I think I've heard this one before.yaco said:Ineos not strong today - It was noticeable that Valverde was riding faster than Kwiatkowski on the final climb - Will be interesting to see how strong the Ineos train will be in this TDF.
Not even from the break. GVA did better in that situation.AlexNYC said:ice&fire said:Why do people keep wondering about the chances of someone who dropped like a stone in Roche aux Faucons?AlexNYC said:What are the chances that someone like Alaphilippe or Valverde will be near the front before that steep finale? From what I’ve read about this stage I gather that’s not very likely, but I wonder.![]()
Well, Purito is retired, Valverde on dom duty, Froome and Dumoulin out injured, as such Thomas and Pinot were actually the two for whom it suited the best out of current favourites. Rough surface was as significant as the gradients themselves on the new added part of the climb. I did expect a bit more from Bernal though.SafeBet said:After reading the comments I understand this climb apparently didn't suit any of the best climbers in this year's Tour de France.
Amazing.
May have suited a non Giro NibaliPõhja Konn said:Well, Purito is retired, Valverde on dom duty, Froome and Dumoulin out injured, as such Thomas and Pinot were actually the two for whom it suited the best out of current favourites. Rough surface was as significant as the gradients themselves on the new added part of the climb. I did expect a bit more from Bernal though.SafeBet said:After reading the comments I understand this climb apparently didn't suit any of the best climbers in this year's Tour de France.
Amazing.
Only 4 minutes behind Van Aertjaylew said:Kelderman still behind on form, losing 18 minutes.
Yeah, it would be so weird if he started winning in a discipline he has been world class in through most of his career.DFA123 said:Thomas has basically morphed into Froome 2.0. Used to be a poor climber on high mountains; now the best in the world. Used to struggle on steep climbs; now the best in the world.gregrowlerson said:G's performance was a bit of a surprise, but I'm not sure why some seem to be conceding the race already. The alps are a full two weeks away. Thomas gained very little time on most of his rivals, and the race will be won at the really high altitudes. A good result for Quintana, and Pinot obviously. Nice for Fulgsang, given his stage 1 crash. Good for Porte, given his low key season. And Ineos will hardly be forcing Bernal to race as a domestique yet; he lost what....ten seconds?
We'll probably see him attack on a descent at some point, or ride off the front in a break, or win a flat TT. Not because he needs to, but just because he can.
It's a couple of years that I call for thatRed Rick said:Now watch ASO have no high mountain stages next year.Mayomaniac said:Ala climbing like the Killer di Spoltore, rather unexpected...
Well, it is the Tour de France, not the Tour de Stage 6. I didn't expect much today. I think the GC teams are focused on not losing at this point. Still a long way to Paris.Forever The Best said:One of the worst mountain stages I've ever watched. No attacks until the final km except Landa.
Today's stage was a quick reminder about why I shouldn't watch the Tour. Awful GC action, same status quo as before, absolutely predictable results with one team having the 2 strongest riders who were #2 and #3 plan for the team (they would have done a 1-2-3 if Froome had raced!)
On his ITV interview before the Tour started he said he wasn’t injured, but the team pulled him because he took a big bump on the head. He was back on the bike training 2 days later.Forever The Best said:Oh, and also I didn't know the ideal preparation for the Tour was retiring from Tour de Suisse with injury.
:lol:wheresmybrakes said:I've a feeling G may get found out today
It sounds like you just had unrealistic expectations. Why did you hope something major was gonna unfold, when every GC contender is still fresh and when you know how the last 3 ascents of PdBF have gone??Valv.Piti said:****** stage again. Almost watched the entirety of these Vosges stage cause they used to be great fun, but that this was just super disappointing.
Hopefully the Massifs will be better. It only can be. If it isn't, I probably won't watch much of the rest of the Tour.
Yep. It's done and dusted again this year for GC. No surprise. If not G, it would be another Ineos guy.Climbing said:Game over man!