To you lads/ladies ripping on the "big girls" having issues with a stage like todays, each and every rider in the TDF is harder, tougher and faster on a bike than anyone one this forum has been or ever will be. Period.
Secondly, they are paid to RIDE their bikes and WIN, or help their leader WIN, they are not paid to get taken down by out of the ordinary circumstances or poor route selection. Yeah, oil on descents classifies. There are enough inherent dangers in cycling as it is. Name another sport where the participants move along at the speeds pro cyclists do, in the conditions they do, wearing lycra kit.
Thirdly, TDF stages not "tough" enough? What?? Stages like this years 16th would crush the so called "cyclists" who are doing the complainin' here.

And I'm talking about stage racing it, NOT going out and touring over it.
And last but not least, if your second guessing guys like Riis' decisions, why aren't YOU a DS?? Why, because you DON'T HAVE A CLUE!

Geeez, armchair quarterbacks, er DS'...