2016 Critérium du Dauphiné, 2.UWT, June 5-12

[Valv.Piti]

It would be nice to see a 10 km rule instead of 3 km on meaningless, flat stages. Let the sprinters do their jobs.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Trentin was quite right to tweet that the GC guys and teams being at the front makes things more dangerous.
Rowe got back at him, but obviously he didn't see Froome nearly causing a mass pile-up.

Absolutely and Sky are taking it waaay too far today. Froome also almost causing crashes in the last 3km because they so neccesarily had to lead the bunch even after they passed the 3k banner. Crazy stuff.

It was insane. Astana and Tinkoff drifted back after they'd reached 3k to go. Sky wanted to pull till the flamme rouge or what? Froome wobbled twice and could have taken down half the peloton. He had no business there.

To be fair, Valgren was still pulling. But Contador went backwards.

I think Valgren stopped at around 2.5k to go (having led from 4.5k ). Meanwhile SKY continued to pull until 1k to go for some reason.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Imagine the Tour when Movistar, Sky, Astana and Tinkoff will do this on a regular basis the first 4 days.

Seriously, something needs to be done.

 

[Alexandre B.]

https://twitter.com/jacopoguarnieri/status/739873750397620226
Seriously?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

https://twitter.com/jacopoguarnieri/status/739873750397620226
Seriously?

Nice reply by Christophe Laporte
https://twitter.com/LAPORTEChristop/status/739894900355923968?s=09
"It's seems like it's you who headbutts me to get on my teammates wheel?"

 

[hrotha]

Let everybody take as many risks as they're comfortable with, and punish those who do outrageous stuff. It's not that complicated. No need to turn flat stages into a farce by neutralizing everything remotely resembling danger.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

Have watched the sprint over and over again now and I can't believe there was no major crash.

Agreed.
Amazing bike handling skills on display there.
I love watching Bouhanni sprint; he literally brings a fighting spirit to a sprint finish.
Seems when the bulldog came roaring to the front, Kristoff backed off; then, after watching what happened, the Orica guy (Matthews?) gave up entirely when he realized Bouhanni was about to do anything short of pull out a gun if anyone dared get in his way.
That guy is crazy fearless.
Fun to watch.

 

[The Barb]

Anyway ... looking forwards ...

This stage is tailor made for Alaphilippe, right? Probably too much to think he could take the race lead but not impossible.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Anyway ... looking forwards ...

This stage is tailor made for Alaphilippe, right? Probably too much to think he could take the race lead but not impossible.

The finish doesn't look all that difficult. I can't see Alaphilippe taking the jersey. He's 24 seconds behind... If anything I would say Edvald B. H. is a good bet for stage glory, after what he showed on the punchy stage he won in Oman from a selective group of favourites

 

[Red Rick]

Just to make sure, there are bonifications right? 10, 6, 4?

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Think Sky might try something tomorrow, they have a **** ton of cards to play.

Yes ...need to use their riders to put others under pressure, get a stage win & nearer to the yellow jersey
Poels or Kwait or even Henao ......but the best would be Landa as he is more of a threat later in the week ...though Poels also threat....

 

[DFA123]

Anyway ... looking forwards ...

This stage is tailor made for Alaphilippe, right? Probably too much to think he could take the race lead but not impossible.

This is the stage of the race I'm looking forward to most. So many possible contenders and one of those great in-between climbs that give both puncher-climbers and climber-puncheurs an even shot.

I hope to see a real battle with the likes of Kwiatkowski, GVA, Boasson Hagen, Gerrans, Martin, Alaphilippe, Gallopin, Gasparotto all going for it. Presumably it will come down to that last, shorter ramp, rather than the full cllimb, but even better if some aggressive climbers like Bardet or Rolland try to go from further out.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Anyway ... looking forwards ...

This stage is tailor made for Alaphilippe, right? Probably too much to think he could take the race lead but not impossible.

This is the stage of the race I'm looking forward to most. So many possible contenders and one of those great in-between climbs that give both puncher-climbers and climber-puncheurs an even shot.

I hope to see a real battle with the likes of Kwiatkowski, GVA, Boasson Hagen, Gerrans, Martin, Alaphilippe, Gallopin, Gasparotto all going for it. Presumably it will come down to that last, shorter ramp, rather than the full cllimb, but even better if some aggressive climbers like Bardet or Rolland try to go from further out.

Indeed. Tomorrow's stage and the day after is very interesting. I love these shallow, non GC-climbs with a punchy finish. The last 20 kilometres should be fun!

 

[Robert5091]

So head-butting is part of cycling? Jeez!

 

[Laplaz]

Gasparotto ftw!

 

[PremierAndrew]

If they don't do anything about that sprint, it sets a very dangerous precedent. Needs to be zero tolerance for this *** at 60km/h

 

[sir fly]

Anyway ... looking forwards ...

This stage is tailor made for Alaphilippe, right? Probably too much to think he could take the race lead but not impossible.

This is the stage of the race I'm looking forward to most. So many possible contenders and one of those great in-between climbs that give both puncher-climbers and climber-puncheurs an even shot.

I hope to see a real battle with the likes of Kwiatkowski, GVA, Boasson Hagen, Gerrans, Martin, Alaphilippe, Gallopin, Gasparotto all going for it. Presumably it will come down to that last, shorter ramp, rather than the full cllimb, but even better if some aggressive climbers like Bardet or Rolland try to go from further out.

Indeed. Tomorrow's stage and the day after is very interesting. I love these shallow, non GC-climbs with a punchy finish. The last 20 kilometres should be fun!

Just took a look at the finishing ascent(s)... Very interesting. Considering it's still build up time for Tour contenders should be interesting to see how each of them will handle lightning speed this climb allows. The base fitness will be tested.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

So head-butting is part of cycling? Jeez!

To a certain extent, yes. But I see your point.
I'd have no problem if Bouhanni was relegated in the sprint; but from a spectators viewpoint, it was very entertaining.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

https://twitter.com/jacopoguarnieri/status/739873750397620226
Seriously?

Nice reply by Christophe Laporte
https://twitter.com/LAPORTEChristop/status/739894900355923968?s=09
"It's seems like it's you who headbutts me to get on my teammates wheel?"

Nice!

Five or ten years ago, French riders were non-factors, so there was nothing to complain about. Now it's good news that they belong to the discussion, good, bad, or ugly. And yes, Nacer can be ugly, but here let's be honest: Nacer and his team did nothing wrong, but stand up to bully-tactics. Regardless, he's polarizing, and some will always blame him.

Some may be un-written, but there are rules. Cofidis wasn't going to let another team step on their toes. Fine by me .

 

[jmdirt]

I can't believe that there was no penalties/relegation from that...

 

[KGB]

I am sure is fine with you when you just watch and don't ride.
I guess guys who actually riding send to little boxer clear message.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-penalties-come-from-criterium-du-dauphine-sprint-but-riders-call-foul/

 

[Tonton]

Re:

I can't believe that there was no penalties/relegation from that...

There shouldn't be.

No one would have dared to pull this trick on Cippo's train. No one. The thing would have turned into an all-out fight. A bloody mess.

Why should Nacer get no respect? And I'm no fan of his: more of a fan of Gaviria and Demare.

It's an un-written rule, maybe, but it's a rule: make you own train or stay behind my train. Don't try to squeeze inside my train.

Simple.

It's not Cofidis who broke the rule.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

I am sure is fine with you when you just watch and don't ride.
I guess guys who actually riding send to little boxer clear message.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-penalties-come-from-criterium-du-dauphine-sprint-but-riders-call-foul/

I don't know if you refer to me, friend, but I have ridden competitive and still ride plenty .

Two wrongs don't do one right. Why did this guy get DQed or sanctioned and not the other guy? Lame IMO. Renshaw defending his train: yes. Trying to sneak in is a blatant sign of disrespect, with the " what are you going to do about it" post-scriptum.

Greipel has a beef with Nacer: credibility zero. At least Lance had one ball: the Gorilla had none . GVA? He'll watch replays and want to talk it back.

Go watch some videos if you're new at this. You'll see how trains treat "sneakers".

 

[peloton]

Not the first, and most likely not the last time, Bouhanni does crazy stuff in sprints.
Good that there were no crashes in the chaotic final.

 

[jaylew]

Just watched it after reading the posts here. A whole lot of commotion about basically nothing. I expected WAY worse the way people here were talking. Officials made the right call.