Lets assess team strength heading to the rest day.

[Gloin22]

By the end of 3rd week I expect Froome to have at least 4 minute lead on 2nd in GC.

So I think even with weaker team, Sky could pull this off, as Froome is phenomenal by himself.

If Thomas gets better, the task will become easier obviously.

........

If contador doesn't get better, I am preety sure this is over anyway, his attacks at full form could damage Froome, but so far he's a shadow of what he can do at his best. Valverde is simply not good enough to really challenge Froome, and one other rider that could do damage in quitnana will be his dom.

 

[gustienordic]

Contador may yet ride into form. He isn't in the worst spot in the world. Yes, he has lost time, but Froome also has used a ton of energy in his attacks and having to nail back attacks. Contador may be a whole lot better in the alps. He climbed better at the end of the Vuelta than at the beginning. If he does ride into form, Sky is in trouble. Quintana & Contador going away together could me a phenomenal move!

By the end of 3rd week I expect Froome to have at least 4 minute lead on 2nd in GC.

So I think even with weaker team, Sky could pull this off, as Froome is phenomenal by himself.

If Thomas gets better, the task will become easier obviously.

........

If contador doesn't get better, I am preety sure this is over anyway, his attacks at full form could damage Froome, but so far he's a shadow of what he can do at his best. Valverde is simply not good enough to really challenge Froome, and one other rider that could do damage in quitnana will be his dom.

 

[Ruby United]

Does anyone know what happened to Kiryienka? Crash or just form.

Seems like he was in good form. He probably just cooked himself on stage 8 and got a little to careless yesterday, imo.

 

[will10]

Lopez looked okay on Pailhères, obviously completely invisible yesterday like the rest but he'll come in handy. Sivstov is a surprise (remember Trentino), I haven't seen him at all yet.

What's the deal with Kiryienka anyway? Did he have to work yesterday and nailed himself early on?

 

[Pricey_sky]

What's the deal with Kiryienka anyway? Did he have to work yesterday and nailed himself early on?

I didn't see much of him, when most of Sky were dropped he was on the front trying to bring it all back however the mega pace and the efforts the previous day probably killed his legs.

 

[fantomas]

Anyone know where the Spanish armada are? Kreuziger has been great, but haven't seen anything of Paulihno, Hernandez or Noval when the hammer drops.

Hernandez pulled when Porte dropped on Sunday, so he did his fair share there. Paulinho was, IIRC, in the break with Rogers at that moment.