Tour de France - Stage 8, 195km - Castres / Ax 3 Domaines, July 6th

[sultanofhyd]

As someone posted earlier in this thread, this is the first time in a grand tour that Contador desperately needs his domestique and people are calling for freedom for Kreuziger?

This is the guy who only lost 2 grand tours on the road in half a decade, if he needs some help he must and will get it.

 

[TANK91]

Froome is a rookie, he'll have the same fate as 2012 La Vuelta. Contador and Valverde are the smartest riders out there, and they'll come back for a 3rd week masacre.

The same rookie who demolished Nibali in the TDF last year while losing 1 min+ on a flat stage and pulling on all the climbs, your too funy.

 

[ElChingon]

Well folks it was an epic stage no matter which side of the fence you are/were on. Major carnage in the GC picture but there's still two weeks to go so its ain't over yet

Then we killed the forum did we hit a max on-line count? Must of after the finish the posts stopped for a bit. Truly epic

 

[Warhawk]

Well folks it was an epic stage no matter which side of the fence you are/were on. Major carnage in the GC picture but there's still two weeks to go so its ain't over yet

Then we killed the forum did we hit a max on-line count? Must of after the finish the posts stopped for a bit. Truly epic

Forum was infected by a virus by Skyborg, which has achieved sentience.

We are now required to bow down to our robot overlords.

 

[TANK91]

As someone posted earlier in this thread, this is the first time in a grand tour that Contador desperately needs his domestique and people are calling for freedom for Kreuziger?

This is the guy who only lost 2 grand tours on the road in half a decade, if he needs some help he must and will get it.

What so because Contador never had a team and now does, it makes it right for Kreuziger to lose loads of time when he was dropping Alberto. That not need to happen Contador blew up big time if Rogers and Roche were as good as people said they should have helped they had a day off on the HC climb lol.
If Kreuziger has a free role rest of the TDF and Alberto stays the same and 30seconds is stopping Kreuziger being on the podium its a massive mistake. What makes you think any cyclist has the divine right to be protected when you blow big time just because your a GT winner, do you think Contador can still win the TDF?

 

[TANK91]

This must be the best day of your life. Pretty sad.

Yes it is smug I agree, but I think some are just disappointed bout Kreuziger its such a shame.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Bjarne will regret today, everyone moaned in the Giro when Uran was waiting for Wiggo, surely Kreuziger should have went. I said back along Kreuziger could well be stronger than Alberto and Milburo was having none of it. To be fair I don't blame you for saying that but its been obvious all year Alberto was not as good as he was, also Froome is two good how could anyone even say that Alberto would challenge. Im just gutted for Roman he could have easily been up with Mollema and Valverde today. But the reason Contador is not as good yet is because he is 3rd week, right. Also were was the Saxo help of Rogers and Roche.

People were hoping Alberto wasn't bluffing when he said he was not worried at all and going to be fine in the Tour.

I think Contador should check the next few stages and the ITT and if he is far back he should go home and do La Vuelta,

He should retire.

surely this is big shock to him for the first time in the TDF without another GT in his legs he is being beaten.

Tour 05 rings a bell?

I don't no what you lot think of that, do you think he should stay and fight for the podium or go home and prepare for La Vuelta where he will be a sure podium spot with Nibali?

He should go home, call it a season and start thinking about his priorities. With this year's form he isn't going to podium vuelta either.

Contador surely is going to defend that title, no?

No.

I dont think he can do the whole TDF in the top 3 or 5 and still be competitive,

I agree

surely he will have to do what Valverde done, ride at the back and go for a stage win.

Froome will never let him win a stage, he wants to dominate and humiliate Alberto, and Alberto is not strong enough to ride away himself.

I am honest though when I say I felt sorry for Contador today he was gutted when he came across the line he looked back straight away for the clock.

Cool. I agree that was a sad moment. Saw his hopes for a grand return crushed right there.

 

[TANK91]

I'm gonna skip tomorrow. What's the point...

Huh what, you cant man watch your great Dutch guys battling so well like today.

F1 is getting taped, Tennis getting taped and Cyclinng what a sunday that is.

 

[Cookster15]

Real disaster for BMC. TJVG cracked so early. The entire BMC team cracked pretty quickly. Evans was left to fend for himself as always. I always thought Evans would crack and then TJVG would be unleashed. Was wrong. Evans is still stronger than him. Tour over for BMC.

Kruizeger looked strong to me. They simply held him back with Contador to suffer. He looked he could have followed Porte's wheel for sure if not Froome.

Quintana was the star of the day after Froome / Porte. Surely the top contender now for the White Jersey. The way he steamed away from the Peleton was unbelievable. Lot of fire power.

As much as I still would like to believe some of the others who feel Froome / Porte will crack in week 3 and some other GC guys will still beat them the reality is - very low chance of that happening! Especially with 2 TTs still to come.

Good summary. Only positive for Evans was TJVG was much worse so he won't have to deal with team leadership questions - at least until after the Tour. I predict many AC fans might be switching to Quintana by end of this Tour ... he seems to have stolen ACs spark?

 

[LaFlorecita]

What so because Contador never had a team and now does, it makes it right for Kreuziger to lose loads of time when he was dropping Alberto. That not need to happen Contador blew up big time if Rogers and Roche were as good as people said they should have helped they had a day off on the HC climb lol.
If Kreuziger has a free role rest of the TDF and Alberto stays the same and 30seconds is stopping Kreuziger being on the podium its a massive mistake. What makes you think any cyclist has the divine right to be protected when you blow big time just because your a GT winner, do you think Contador can still win the TDF?

Kreuziger is loyal to his leader. He showed he is a great person by sticking with Alberto. He showed today he's no froome. Thanks Roman. A true gentleman.

 

[Wigwan]

Didn't see the stage. What happened to Cunego?

 

[cineteq]

That Vuelta just isn't a valid reference. Riders who peak specifically for the Tour usually don't tire out for no reason other than racing too much, like Froome did last year. Only illness or a crashes(whether himself or the team) can stop Froome now, the Train has already left a non-erasible mark on the race.

It's sad, and just as much as you and many others here I'd like some more duels and tight battles, but right now that's impossible. Just my realistic view.

I get your point. I haven't counted by I bet Froome has similar race days for this year's Tour as he had for last year's Vuelta. Plus the Sky train is not even close to what it was last year. Trust me, it's not over by any means.

 

[TANK91]

He shoulnt retire Flo, no way. And honestly I don't think its about humiliating Alberto I really don't. You have to remember how close he as been to winning a GT and like Alberto in 09 or even before that he wants to show his form uphill its not about humiliating him he is just getting frisky on the climbs to me. He seems to fully respect him to me, maybe that is just my opinion though. I imagine its hard or you today though and no I don't want to sound all cheesy but I no how much you have backed him and believed in him 100%, chin up tomorrow is another day.

 

[taiwan]

Didn't see the stage. What happened to Cunego?

The CN live report said he got dropped on the firsr climb.

 

[TANK91]

I get your point. I haven't counted by I bet Froome has similar race days for this year's Tour as he had for last year's Vuelta. Plus the Sky train is not even close to what it was last year. Trust me, it's not over my any means.

Froome has 7 days less than Contador people were saying.

 

[manafana]

you can't win either its boring cause they finish together or its boring cause theirs too much of time gap already. I say attack sky and make them worry if you want to try take it back off them

 

[cineteq]

The same rookie who demolished Nibali in the TDF last year while losing 1 min+ on a flat stage and pulling on all the climbs, your too funy.

He wasn't the leader (no pressure), and Nibali was injured. He's the same rookie who lost TA this year.

 

[Wigwan]

The CN live report said he got dropped on the firsr climb.

Thanks!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Didn't see the stage. What happened to Cunego?

He rides doping free

 

[TANK91]

Kreuziger is loyal to his leader. He showed he is a great person by sticking with Alberto. He showed today he's no froome. Thanks Roman. A true gentleman.

You just had to dint you, are you for real, is this the same guy who pulled Wiggins up every climb after losing a GT the year before, its not like Froome left Wiggo he came back. Froome has been loyal lol how can you say otherwise and Froome today did not humiliate anyone he done what anyone would do in his shape.

 

[goggalor]

Good summary. Only positive for Evans was TJVG was much worse so he won't have to deal with team leadership questions - at least until after the Tour. I predict many AC fans might be switching to Quintana by end of this Tour ... he seems to have stolen ACs spark?

Evans was never going to be at his best with the Giro in his legs. Especially not on the first mountain stage in his first race for more than a month. He can be happy that with TJ sucking so badly he should be able to get the green light for a clean run at a final Tour podium next year (although he may be better off going for the Giro again, depending on who's racing).

 

[Jelantik]

I don't get it. People are saying that they should let kreuziger loose after just one mountain stage? I don't know if we remember, there's lots of mountain to come, beside the guy who looses time is a multiple GT winner. He is not no body. Today is not good for contador. True. It's also proof he is human, and he can have bad day or bad form for whatever reason. But immediately assuming that kreuziger should have a free reign only after one day? Last year vuelta, when we all counted contador out, he ended up winning it. Call it luck, call it whatever, but true champion always face adversary and never gives up. I've been waiting to hear him say about 'his sensation' and all week prior to the first mountain, he never said it. So today, we all saw what happen. He didn't have the leg.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

*deleted comment*

Came in close to another well known fellow:

59 Damiano CUNEGO ITA LAM +14:27
60 Vasil KIRYIENKA BLR SKY +15:35
61 Bram TANKINK NED BEL +17:47
62 Thomas DANIELSON USA GRS +17:47

 

[Pricey_sky]

He wasn't the leader (no pressure), and Nibali was injured. He's the same rookie who lost TA this year.

Lets not forget Froome lost TA because of a wet 'classics' style stage with short little climbs and wet desents. Not long mountain passes that we get in GT's. There is no way Nibali would beat froome by what Froome showed today.

 

[airstream]

Where is a horde of new Froome's fans? He destroyed 2 myths today: inability to animate the race and inability to attack more than from 1 km to go. Anyway a bit sad that Porte was too strong. Froome's attack in Cabarge style would of looked even more spectacular.

The man pushes 39x21 at 75-80 circrles per min at 8-9%. It's so crazy. As I said earlier he can drop anyone even being in the saddle.