Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Stage 8, Megève - Courchevel Le Praz (131.5 km)

[phanatic]

Nieve always wins the very best of stages.

 

[ferryman]

Yeah Froome was so mentally shot he beat Contador in 2 stages all of like 6 days ago lol

I think Stage 2 was perfect evidence of Froome's state of mind. Tried 110% to break Contador and failed.

 

[ferryman]

"Don't buy...." Dude, don't display your ignorance. I'm not a doctor but I've fallen on my hip, and taken knocks on my shoulder, and if you didn't know, these falls can be totally debilitating, especially if the bone is bruised. The pain and the imbalance caused by muscles having to compensate reduce your ability to perform. When you're performing at this level, the smallest niggle will wear you down, translating into seconds if not minutes. I think that Froome's performance under the circumstances was exceptional. Just hope that there is no cartilage damage to his hip which will take longer than 3 to 7 days to heal.

Having said that, I take nothing away from AC's performance today. Parabems Alberto, e boa sorte para o TdF. Espero que o pizza foi bom, e que o vinho estava cheio de anti-oxidants.

I'm no doctor either but I didn't see anything debilitating with Froome's counter attack in the final klik in Stage 7. Of course the 'niggle' could have got worse overnight as you have pointed out, so excuse all of us ignoramuses for not getting it.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Great stage. Thrilled about the result for this one. Talansky winning GC and Contador clearly showing he was the strongest is ok with me.

Yep, I agree with jaylew.

 

[manafana]

delighted for Talansky had him down as an outsider for this more as grabbing top 3 but felt he knew he had something to prove great ride. Thought Badret would take stage but Nieve un did him pity.

 

[willbick]

I think Stage 2 was perfect evidence of Froome's state of mind. Tried 110% to break Contador and failed.

lol wtf are u on about?! of course he tried 110% to drop contador and win the stage. he's trying to win a bike race, what else do u expect him to do?

 

[Anderis]

I think Stage 2 was perfect evidence of Froome's state of mind. Tried 110% to break Contador and failed.

That stage win was certainly devastating for him.

 

[greenedge]

When i watched it this morning I saw Contador riding really well, then saw there was a gap to Nibali. So basically until the finish I had no clue Talansky was ahead and thought Contador had smashed it when he caught Nibali.

Seems like a great stage and great rides by all the riders

 

[Escarabajo]

I'm no doctor either but I didn't see anything debilitating with Froome's counter attack in the final klik in Stage 7. Of course the 'niggle' could have got worse overnight as you have pointed out, so excuse all of us ignoramuses for not getting it.

In my experience a lot of the injuries hurt more the day after than the actual day of the fall.

 

[Savant12]

Froome clearly didn't have the legs to beat Contador nor much of anyone else but he set up the illusion that he did by splitting the team in two so as to give the impression that they were going to try something later. Or was it good tactics for going for stage win and Nieve just sucked wheels until he pounced. Contador bought the former, which ultimately cost him the overall.

Let's also mention that Contador let Talansky get up the road, expecting Team Sky to lead the chase; whereas, he could have easily made it into the Talansky group himself but he had eyes on Froome.

Contador was the strongest rider on the day but what did he win?

 

[glassmoon]

Contador was the strongest rider on the day but what did he win?

he just bet on the wrong horse i guess

 

[RedheadDane]

Any particular reason the quick-link to the live coverage page is still up? I really don't hope there still are people coming in...

 

[SiAp1984]

That stage win was certainly devastating for him.

I really like this one

 

[xanadu]

Froome clearly didn't have the legs to beat Contador nor much of anyone else but he set up the illusion that he did by splitting the team in two so as to give the impression that they were going to try something later. Or was it good tactics for going for stage win and Nieve just sucked wheels until he pounced. Contador bought the former, which ultimately cost him the overall.

Let's also mention that Contador let Talansky get up the road, expecting Team Sky to lead the chase; whereas, he could have easily made it into the Talansky group himself but he had eyes on Froome.

Contador was the strongest rider on the day but what did he win?

Decisions,decisions,decisions, which wheel do you follow. For the first time since God was a little boy 'Berto went on the defensive. He was so intent on sticking to Froome he forgot to counter the attack. Good to see Contador's legs working, now we have to get his brain in gear.
Repeat after me.
"Other people can win mountain stages apart from Froome"

 

[Gavia Pass]

Fantastic Dauphine!! One of the most exciting, interesting and unexpected stages in a while.

 

[cineteq]

Fantastic Dauphine!! One of the most exciting, interesting and unexpected stages in a while.

Agree 100%, what is usually a tune up, thus boring race.

 

[Fzotrlool]

No help for Bradley.

 

[djpbaltimore]

I am sad to admit that I didn't even bother to check Sunday's results let alone watch the stage after Contador's storming victory on Saturday. I thought he absolutely had it in the bag despite his irritating verbal sandbagging. What a great victory for Talansky. It wouldn't bother me one bit if the two big dawgs mark themselves out of the TDF and let someone fly under the radar to victory. I think it would be good for cycling if that happened.

 

[pastronef]

I am sad to admit that I didn't even bother to check Sunday's results let alone watch the stage after Contador's storming victory on Saturday. I thought he absolutely had it in the bag despite his irritating verbal sandbagging. What a great victory for Talansky. It wouldn't bother me one bit if the two big dawgs mark themselves out of the TDF and let someone fly under the radar to victory. I think it would be good for non Froome and non Contador fans if that happened.

for "cycling" ?

changed it for you

 

[Angliru]

I am sad to admit that I didn't even bother to check Sunday's results let alone watch the stage after Contador's storming victory on Saturday. I thought he absolutely had it in the bag despite his irritating verbal sandbagging. What a great victory for Talansky. It wouldn't bother me one bit if the two big dawgs mark themselves out of the TDF and let someone fly under the radar to victory. I think it would be good for cycling if that happened.

Most Tour contenders say the same thing but when put in the position of competing with their rivals that all tends to go out the window. They try not to push themselves excessively for fear of ruining their preparation but a rider suddenly in the yellow jersey will do his best to defend it unless they're comfortable handing it off to a non-threatening rider to avoid over-working their team, with the plan of regaining it later. Certainly Contador is disappointed in losing the gc on the final stage but at the same time he has to be happy with his overall performance when it's compared to his 2013 season. He see's definite progress in bridging the gap to his main rival and the reigning Tour champion.

 

[djpbaltimore]

for "cycling" ?

changed it for you

More like mangled the message. There are obviously a lot of casual people that follow the TDF who don't have a strong rooting interest in a single rider. I'm sure many of those would like to see a TDF as exciting as the Dauphine, with an underdog snatching victory with a last gasp attack like Talansky did at Courchevel. IMO, the hegemony of Sky/ Froome and Saxo/ Contador is becoming more and more like Barca and Real in La Liga. Every so often, the good of the sport needs an Atletico Madrid (or a Voeckler) to emerge unexpectedly and upturn the status quo. YMMV

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Froome clearly didn't have the legs to beat Contador nor much of anyone else but he set up the illusion that he did by splitting the team in two so as to give the impression that they were going to try something later. Or was it good tactics for going for stage win and Nieve just sucked wheels until he pounced. Contador bought the former, which ultimately cost him the overall.

Let's also mention that Contador let Talansky get up the road, expecting Team Sky to lead the chase; whereas, he could have easily made it into the Talansky group himself but he had eyes on Froome.

Contador was the strongest rider on the day but what did he win?

Kelderman's ride was the most physically impressive (by a distance) followed by Talansky. Contador 3rd at best.

 

[movingtarget]

Contador did well without a team. Froome looked shot on the last two stages, whether he is ill plus the shock of the fall who knows. This was the most bizarre stage race I have seen for a while and probably one for the best for entertainment. Definitely the best Dauphine for years. Sky should probably be more worried about Porte re the Tour and Wiggo's non appearance. Wiggo has answered his critics by not trying in the TDS. And I thought Andy Schleck was best at that.

But whenever Froome has looked in trouble in the past it has always been when someone does something outside the box re Contador's attack. Sky never seem to cope well with sudden shifts in pace or tactics to the Borg race style, they get confused and start to lose their rhythm. Even Froome looks more ragged.