Tour 2018 stage 20: St P-S-Nivelle - Espelette 31km ITT

[Valv.Piti]

Movistar horrendous. I feel so bad for Quintana, just got into shape and then that crash and commentators and experts don't even care to mention it and think its his real level.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kruijswijk the best non-tt rider this Tour lol

 

[Walkman]

Re:

I have to wonder, is this really that surprising? Thomas is beating two riders coming off the Giro-Tour double, something that hasn't been done close to successfully since Pantani. And the number 4 is going to be Roglic, a man who's best GT finish so far is 38.

I'm not saying anyone should have expected this, or that it's not a revelation that Thomas is this good. But honestly the competition is really quite poor.

He is beating a guy who has been on the podium in Paris twice (Bardet), a guy who has won both the Giro and the Vuelta and been second in Paris (Quintana) and strong GT riders such as Landa and Kruijswijk. And people always says, "but they are in such a poor form". Well maybe, just maybe, it is not that easy to be on peak form every GT. And sometimes, you might be in good form, but in the competition if off the chart, it will look like you are in poor shape..

 

[DNP-Old]

Froome is going to win the stage.

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Very solid tour overall for Kruijwyk.

Yup, great to see him confirm the form he he had in 2016. Hoping this means he'll get back to challenging for a Giro or Vuelta next year.

 

[woodburn]

Dumoulin pulling back time on Thomas. Going to be close at finish between top three finishers.

 

[jaylew]

Wow. I did not expect that from Froome given how his form had been trending.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I have to wonder, is this really that surprising? Thomas is beating two riders coming off the Giro-Tour double, something that hasn't been done close to successfully since Pantani. And the number 4 is going to be Roglic, a man who's best GT finish so far is 38.

I'm not saying anyone should have expected this, or that it's not a revelation that Thomas is this good. But honestly the competition is really quite poor.

He is beating a guy who has been on the podium in Paris twice (Bardet), a guy who has won both the Giro and the Vuelta and been second in Paris (Quintana) and strong GT riders such as Landa and Kruijswijk. And people always says, "but they are in such a poor form". Well maybe, just maybe, it is not that easy to be on peak form every GT. And sometimes, you might be in good form, but in the competition if off the chart, it will look like you are in poor shape..

Agree, the competition isn't poor by ANY means. A lot stronger than 2017 for example, a lot.

 

[woodburn]

Tom by 1 second!

 

[burning]

Well, Sky has won today as well

 

[Inquitus]

Re:

Hmmm

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Froome wins the time trial. Thomas is taking it easy

 

[Eclipse]

Thomas just chilling knowing he's been so close he doesn't need to take risks

 

[rick james]

That went red then green

 

[jaylew]

Good, that was close.

 

[ontheroad]

Thomas coasting it, he's slowing down on purpose.

 

[DNP-Old]

Tissot says Dumoulin won the ITT.

 

[woodburn]

Looks like Thomas is slowing. Dumoulin to win stage.

 

[Ramira]

Re: Re:

I have to wonder, is this really that surprising? Thomas is beating two riders coming off the Giro-Tour double, something that hasn't been done close to successfully since Pantani. And the number 4 is going to be Roglic, a man who's best GT finish so far is 38.

I'm not saying anyone should have expected this, or that it's not a revelation that Thomas is this good. But honestly the competition is really quite poor.

He is beating a guy who has been on the podium in Paris twice (Bardet), a guy who has won both the Giro and the Vuelta and been second in Paris (Quintana) and strong GT riders such as Landa and Kruijswijk. And people always says, "but they are in such a poor form". Well maybe, just maybe, it is not that easy to be on peak form every GT. And sometimes, you might be in good form, but in the competition if off the chart, it will look like you are in poor shape..

These guys are all being beaten by Roglic. If Contador had not retired and say had finished 6th you could also say he won a multiple GT winner, but it would have meant nothing about the level needed to win this TDF. Again Thomas is very good, but I don't believe his current form would have been enough to win any tour going back to at least the tour Evans won, if not the one won by Pereiro.

And let me be clear I'm not trying to take something away from his victory, he's deserved to win this Tour, he's been the best on every single terrain and is a worthy winner. I'm just saying it's not as amazing a transformation as people are claiming. I'm not so sure he's significantly better then he was in 2016 before he got ill.

 

[burning]

Wait, looks like Dumoulin won

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dumoulin wins anyway?

 

[Carols]

Chapeau Tom D!!!!! And Thank You

 

[spalco]

Nice of Thomas to at least give the stage to Froome.

 

[Springveldt]

You could see that G basically sat up with a couple of K’s to go.

 

[Red Rick]

Dumoulin saves my mouse there