2016 TdF, Stage 17: Bern → Finhaut-Emosson (185km)

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Froome barely breathing crossing the line.

He wasn't as good this Tour. The rest were just worse. Don't play it like he is supreme because he is not.

This. He's been a complete rider this Tour, but not as strong on the climbs. Still strong enough to beat Lil Porte and drop an underwhelming Nairo, but he hasn't had the violent acceleration, even when he went after Porte he just pulled him back.

He hasn't had to. It's been a cakewalk for him. I don't recall ever seeing at any point where he was challenged or put into even the slightest bit of difficulty. It's like he's just toying with everyone. I gave up when he had the audacity to confront Aru about his team's tactics in taking over on the front of the group a few stages ago. The smug arrogance is sickening to me.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Why every thread has to turn to this Contador BS???

I cannot even go to the Quintana thread because there is Contador BS as well!!

He has been on the same Tours as Froome and Quintana hasn't he?

Contador thread clearly failing to contain all the Contador nonsense in one location. Regrettable.

You know what doesn't help? Replying. It's kinda the opposite of what is a good thing to do

 

[Escarabajo]

Thanks God for TT's. Otherwise this Tour would be quite bad!

Well, we'll always have the Ventoux marathon.

 

[Winkin' boy]

Re: Re:

Great ride by Zakarin. Shame Majka didn't make it, he's got KOM but no stage win.

Froome will win tommorow, it's 100% certain. Tour is over, unless he crashes.

 

[HelloDolly]

Enough Contador stuff....if he had stayed on his bike in the Tour then maybe he would be up there ....but he didn't and he isn't ....enough already ...go to the Contador thread for any more

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Enough Contador stuff....if he had stayed on his bike in the Tour then maybe he would be up there ....but he didn't and he isn't ....enough already ...go to the Contador thread for any more

He is a year from retirement. He wasn't going to effect the podium. But don't repeat that on the Contador thread.

 

[trucido]

Re:

Enough Contador stuff....if he had stayed on his bike in the Tour then maybe he would be up there ....but he didn't and he isn't ....enough already ...go to the Contador thread for any more

With the exception of the Champs you can guarantee there will be at least 1 post about what Contador "could have" done on each of the stages remaining in this Tour.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

Poels hilarious... new leader for 2017?

My thoughts this hole Tour. He is just insanely strong.

Did you not see how good he was for Uran in Giro? Throw in the fact that he has been basically rested for two weeks, it is a recipe for disaster for the opposition.

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

Froome barely breathing crossing the line.

He wasn't as good this Tour. The rest were just worse. Don't play it like he is supreme because he is not.

This. He's been a complete rider this Tour, but not as strong on the climbs. Still strong enough to beat Lil Porte and drop an underwhelming Nairo, but he hasn't had the violent acceleration, even when he went after Porte he just pulled him back.

He hasn't had to. It's been a cakewalk for him. I don't recall ever seeing at any point where he was challenged or put into even the slightest bit of difficulty. It's like he's just toying with everyone. I gave up when he had the audacity to confront Aru about his team's tactics in taking over on the front of the group a few stages ago. The smug arrogance is sickening to me.

Exactly this. The very definition of hubris. Bring on nemesis. Cannot come fast enough.

 

[therhodeo]

1999 by Prince keeps playing in my head for some reason.

 

[vedrafjord]

Re:

dauphine looking more and more like the best pre-tour warmup...

froome
porte
bardet
martin
yates
aru
rodriguez (?)

Well the strongest riders all did the Dauphiné. It's not like anybody who did Suisse has underperformed. Quintana was bad this year but better last year and did Sud both times so not sure what you can take from that.

 

[aarononymous]

Re: Re:

Poels hilarious... new leader for 2017?

My thoughts this hole Tour. He is just insanely strong.

Did you not see how good he was for Uran in Giro? Throw in the fact that he has been basically rested for two weeks, it is a recipe for disaster for the opposition.

Yes I remember that, I don't know if anyone is calling him out just ridiculous what they are doing.

 

[vedrafjord]

So of the guys in 2nd-10th who will move up or down between now and Sunday? I presume Valverde won't be working for Quintana any more.

 

[yaco]

Re:

Did Kirby ever apologise for claiming Alaphilippe was a favourite for the Tour?

Kirby.stated that the French press wrote of Alaphalippe as a top 10 chance in the tour, which was quickly shot down by Kelly.

There is a thread for Eurosport commentary

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Re:

Personal satisfaction of the day : Aru didn't deliver for all the hype he has been granted.

satisfied that the only team that dared to try something failed? Loving cycling I see

 

[yaco]

Froome has made three big attacks in Dauphine and the TDF. Only one rider has held his wheel

 

[RattaKuningas]

Re:

Froome has made three big attacks in Dauphine and the TDF. Only one rider has held his wheel

And he didn't only hold his wheel.

 

[saneguy]

TDF 2016 is over....long live the tour!

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Damp squib of a Tour. My only takeaways so far are Yates might be the real deal. Mollema joins Kruijswijk as a GT revelation, Aru still has a way to go until he can go head to head with Froome. Valverde shouldn't have been working for Nairo at all and the latter simply does not have it this year - massive disappointment. TJVG doesn't have it at all and Richie might have been the real challenger this year.

Contador we'll never know. Another of those years. But I do feel he wouldn't have been close to Froome. Just opinion obviously.

Froome is virtually unchallenged. As has been said so far, he simply hasn't needed to reach alien levels. Skytrain is a strong as ever (he's got bonafide GT leaders working the early climbs for him, hah!).

I hope next year is different somehow. A new challenger, Froome losing some support, anything. Else we might be looking at the next Indurain here.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Personal satisfaction of the day : Aru didn't deliver for all the hype he has been granted.

satisfied that the only team that dared to try something failed? Loving cycling I see

There is absolutely no link between my post and your affirmation.

 

[RattaKuningas]

Nibali looked better today in my opinion. He can still help Aru as we saw today and I think he did a good job. Astana has no other choice but to keep setting high tempo and trying. Aru managed to move from 10th place to 8th today and now that they saw Mollema and Quintana in trouble they will probably keep doing what they do. We have no idea who might be in the trouble next.

 

[Fergoose]

Valverde demonstrating just what the consequences are for a top 10 on GC making an attack against a team that still has 3 or 4 domestiques left. Dan Martin did well to hold on after his failed attack. Stages likely to become even more neutralised and conservative after this. The only guy in the top 10 that Sky might let go again is Porte (a thanks for services rendered) but everyone else will just be shut down. Astana tried to break the Sky stranglehold at least, so hats off to them.

 

[Cookster15]

Re:

Nibali looked better today in my opinion. He can still help Aru as we saw today and I think he did a good job. Astana has no other choice but to keep setting high tempo and trying. Aru managed to move from 10th place to 8th today and now that they saw Mollema and Quintana in trouble they will probably keep doing what they do. We have no idea who might be in the trouble next.

Aru lost 19 seconds today to Froome / Porte. That's not a good sign in the 3rd week of a Grand Tour. Not sure Aru is worth helping but yes Astana have no other choice but to try something with Nibali's support. Nibali saved himself today which might mean they are planning something for Mont Blanc. But if Aru leaks another 30-40 sec in MTT it might be too little too late. I was surprised to see Mollema crack today.

 

[RattaKuningas]

Re: Re:

Nibali looked better today in my opinion. He can still help Aru as we saw today and I think he did a good job. Astana has no other choice but to keep setting high tempo and trying. Aru managed to move from 10th place to 8th today and now that they saw Mollema and Quintana in trouble they will probably keep doing what they do. We have no idea who might be in the trouble next.

Aru lost 19 seconds today to Froome / Porte. That's not a good sign in the 3rd week of a Grand Tour. Not sure Aru is worth helping but yes Astana have no other choice but to try something with Nibali's support. Nibali saved himself today which might mean they are planning something for Mont Blanc. But if Aru leaks another 30-40 sec in MTT it might be too little too late. I was surprised to see Mollema crack today.

Tomorrow TT is for sure going to be important and if he manages to take back time from riders who are in front of him then it is a good sign and may give Astana more hope. But I think that Astana will support Aru no matter what and keep trying to move him up in the overall rankings. If Astana does something right then it is their unconditional support for the leader.

 

[Jagartrott]

Several busses were still stuck near the finish area - among which the one of Trek (Mollema is expected to arrive at the hotel only around 10 pm). Apparently, there was a tunnel that was only half-finished. Amateurish.