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

[Escarabajo]

If its the first 20 riders at front of grid, I can see krusher going up the road for Roglic with one of the Movistar guys. They need to get SKY working from the start as most people have said. This will test G's mettle today, if he gets through this stage unscathed, I can't see him losing this race, then it's a race for 2nd and 3rd between Dumo and Froome. I can't see Roglic or any of the Movistar lot to make any difference. Hope it isn't a borefest though.

I was surprised Sky didn't send Bernal up the road yesterday. In the big breakaway, he would've entered the top-20 and thus be part of the first cohort of riders. Now Froome and Thomas have no-one in direct support. Of course, probably no-one of relevance will try anything at the start, playing in the hands of Sky once again.

It won't take Bernal too much time to get to their leaders.

 

[Poursuivant]

Bardet will attack first col.

 

[Amazinmets87]

When does stage start?

 

[Taxus4a]

They are going to start the stage just in front of the cemetery. . In my spanish culture would be difficult to understand

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

It feels terrible hoping for mechanicals to make the race interesting

Sad part is both Froome and Dumoulin would probably be one minute closer w/o respective crash and mechanical in week 1.

Thomas years of crashing and bad luck finally reversed itself.

if good and bad luck worked like a jing/jang, then Richie Porte would have to get the Giro/Tour double next year ...

Ritchie's crashing has nothing to do with luck (good or bet) though

Not true. Sometimes crashes are your fault and other times they are caused by someone else in the bunch and there is no time to do anything at all. Him crashing out this year was absolutely bad luck.

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.

I can totally see this happening.

 

[arvc40]

Bet Froome can’t wait to line up on front of grid !

 

[Valv.Piti]

I cannot take this grid Formula 1 start seriously.

Please stop. 65 km is bad enough (gonna be a great stage Im sure, but because of Col du Portet)

 

[arvc40]

Re:

I cannot take this grid Formula 1 start seriously.

Please stop. 65 km is bad enough (gonna be a great stage Im sure, but because of Col du Portet)

Grid start complete Bollox !. Won’t see it again !.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

I agree the grid won’t work the way they intend, unless they are really strung out and it’s an immediate steep climb. Neither of which is the case, I think.

 

[ppanther92]

Grid start simply won't matter. They should do it if they want, but as it will have no influence, i really don't care.

 

[jaylew]

Nothing wrong with the grid start. It's unlikely to have much effect but there's really no reason to bash it as there's no real negative aspect to it.

 

[ppanther92]

Re:

Nothing wrong with the grid start. It's unlikely to have much effect but there's really no reason to bash it as there's no real negative aspect to it.

You said what i wanted to say in much more eloquent ways.

 

[Winnen]

Re:

Grid start simply won't matter. They should do it if they want, but as it will have no influence, i really don't care.

I fully agree. What is wrong with trying this concept. It doesn't hurt anyone.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Nothing wrong with the grid start. It's unlikely to have much effect but there's really no reason to bash it as there's no real negative aspect to it.

You said what i wanted to say in much more eloquent ways.

There is a very negative aspect to it.

Passing off stupid gimmicks as innovation and development in the sport is insulting to our intelligence.

 

[Billie]

ASO finally admitting there are motors in the race?

 

[Walkman]

Re: Re:

Nothing wrong with the grid start. It's unlikely to have much effect but there's really no reason to bash it as there's no real negative aspect to it.

You said what i wanted to say in much more eloquent ways.

There is a very negative aspect to it.

Passing off stupid gimmicks as innovation and development in the sport is insulting to our intelligence.

Stop complaining.
If anything would happen, we should be so lucky! SKY has been killing the excitement of the Tour for the last 8 years. Anything can could potentially give us more action is great.

 

[Bolder]

It's a gimmick but why not? TdF is always looking for publicity.

I once did an MTB race with a Le Mans start. Our bikes were piled about 50 meters away. The results were predictable -- everyone was running into each other and the slower riders who happened to clip in first clogged the single track.

 

[Jelantik]

Meh.. grid start. Sky domestique will be up in the front in no time. And they'll just TT with a tempo up the mountain until Bernal drags everyone on the last climb. I thought they put riders top 20 in front, then 80 m behind the next 20.

 

[Ramira]

I'm really not so sure that Froome won't be allowed to start. After all the main reason Thomas is ahead is because Froome crashed on stage 1.

If Froome wants to win this Tour I don't see that Sky will risk angering a 32 year old 4 time TDF winner and 6 time GT winner for a 31 year old who's biggest stage win is the Critérium du Dauphiné.

I also imagine Sky probably has a better idea than we do of how strong Thomas will be in week 3. Because if Froome doesn't take any time on Dumoulin it's very likely that Dumoulin ends up ahead after the time trial. Which means if Thomas has an off day, and Froome is better than Dumoulin today they throw away a possible tour win.

That being said I'm hoping it won't matter because Dumoulin and/or Roglič blow this race open and force the choice to be made purely on who's the strongest on the road.

 

[DNP-Old]

Nairo and Froome discussing a collaboration?

 

[Billie]

this is just a group start with the top 10 in front?

 

[Cance > TheRest]

...And the circus leaves town

 

[rick james]

and they are off

 

[Billie]

Wow that was exciting lol

 

[hrotha]

Re:

Nothing wrong with the grid start. It's unlikely to have much effect but there's really no reason to bash it as there's no real negative aspect to it.

Well, it does look silly. There's not much beyond that inherently wrong with it, but I'm worried about the slippery slope possibilities for future races.

edit: wait, wasn't there supposed to be time gaps? What the hell is the point then?