Lars Bak I believe.

I stand corrected. I hope he is ok, but that would have got 10/10 from the judges.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

Yet one of the first things he tweeted was how gutted he was for Froome.

Because he knew he'd given an interview where he showed just about no care about it. It's called damage control.

 

[willbick]

I finally got to see the end of the stage, and my take-away is:

1. That is what a real bike race looks like

2. One of my favorite stages ever.

3. My respect for Nibali grew exponentially.

4. My disrespect for the way Froome rides and races hasn't changed at all.

Oh come on. So the guy isnt gonna win any style marks and he 'll never be an all round rider/bike handler, but he always attacks when he can and gives 100%. He's hardly in the andy schleck mould