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

[Chef_Vodnik]

Why can't PR be like this every year.
We always get dry and dusty these last years

 

[Ramira]

I don't think Froome would have dropped Contador in the mountains. Would have been a battle until the last day. Was looking forward to that.

It could have happened, though saying Froome wouldn't have dropped Contador after he dropped him like a bad habit everytime they went up a mountain the last time Froome rode a race he prepared for (that would be last years tour) is making quite an assumption about the level of Contador and Froome.

Again I could be wrong, Contador has been quite good, but I tend to favour stability over sudden change, and Contador making such a huge jump (from at best the 4th best climber to equal best) since last year seems to much. Especially considering Contador has always been the master of peaking early in the season, his level in smaller stage races has always been incredible.

So in conclusion I think the gap between Contador and Nibali/Valverde won't be bigger than between Froome and Contador. So I'm expecting more spectacle than if Froome had stayed in and controlled the Tour with his Sky team. But I guess we'll never know.

 

[No_Balls]

Contador has had a crash or mechanical

Didnt look like a crash.

 

[ILovecycling]

Nibali in freakin control

 

[Fight.The.Power]

And Wiggo can lol, haha he is worst than Froome in wet. Giro he and quit earlier in Worlds.

Errm didn't Wiggo with the British TT championship in the wet?

Therefore, he ain't as incompetent as you make out.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nibali will win major time today

 

[Flamin]

Contador in BIG trouble.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

this is getting really good

 

[Afrank]

Rain and cobbles is making for some pretty cool racing at the moment.

 

[TANK91]

Brailsford's already back at his hotel room with the revolver and bottle of whiskey.

Do you need to repaet you're self.

 

[Parrulo]

Nibali pushing himself

LEGEND!!!

 

[Cimber]

Nibali is a beast!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Lol Alberto with tunnel vision.

Nibali king of this situation

we have a race

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Astana (not just Nibali) riding superbly today

 

[meat puppet]

the tour is over crowd is seriously underestimating all the other contenders. sure, AC and CF were the BIG faves, but there are others too. especially nibali.

also contador a bit down, as dekker said

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Nibali will win major time today

That would be great.

 

[webvan]

Astana need to DRILL it NOW !

 

[ILovecycling]

Alberto has at least 30s gap

Astana riding hard now!

 

[therhodeo]

Nibali will win major time today

He'll need it.

 

[TANK91]

Nibali told Astana to attack come on.

 

[SKSemtex]

Nobody has crashed so far on cobbles. It would be funny if nobody falls on cobbles and still everybody will be blaiming ASO for "cobble stage".

 

[Afrank]

Astana pressing the pace. Go Nibs! GO!

 

[JimPanzen]

Conti VERY careful, Nibali going all out...we'll see what will be the more successful option.

 

[Broth3r]

Muddied riders. Beautiful.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I'm liking Nibali and Talansky more.

This is shark weather. Nibali swimming away from the rest of the contenders.