Stage 19: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienn - La Toussuire-Les Sybelle

[classicomano]

Re:

lotto doing the work for sky.... damn.. those minor placing

Sky wasnt doing any work.

 

[SoigneurNL]

Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

I still hope this is an offensive action to try and decimate Sky and then overtake Thomas

 

[Volderke]

Movistar and Tinkoff have too many guys in the break!

Now the break is too far for any of the favourites.

Why didn't they just do pace-setting so Sky doms couldn't return?

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

if they so gongho to protect gesink place.. gesink should mark bardet in the beginning and follow him in breakaway... Lotto.. just ruin it. Sky again.. riding comfy..

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Movistar and Tinkoff have too many guys in the break!

Now the break is too far for any of the favourites.

Why didn't they just do pace-setting so Sky doms couldn't return?

Yep. Now look at that, the Sky train is back.

Incredible.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Sky again.. riding comfy..

Like they wouldn't ride comfy with Stannard and Rowe setting a low pace

 

[SoigneurNL]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

if they so gongho to protect gesink place.. gesink should mark bardet in the beginning and follow him in breakaway... Lotto.. just ruin it. Sky again.. riding comfy..

They could be trying to keep the pace high so Froome loses his dom's (including Thomas) so Gesink can overtake him?

 

[Sylvester]

Re:

Movistar and Tinkoff have too many guys in the break!

Now the break is too far for any of the favourites.

Why didn't they just do pace-setting so Sky doms couldn't return?

Breakaway riders can wait, you know.

Moreover, the Croix de Fer is 22,5 km long...

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

This. The pathetic tactic of LJ is good for the race

It's not good for Purito, but maybe it will be. Bardet could go back to the peloton and if Rodriguez does too, and other riders go up the road, the riders up the road won't be a challenger to him for the dots. Downside is that Froome could score points today, but I doubt it. Hopefully Purito has the legs to climb with them and get some points at the top of the climb.

 

[fungusbear]

crash at the front. Tim Wellens

 

[Ryongsyong]

Nice one Sky, slow pedal as many doms as possible over the first col, knowing the ones left can slow the pace afterwards in the stupid and unnecessary 30km of flat added by the organizers so they're more fresh for the rest of the race...

It's amazing that they have so much confidence the other teams will do nothing.

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

Contador, Nibali and Valverde will try on CdF. In that order I think.

That is very optimistic. Movistar will just chase down Contador and Nibali.

 

[SoigneurNL]

Re:

crash at the front. Tim Wellens

Well there doesn't seem to be a motorbike involved...

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

This. The pathetic tactic of LJ is good for the race

It's not good for Purito, but maybe it will be. Bardet could go back to the peloton and if Rodriguez does too, and other riders go up the road, the riders up the road won't be a challenger to him for the dots. Downside is that Froome could score points today, but I doubt it. Hopefully Purito has the legs to climb with them and get some points at the top of the climb.

I'm convinced Purito doens't have the form atm, so the chance he wins the polka dots is zero. That's why i'm not even thinking anymore about his chances, but hoping the big guys will fight for the stage win.

 

[TMP402]

That bottle was very sticky for Wellens.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Astana, Movistar and Tinkoff combined have five riders up the road. Sky have none. How are they in control?

You think Movistar are ready to work with others against sky? no signs of that so far, as long as Valverde can chase down Conti and Nibali Froome has an extra helper.

Contador and Nibali are no threat for Froome at all! He's letting them go every time. They are threat for Valverde so he naturally chases them. Why don't they pull Valverde when he bridges? What do you think? They stop every time, you know why? Because it's him they are attacking, not bloody Froome! Froome is light year ahead of them!

 

[Sylvester]

Re:

Nice one Sky, slow pedal as many doms as possible over the first col, knowing the ones left can slow the pace afterwards in the stupid and unnecessary 30km of flat added by the organizers so they're more fresh for the rest of the race...

It's amazing that they have so much confidence the other teams will do nothing.

You really think Thomas dropped deliberately? No way.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

This. The pathetic tactic of LJ is good for the race

It's not good for Purito, but maybe it will be. Bardet could go back to the peloton and if Rodriguez does too, and other riders go up the road, the riders up the road won't be a challenger to him for the dots. Downside is that Froome could score points today, but I doubt it. Hopefully Purito has the legs to climb with them and get some points at the top of the climb.

I'm convinced Purito doens't have the form atm, so the chance he wins the polka dots is zero. That's why i'm not even thinking anymore about his chances, but hoping the big guys will fight for the stage win.

Today he was looking better i think.Will see more about his form on the HC climb.

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

This. The pathetic tactic of LJ is good for the race

It's not good for Purito, but maybe it will be. Bardet could go back to the peloton and if Rodriguez does too, and other riders go up the road, the riders up the road won't be a challenger to him for the dots. Downside is that Froome could score points today, but I doubt it. Hopefully Purito has the legs to climb with them and get some points at the top of the climb.

I'm convinced Purito doens't have the form atm, so the chance he wins the polka dots is zero. That's why i'm not even thinking anymore about his chances, but hoping the big guys will fight for the stage win.

I'm not so sure about it. I was annoyed he didn't go in the break before the rest day and pick up 10 cheap points. That would have helped him big time. I want anyone but Froome to win it.

 

[fungusbear]

This climb coming up will set the tone for the stage.

 

[Jelantik]

i'm hoping the breakaway finally win again today...

 

[The Principal Sheep]

Re: Re:

You think Movistar are ready to work with others against sky? no signs of that so far, as long as Valverde can chase down Conti and Nibali Froome has an extra helper.

Contador and Nibali are no threat for Froome at all! He's letting them go every time. They are threat for Valverde so he naturally chases them. Why don't they pull Valverde when he bridges? What do you think? They stop every time, you know why? Because it's him they are attacking, not bloody Froome! Froome is light year ahead of them!

Why doesn't Valverde work with them and put the pressure on Froome?

 

[Samamba]

Re:

That bottle was very sticky for Wellens.

It looks like someone throwes his bag in Wellens his wheel.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

To protect Gesink's invaluable 6th place - although Bardet is no menace to him.

Then again, this means the pace stays high in the peloton, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Rowe, Stannard et al. will get dropped like stones on the slopes of the Glandon.

This. The pathetic tactic of LJ is good for the race

It's not good for Purito, but maybe it will be. Bardet could go back to the peloton and if Rodriguez does too, and other riders go up the road, the riders up the road won't be a challenger to him for the dots. Downside is that Froome could score points today, but I doubt it. Hopefully Purito has the legs to climb with them and get some points at the top of the climb.

I'm convinced Purito doens't have the form atm, so the chance he wins the polka dots is zero. That's why i'm not even thinking anymore about his chances, but hoping the big guys will fight for the stage win.

Today he was looking better i think.Will see more about his form on the HC climb.

He looked also really good on the lower slopes of the Glandon. It seems like he's struggling with 20 km climbs.

 

[OmieeZF]

some of you act like they have never watched TDF. why are you guys bashing lotto. how are they doing work for sky? sky was setting a very low pace, gap was almost 3 min. Lotto is pushing now which gives sky no rest and the gap is 1:30 now.