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

[Scott SoCal]

He's only had to respond to a couple of tepid attacks while the majority of the time he's been escorted by Movistar. Plus he's been getting refueled regularly.

Other than worrying about a puncture its really been no problem for him. Interesting how Movi chose the flat to attack.

 

[Afrank]

3 BMC in front group, TJ not one of them...not having a good tour.

Poor Tejay, I wasn't expecting much from him this Tour, but I thought at least he could hang with the front group for the majority of the climbs.

 

[thehog]

Porte 4" minutes back already.

He's been riding alone all day.

MoviSaxo have achieved one thing. And that's killing Porte.

 

[bolingbroke]

Bardet in style. Such an awesome sight. Who needs Quintana?

I guess the people who are looking for someone to challenge Froome in the gc.

 

[wwabbit]

Hope Froome remembered to go back for food...

He took a bidon, and should be fine nutrietient wise

 

[pitchnduel]

Am I wrong that putting this much time into Porte is a bad idea for teams with MJ aspirations? If he's out of it for a podium finish, can't he just sell out that much harder for Froome?

 

[The Hitch]

He's been riding alone all day.

MoviSaxo have achieved one thing. And that's killing Porte.

How is that an achievement. Porte is Froomes domestique. His own gc position is irrelevant.

 

[forkboy84]

Dont be ridiculous. There are boring stages and great stages. This stage had all the makings of an all time great stage after the first 30k or so but since then it has been extremely frustrating.

You patronise me for saying its boring but if you honestly think that riders cycling around a region together, for 2 hours, with no attacks and time gaps remaining the same the whole time, is something really exciting then you can find endless joy in watching full replays of all the sprint stages of the TDF in the last 10 years.

No, I patronise you because you are look at it as a black & white issue. There ARE boring stages & great stages. There are also alright stages, decent stages, good stages & so on. This is fine. It's not the greatest thing ever but I'm also not bored. It's not going to remembered in 10 years but how many are? What, it's terrible because it was really exciting in the beginning? Sorry Hitch, but that's an absurd logical failure. Sorry that I'm capable of appreciating things that are merely OK I guess?

It's a shame that you're so hard-bitten or cynical or whatever that everything needs to be best ever though. It's nice being able to appreciate a lot more than that.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Has Froome payed the Movies to give him a train or what

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Poor Tejay, I wasn't expecting much from him this Tour, but I thought at least he could hang with the front group for the majority of the climbs.

In Suisse his climbing was already off par. Downward trend since TOC. Peaked too early

 

[cineteq]

Ideal Sceneario: Quintana wins the stage, and Froome comes + 3min after him.

 

[lemoogle]

I hear rolland dropped.

 

[bolingbroke]

How is that an achievement. Porte is Froomes domestique. His own gc position is irrelevant.

Well itt's clearly a fight for 2nd place after yesterday.

 

[goggalor]

How is that an achievement. Porte is Froomes domestique. His own gc position is irrelevant.

Only one Sky rider for them to worry about now. It puts Sky in a weaker position, though Froome is obviously still the massive favourite.

 

[Broth3r]

Hmm. Of course I may be just trying to rationalize things here, but I have to wonder. Porte hasn't been letting up all stage long, it should be an immense effort. Could Movistar be holding off an attack to give Porte a carrot and force him to completely blow out to the point he'll be a shadow of himself for the rest of the Tour?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Has Froome payed the Movies to give him a train or what

They aren't battling Froome. They are fighting Porte.

 

[Netserk]

 

[saneguy]

Let the games begin! Bardet back. Someone attack!

 

[Angliru]

This has gone from the greatest stage ever to the biggest joke ever.

I've never seen an entire peloton riding so ****ing pathetically.

It's a long race. They've successfully separated Froome from his teammates and have put time into Porte, making him work hard to limit his losses. Of course they still have the final climb to go as of where I am in my delayed recorded viewing perspective.

 

[Scott SoCal]

Man I'd like to see Valverde show some gnads.

 

[Gubby Allen]

Porte 4" minutes back already. Time to pack it in.

Wonder if he'll be as smug as he was yesterday.

Im sure Quintana wont waste too much time pondering who had the better 2 days in the Pyranees.

 

[bolingbroke]

Maybe you should try getting into tennis, since you clearly aren't interested in cycling.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

**** velverde.

 

[The Hitch]

Am I wrong that putting this much time into Porte is a bad idea for teams with MJ aspirations? If he's out of it for a podium finish, can't he just sell out that much harder for Froome?

Kind of. Hell give as much as he can for Froome no matter what. But if hes high on gc he might ride the tts harder tiring hisself out a little bit.

So its counterproductive in a way to kill him off.

 

[Ferminal]

Movistar is an easy target but I have no idea what position Saxo are racing for, 5th?