Richie Porte Discussion Thread.

[Galic Ho]

Re: Re:

Both of the BMC riders should move up up the GC after the TT. It will be interesting comparing TJVG and Porte's times but I think TJVG is trying to save himself for the third week like Quintana. He is getting dropped on the climbs but managing the time losses. He looks to be aiming for the podium on the strength of his TTs. He generally does go better in the Alps but Porte seems to be climbing as well as anyone at the moment.

The issue is the mountain time trial followed by two mountain stages both 146km long at the end of the final week.

Tejay if his climbing remains relative to everyone else, granted his second rest day issue has been cured/dealt with, is looking like losing any time gains he'll get tonight there on those 3 days. This years Tour is harder than last year. Sure it's closer on GC, but that final week allows something like this years Giro events to unfold.

Then again he may improve...I'd watch Aru in particular. His recovery and Quintana's will show who can podium, because two riders have more firepower at this stage of the race. If somebody recovers like Nibali did, aka Aru, some fire will be injected into the road after the mountain time trial.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Both of the BMC riders should move up up the GC after the TT. It will be interesting comparing TJVG and Porte's times but I think TJVG is trying to save himself for the third week like Quintana. He is getting dropped on the climbs but managing the time losses. He looks to be aiming for the podium on the strength of his TTs. He generally does go better in the Alps but Porte seems to be climbing as well as anyone at the moment.

The issue is the mountain time trial followed by two mountain stages both 146km long at the end of the final week.

Tejay if his climbing remains relative to everyone else, granted his second rest day issue has been cured/dealt with, is looking like losing any time gains he'll get tonight there on those 3 days. This years Tour is harder than last year. Sure it's closer on GC, but that final week allows something like this years Giro events to unfold.

Then again he may improve...I'd watch Aru in particular. His recovery and Quintana's will show who can podium, because two riders have more firepower at this stage of the race. If somebody recovers like Nibali did, aka Aru, some fire will be injected into the road after the mountain time trial.

Yes many more twists to come I think. So far it's been unpredictable. Froome has not made his early time gaps with attacks on the ascents, Porte has stayed with the best climbers and Quintana has showed cracks already. I hope Richie can stay positive. He still has some good stages to climb up the GC. The worst thing he could do is to start too fast in the TT because of what happened yesterday. He needs to keep his head. I am sure they are trying to keep him focused.

 

[Nick C.]

By the way with those crowds, who sprints headdown in the wake of a motorbike. I understand it is a race and all but is it too much to ask to not shut off your brain. It is unfortunate but when I saw it my impression was what a dumfb****.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

By the way with those crowds, who sprints headdown in the wake of a motorbike. I understand it is a race and all but is it too much to ask to not shut off your brain. It is unfortunate but when I saw it my impression was what a dumfb****.

No one told him the moto would stop right in front of him. I don't think he is trying to lose the race on purpose but he certainly needs a change of luck in grand tours.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

By the way with those crowds, who sprints headdown in the wake of a motorbike. I understand it is a race and all but is it too much to ask to not shut off your brain. It is unfortunate but when I saw it my impression was what a dumfb****.

This is a ridiculous point of view. He literally had no other choice. You do realise this is a race don't you? It is up to the motorbikes to keep the distance, not the riders.

 

[DanielSong39]

LOL, he was drafting the motorbike when it stopped.

 

[Nick C.]

Re: Re:

By the way with those crowds, who sprints headdown in the wake of a motorbike. I understand it is a race and all but is it too much to ask to not shut off your brain. It is unfortunate but when I saw it my impression was what a dumfb****.

This is a ridiculous point of view. He literally had no other choice. You do realise this is a race don't you? It is up to the motorbikes to keep the distance, not the riders.

Yeah. I also realize that in the past riders have said the crowds were so close you could barely get through. He chose to ride as he did under those conditions. It's kinda part of racing your bike to look ahead.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

By the way with those crowds, who sprints headdown in the wake of a motorbike. I understand it is a race and all but is it too much to ask to not shut off your brain. It is unfortunate but when I saw it my impression was what a dumfb****.

This is a ridiculous point of view. He literally had no other choice. You do realise this is a race don't you? It is up to the motorbikes to keep the distance, not the riders.

Yeah. I also realize that in the past riders have said the crowds were so close you could barely get through. He chose to ride as he did under those conditions. It's kinda part of racing your bike to look ahead.

...

 

[The Chicken]

 

[damian13ster]

Not horrible. Expected him to be in same position as Mollema. Can still see him doing top 5 here. Would be a big step in his career

 

[djpbaltimore]

It will be interesting if he and TJVG actually try something in the last week, or are they intent on just following Froome for as long as possible and move up the GC in his slipstream.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Not horrible. Expected him to be in same position as Mollema. Can still see him doing top 5 here. Would be a big step in his career

i think anything less than a podium for BMC would not be seen as a success but they both have a shot in the final week at improving their positions. Yates could be questionable in the third week while Mollema is looking very good. I think Quintana could lose more time based on the last two days. The next mountains stage will tell all with him. No doubt Porte and TJVG would not be happy with their TTs. Not bad but not good either. Dumoulin is in a class of his own of course and Froome has not showed any weakness so far unlike Quintana and others. Valverde could also slide down the GC depending on whether he helps Quintana or not. The next TT might decide the podium as on the mountains so far no one has looked that superior.

 

[DBotero]

After today bad TT a top 5 looks like the most he can get of this.Maybe it's time for BMC to risk a bit in the hope of getting Porte or TVG on the podium.

 

[movingtarget]

After today bad TT a top 5 looks like the most he can get of this.Maybe it's time for BMC to risk a bit in the hope of getting Porte or TVG on the podium.

Even if Porte managed to get away with Froome on an MTF his TT has put him maybe too far back unless he can do a really good time in the next TT. It was a hard TT today and most of the GC riders struggled. Mollema had a good one of course. I still think the podium is up for grabs and BMC maybe have a shot at third if they have a good final week.

 

[Cookster15]

After today bad TT a top 5 looks like the most he can get of this.Maybe it's time for BMC to risk a bit in the hope of getting Porte or TVG on the podium.

What sort of risk? I note TJ was only 18 seconds ahead of Porte in the TT despite it being his favoured discipline. But that was a disappointing TT for Porte. I hope this isn't the beginning of the fade. I mean he was beaten by Valverde and equal with Quinata. Tony Martin was also slow though.

 

[Jancouver]

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

I'm sure the crash had no effect whatsoever...

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

To be honest he has a perfectly good excuse for being sore. He face planted after hitting a moto then had 2 other riders land on top of him. That just 24 hours before a tough, power TT.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

To be honest he has a perfectly good excuse for being sore. He face planted after hitting a moto then had 2 other riders land on top of him. That just 24 hours before a tough, power TT.

You are correct. The way I meant it was that he will always find an excuse based on some misfortune.

Legit excuse or not, winners always find a way to win, losers always find a way to lose.

... and now, because he is already so much behind, and sore, he just found his excuse to give up once again ... just watch

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

To be honest he has a perfectly good excuse for being sore. He face planted after hitting a moto then had 2 other riders land on top of him. That just 24 hours before a tough, power TT.

You are correct. The way I meant it was that he will always find an excuse based on some misfortune.

Legit excuse or not, winners always find a way to win, losers always find a way to lose.

... and now, because he is already so much behind, and sore, he just found his excuse to give up once again ... just watch

I see your point, hopefully he can recover a little and produce something in the mountains next week. He still has a podium chance but cant afford another bad day.

 

[sienna]

After today bad TT a top 5 looks like the most he can get of this.Maybe it's time for BMC to risk a bit in the hope of getting Porte or TVG on the podium.

Even if Porte managed to get away with Froome on an MTF his TT has put him maybe too far back unless he can do a really good time in the next TT. It was a hard TT today and most of the GC riders struggled. Mollema had a good one of course. I still think the podium is up for grabs and BMC maybe have a shot at third if they have a good final week.

2nd and 3rd perhaps. :Neutral:

 

[This Charming Man]

Re: Re:

So Galic, I see finally we are in agreement . Well you got it right predicting Evans' TT in 2011 so I hold hope for your clairvoyance this time (meta details?). But even if you are proven right and he kills the TT we will still be sweating if and when he has his bad day or if one of my "less capable riders" suddenly find the legs they haven't shown yet - Bardet?

A few Porte haters might be getting nervous that Richie has now looked strong on two proper MTFs. Porte looked even stronger on Ventoux than he did on Arcalis - Jancouver I'm looking at you. But I am sure the haters will pounce if LRP implodes tomorrow or in the Alpes. Its all good watching until then. He's really embarrassing TJVG though. Just hope his knee isn't a factor and if it is he doesn't let that play with his mind.

Bardet, should be expected to finish ahead of Tejay in most mountain stages, considering he had one bad day last year. Any time lost in the flat time trial, should be recovered overall and a similar result to 2014 is kind of what one could expect...roughly balancing each other out.

When the road goes up, if the remaining contingent attack each other, I'd expect Bardet to have more punch. Tejay has no punch. He rides to limit his losses to a guy who can accelerate.

Porte did face plant straight into the camera on that motorbike, but he got going reasonably well. He got through day 12, which is further than he's made it in the past, and he's taken time on every rival but Froome on every mountain pass. So he has form.

Tomorrow will reveal the race for GC for everyone. 2:22 back to 11th on stage 12, is actually really close.

It's personally, a shame Contador crashed, because he'd have made this interesting, but it is what it is...Aru did look much better today than in Andorra and was perhaps, with Yates (who I know little about - and I think its bizarre OBE suddenly has 2 GC riders out of nowhere in back to back GT's) the best climber tonight of the chasers. Aru and Quintana have a habit of recovering exceptionally well in the third week.

Valverde and Quintana will not give up. They'll do something.

BMC might have to start thinking about Tejay's role come the end of tomorrow. If Richie pulls 30-40 seconds back on Tejay, he must be made leader, even if that puts them equal on time. BMC cannot afford to have their strongest rider without a bike again...that's just tactically stupid.

I think that Richie, might think about a podium...in the Tour of Utah, or Tour of California, races better suited to his aspirations.

 

[lenric]

Porte finished the ITT with the same as Quintana. According to their historic on this time of stages, it's understandable that Porte was greatly subpar, most likely as a result of yesterday, since he was the first crashing into the motorbike, so he was the one that got injured the most. The other two crashed against Porte, so it was a "softer" crash.

Anyway, I hope Porte can perform up to his best level again in sunday.

 

[Galic Ho]

I expected Froome to win, but not by that much.

It would seem Richie went out normally, but maybe his leg/hip was a bit sore? Either way, he finished on the same time as Quintana who has improved his time trial, and Richie, from memory has never had a solid time trial in the second week without DROPPING big time in the preceding stages as a domestique. Perspective people.

Being on par with Quintana who he out climbed is not bad. Sure, expecting a bit more was granted, but Valverde, Tejay, Yates, Quintana and Porte ALL were within 20 seconds. That's nothing for a time trial of this length. Granted, I expected Richie to beat Tejay...but think of it this way. Tejay has been weaker than Richie all race, has not had a 1:45 time loss from a flat and he still could not beat Valverde.

Valverde finished third in the Giro...he's got a grand tour under his belt this year. Plus he's having to stand up and pull Quintana a lot. That has to change or Quintana is in big trouble.

Take 1:45 off Porte's time. That would make him 2:42, or third on GC. Be honest, he's actually been form wise, along with Mollema and Froome, the third best GC rider so far. Should that progression remain steadfast, he's going to catch Bardet. BMC should base their strategy around Richie, not Tejay.

Tejay lost time in Andorra. He lost even more on Mt Ventoux. He's weaker. Anyone looked at the parcours for the final week? A mountain time trial, where he will lose time to Richie, and probably every other GC rider and then two back to back monster days of 146km of constant climbing.

Back Richie. Sure he went out too fast, but over all, he flew past 3 rivals in one day. Big rivals. Purito has finished third in the Tour before. Aru has won a grand Tour and been on the podium 3 times. Porte's fine...Tejay is the one to be careful of. Tejay should have, had he possessed real form, put time into Valverde. He couldn't. Also Tejay got a bonus 12 seconds because of Ventoux, and Valverde and Quintana got 6...all 3 were dropped by the group chasing Mollema, Froome and Porte. So the climbing form, is not great...gotta back the natural rider who has FORM.

So how to race? Simple, Tejay can do his usual follow wheels routine OR attack early. An early move at a higher tempo could stick...he cannot accelerate like any of the riders in front on GC, so trying is pointless. Why say that? When has Tejay made an attacking mountain move in recent history? Sorry, but it to me is like asking Pinot to attack for the French; I prefer to go to Bardet who CAN accelerate in the climbs. Valverde can attack...

It has to be medium range and designed to unsettle Sky. Movistar will do that too. BMC actually have to play their cards and hopefully Nibali goes...follow him. His long range stage win last year...do that. Richie can then cover, because he's the stronger rider on form ATM. You fight for form...not position on GC. Because if they base an attack on position, in theory, Richie being noticeably stronger in the mountains, will be chased. Why? Everyone knows it, the can see Richie in front of them and Tejay is not next to them, so he's behind.

Honestly, he needs to have a word with Valverde and both should work for their leaders and attack. Somebody has to chase. Nibali, Valverde and Tejay would make a strong attacking 3. And if Valverde gets time I can cheer!!

So yeah, 20 seconds!! WOW!! Watch the time gaps for the mountain time trial. Porte and Quintana are TINY!! Both look under 60kg...of course with high wind they'd lose more time than expected...that's natural. Mollema is a big rider. So is Froome and Dumoulin. The top 15 were all bigger built riders...

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

Blame game is here ... poor little thing was sore after his crash lol

To be honest he has a perfectly good excuse for being sore. He face planted after hitting a moto then had 2 other riders land on top of him. That just 24 hours before a tough, power TT.

You are correct. The way I meant it was that he will always find an excuse based on some misfortune.

Legit excuse or not, winners always find a way to win, losers always find a way to lose.

... and now, because he is already so much behind, and sore, he just found his excuse to give up once again ... just watch

He really should try and finish the race sore or not for his own self confidence and the confidence of his team in him but if he loses a chunk of time on the next stage then I can see him packing up and going home, just look at how dejected he sounded after that puncture when he lost time earlier in the race saying his race was over and that all he could do is hope for a possible stage win later in the race, that's not the attitude of GT GC guy and really showed that he just doesn't have it mentally to finish on the podium in a GT. He really needs to tough this Tour out and finish it