Tour de France 2017 stage 3: Verviers - Longwy 212,5 km

[SKSemtex]

I am afraid the logo Sky will be on yellow jersey all way down to Paris

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Even with Sagan clipping out of his pedal he still won. Really strong ride. Looks like he'll win green again..

 

[Alexandre B.]

Yates lost 8s on the GC men, Talansky 23s.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Martin almost there... again....

 

[movingtarget]

Good ride by Matthews and also by Martin who always does well on those types of finishes. But Sagan made it look easy..

 

[loge1884]

Re:

Even with Sagan clipping out of his pedal he still won. Really strong ride. Looks like he'll win green again..

Bling seems to be a serious contender though ... wonder how long ....

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Considering how close Martin got, you've got to think Valverde would have won this by 50m.

Without a doubt.

This was Valverde's stage to lose.

All the hypotheticals... Would've probably been raced differently if he was there

Absolutely, of course it's his own fault he's not here. But, the Valverde v Sagan battle on a shallowish hill is one of the most entertaining in cycling for me. You usually on get it once or twice a season, and we've been denied it here. :sad:

When that happend last time?Last year tdf when Sagan won it and took yellow or was another race after that?

I think that was the last time. Was a bit of an easier finish than this one though IIRC, or at least the GC contenders didn't light it up from 1km out. I remember the previous year in the Vuelta they had another great head to head where Valverde just took it - somewhere in Andalucia I think.

 

[armchairclimber]

Roglic a big loser today.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Considering how close Martin got, you've got to think Valverde would have won this by 50m.

Without a doubt.

This was Valverde's stage to lose.

All the hypotheticals... Would've probably been raced differently if he was there

These are the stages Valverde wins all the time, it doesn't matter if you race it differently he still wins these finishes.

This! Missing Bala

 

[Ruby United]

Re: Re:

Great win by Sagan

Bertie was seconds behind Porte and drifted all back...

when's he ever been good in a false flat sprint? We should be glad he didn't lose time

Of the top of my head, I clearly remember watching this stage: 2011 Tour de France Stage 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jm_YUCj6k
He came 2nd, ahead of Hushovd and Gilbert

Final climb that day:

Final climb today:

Not much difference.
That climb was slightly steeper overall, but the last few hundred metres were slightly less steep.

 

[movingtarget]

Where did Gilbert finish ?

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Even with Sagan clipping out of his pedal he still won. Really strong ride. Looks like he'll win green again..

Bling seems to be a serious contender though ... wonder how long ....

Kittel is the biggest threat for green here I think. He could win 6 or 7 stages and then no amount of consistent placings would be enough to deny him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Bertie looked good.

I thought so! On a finish not really suited to him

 

[RedheadDane]

Why the skiing goggles, Peter? :lol:

 

[deValtos]

Re: Re:

Even with Sagan clipping out of his pedal he still won. Really strong ride. Looks like he'll win green again..

Bling seems to be a serious contender though ... wonder how long ....

Kittel is the biggest threat for green here I think. He could win 6 or 7 stages and then no amount of consistent placings would be enough to deny him.

Agree. After all despite being dropped Kittel is still in green I think?

That was one of like 2 Sagan stages and Kittel has had only 1 of his 9.

 

[Simurgh]

Just got home to watch the last 2,5 k's of the stage, but the ascent was great, even though they were a bit passive! Alberto looked good, although he grimaced a bit. Hope he's gonna smash it at La Planche!!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Roglic a big loser today.

Roglic isn't going for GC. None of the LottoNL guys are. They all are going for stage wins.
So I'm not sure I understand? He's not the type to win this stage anyway

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Even with Sagan clipping out of his pedal he still won. Really strong ride. Looks like he'll win green again..

It will be hard this year. He only has another two stages which really suit him (14 and 15) and there are many (eight) stages which will probably end up in an in a bunch sprint; with the points classification change, winning matters much more than a top five place, or even a podium. He's going to have to win a full bunch sprint, or hope that Kittel and Demare both mess up repeatedly.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Re:

Why the skiing goggles, Peter? :lol:

I guess some sponsor promotion thing.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Re:

"I pulled my foot out from the clit"

Netserk's next signature.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Great win by Sagan

Bertie was seconds behind Porte and drifted all back...

when's he ever been good in a false flat sprint? We should be glad he didn't lose time

Of the top of my head, I clearly remember watching this stage: 2011 Tour de France Stage 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jm_YUCj6k
He came 2nd, ahead of Hushovd and Gilbert

Final climb that day:

Final climb today:

Not much difference.
That climb was slightly steeper overall, but the last few hundred metres were slightly less steep.

the hill was raced much harder and Berto had magic legs that year
I can give you at least 10 occasions of Berto losing terrain in a (false) flat sprint worse than today
and since a couple of years he isn't explosive anymore so I am relieved he did not lose time and happy with his result

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Roglic a big loser today.

He's not riding for a good GC.

 

[Finn84]

Mollema (2'36"), Pinot (3'07") and Gesink (3'16") pretty much confirm they are not targetting GC position.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Why the skiing goggles, Peter? :lol:

LOL. I noticed the same thing.

 

[armchairclimber]

Re: Re:

Roglic a big loser today.

Roglic isn't going for GC. None of the LottoNL guys are. They all are going for stage wins.
So I'm not sure I understand? He's not the type to win this stage anyway

Seems a bit mad. He has it in him to top 10 surely. Oh well, I wasn't aware of their no GC strategy.