2016 TdF, Stage 1: Mont-Saint-Michel → Utah Beach (188km)

[sir fly]

Decent wind at the start.

 

[Red Rick]

THEY'RE OFF

 

[sir fly]

They're off!

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Bora attack!

 

[Warhawk]

Re:

The peloton hits a cul-de-sac and confusion ensues.

https://youtu.be/bVCTTuzj8ys?t=10s

 

[jsem94]

And no fight to get into the break.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

THEY'RE OFF

 

[Poursuivant]

Looks really windy

 

[Praying Mantis]

Re: Re:

The peloton hits a cul-de-sac and confusion ensues.

https://youtu.be/bVCTTuzj8ys?t=10s

It was a brilliant trap. Everybody stopped in an exposed spot, seconds later the French air force swooped down to put the fear of God into the foreigners.

 

[sir fly]

Why there's no interactive map at the official site?
Now I'll have to follow them on foot in Google earth.

 

[Squirbos_19]

Pretty weird to see 2 Bora riders in the early break.

 

[Poursuivant]

Phil and Paul have been binned for Ned Boulting and David Millar on ITV.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Pretty weird to see 2 Bora riders in the early break.

Riders are more and more unwilling to join the breakaway these days.
More and more teams have a sprinter they want to bring to the final... zzzzzzzzzz

Being in the break today is futile. Even more so with the wind.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Looks really windy

Yeah. Hopefully it will still be like this in a couple of hours

 

[Warhawk]

Re: Re:

Bryan Coquard will win.

I feel sorry for the Germans that they have to be sorry again and again. For some maybe WW2 is old news but the wounds are still fresh. Years ago, I had a project, a TdF design and Farrar could win on a day like this...I hope that an American rider wins it.

If it's a bunch sprint there's no chance, but maybe Cannondale will try to put Howes in the break or something.

Don't all pat me on the back at once.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Being in the break on early flat stages is always futile, but that's not the point. One of those five is going to wear the KOM jersey tonight, and especially for Bora this would constitute a huge success.

 

[markene2]

Where on the course is the wind most likely to hit hard today?

 

[capuldemetal]

echelons imminent!

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Where on the course is the wind most likely to hit hard today?

Fom 110km they leave the coast and from 130km they get the wind in their backs. They go south at 154km until 168km and then until the finish they ride toward the west.

So it's not perfect, unless someone wants to try it early on.

 

[Arredondo]

Bring those echelons ffs! I'm hungry!

 

[Squirbos_19]

Good to see Purito sitting near the front of the peloton.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Good to see Purito sitting near the front of the peloton.

Why? 95% he won't ride GC anyways which also would be insanely stupid this year.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Good to see Purito sitting near the front of the peloton.

Why? 95% he won't ride GC anyways which also would be insanely stupid this year.

Haven't heard any noise around Zakarin fro the Tour...how is his form
Surely you cannot rule him out at least for a stage win

 

[PremierAndrew]

Winds definitely strong enough to rip this race apart today

 

[Squirbos_19]

Re: Re:

Good to see Purito sitting near the front of the peloton.

Why? 95% he won't ride GC anyways which also would be insanely stupid this year.

It's a lot more encouraging to see him there than at the back of the peloton. Gives me hope his form is good enough to do something this Tour. Maybe he'll look for an early yellow jersey by not losing time.