Tour de France 2017 stage 9: Nantua > Chambéry - 181,5 km

[sir fly]

Don't know about you, but I've got used to the graphics and quite like it.

 

[portugal11]

Attacks only on mont du chat

 

[TommyGun]

Re: Re:

This is exactly the trick that Sky has abused for years: for me it is very borderline (see the scandal created at last year's Vuelta).

Sky's domestiques don't miss the time limit when they take it easy, and it's silly to blame them for what happened at the Vuelta last year.

Well, it the time limits were much tighter, as you suggested, their strategy could be more difficult to implement. Domestiques should be concentrated on the race throughout a GT.

 

[TomLPC]

Are they going to let Christian knees ride at his own pace over the next HC climb too

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Well, it the time limits were much tighter, as you suggested, their strategy could be more difficult to implement. Domestiques should be concentrated on the race throughout a GT.

Everyone's playing that game, non-GC riders taking it easy before TTs, etc. And that's fine, as long as there are clearly defined rules on that.

What pisses me off the most is when a group of riders doesn't even try knowing they'll get an exemption anyway.

 

[Eagle]

Re: Re:

This is exactly the trick that Sky has abused for years: for me it is very borderline (see the scandal created at last year's Vuelta).

Sky's domestiques don't miss the time limit when they take it easy, and it's silly to blame them for what happened at the Vuelta last year.

Well, it the time limits were much tighter, as you suggested, their strategy could be more difficult to implement. Domestiques should be concentrated on the race throughout a GT.

Time limits would probably effect every other team more than Sky, Rowe is their only rider likely to be effected by them

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

Bertie to attack on colombiere??

It's the 2017 tour.....not 2009

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Who's the Cannondale rider with the clear googles??

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Time limit will be at least 50-55 min, so he is safe for now.

Way too lenient imo

Time limits have been a joke for years. It's almost impossible to miss them if you're not injured, sick or simply not trying.

If I'm not mistaken, there hasn't been a real group outside of the time limit since 2011 (where they weren't thrown out of the race, just like in the Vuelta last year).

I actually think that is the worst. The sick riders who fight all day may be thrown out, but large groups taking it easy are safe.

 

[Billie]

The time limit lost all it's relevance during last years Vuelta.

 

[rick james]

still a big main peloton

 

[portugal11]

Boring boring... greipel is still there

 

[TommyGun]

Sky train is really slow (we cannot blame them for this, for once ): it is up to the other leaders to try something and bridge over their teammates in the break (if they have the balls to do it).

 

[deValtos]

Re:

Are they going to let Christian knees ride at his own pace over the next HC climb too

Just you wait till Rowe leads them up the Mont du Chat

 

[sir fly]

Sky train operating on lower spending rate.

 

[rick james]

Shirley they should be attacking to drop Knees and Rowe...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Conclusion: today is a dud

 

[SeriousSam]

What's the ETA for Mont du Chat? It's clear nothing of importance will happen until then

 

[Ricco']

What's the point of sending riders to the break if they don't up the pace at the peloton to at least try to get rid of some Skybots? No one is going to bridge if Kwia, Landa, Nieve, Henao and Thomas are still there.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Shirley they should be attacking to drop Knees and Rowe...

Yes, they should eliminate Sky's heavyweights before Colombiere.
But they count today on their men in the breakaway, it seems.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Shirley they should be attacking to drop Knees and Rowe...

Yes, they should eliminate Sky's heavyweights before Colombiere.

You mean physically because I see no other way?

 

[rick james]

Astana problems

 

[Tonton]

Re: Tour de France 2017 stage 9: Nantua > Chambéry - 181,5 k

So far, so good ...

 

[hrotha]

Re: Re:

Shirley they should be attacking to drop Knees and Rowe...

Yes, they should eliminate Sky's heavyweights before Colombiere.

You mean physically because I see no other way?

How about upping the pace?

You can't assume Sky are super strong and unassailable just because they're riding at the front, as the leader's team is wont to do, while the pace is slow and almost everybody is still in that group.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

How technical are the descents from La Biche and Le Grand Colombier?