Tour De France 2013

[leighton]

I think there needs to be some sort of tatics change from the elite. The GC contenders. Everyone is waiting for a attack on a mountain stage but I would love to see them going for Froome on a flat stage. I know the flat teams wont let a attack away but is it a worthy risk as we have a few flatish stages. It wont take a lot out of them as they can recover. After a TT they will have a lot of energy in there legs and can move or attack if they wish. Its got to go to the next level for them to move onto the bigger stages and then attack again. I know it takes a brave GC contender to do it but is it a worth a risk to pull back some time on Froome. I dont know but just need to see some action. Contador could do it. He is a decent TT and could time trail his way to the finish and close a gap if he is on form. I wont see much of the stage today but what I have seen so far so good.

 

[Shands]

Not often you see that, Cav given an ideal lead out but beaten by a quicker man. Quite a talent is Mr Kittel.

In sad news for Rascal EBH has sustained a broken shoulder in that big pile up apparently. The sky train will only be left with the quiet coach at this rate!

 

[Rascal]

Not often you see that, Cav given an ideal lead out but beaten by a quicker man. Quite a talent is Mr Kittel.

In sad news for Rascal EBH has sustained a broken shoulder in that big pile up apparently. The sky train will only be left with the quiet coach at this rate!

Gutted for Eddie the Boss. I thought i saw a Sky man go down and when he crossed the line Carlton Kirby mentioned he wasnt on his radio so looks bad. Broken shoulder is very bad :((

Good win for Kittel. He is helping drag me back into contention in the fanatsy league :)

 

[Shands]

Not often you see that, Cav given an ideal lead out but beaten by a quicker man. Quite a talent is Mr Kittel.

In sad news for Rascal EBH has sustained a broken shoulder in that big pile up apparently. The sky train will only be left with the quiet coach at this rate!

Gutted for Eddie the Boss. I thought i saw a Sky man go down and when he crossed the line Carlton Kirby mentioned he wasnt on his radio so looks bad. Broken shoulder is very bad :((

Good win for Kittel. He is helping drag me back into contention in the fanatsy league :)

I'm too scared to look at the Fantasy league. Much like every other FL I've ever done, over a range of sports, I fear it's not going well!

 

[Phil Meup]

Shame Cav didn't get it - is he getting too old ?? !! :). Good race though. Flecha was superb!
At least the race went smoothly after yesterdays disgrace.
Pity about EBH and the various crashes - surprised it doesn't happen more often, they ride so close together.
Froome could be struggling if Sky are left exposed. Could be a worry!

 

[Rascal]

EBH injury confirmed by Team Sky :(


<a class="postlink" href="http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,29112_8819278,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 78,00.html</a>


Stannard looks recovered now as he led Froome to the finish but Thomas must still be not right so Team Sky are effectively down to about 6 and 1/2 riders now. Thats gonna be hard.

 

[leighton]

I wouldnt worry about Cavs age he has plenty left in the tank to get a few more stage wins in the coming seasons. IF he has the team behind him he will win many a stage to come. Tomorrow I think Cav has a point to prove and I can see him getting it right this time then into Paris if hes there he wins that stage too so 3 wins again for him this year.

 

[Shands]

EBH injury confirmed by Team Sky :(


<a class="postlink" href="http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,29112_8819278,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 78,00.html</a>


Stannard looks recovered now as he led Froome to the finish but Thomas must still be not right so Team Sky are effectively down to about 6 and 1/2 riders now. Thats gonna be hard.

It's a blow for Sky no doubt - good for the race though. Thomas I'm sure will be ok to do some work on the flat, but as soon as the road starts to go up he's done for. Stannard, Suitsou and Lopez need to find some climbing legs from somewhere because thus far they've showed no form whatsoever, and it's a big ask for Porte and Kennaugh (who lets not forget in is his first TDF and may also be injured) to shepherd Froome alone on multiple mountain stages. The other teams are making a lot of noise about isolating Froome and this news for EBH makes it ever more likely. Cracking him though is another matter.

 

[Rascal]

It's a blow for Sky no doubt - good for the race though. Thomas I'm sure will be ok to do some work on the flat, but as soon as the road starts to go up he's done for. Stannard, Suitsou and Lopez need to find some climbing legs from somewhere because thus far they've showed no form whatsoever, and it's a big ask for Porte and Kennaugh (who lets not forget in is his first TDF and may also be injured) to shepherd Froome alone on multiple mountain stages. The other teams are making a lot of noise about isolating Froome and this news for EBH makes it ever more likely. Cracking him though is another matter.

I can see its good for the race as Sky have less control over the pelotan and the last week is brutal. From what ive seen due to Sky's injuries Lopez and Suitsou have had to do work on the front early on rather than being at the start of climbs heading the train. I think it was at Romandie that Lopez was left with Porte and Froome as the last man.

It should encourage Saxo and Movistar to attack though even though they are both a man down too. Do you think the talk of a Spanish armada is possible or even probable? Sky dont seem to have many friends do they.

 

[Shands]

It's a blow for Sky no doubt - good for the race though. Thomas I'm sure will be ok to do some work on the flat, but as soon as the road starts to go up he's done for. Stannard, Suitsou and Lopez need to find some climbing legs from somewhere because thus far they've showed no form whatsoever, and it's a big ask for Porte and Kennaugh (who lets not forget in is his first TDF and may also be injured) to shepherd Froome alone on multiple mountain stages. The other teams are making a lot of noise about isolating Froome and this news for EBH makes it ever more likely. Cracking him though is another matter.

I can see its good for the race as Sky have less control over the pelotan and the last week is brutal. From what ive seen due to Sky's injuries Lopez and Suitsou have had to do work on the front early on rather than being at the start of climbs heading the train. I think it was at Romandie that Lopez was left with Porte and Froome as the last man.

It should encourage Saxo and Movistar to attack though even though they are both a man down too. Do you think the talk of a Spanish armada is possible or even probable? Sky dont seem to have many friends do they.

Certainly amongst fans from the continent in particular there's not a lot of love for Sky no, for a number of reasons that I could ramble on about but I'll not bore you with those.

I think in the riders case it's simply a pragmatic approach rather than anything sinister; ultimately Sky are the power force in the sport, they have the deepest pool of talent, biggest budget, which allows them the best equipment and support infrastructure. If you're riding for another team they are your major opposition so it makes sense to target them and break them down however you can. On a purely rider to rider basis I think the relationships are personable enough though.

I don't know regarding the Spanish. Before the race I thought they would team up, and it still seems tactically their best approach, but it all depends whether they believe they can beat Froome or not - if they don't believe that's the case then you can rule out co-operation as they're in a scrap for the other two podium places. Rodriguez is possibly too far back now to be tempted into a pact, and I'm unsure of how good (or bad) the relationship between Contador and Valverde is. If Sanchez were there then I'm sure he'd ride for Alberto and vise-versa but Alejandro, I'm not so sure.

I expect Alberto to try something regardless because I honestly don't think he cares about second place, it's win or nothing for him. Valverde though would probably be happy with 2nd on the podium. It may be that he doesn't commit himself but profits from Contador's work. We shall see. I don't like Valverde so Ideally I'd like to see him miss out all together.