Which team was the biggest fail in stage 9?

[gruppeto993]

I dont get people who are saying movistar should have been more agressive. There was a 30km downhill and chances are that even if someone attacked and got a gap, they would be caught on the downhill by the bigger group behind. We re talking about climbers here and not guys like sagan, hushovd, canc. Gilbert etc. who can fly on downhills.

 

[Escarabajo]

Thought Froome played it just right. Followed the right wheels and let the right riders go, not a lot else he could (or should) have done. Sky as a whole were poor though. Kick in the eye for those who said that Froome would be better off not having Wiggo at the Tour, no way even on Giro form would he have been dropped today.

Fair enough.

Will wait until the alps for final opinion on Froome's coolness under pressure.

 

[Le Baroudeur]

Team Sky by a country mile.

 

[EnacheV]

Sky, melting down completely

You can't say it was a devilish plan, to play "weak"

What if Froome collapsed and their top GC spot was 10 minutes behind no1 ?

This is how much they can, they are a mediocre team and because of that i think Froome has very small chances to win the tour.

 

[King of the Mountains]

why is Valverde the leader for Movistar?

Quintana and Costa are both better GC men at this point in their careers

 

[Richeypen]

Sky, melting down completely

You can't say it was a devilish plan, to play "weak"

What if Froome collapsed and their top GC spot was 10 minutes behind no1 ?

This is how much they can, they are a mediocre team and because of that i think Froome has very small chances to win the tour.

Yesterday they were the best team in the race by miles. They didnt perform today but to call Sky weak is a massive overreaction.

 

[SafeBet]

why is Valverde the leader for Movistar?

Quintana and Costa are both better GC men at this point in their careers

Rui Costa maybe in a one week race. But in a GT, no way. He was dropped today on the final ascent at one point, while Valverde still was with the best.

 

[Richeypen]

why is Valverde the leader for Movistar?

Quintana and Costa are both better GC men at this point in their careers

A previous GT win and 3 previous GT podiums including second in the last GT he raced.

Quintana is 23 and only in his second GT, he is the future but it would be detrimental to put the pressure of leadership on his shoulders so early in the world biggest race.

As previously said, Costa has shown great form over one week but never a thing in a GT

 

[Cookster15]

they are a mediocre team and because of that i think Froome has very small chances to win the tour.

Big call. Lets see after the ITT. I suggest it more likely Froome will extend his lead significantly further. I think Porte will still be a super strong team mate despite his one bad day.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

This is how much they can, they are a mediocre team and because of that i think Froome has very small chances to win the tour.

Froome will be that far ahead by the time we get to the Alps that even if the rest of his team dropped out, he still would be in hardly any problems.

 

[Alpechraxler]

I am not sure if Froome will put big time into the other overall contenders in the ITT and on Mt. Ventoux blows another wind.

 

[karlboss]

Frustrating stage, Movistar did the most of the work to eliminate Porte and then noone capitalised. Noone capitalised as Movistar continued a high pace to, and up, the final climb stopping any other breakaways (apart from the final one they inadvertently launched). This would indicate that they were either racing for 2nd or thought Porte might come back and be effective.
With 20/20 hindsight we know Porte was fried, Movistar could have taken their foot off the gas and let the games begin. However even at the time all they needed to do was push the pace up until the peak of the third to last climb and make sure Porte had no hope. In this Saxo is equally guilty. This would have been the gamble, chances are this leaves you with only 2 teammates from any one team, and while Froome is vulnerable, so are you, but if you want to win big you have to gamble big, and they didn't.
Instead Movistar hit the final climb with 4 guys soon to be 3, but by this stage tactically all Froome needs to do is attack himself, it was over.

The only real losers were the fans, we lost an opportunity for a great stage, and of course SKY. Movistar worked hard and may have sewn up second. Garmin worked hard and got a stage win, other teams didn't work and moved up one place on GC.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Sky had a shocker although the couldn't really have predicted Kennaugh being wiped out by whoever early in the stage, Kennaugh probably would have stayed with Froome for most of the climbs. Porte was the biggest shock Sky could never have known how poor he would be today until the drama unfolded.

I though Movistar would do a little more to test Froome but perhaps Valverde didn't have the legs just like Contador so they played safe and raced into 2nd.

Movistar now need to decide whether they stick with Valverde's 2nd or gamble on Quintana putting time into Froome going into the Alpe's.

 

[Gubby Allen]

Saxo couldve done with letting one of their 3 big domestiques, given the form Kreuziger, a freer reign and go off the front if he felt good, which he looks to.

He looked like he was going when Fuglsang did, but didnt, had the chance to maybe finish 3rd yesterday too. He's not a GC contender and I doubt Froome would've taken much notice had he gone, but he looks a better 2nd string rider than Porte, Moreno, Gesink, TJVG or Talansky at the moment and could be much higher on the GC.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Gotta have the legs to do it. Both Valverde and Contador may not have had the legs to attack. You just donot want to go to the front and then have your leader falter due to your work. Anyway its too early for the Tour.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Saxo, because at least Movistar did something, even if it was far too little far too late. Saxo had several guys who just sat in the group and let it all go on without even thinking of coming to the front.

I disagree. I really don't think Contador looked that great on the climbs and even in the valley between the Col de Mente and Peyresuode. Movistar had the numbers and blew it.

 

[cineteq]

why is Valverde the leader for Movistar?

Quintana and Costa are both better GC men at this point in their careers

Perhaps because he finished 2nd 2012 Vuelta? Costa is not a super climber and Quintana is a rookie. Just sayin'

 

[slosada]

Gotta say the obvious:
Movistar et al only wanted to slowly burn out Sky, but they were surprised when it was done from the start line.
They didn't plan for Porte to lose almost 18' or to get Kiry out... So that's a big achievement, 'cause:
- One borg less weights a lot in their train equation
- No plan B for the GC (as they had in Giro with Uran) puts all the responsibility on Froome.
- Their confidence was hurt.
Note that at Val Louron they were still distancing Porte.
Now, it was an excellent opportunity to do some damage if all these teams agreed and had the will to take some risks: If Contador or Valderde were just holding, there were other riders to try (the truth is only Quintana tried but mildly because he needed someone for the downhill).
I think Froome was close to crack but nobody risked 1 or 2 minutes for GC or secondary riders.

 

[jflemaire]

Thank you, I feel relieved that at least someone else on the forums agrees with me on this matter!

For what it's worth I agree with you too but if you want to discuss this you should create a seperate topic in a more appropriate forum to avoid veering off topic.

 

[Boeing]

Why do so many people on these forums think *** is an acceptable word to use and why do the mods allow it?

*** Strength is perfectly acceptable

It is analogous to Team Sky's performance. As if they are this kid who can lift a car off his cat.

 

[personal]

Even Andy Schlecks had some comments on it. Then you know you ****ed up.

With still 120km to go and Froome being isolated while movistar and saxo still had 5 or even 6 guys in the front. And they did almost nothing against Froome.

Sky for so many obvious reasons.

 

[Cimber]

I wished that Kreuziger would attack, he seemed like he wanted to and he is in the same time as Contador. Of course it might not have preoccupied Froome as much but still Saxo could have gotten something out of this day

He did attack in the valley. But Valverde pulled Froomed up to that group.

Definately Movistar since they clearly rode for 2nd

 

[roundabout]

And leaving Costa against Kreuziger and Rogers would have been riding for 1st?

They both failed. With Movistar it's semi-understandable since Valverde is the most conservative rider in the universe and Quintana was tired after yesterday's massive effort.

 

[Cimber]

And leaving Costa against Kreuziger and Rogers would have been riding for 1st?

Yes it would have, since that would make Froome have to work alone eventually (hopefully) making him emplode. Also, they will have a much easier time dealing with Kreuziger or Rogers later on that dealing with Froome.

Alternatively, they could have tried to attack as they did, but they definately should stop as soon as Froome was in their wheel. Then coutner with Quintana. But they definately shouldnt do Froome's wotk for him, which they did. Froome got it way to easy in a situation that was very risky for him.

EDIT: Had Quintana been up the road I am 100% sure Saxo wouldnt have bridge that gap with Froome on their wheel

 

[roundabout]

Yes, giving Kreuziger who was as strong as Valverde on stage 8 a few minutes would have been an excellent idea. Glad you are not in the car for Movistar's sake.

Edit: had Quintana been up the road with Costa against say, Rogers, I doubt that saxo would have given them a few minutes