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

[trevim]

Everytime a GT isn't a straightforward watts contest, Sky leader quits. I'm sad for Froome but he was crashing on normal roads.
Rui Costa in the 2nd group, another day in the office for Lampre

 

[therhodeo]

Anyone else abandon other than Froome?

 

[senatorrick]

Froome can handle wet roads fine (see Romandie the last couple of years) but stuff like this is ridiculous. I hope he'll be ok for the Vuelta and Richie Porte now has a big chance.

Porte lol! Sorry it's bitter sweet sweet and he's not a fighter if it doesn't all go his way he quits though will never know if Contador was stronger than from

 

[TANK91]

What?

So because the Dawg handles like a total **** when its wet it means whoever wins isnt the best?

Come on! Its part of bike racing being able to handle the bike!

Whoever wins is the the best that'sfor sure but not the strongest. I mean you telling me in 08 the TDF top 10 were better than Contador? No they were'nt. Maybe just ignore me, im so frustrated all year you wait for it and as a fan of his this just sucks. The TDF is over for me now.

 

[MatParker117]

Last year we'll see cobbles for a while.

 

[thehog]

Froome fell again before the cobblestones. The Dutch commentators were wondering why so many appear to have forgotten how to ride in the wet. There seems to be no rational reason or excuse for so many crashes.

It's because Astana were smashing it at the front. Suburb riding by Nibali.

It's the "have you got balls or not tactic".

 

[ILovecycling]

Massive Spanish armada here
The gap will be big imo

 

[Red Rick]

All damage has been done by crashes before the first cobbled section. Did they all forget how to ride a bike in the rain?

 

[burning]

I think Papy Horner is already 10 minutes down

 

[Squirbos19]

How did Froome crash twice? I just missed both crashes, was he hit or did he just slide out on a turn?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Absolutely gutted for Froome. The only crumb of comfort was I used my head to bet and backed Contador. I hope everyone else stays safe.

Maybe comeback for an epic battle with Quintana at Vuelta.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Saxo, Belkin en Astana have an excellent amount of riders in front

 

[Red Rick]

Off topic, is the forum melting down again?

 

[ILovecycling]

Great job by Saxo so far!

 

[jaylew]

So with Froome out, this should be Contador's tour, however, I guess it will be classed as a hollow victory without Froome there to battle.

Nah. A win is a win. You think Cadel thinks his win was hollow?

 

[trevim]

I think Papy Horner is already 10 minutes down

I think he was with Valverde...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Froome can handle wet roads fine (see Romandie the last couple of years) but stuff like this is ridiculous.

ridiculous riding around the tarma'ed roads of Belgium?
Perhaps he was a tad to fragile - being optimised for MTF's, no?

 

[mr. tibbs]

So with Froome out, this should be Contador's tour, however, I guess it will be classed as a hollow victory without Froome there to battle.

Only by Tank.

@Pricey: sorry man. Totally sucks. Just a huge pile of bad luck from the Dauphine to today. It'll be easy to retroactively write a narrative about Froome not being as good this year as he was last, but--between the illnesses, injuries, and horribly timed falls--it seemed out of his hands.

Hopefully he can climb back on ASAP.

 

[ILovecycling]

Off topic, is the forum melting down again?

Yeah,I couldnt post for long time

 

[MatParker117]

Porte lol! Sorry it's bitter sweet sweet and he's not a fighter if it doesn't all go his way he quits though will never know if Contador was stronger than from

If Froome's wrist isn't too badly broken I imagine that Froomey, Contador & Quintana will battle it out in Spain.

 

[gustienordic]

Everytime a GT isn't a straightforward watts contest, Sky leader quits. I'm sad for Froome but he was crashing on normal roads.
Rui Costa in the 2nd group, another day in the office for Lampre

Good post. +1

 

[TANK91]

Is Porte in first group

 

[webvan]

Rui Costa back, where's Horner?

 

[Rollthedice]

So, where is Arenberg Richie Porte du Hainaut?

 

[Walkman]

Valverde doing pulls at the front of the chasing pack. Panic much?