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

[LaFlorecita]

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.

I didn't believe Alberto would win, what are you talking about. Froome doesn't seem to respect Alberto to me.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No but seriously. Contador is not only not anymore the old one, he's also clearly injured/hurt because of the earlier fall.

No way Contador of Vuelta 2012 would've been dropped by Ten Dam and Mollema (hell he beat that Ten Dam by 12 minutes in the GC)

 

[thehog]

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.

Armstrong would have only beaten Froome today by 30 seconds!

 

[LaFlorecita]

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?

Real fans don't switch.

 

[wwabbit]

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?

If Contador is planning to peak in the third week, then it still makes sense for Kreuziger to stick with him and limit Contador's losses.

Of course, it could turn out like what happened with Froome and Wiggins at the Vuelta 2011, but hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Armstrong would have only beaten Froome today by 30 seconds!

Still Armstrong would have beaten him so thats fine with me, a new era without that rubbish will always produce slower times

 

[jaylew]

Just watched the stage as I had my own race today. Not really sure what to say about that stage.

Anyway, interested in thoughts on the following:

Where would Kreuz have finished had he done his own race? Could he have stayed with Porte? Valverde? I do think he probably did the right thing by staying with AC, though.

And where would Nairo have finished if he hadn't attacked on the penultimate climb? Could he have stayed with Froome?

 

[Cyivel]

Just watched the stage as I had my own race today. Not really sure what to say about that stage.

Anyway, interested in thoughts on the following:

Where would Kreuz have finished had he done his own race? Could he have stayed with Porte? Valverde? I do think he probably did the right thing by staying with AC, though.

And where would Nairo have finished if he hadn't attacked on the penultimate climb? Could he have stayed with Froome?

I reckon between Froome and Porte but who knows.

 

[Holtend]

Really enjoyed today's stage, and as a Brit was obviously thrilled with Froomes performance.

However I think Sky have played their cards too early, I can see alliances forming and putting Sky under huge pressure over the next two weeks.

Its certainly not over and I can't wait to see how this race develops

 

[LaFlorecita]

Really enjoyed today's stage, and as a Brit was obviously thrilled with Froomes performance.

However I think Sky have played their cards too early, I can see alliances forming and putting Sky under huge pressure over the next two weeks.

Its certainly not over and I can't wait to see how this race develops

As someone said on twitter. Once people start saying it isn't over yet, you know it's over

 

[BigMac]

Was i the only one that noticed Porte was pulling a huge freakin' smile while setting the pace and eventually dropping everyone? It was awkward.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Really enjoyed today's stage, and as a Brit was obviously thrilled with Froomes performance.

However I think Sky have played their cards too early, I can see alliances forming and putting Sky under huge pressure over the next two weeks.

Its certainly not over and I can't wait to see how this race develops

I don't see how this race isn't over already. People say Sky isn't as strong as last year, but I don't see it. Sure some of them look weaker, but with Kiryienka and Porte in top shape they will be fine. Also sooner or later people will start defending their 3rd or 4th place and help Sky if someone dangerous gets away. Now the winner is decided, teams are going to ride for other top 10 placings, just like every year.
Alliances only work if both teams profit from it. Situations for that to work are extremely rare. That is why we remember the few occasions it did work.

 

[Forunculo]

Finally the forum works. I must say I really enjoyed the stage. Fireworks from penultimate climb. The sense of speed, virtually no groups just one by one and huge gaps at the finsh. Obviously Sky anomaly is there but at least the stage was good raced. But this belongs to clinic forum.

Maybe Kreuziger and Quintana should have done their own race but first mountain stage Contador and Valverde hold the status.

 

[cineteq]

Finally the forum works. I must say I really enjoyed the stage. Fireworks from penultimate climb. The sense of speed, virtually no groups just one by one and huge gaps at the finsh. Obviously Sky anomaly is there but at least the stage was good raced. But this belongs to clinic forum.

Maybe Kreuziger and Quintana should have done their own race but first mountain stage Contador and Valverde hold the status.

+1 Exactly as I saw it.

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Ax 3 Domaines top 100 results (and it was warm weather today) http://www.fillarifoorumi.fi/forum/...km-h-VAM-W-W-kg-etc-%29&p=2045251#post2045251

 

[jens_attacks]

super nice stage by quintana and froomey! chapeau!

i'm not at all surprised by the level of chris and richie. i even expected chris to go faster on bonascre. what amazed me is the horrible level of others compared to other years, i never seen such a low level from the riders in le tour i think lol. that explain the enormous gaps on just a short climb....
alberto and purito were...well...they let me down let's just say...

i have no idea but it really seems that maybe something went horrible wrong with their preparation and stocks of energy for the pyrenees stages.
i wish all the team could somehow fight back to sky. otherwise this tour will be boring...again well deserved for froomey but boring.
tomorrow they should get their best climbing legs and go in the attack on the peyresourde.



again to me. it's not froomey the uber extraterestrial(i expected a very strong performance) but the others were climbing like bricks....overall well done to sky!they deserve it


had something to do so i uploaded the blog kind of late...

anyway, exclusively (lol) : port de pailheres times, with quintana going at huge speed:

http://climbing-records.blogspot.com/2013/07/quintana-great-on-pailheres-close-to.html

and chris writing history on bonascre

http://climbing-records.blogspot.com/2013/07/chris-froome-sets-third-best-time-ever.html

 

[Cyivel]

Was i the only one that noticed Porte was pulling a huge freakin' smile while setting the pace and eventually dropping everyone? It was awkward.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Ax 3 Domaines top 100 results (and it was warm weather today) http://www.fillarifoorumi.fi/forum/...km-h-VAM-W-W-kg-etc-%29&p=2045251#post2045251

Only 30 seconds clear of Samu from 3 years ago, seems about right.

 

[willbick]

Was i the only one that noticed Porte was pulling a huge freakin' smile while setting the pace and eventually dropping everyone? It was awkward.

I think its called a grimace

 

[Cimber]

My god he actually went full ***. Dumbest thing he could ever do

 

[Escarabajo]

There is a difference between the Pailheres record and the Ax-3 record. The first one has not been ridden at full gas. Never. Even if there were some attackers before on that climb. The second climb, yes. It is a full gas. So the times up the Ax-3 are more representative of individual achievements.

 

[willbick]

'Dumbest thing he could ever do'??? Lol

This race is over bar an act ofgod. Also people expecting purito etc to climb as well as froome are a bit deluded. Froome had tour as no.1 target since last year. Likes of purito, not so much

 

[Cimber]

'Dumbest thing he could ever do'??? Lol

Yes cos people are only talking about one thing after that show

 

[willbick]

Yes cos people are only talking about one thing after that show

Are u actually being serious?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Yes cos people are only talking about one thing after that show

It just showed what we all knew anyway, at week 1 Froome is in the best shape. By week 3 it will be much closer when others eventually find their form. Although it may be too late by then.