Tour de Suisse 2017 (10/06 > 18/06/2017)

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

In other - completely unrelated, but then not really - news; it's possible Norman might keep the mountain jersey.
He's a track rider...

There's points each time at the top of the climb on tomorrow's circuit, he probably needs to get into the break to keep it?

He kept it after today. Who saw that coming? Of course he mainly kept it due to luck with how the points were dealt out, but still...

BTW, he doesn't keep his promises. He promised he would lose it after today.

 

[Eclipse]

Absolutely fantastic final climb. Really enjoyed the last couple of days racing

 

[Frankschleck]

got spilak to 23 times again to win the stage, what a rider, always underestimated.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re:

Good thing Dumo chose to go home, he had never survived this one!

He did pretty well here a couple of years ago (they finished just below the tunnel). He did his usual time trial up, losing a minute fairly quickly, but didn't lose anything in the second half of the climb.

But after the Giro, I'm not surprised that he gave it a rest this year.

If I remember correctly, Lopez won that day.

Edit: No, I just remembered that Turbo Pinot (the diesel version) won that day after struggling early on. I think it was the first time that Lopez really came to my attention. Spilak had been in front for quite a way in the middle of the climb.

There were about 5-6 guys together until the final 2km. Spilak did well (since he won overall that year). G was the last one of the front group to come in and wasn't far ahead of Tom D at the line.

Tom D was still a reasonable outside bet for the overall before the final stage (OK, it was a TT).

 

[gunara]

Re:

Anyone in striking distance of Spilak in the TT? or is he home and hosed at this point?

I think he should be better than most guys in proximity, and the ones normally better than him won't have enough tt road. It takes something crazy to happen tomorrow to snatch it from him.

 

[Moviefan1203]

Nice ride by Dombrowski. Looks like his form is finally coming around.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

wow pictures in the tunnel !!

Just what I was about to say, how'd they manage that?

I heard the Swiss TV used a special technology just to make this possible.

Wow, a 'special technology'

Apparently the used some new technology to amplify the the signal to get it out of the tunnel out of the tunnel or something like that.
What a stage, one hell of a MTF!
Spilak faded a bit at the end, but before that he rode like Basso on the Zoncolan, strong team and dropping everyone by riding tempo, just awesome. Taaramäe was also great, finally once again in great shape after health problems.
Sad for Pozzovivo, but that was a monster effort by Spilak.

 

[sir fly]

Such a shame for Pozzovivo, but hats off to Špilak, on the other hand.
It was a fast stage, if I'm correct. That means Pozzo suffered way more than the heavier riders, and on top of it it's the third month of his top shape.
He's already had a great race, and Špilak looks like he's just won the biggest race of his career.
Congrats.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Such a shame for Pozzovivo, but hats off to Špilak, on the other hand.
It was a fast stage, if I'm correct. That means Pozzo suffered way more than the heavier riders, and on top of it it's the third month of his top shape.
He's already had a great race, and Špilak looks like he's just won the biggest race of his career.
Congrats.

So, his low weight, which would usually be an advantage on a stage like this, ended up being a disadvantage? Makes sense. It's all very good to be a light-weight if you're only gonna climb, but if the climbing is preceded by a long stretch of full-gas before you hit the climb.

Actually, Spilak already won TdS once, two years ago.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Such a shame for Pozzovivo, but hats off to Špilak, on the other hand.
It was a fast stage, if I'm correct. That means Pozzo suffered way more than the heavier riders, and on top of it it's the third month of his top shape.
He's already had a great race, and Špilak looks like he's just won the biggest race of his career.
Congrats.

Yes, Spilak did a bad prologue, but he's never been great in those and when he's in this kind of shape he's usually pretty good in a hilly ITT.

 

[sir fly]

Such a shame for Pozzovivo, but hats off to Špilak, on the other hand.
It was a fast stage, if I'm correct. That means Pozzo suffered way more than the heavier riders, and on top of it it's the third month of his top shape.
He's already had a great race, and Špilak looks like he's just won the biggest race of his career.
Congrats.

So, his low weight, which would usually be an advantage on a stage like this, ended up being a disadvantage? Makes sense. It's all very good to be a light-weight if you're only gonna climb, but if the climbing is preceded by a long stretch of full-gas before you hit the climb.

Actually, Spilak already won TdS once, two years ago.

Yes, I've just realized he's already won the biggest race of his career.
Didn't stick in my mind.

And just to nerd it a bit... The Swiss are looking through a wormhole.

 

[Tour_de_Calvados]

What a stage, would be great to see this climb in the Giro.

Chapeau to Špilak and set up well by Taaramäe, Pozzovivo just blew after all his efforts yesterday and in the Giro. Both Dauphiné and Suisse have provided some enthralling racing this year. Always concerned le Tour may be a snoozefest but at least I'm getting to see the first 2 stages in Düsseldorf!

 

[bob.a.feet]

Kruijswijk you used to be cool, but then you had to go out and have the worst sock performance of your career

 

[portugal11]

Sagan vs gilbert, who will win

 

[Dr. Watson]

Re:

Sagan vs gilbert, who will win

How hard is that climb? Could be stage with some great attacking

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Taaramae+Spilak were awesome... what great scenery..

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Matthews attacks. How about that

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Fabio!

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Last lap neutralized?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

What happened to all the GC riders?

 

[jaylew]

Re:

What happened to all the GC riders?

GC time taken at the end of penultimate lap

 

[Irondan]

A man among boys...

 

[infeXio]

Sagan, easily

 

[jaylew]

Absolute domination from Sagan

 

[Irondan]

Looks like Sagan has added some top end speed for the Tour.