Tour de France Stage 9 Gerardmer - Mulhouse *Spoilers*

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Comments

  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Martin takes off. Looks like he has had enough of towing De Marchi around. Good move.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Well De Marchi is definitely not on the front right now.

    A panzerwagon is on the attack in Alsace.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    30 riders in the grupetto and are 10mins or so back on Martin.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    Above The Cows wrote:
    pottssteve wrote:
    Cheng, Kittel etc. 12 minutes back already...... :cry:

    Is King Edward also there? If not this could do Cheng's Lanterne hopes all manner of good.


    No, he's in the peloton :)
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    58km is long, even for Big Tone.
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    Man, those straight, dry roads are dangerous!
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Geraint gets an early crash in, today.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    pottssteve wrote:
    Man, those straight, dry roads are dangerous!

    uphill ones are the worst
  • OPQS
    OPQS Posts: 187
    Turfle wrote:
    58km is long, even for Big Tone.

    The gap isn't big enough sadly. Still, who knows what might happen? A crash at the front could change everything.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Check out the profile. He has not got far to go. After that it is a rubbish profile....downhill then flat. Cannot see anyone catching Tony Martin unless he blows up.

    profile-09.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Turfle wrote:
    pottssteve wrote:
    Man, those straight, dry roads are dangerous!

    uphill ones are the worst

    Sky bike handling innit?
    Correlation is not causation.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Pretty stupid stage for Rodriguez to go in the break. Although he is getting a free ride as is everyone else in it.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    I've only just tuned in, is Spilak in the chase group?
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Above The Cows wrote:
    Well De Marchi is definitely not on the front right now.

    A panzerwagon is on the attack in Alsace.
    Certainly not the first time :mrgreen:
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    Milton50 wrote:
    I've only just tuned in, is Spilak in the chase group?

    Yes.
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    pottssteve wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    pottssteve wrote:
    Cheng, Kittel etc. 12 minutes back already...... :cry:

    Is King Edward also there? If not this could do Cheng's Lanterne hopes all manner of good.


    No, he's in the peloton :)

    This could be canny racing from Spud. The cut-off will be around 26 minutes. If Cannondale sacrifice Sagan in a rocket attack over the last climb and down to the finish they could trim a few minutes off that. Spud sits safe in the peloton while Cheng misses the cut.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Martin has 30 on De Marchi and 2.12 on the chasers. Tony Martin is a good climber so not surprising.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • OPQS
    OPQS Posts: 187
    I can't believe that's Rui Costa's voice on the Merida advert. Sounds like he smokes 40 a day.
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    Menchov'sStabilisers wrote:
    ThomThom wrote:
    It's criminal to design stages like this. Absolutely criminal.

    No, what's criminal is not televising the start of it.

    You need variety. This throws open different possibilities (Sagan going off the front in the first 2km?) and different tactical possibilities. It encourages good descenders (and potentially punishes those who can't). The Cat 1 climb will encourage those fancying the KoM to have a go and we have 28 in a break as a result. The yellow jersey now has a choice whether to try and defend it or not. This parcours allows teams to try and shed the non-climbers early, meaning that leaders can be more isolated in the later stages.

    Now they may not take that opportunity but if every stage was an uphill finish they wouldn't feel so special.

    Of course they aren't using the opportunity because there isn't one. It's the same every year. Climb numerous of mountains and finish the stage of with 40-60 km of flat to the line and it's just as dull every year. I'm all for variety and I l know we have to get through couple of transport stages but climbing 6 mountains and let it end with 40km is just waste. And it will not hurt anyone that 3,4,5 non-climbers get dropped just to catch up on the long descent.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    edited July 2014
    Riders starting to bail out of the rear door of the peloton.
    Chava already done.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Martin dribbling like the dog in Beethoven
    Road
    MTB
    NEW Cross
    Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    Well De Marchi is definitely not on the front right now.

    A panzerwagon is on the attack in Alsace.
    Certainly not the first time :mrgreen:

    Man the Magniot Line!
    Correlation is not causation.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Seeing the polka dots going backwards on climbs is one of my pet-hates.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Martin dribbling like the dog in Beethoven

    Is it dribble or is it snot? If it's snot I have the same problem. Just thought I'd share. I'm not fun to ride in a group with.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Love watching French tv. Since I turned it on about 2hours ago there have been two adverts.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Martin is still putting time into the 20-odd strong chase group. Pretty ridiculous.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    45secs
    2.40
    7.05

    How strong is this rider? Solo and he is crushing everyone even those relaying behind. What a champion.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Love watching French tv. Since I turned it on about 2hours ago there have been two adverts.

    And that's why their economy is in such a bad way - not enough encouraging people to buy stuff...
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Oh more rain... :roll:
    Contador is the Greatest
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    pottssteve wrote:
    Milton50 wrote:
    I've only just tuned in, is Spilak in the chase group?

    Yes.

    Thanks. He was my second choice for PTP.

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