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

[the sceptic]

well if i have my way, i hope roche is there, and alberto let him win the stage.

Realistically though, Contador will probably get dropped by Porte

 

[LaFlorecita]

Take a closer look to my record this year, e basta!

If Froome doesn't win you are the man okay

 

[ThirdWorld]

So.. tomorrow the tour will finaly start. Vamos Alberto, venga venga!

 

[Jelantik]

Take a closer look to my record this year, e basta!

If Froome doesn't win you are the man okay

cineteq.. I'm rooting for you. I hope your wisdom is as wise as 'master sifu'. I might register to be the kungfu panda..

LaFlo.. why this pessimistic predictions? 54 seconds? alberto must have his leg stuck on his wheel to loose that much?

 

[Jelantik]

Realistically though, Contador will probably get dropped by Porte

LOL..good one. And no wonder your handle name is sceptic...

 

[arvc40]

Contador will not be dropped !

 

[King of the Mountains]

going for the break here........


how bout Pierrick Fedrigo, always seems to grab a stage in the Pyrenees

 

[LaFlorecita]

cineteq.. I'm rooting for you. I hope your wisdom is as wise as 'master sifu'. I might register to be the kungfu panda..

LaFlo.. why this pessimistic predictions? 54 seconds? alberto must have his leg stuck on his wheel to loose that much?

34 seconds mate

 

[Poursuivant]

Froome to go for broke here, Contador to lose about 15 seconds, Valverde and a few others 30", rodriguez 40", Schleck 3"00.

Froome to win, i think we will see a Pena Cabarga esque attack, about 2k out.

 

[wwabbit]

You are not exactly great at predicting things you know

Good point... wonder if he remembers this:
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=908332&postcount=50

 

[manafana]

sky have kiriyenka as well don't forget the power of 2 men.

 

[Telmisartan]

First MTF is often a bore but cant see it tomorrow,Froome's rivals can't wait till third week,they already know the outcome of the first ITT and therefore must attack straight from the off.I would be amazed if a second tier guy takes this stage.Froome or Contador ftw,most likely Froome.

 

[Angliru]

You strongly question fairness and legitimacy of his achievements which hints on something more significant than dislike.

...of course you don't hate Contador.

 

[airstream]

...of course you don't hate Contador.

No, I root against him by virtue of many reasons, but never question his titles.

 

[Bexon30]

I'm going Rodriguez but I don't think they'll be a deal in it amongst the big boys. There will be one loser at least either Valverde or Schlek for me.

Imagine Froome gets dropped.....

 

[Angliru]

Do post the nudes won't you! That ought to get this place stirred up a bit.

Only if the subject of the photos looks like Rachel Weicz or thereabouts, otherwise I won't be overly inspired.

 

[ThirdWorld]

if they want to isolate froome, the fireworks need to begin in the first climb..

 

[BigMac]

Nacer Bouhanni for stage win, Vinokourov for yellow.

 

[saneguy]

Now the real race begins...looking forward to tomorrow's stage. Expect some fireworks from a whole lot of people. Skyborg in action!

 

[Angliru]

All of the sprinters' teams, Cannondale included, will be involved in a LOT of action later in the Tour, right up to the final day on the Champes.

We can look for them to try to control breaks until the intermediate sprint, then sit up and crawl over the mountains to make it home within the time limit.

As for the winner on Saturday, I look for a second tier leader such as Quontana or Tejay to animate the race so their team leader can sit back and measure the reaction from Berto and Froome. At least I hope that happens, rather than them all sticking together until the final few kilometers when the top sprinters drag race for a few seconds here and there.

Either way, it will be fun to watch the first uphill tests. The race for GC is on!

I would think that Evans will hope that no one that is even a vague gc threat mounts an attack, especially his own teammate who is chomping at his team leadership heals, for fear that he will get dropped when the rest of the elite climbers put on the afterburners to respond. I see Tejay sticking with Evans under any scenario that is presented. Quintana the same (Valverde). I just don't see any of the teams allowing Tejay or Quintana to escape, just giving them seconds, especially Tejay considering he's so good versus the clock.

 

[Pentacycle]

if they want to isolate froome, the fireworks need to begin in the first climb..

Those long-ranged attempts won't help at all, Sky will just push on. Remember, even a weak team like BMC pulled Schleck/Contador back on the descent to l'Alpe in 2011.

Tiring yourself out to gain lost time will only make it more clear who's the best climber atm, which is obviously Froome. Anyone who moves on pailheres will be left for dead on A3D. Contador needs to wait, and not put the hammer down from 5kms(or more) to go like he's done all year.

All he needs to do this weekend is sit on Chris's wheel, if possible do a final 1k sprint to gain time, and then hit him hard next week when his peak form is there. I hope he can get some allies on the mountain stages.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No, I root against him by virtue of many reasons, but never question his titles.

Hate =/= questioning a rider's titles. You hate him, just admit it. I don't see why else you would be so obsessed with criticizing him and his fans.

 

[airstream]

Hate =/= questioning a rider's titles. You hate him, just admit it. I don't see why else you would be so obsessed with criticizing him and his fans.

critic, ok

 

[Angliru]

Froome has been dreaming of this moment likely since he was little fella. I imagine he is chomping at the bit to attack on the first mtf as team leader at the Tour. I think it will be almost impossible for him to restrain himself from attacking earlier than many here predict and going for the stage win. Whether he will succeed is another matter. I'm hoping that Contador, Valverde, Quintana, Purito and Pinot put him in the blender, work him over with anyone of the five taking the stage win.

 

[The Hitch]

Froome has been dreaming of this moment likely since some point between Suisse and the vuelta in 2011

Fixed it for you.