Tour Ninja

[RedheadDane]

If nobody else is going to, then I'll just claim Barguil. 🙂

 

[shalgo]

Re:

Barguil still leading. And Rolland eliminated from the proceedings.

Rolland was 11th today; I think he is still good.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

Barguil still leading. And Rolland eliminated from the proceedings.

Rolland was 11th today; I think he is still good.

Forgot the TDF website defaults to the overall where he's 9th. My bad. :redface:

So eliminated by order of elimination:

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

So we've surprisingly lost nobody who was picked so far. I'm actually having a philosophical discussion...If ninja are so easy to identify...Are they ninja at all?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

After stage 5:

Barguil (unpicked)
Rolland (Postmanhat) s.t.
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne) @ 9"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 11"
Meintjes (Nick C)
Frank (Ricco) @ 51"
Pauwels (Los Brolin) @ 1'13"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 3'27"
Buchmann (Shalgo)
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas)
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 4'55"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 5'46"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 7'00"
Jeanneson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 8'38"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 8'55"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 9'00"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 9'26"
Navarro (NairoQ) @ 21'11"
Bennett (JSpear) @ 22'35"

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So we've surprisingly lost nobody who was picked so far. I'm actually having a philosophical discussion...If ninja are so easy to identify...Are they ninja at all?

It's pretty easy to pick riders who will not make top 10: most of us are finding that it is harder to get one who retains a high GC position.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

After the last couple of stages...Plenty of new eliminations on 7.

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

Standings (hope you don't mind me doing it ArmchairCyclist 😀)

Quintana (unpicked)
Barguil (unpicked unless Armchair lets RedheadDane take him 🙂 ) s.t.
Rolland (Postmanhat) s.t.
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne) @ 9"
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 11"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 11"
Frank (Ricco) @ 1'16""
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 3'37"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 3'45"
Pauwels (Los Brolin) @ 3'52"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 4'37"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 4'55"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 7'23"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 8'50"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 11'59"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 12'36"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 13'02"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 13'23"
Bennett (JSpear) @ 1 32' 28" 😀

Elininated: Navarro (NairoQ)

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re: Re:

After the last couple of stages...Plenty of new eliminations on 7...
Standings (hope you don't mind me doing it ArmchairCyclist 😀)

Quintana (unpicked)
Barguil (unpicked unless Armchair lets RedheadDane take him 🙂 ) s.t.

To the first: please do: I have most of an hours' work after each stage with the CQ game anyway.

To the second: I'd suggest include with an asterisk: I suspect he will do well enough to disqualify himself soon.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Updated for Stage 8...

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

Standings

Quintana (unpicked)
Henao (unpicked) s.t.
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 11"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 1'28"
Rolland (Postmanhat) @ 1'32"
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne) @ 1'37"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 2'53"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 5'13"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 6'23"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 8'36"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 8'49"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 9'10"
Frank (Ricco) @ 14'28"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 22'03"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 23'28"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 38'17"
Pauwels (Los Brolin) @ 38'31"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 38'37"
Bennett (JSpear) @ 29'07" (My bad, thought it was a joke bet on Sam Bennett before 😀)
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 46'29"

Eliminated: Navarro (NairoQ)

Feeling distintively pack fodder ATM 😛 NickC has a very decent shout with Meintjes there. Looks like he's hanging on for a final top 10. Wonder if he can keep his ninja performance...

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Quintana made sure he came 11th today: I think we have discovered his ambition for this race.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

It's gotta be Henao. Pulling for Froome all the way and dropping out before the end. Quintana will surely get a win eventually. Right? Right.

 

[NairoQ]

Henao will have multiple top 10s I suspect, when it gets a bit harder he will finish high despite the work. Van den Broeck in best position currently imo.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

Updated for Stage 9 with some "favorites" gone. Also Nairito with another strategic 12th place finish. 😀

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

STAGE 9
Tom Dumoulin
Rui Costa
Winner Anacona
Thibaut Pinot
George Bennett
Diego Rosa
Mathias Frank

Standings

Quintana (unpicked)
Henao (unpicked) @ 21"
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 32"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 2'28"
Rolland (Postmanhat) @ 3'38"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 4'59"
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne) @ 5'10"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 8'25"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 10'57"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 15'07"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 16'34"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 20'27"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 29'17"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 36'04"
Pauwels (Los Brolin) @ 42'45"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 54'01"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 1h 07'34"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 1h 02'13"

Eliminated:

Frank (Ricco)
Bennett (JSpear)
Navarro (NairoQ)

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

Stage 11 update....

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

STAGE 9
Tom Dumoulin
Rui Costa
Winner Anacona
Thibaut Pinot
George Bennett
Diego Rosa
Mathias Frank

STAGE 10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Luke Durbridge
Damiano Caruso

STAGE 11

Maciej Bodnar
Jasper Stuyven
Oliver Naesen

Standings

Quintana (unpicked)
Henao (unpicked) @ 21"
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 1'35"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 2'28"
Rolland (Postmanhat) @ 4'41"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 6'02"
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne) @ 8'54"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 9'32"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 14'27"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 17'37"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 18'02"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 24'11"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 32'09"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 41'37"
Pauwels (Los Brolin) @ 46'29"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 1h 00'33"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 1h 08'37"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 1h 19'08"

Eliminated:

Frank (Ricco)
Bennett (JSpear)
Navarro (NairoQ)

Liking Meintjes' and Henao's chances. Nairo will obviously get a top 10 unless it's all wins from the break from here one. Rolland will probably go on a break for a stage win as well if he's alright. Reichenbach, Buchmann and VDB still positively invisible though.

Master Haimaru is 30th at 22'22 behind Quintana so far. Slowly but surely... 😉

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

Updated for Stage 14. Today I noticed that one of our foremost disciples of the ninja code had fallen in true ninja fashion by withdrawing two stages ago. Mr. Jurgen van Den Broeck. Also, Mr. Serge Pauwels took himself out of contention with his placing on Le Mont Chalet Reynard Ventoux Motorcycle GP Classic.

Surely Nairo Quintana will have a top 10 placing in the last week right? He can't win the ninja competition. What the hell is up with that.

PS: Our one true king is now 26th... 😀

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

STAGE 9
Tom Dumoulin
Rui Costa
Winner Anacona
Thibaut Pinot
George Bennett
Diego Rosa
Mathias Frank

STAGE 10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Luke Durbridge
Damiano Caruso

STAGE 11
Maciej Bodnar
Jasper Stuyven
Oliver Naesen

STAGE 12
Serge Pauwels
Stef Clement
Sylvain Chavanel
Bert Jan Lindeman
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Sep Vanmarcke
Chris Anker Sorensen

STAGE 13
Nelson Oliveira
Jerome Coppel
Rohan Dennis
Ion Izaguirre
Tony Martin

STAGE 14
John Degenkolb
Davide Cimolai

Standings

Quintana (unpicked)
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 4'49"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 5'24"
Rolland (Postmanhat) @ 12'07"
Reichenbach (Vladimir) @ 8'42"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 16'03"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 27'25"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 43'23"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 24'56"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 47'51"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 58'31"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 1h 09'36"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 1h 27'45"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 1h 23'54"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 1h 47'34"

Eliminated:

Pauwels (Los Brolin)
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne)
Frank (Ricco)
Bennett (JSpear)
Navarro (NairoQ)

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re: Re:

Updated for Stage 14.
Surely Nairo Quintana will have a top 10 placing in the last week right? He can't win the ninja competition. What the hell is up with that.

Not top ten today either, and highly unlikely to tomorrow. He might do it yet.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

Updated for Stage 14.
Surely Nairo Quintana will have a top 10 placing in the last week right? He can't win the ninja competition. What the hell is up with that.

Not top ten today either, and highly unlikely to tomorrow. He might do it yet.

It's uncanny. If thye keep letting breaks win it's gonna happen. The man might podium the TDF without a single top 10. I can honestly only see him doing a top 10 on Finhaut or Le Bettex but if De Gendt/Pauwels/Majka keep battling for the polkadots then it might not happen. Honestly, the way he's been riding, he's invisible most of the time. Seen 10x more Bala than him.

So, updated for Stage 15. Quintana still leads, Reichenbach and Rolland eliminated from the proceedings. Nick C in the lead with his Meintjes pick. Some of our picks (mine included) were truly way off. 😀

Haimaru-Z climbs four more places to 22nd...He'd be behind Buchmann in our little game... 😀

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

STAGE 9
Tom Dumoulin
Rui Costa
Winner Anacona
Thibaut Pinot
George Bennett
Diego Rosa
Mathias Frank

STAGE 10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Luke Durbridge
Damiano Caruso

STAGE 11
Maciej Bodnar
Jasper Stuyven
Oliver Naesen

STAGE 12
Serge Pauwels
Stef Clement
Sylvain Chavanel
Bert Jan Lindeman
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Sep Vanmarcke
Chris Anker Sorensen

STAGE 13
Nelson Oliveira
Jerome Coppel
Rohan Dennis
Ion Izaguirre
Tony Martin

STAGE 14
John Degenkolb
Davide Cimolai

STAGE 15
Jarlinson Pantano
Alexis Vuillermoz
Sebastién Reichenbach
Pierre Rolland
Ilnur Zakarin
Tom Jelte Slagter

Standings

Quintana (unpicked)
Meintjes (Nick C) @ 2'49"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 16'06"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 25'00"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 33'53"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 43'20"
Pozzovivo (Gigs98) @ 49'19"
Morabito (Del1962) @ 58'31"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 1h 06'48"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 1h 28'22"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 1h 34'36"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 1h 43'40"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 2h 10'59"

Eliminated:

Reichenbach (Vladimir)
Rolland (Postmanhat)
Pauwels (Los Brolin)
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne)
Frank (Ricco)
Bennett (JSpear)
Navarro (NairoQ)

 

[SHAD0W93]

Quintana to finish 4th and no top 10 to complete his ninja training.
Maybe he is waiting to attack when the cameras are not looking so no one sees. XD

 

[del1962]

Morabito out today,

 

[StephenC2020]

Quintana and Menthes out

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re: Re:

Right, no Ninja award for Nairo. Or Meintjes (also Morabito and Pozzo from the previous stage). That actually gives me some relief. Nairo winning the ninja comp would be preposterous (I should note I'm only following last years's top 10 rule, I haven't paid mind to the jerseys. Sorry Armchair 😛)

So Henao now leads ahead of Nieve. He's got two stages to top 10. Skytrain to take this one too it seems.

Updated for STAGE 18

STAGE 1
Mark Cavendish
Marcel Kittel
Peter Sagan
André Greipel
Edward Theuns
Christophe Laporte
Bryan Coquard
Alexander Kristoff
Daniel McLay
Gregory Henderson

STAGE 2
Julian Alaphilippe
Alejandro Valverde
Daniel Martin
Michael Matthews
Wilco Kelderman
Tony Gallopin
Greg van Avermaet
Bauke Mollema
Christopher Froome

STAGE 3
Sondre Holst Enger
Dylan Groenwegen

STAGE 4
Samuel Dumoulin
Simon Gerrans

STAGE 5
Thomas de Gendt
Rafal Majka
Joaquin Rodriguez
Bartosz Huzarski
Adam Yates
Tejay van Garderen

STAGE 6
Shane Archbold

Stage 7
Stephen Cummings
Daryl Impey
Daniel Navarro
Vincenzo Nibali
Luis Ángel Maté Mardones
Geraint Thomas
Wouter Poels
Gorka Izaguirre

STAGE 8
Romain Bardet
Roman Kreuziger
Fabio Aru
Richie Porte

STAGE 9
Tom Dumoulin
Rui Costa
Winner Anacona
Thibaut Pinot
George Bennett
Diego Rosa
Mathias Frank

STAGE 10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Luke Durbridge
Damiano Caruso

STAGE 11
Maciej Bodnar
Jasper Stuyven
Oliver Naesen

STAGE 12
Serge Pauwels
Stef Clement
Sylvain Chavanel
Bert Jan Lindeman
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Sep Vanmarcke
Chris Anker Sorensen

STAGE 13
Nelson Oliveira
Jerome Coppel
Rohan Dennis
Ion Izaguirre
Tony Martin

STAGE 14
John Degenkolb
Davide Cimolai

STAGE 15
Jarlinson Pantano
Alexis Vuillermoz
Sebastién Reichenbach
Pierre Rolland
Ilnur Zakarin
Tom Jelte Slagter

STAGE 16
Fabian Cancellara
Maximiliano Richeze

STAGE 17
Kristijan Durasek
Brice Feillu
Thomas Voeckler
Domenico Pozzovivo
Steve Morabito

STAGE 18
Louis Meintjes
Nairo Quintana

Standings

Henao (unpicked)
Nieve (unpicked) @ 12'53"
Barguil (RedheadDane*) @ 13'24"
Buchmann (Shalgo) @ 21'12"
Kangert (Geraint Too Fast & Ratta Kuningas) @ 22'38"
Schleck (Hakkie2) @ 46'36"
Sepulveda (Hugo Koblet) @ 1h 30'00"
Ten Dam (Mike Tichondrius) @ 1h 41'25"
Cherel (Laarsland) @ 1h 48'41"
Jeannesson (Armchair Cyclist) @ 2h 11'43"
Craddock (Kazistuta) @ 2h 41'10"

Eliminated:

Meintjes (Nick C)
Pozzovivo (Gigs98)
Morabito (Del1962)
Reichenbach (Vladimir)
Rolland (Postmanhat)
Pauwels (Los Brolin)
Van den Broeck (Rote Laterne)
Frank (Ricco)
Bennett (JSpear)
Navarro (NairoQ)

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Quintana only just eliminated himself. As he came in to finish, I was urging the ticker to flip over to 10th as his finish position, knowing that Froome would bump him out of the top ten,and in the role of high profile ninja..

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

And after Buchmann, thus 5th overall of the ninjas, is the definitive ninja: Zubeldia.

 

[del1962]

At 24th Zubeldia can still win this only being 2 minutes behins Buchmann, would need top ten for Henao and either top tens or dropping off for Nieve and Barguil, and overtaking Buchmann

Its actaully very impressive beung 24th with a highest stage placing of 27th

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Re:

At 24th Zubeldia can still win this only being 2 minutes behins Buchmann, would need top ten for Henao and either top tens or dropping off for Nieve and Barguil, and overtaking Buchmann

Its actaully very impressive beung 24th with a highest stage placing of 27th

It's the sheer regularity of it all. Not losing time on flat stages (like Majka and Zakarin did, for example) and at least trying to keep up somewhat in the mountains. He isn't working for Mollema (com think of it - why isn't he?) so he has this strange free role.

I don't mind really, for weirdos like us it's pure entertainment value. I like the ninja comp better than the GC fight ATM. 😀

 

[shalgo]

They may be leading according to the official rules, but Nieve and Henao have spent way too much time at the head of the yellow jersey group in the mountains to be true ninjas.

It is impressive that Barguil is still in the fight after almost spoiling it right at the start with 13th- and 14th-place finishes in stages one and two.