TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 160km

[Escarabajo]

Sky to do 1-2-3

Then forum crashes!!!

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Does Bora - Hansgrohe stay in the race? I'd hate to see Majka get removed

Don't see why the whole team would be excluded. In fact, to paraphase forum favourite Carlton Kirby; "Majka may not exactly be smiling at hearing of Sagan's DQ, but, well... he'll be smiling". A lot more resources on hand for him now!

The team won't be DQ'd, but I fear they may just pull out

I don't see why they would. It's not going to change anything, it would just be doubling down the punishment on themselves. Majka could still do a lot in this race.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: Re:

Does Bora - Hansgrohe stay in the race? I'd hate to see Majka get removed

Don't see why the whole team would be excluded. In fact, to paraphase forum favourite Carlton Kirby; "Majka may not exactly be smiling at hearing of Sagan's DQ, but, well... he'll be smiling". A lot more resources on hand for him now!

The team won't be DQ'd, but I fear they may just pull out

I don't see why they would. It's not going to change anything, it would just be doubling down the punishment on themselves. Majka could still do a lot in this race.

agree. It would be madness for them to pull out.

 

[Cookster15]

Re:

im expecting something like
froome
porte s.t.
quintana, aru +15
fuglsang, martin, contador, bardet +30

If it's man against man at the finish I think Porte is more likely to out sprint Froome.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Can the people that say terrible stage for stage 5 explain why?

There are so many climbs in the area (eg 2014 stage) and they only managed to put that 3rd cat bs climb...

Ok, thanks.

If the reason is why is not harder then I don't think that is a big reason because is only stage 5. You can accuse the organizers of how crappy the rest of the route is but not this one IMHO.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Can the people that say terrible stage for stage 5 explain why?

Probably because of the fact that the downhill to Planches Filles will be an insane and extremely dangerous drag race. Throw one or even two decent climbs in there beforehand and you make sure that won't happen as the rouleurs are dropped at that point and its much more natural selection.

That, and the fact that its usually more entertaining when you have a couple of climbs beforehand. I don't think anyone is asking for a 2014-design (go look that stage up), but a little more than this had been nice. Especially since ASO is promoting their race by going through all 5 mountain ranges which they technically are, but yeah.

 

[perico]

Re: TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 1

I would like Prudhomme except for the fact that he designs crappy routes. Putting an MTF finish this early could turn this into a procession and destroy any suspense without the climbs later on to blow the race apart.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 1

I would like Prudhomme except for the fact that he designs crappy routes. Putting an MTF finish this early could turn this into a procession and destroy any suspense without the climbs later on to blow the race apart.

Thats entirely the wrong way going about that IMO. Early selection is great for races as long as they don't kill the race (but I think you should take that chance), but this climb isn't hard enough for that. Its seconds, not minutes.

 

[wolvie15]

Re: TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 1

I would like Prudhomme except for the fact that he designs crappy routes. Putting an MTF finish this early could turn this into a procession and destroy any suspense without the climbs later on to blow the race apart.

Thats entirely the wrong way going about that IMO. Early selection is great for races as long as they don't kill the race (but I think you should take that chance), but this climb isn't hard enough for that. Its seconds, not minutes.

There are so few REAL mountain stages this year this one will count. So many stages where the big mountain is 30-40 kms away from the finish lines. All these stages will be for nought. Good opportunities for the climbers that are a bit down in the GC to win a stage.

I predict Froome will put 2 minutes on everyone . that way, i will be able to forget about the Tour.

 

[Cookster15]

Re: TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 1

Froome will win.

The Tour is over since stage 1.

And my doubts about the Sky team are reignited. The guy that could not follow an old lady in the Dauphiné. The guy who lost 30 seconds on a TT 3 weeks ago is now putting over 30 seconds to the same people ?

I have renewed doubts. No proofs but , well we'll see in 10 years.

Hold your ammo. The stage 1 TT was wet and Froome took more risks, he's won 3 Tours and has nothing to lose. He is obviously stronger than the Dauphine but I am hopeful we still see a contest, at least with Porte.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re: Re:

Does Bora - Hansgrohe stay in the race? I'd hate to see Majka get removed

Don't see why the whole team would be excluded. In fact, to paraphase forum favourite Carlton Kirby; "Majka may not exactly be smiling at hearing of Sagan's DQ, but, well... he'll be smiling". A lot more resources on hand for him now!

Carlton would be better of shutting up about teammates smiling at other's misfortune.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Dawg to go nuclear but Richard Julian Porte to go thermonuclear.

Dawg or Dick, the great question of our time.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: TdF '17 - stage 5: Vittel>La Planche des Belles Filles 1

I would like Prudhomme except for the fact that he designs crappy routes. Putting an MTF finish this early could turn this into a procession and destroy any suspense without the climbs later on to blow the race apart.

Thats entirely the wrong way going about that IMO. Early selection is great for races as long as they don't kill the race (but I think you should take that chance), but this climb isn't hard enough for that. Its seconds, not minutes.

There are so few REAL mountain stages this year this one will count. So many stages where the big mountain is 30-40 kms away from the finish lines. All these stages will be for nought. Good opportunities for the climbers that are a bit down in the GC to win a stage.

I predict Froome will put 2 minutes on everyone . that way, i will be able to forget about the Tour.

I also hope Froome (or Porte) will nuke the others back to Germany just so I can say to myself there was no chance in hell Valverde could have won.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

TJVG said this is Pinot's home climb.....

 

[hazaran]

Re:

TJVG said this is Pinot's home climb.....

Didn't help him in 2012.

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

TJVG said this is Pinot's home climb.....

Didn't help him in 2012.

Back then Pinot didn't know he was riding for GC.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Chances are he was in better shape in 2012 than now as well. Ag2R will be the ones carrying the hopes of the French and maybe the legend that is Guillaume Martin?!

 

[Tank Engine]

There is a whisker of a chance that a break will get away, but I think Sky and BMC will be trying to set up a stage win here. The gaps between the main GC contenders won't be great, but it will be an indication of who is strong. I'll go for a reconstruction of the 2012 stage

1. Froome
2. Little Richard
3. G (he'll have the freedom to ride for himself tomorrow and the yellow jersey sometimes works wonders for a while)

 

[SeriousSam]

There's nothing quite like the first MTF of the Tour. Probably my favourite cycling day each year.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

The likelihood is that Sky go nuts, pretty much everyone gets dropped and we end up with Froome v Porte for the win, possibly Quintana too depending on hw the Giro effected him.

There's a smaller chance that it isn't raced in absolute berserk mode and there's still a group of ten at the flame rouge, in which case Martin probably wins.

 

[TheYouyou7]

Re:

There's nothing quite like the first MTF of the Tour. Probably my favourite cycling day each year.

Agree

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

There's nothing quite like the first MTF of the Tour. Probably my favourite cycling day each year.

And the day the Tour that took away all tension for 4 years straight between 2012 and 2015.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

TJVG said this is Pinot's home climb.....

Didn't help him in 2012.

Back then Pinot didn't know he was riding for GC.

In '12, Tibopino finished 15th iirc, but started the climb way too far. In '14, he finished 2nd. It's in his backyard. He knows that climb inside and out. Without Chevreres before PDBF, he loses a little bit of his advantage, i.e. reducing the size of the field, being better placed at the bottom...not sure if he goes for it, although it's too tempting. But is he 100%? I doubt it. Still, he can be a factor.

 

[Martin]

Vino option. Because Juraj Sagan is still in the race...

 

[deValtos]

Re: Re:

There's nothing quite like the first MTF of the Tour. Probably my favourite cycling day each year.

And the day the Tour that took away all tension for 4 years straight between 2012 and 2015.

The stage itself though is usually great. What it implies for the rest of the race however ...