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Le Tour 2018 stage 17: BDL to Saint-Lary-Soulan 65k

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T

The Barb

Apr 14, 2009
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I don't have the time or technical ability to do a proper opening post but for god's sake the most interesting stage of the race (well, maybe other than Stage 9) is 8 hours away and there's no opening post.

So, my quick random speculations:

No chance for the breakaway.
Time limit risk for anyone who doesn't climb well or is unwell.
Improved performance from Quintana (my heart ruling my head, perhaps).
Movistar wins the Stage (just not sure who).
Thomas and Froome not far behind, solidifying their positions as 1-2.
Dumoulin to lose more than one minute.


python said:
we probably are missing this...
2018_tour_de_france_stage17_profile1.jpg
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Robert5091 said:
Ready, steady ... GO!

tumblr_pcdjo73w791ropreyo1_1280.png


tumblr_pcdjo73w791ropreyo2_1280.png


tumblr_pcdjo73w791ropreyo3_1280.png
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SHAD0W93

SHAD0W93

Aug 13, 2011
7,280
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One of these three will happen.
1. Froome and Thomas destroy everyone while Froome wins stage and puts time into Thomas to make the ITT interesting.
2. Other teams attack Sky causing either Froome or Thomas to crack and a contender to gain lots of time. Not sure which contender, maybe someone from Lotto or Movistar.
3. Absolutely nothing causing Bora and BMC to chase breakaway and GVA vs Sagan for the stage win.
 
Laplaz

Laplaz

Apr 6, 2016
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If Movistar or Ag2r are not aggressive here I really don't know what to say. They have to try something, a 5th place doesn't add nothing to Landa, Quintana or Bardet's carreer. Nonetheless, Dumourain ftw!
 
S

Singer01

BANNED
Nov 18, 2013
2,043
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Unusual length, unusual starting format, same old ***. Froome to put time into Dumoulin, Thomas to follow Dumoulin until it looks like Froome is riding into contention, then to counter attack Dumoulin to preserve about 1 min lead and the Tour.

That being said if Froome does ride into the lead i'm heading straight over to the clinic with popcorn to listen to the crazies, 'the UCI poisoned Thomas to make sure Froome wins because they are all lizards looking to rule the world', or whatever foil hat wearing nonsense they are peddling this week.
 
Hugo Koblet

Hugo Koblet

May 9, 2010
10,909
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Re:

Laplaz said:
If Movistar or Ag2r are not aggressive here I really don't know what to say. They have to try something, a 5th place doesn't add nothing to Landa, Quintana or Bardet's carreer. Nonetheless, Dumourain ftw!
Click to expand...
Movistar has definitely been the big disappointment this Tour, and hopefully they'll try and do something tomorrow, but unfortunately their team is so weak that it leaves them with limited options. I wonder what Bardet's plan is today. He has to make up a lot of minutes to be in contention for the podium and he's an aggressive rider, but I have a a feeling that he's gonna wait for the last climb and hope that some of the contenders in front of him in the GC cracks.
 
Tigerion

Tigerion

Jul 21, 2011
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Not sure who has the desire and the strength to actually make the race hard to try and put pressure on the sky train.
I guess Movistar could still have a crack at doing it with Soler and the rest of the team hitting the first climb hard. Of course that would require them to risk the team classification so it's unlikely
The only way this gets interesting is if everybody wanting to challenge sky just put all their doms to work early for a hard and fast as they can and see if they can actually crack G by making it hard.
KOM could make the first climb interesting, maybe somebody like a Fulsang can hitch a ride on the back of Alaphilippe and get a nice gap
 
L

loge1884

Apr 1, 2013
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Re:

SafeBet said:
Demare will be 57 minutes behind on top of the first climb but will manage to finish just inside the time limit once again.
Click to expand...

Démare is perhaps candidate for
- the most solo riden kilometers
- the only rider whose biceps is bigger AFTER the tour
 
B

Bolder

Jun 25, 2015
5,187
5,159
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Re:

Dekker_Tifosi said:
last climb is so hard that favs will wait
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Also, going to be HOT. A serious risk of bonking for anyone who goes early. That said, I'm sure Bardet or one of the Movistar riders will try something futile. Everyone else will follow Sky until the last climb kicks up.

Thomas and Froome (and Dumoulin to some extent) have been resting for the past 3 days. I can't see either imploding today. Though I'm hoping for carnage.
 
Robert5091

Robert5091

Mar 29, 2016
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Still a chance of a thunderstorm, hot (26 C), humid, weak NNE breeze.

Pure climbers day - Landa, Quintana, Bernal (would Sky dare to send him up the road?), Pozzo, Nieve, Bardet. G, Dawg & TD to follow each other up & down. Too tough for Roglic & Martin I would think - Kruijswijk to follow Sky,
 
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