Tour de France - Stage 9, 168.5km - Saint-Girons / Bagnères-de-Bigorre, July 7th

[trevim]

I think this is going to be a very stupid question but: can't Valverde be saving a bit to attack on the flat? Considering Froome is the best climber maybe they can hurt him more if there a are lots of attacks on the flat.

After writing it, I'm just realizing it's stupid

 

[Escarabajo]

I am embarrased for Movistar. This is as bad as it gets. I cannot believe it. How can they miss this chance. So they chopped the yound Colombian wings because of Valverde. And blow the best chance to put pressure into Froome in the way.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

By the way ..Has anybody seen Didi this year?

 

[Roderick]

Movistar and Saxo should be banned from professional racing for at least a year

 

[Scott SoCal]

Bottom line is everybody but Nairo is afraid of Froome.

 

[maltiv]

Movistar and Saxo should be banned from professional racing for at least a year

Might as well give them a life-ban, they don't deserve to be riding here.

 

[trevim]

By the way ..Has anybody seen Didi this year?

Yeah I saw him yesterday, dressed in yellow

 

[UpTheRoad]

By the way ..Has anybody seen Didi this year?

He was there yesterday. Haven't seen him today.

 

[uconnryan]

Movistar and Saxo with what can only be described as a fail of epic proportion.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Thanks, didn't see him yesterday.

 

[cycladianpirate]

Baby steps. Getting Porte out of the way is step 1.

How is Porte "out of the way"? He can forget any GC ambition here and ride as a pure domestique. Don't put your money on him in the TTs!! Porte has just bagged himself two additional rest days.

 

[Kender]

Sky no longer have to protect the 1-2 finish. Porte can now totally sacrifice himself on later stages. Movistar has better chance of podium now but it's all a fight for 2nd from here.

 

[Ferminal]

Nice, Kwiatkowski is there too? Movistar nice enough to work for OPQS too then.

 

[pitchnduel]

They obviously weren't going THAT fast. Gesink stayed with the lead group...

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Yep. Quintana and Valverde pacing Froome. LOL.

 

[The Hitch]

Well the forum won't break down after this stage for sure.... we'll all be napping.

Oh you evil cycling hater.

How dare you say a boring stage was a boring stage. Must always pretend it was amazing.

Carefull or the smile taliban will be after you.

 

[Bavarianrider]

What will the time limit be?

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Porte doing a good job of making himself look like he cracked. Pretty obvious he could bridge the 10mins if he wanted.

Would laugh if Valverde lost his GC place to Martin after all this.

 

[UpTheRoad]

So Valverde has a teammate give 4 attacks which Froome was the one to chase, but doesn't counter once at the catch?

The only reason I can think of for Kreuziger setting the tempo is that Contador doesn't have the legs and cannot react to jumps easily. Other than that zero attacks from AC? Doesn't seem possible, but that's what I just saw.

 

[Gubby Allen]

Movistar and Saxo with what can only be described as a fail of epic proportion.

Is it Mollema, TenDam and Gesink all up there still? Thought one of those three couldve had a go too.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Sky no longer have to protect the 1-2 finish. Porte can now totally sacrifice himself on later stages. Movistar has better chance of podium now but it's all a fight for 2nd from here.

But Porte won't be so motivated having been humiliated like this.
He could begin to sulk.

 

[Amused]

Time limit today? Any news on the sprinters?

 

[VeloGirl]

By the way ..Has anybody seen Didi this year?

He was at yesterday's stage.

Pez Roadside Stage 8 Report

 

[spalco]

Bottom line is everybody but Nairo is afraid of Froome.

I can't wait to see what Quintana does next year. I hope he actually gets the undisputed leadership at least in the Giro if not the Tour. He showed he has the brain to win in the Basque Country, and that he has the balls now; very exciting.

 

[Scott SoCal]

So Valverde has a teammate give 4 attacks which Froome was the one to chase, but doesn't counter once at the catch?

The only reason I can think of for Kreuziger setting the tempo is that Contador doesn't have the legs and cannot react to jumps easily. Other than that zero attacks from AC? Doesn't seem possible, but that's what I just saw.

Fear, cowardly.... silly. So much for all or nothing. I can't believe there were no counter moves. Can't believe it.