2016 TdF, Stage 9: Vielha → Andorra Arcalis (185km)

[Singer01]

Gap coming down really quickly. This break is toast.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Valverde should drop himself. He's ruining the break.

 

[sir fly]

Is it the fine story, in fact the pound story?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Riis says that Contador likely is close to abandoning as well.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Valverde should drop himself. He's ruining the break.

How does that benefit Movistar?

 

[lenric]

His attack and Sagan dropping him was the coup de grâce.

 

[spiritualride]

Re: Re:

Valverde should drop himself. He's ruining the break.

How does that benefit Movistar?

Two other Movistar riders are in the break I think?

 

[portugal11]

So now i can assume that i was right. Why quintana didn't attack froome? He has to test froome before the time trial

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Hm.. not sure Valverde dropping back is the best way for Quintana to make the most of it today. Movistar certainly shouldn't give a *** about winning the stage

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Re: Re:

Valverde should drop himself. He's ruining the break.

How does that benefit Movistar?

To avoid winning the *** of the Day award. What's the point of ruining the stage for 20 other guys? The break will get caught in 10km if he stays in.

 

[TommyGun]

I cannot believe this, commentators on France 3 are taking a lunch break, so they are showing a summary of the 1st week instead of live pictures!

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Hm.. not sure Valverde dropping back is the best way for Quintana to make the most of it today. Movistar certainly shouldn't give a **** about winning the stage

Agree, he should make Sky doms work as hard as possible for as long as possible. Even if they catch the break, it will have taken a lot out of them for later in the stage. Although I guess his initial attack has done that already.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re:

So now i can assume that i was right. Why quintana didn't attack froome? He has to test froome before the time trial

You do realise today is a MTF right?

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Valverde dropped, well done. Break gaining time again.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

So now i can assume that i was right. Why quintana didn't attack froome? He has to test froome before the time trial

For Quintana it's still possible to win the tour just by being the strongest. By doing a crazy attack today he could loose minutes if the attack doesn't work and it's possible that he would have won the tour if he hadn't attacked. Therefore an attack so early in the stage would simply be stupid.

 

[ILovecycling]

LOLLL
Movistar will rather drop their biggest weapon from break than work hard...

 

[rick james]

Valverde and Froome really do like touching each other

 

[Praying Mantis]

Re:

I cannot believe this, commentators on France 3 are taking a lunch break, so they are showing a summary of the 1st week instead of live pictures!

Live pictures without some crazy person shouting all over it nonstop is considered "dead air" in these modern times. Commentary is the content.

 

[DFA123]

Valverde should attack again on the next climb if he's got the legs. Really toy with Sky, disrupt their train and make it suffer.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

LOLLL
Movistar will rather drop their biggest weapon from break than work hard...

Work hard and get caught before Arcalis, plus have Valverde get burned out and lose a ton of time? He was doomed once Contador showed weakness and dropped.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Re: Re:

Hm.. not sure Valverde dropping back is the best way for Quintana to make the most of it today. Movistar certainly shouldn't give a **** about winning the stage

Agree, he should make Sky doms work as hard as possible for as long as possible. Even if they catch the break, it will have taken a lot out of them for later in the stage. Although I guess his initial attack has done that already.

It's Stannard and Rowe working now. They wont be of any use later in the stage anyway.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Re:

LOLLL
Movistar will rather drop their biggest weapon from break than work hard...

2 climbers vs Kiriyenka, Stannard and others on the flat? Good luck with that.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Froome seems to be shepherded by an Orica rider. Yates was sat by Froome on the first climb - some sort of arrangement between those 2 teams?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Cav back in the peloton.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Hm.. not sure Valverde dropping back is the best way for Quintana to make the most of it today. Movistar certainly shouldn't give a **** about winning the stage

Agree, he should make Sky doms work as hard as possible for as long as possible. Even if they catch the break, it will have taken a lot out of them for later in the stage. Although I guess his initial attack has done that already.

It's Stannard and Rowe working now. They wont be of any use later in the stage anyway.

Not sure about that. There is a long, gentle uphill drag as they go into Andorra. Forcing Stannard and Kiryienka to pull harder now, might be the difference between them getting over the next climb and being able to pull on that section, or cracking and not making it.

Marginal gains.