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

[Ramira]

Yes. The green jersey hunting costs him to many energy. It is fifth stage he is going full power. And the difference is only 50 points to Kittel. He can easilly loose it. He is not a bot afterall.

He won't lose it, no way, Kittel pretty much admitted he thinks it's over already. Sagan will take to many points in the transition stages for anyone to catch him, especially since Kittel won't challenge in the intermediate sprints as he will risk losing the stage.

If Sagan finishes the tour he will win the jersey, but if he doesn't win a single stage he won't be happy about it. He was ****ed he didn't win stage 2 and he was clearly frustrated today. He will get his changes, but the longer this goes on the more pressure he will feel.

 

[woodburn]

Cancellara giving great explanation of difficulty of braking in wet.

 

[djpbaltimore]

I wonder how defending the yellow jersey from day 2 on will work out for Astana over the course of the race.

If the right group gets a gap, there is still a possibility that a harmless proxy still may be able to grab the jersey to ease the pressure. But after 5 stages, I feel that if any team can manage that feat, it would be Astana. They look formidable.

 

[PeterB]

Does anybody know what happened to 4 OPQS on that section where Astana and Boom got a gap? If I recall correctly they entered the section in the order of Astana - Boom - OPQS - Sagan ..., and suddenly there was a gap and OPQS was nowhere.

 

[kingjr]

Switch onto Lemond cycling programme

Presenter: The Hell of the North gave its verdict today in Nuremberg.

The Judgment of Arenberg it was.

 

[xanadu]

Ok, chapeau to Nibbles and the boys, but its time to give up that yellow bib, Paris is two and a half weeks away, time to think long term.

 

[SKSemtex]

Yes. Bottechia did it in 1924, Frantz in 1928. Garin held the lead from start to finish in the first ever edition in 1903, but the yellow jersey wasn't awarded back then.

Thanks. It seems that if Nibali can hold it from second it will be kind of exception as well.

 

[The Hitch]

Please Froome for Vuelta

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Switch onto Lemond cycling programme

Presenter: The Hell of the North gave its verdict today in Nuremberg.


Wait what???

Maybe Arenburg?

 

[go crazy]

Crazy stage! Porte wins the tour

I can just give up totally on cycling if that happens LOL!

 

[MartinGT]

Crazy stage! Porte wins the tour

Haha

Honestly, if Porte did take this I am truly finished.

 

[Gloin22]

Contador and Mollema dropped on the final cobble stroke

but anyway. Lars Boom, 47 km/h..

if it ever rains in Roubaix again, we know the winner

Yes, Ian Stannard

 

[inri2000]

Crazy stage! Porte wins the tour

I hope not but a lot more likely after today, Contador must be kicking himself about letting him take more than 40 seconds today.

 

[sjonnie]

Does anybody know what happened to 4 OPQS on that section where Astana and Boom got a gap? If I recall correctly they entered the section in the order of Astana - Boom - OPQS - Sagan ..., and suddenly there was a gap and OPQS was nowhere.

One of the Quick Step riders slowed significantly to go round a corner and the gap opened up, after that they never got back on.

 

[theyoungest]

This stage was reminiscent of the Strade Bianche stage in the Giro a few years ago. What an epic performance by Nibali, unbelievable.

Nine years to the day that a Dutchman won a Tour stage... it was about time. As the Dutch tv commentators put it, we've won Roubaix twice this year.

Does anybody know what happened to 4 OPQS on that section where Astana and Boom got a gap? If I recall correctly they entered the section in the order of Astana - Boom - OPQS - Sagan ..., and suddenly there was a gap and OPQS was nowhere.

Boom said it seemed like Kwia had a mechanical. He decided to jump or the Astanas were gone.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Question. Was ever Tour when the winer picked up the yellow jersey in the first stage and and have it till the end?

Try here.

 

[ILovecycling]

This was....uhhh

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Nibali buzzing !

 

[Arredondo]

Purito, Atapuma and Spilak are in, + 22.40

 

[Escarabajo]

Quintana had shown in the last TDF he was easily the second best climber in the world though, and his competition was Uran not a top 10 climber. Contador hasn't shown he's significantly better than Nibali or Valverde in a GT since he came back from his suspension.

Uran is top ten climber. IMHO.

After Zoncolan people were just mad that he dropped everybody but Quintana.

 

[ILovecycling]

Please Froome for Vuelta

And THISSSS!

 

[Escarabajo]

Purito, Atapuma and Spilak are in, + 22.40

Atapuma must be puzzled. LOL.

 

[Arredondo]

Atapuma must be puzzled. LOL.

And Janier isn't even in

 

[argyllflyer]

Does anybody know what happened to 4 OPQS on that section where Astana and Boom got a gap? If I recall correctly they entered the section in the order of Astana - Boom - OPQS - Sagan ..., and suddenly there was a gap and OPQS was nowhere.

Around 12.7km to go there was a corner and the Astana guys put the pressure on. The OPQS guy at the front didn't react and Cancellara / Sagan perhaps were unsighted. Boom then put the foot down and latched on.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Majka is out?