TDF Stage 21: Évry-Paris ***Spoiler***

above_the_cows

Rick Chasey wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

Shows how tired they all are when the Honey Badger nabs third.

Like they were on stage 1?

Well if Froome had still been in the race he could have got 6th today.

Paul 8v

It just showed the sprint in Harrogate, Honey Badger was wearing arm warmers, it was bloody hot that day!

frenchfighter

Has Cheng finished yet?

Paul 8v

frenchfighter wrote:

Has Cheng finished yet?

I think he had to finish with all the others. Hopefully the extra lap will be added to his time

frenchfighter

coriordan wrote:

http://gfycat.com/UnnaturalSoupyBoilweevil

Finish gif

Nice, Kittel looked cooked. Very tight style there for such a large guy.

frenchfighter

Paul 8v wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Has Cheng finished yet?

I think he had to finish with all the others. Hopefully the extra lap will be added to his time

Pretty sure a 'lap out' doesnt exist here.

emadden

frenchfighter wrote:

Paul 8v wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Has Cheng finished yet?

I think he had to finish with all the others. Hopefully the extra lap will be added to his time

Pretty sure a 'lap out' doesnt exist here.

He wouldn't have to do the last lap, but his average lap time will be added. That is common in stage races where there is a finishing circuit.

nevman

Podium girl again reluctant to kiss Nibs?

type:epyt

Such a shame Nibs' Italian champs jersey is so crap. Would have been good to see the bandiera shown with more style.

frenchfighter

emadden wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Paul 8v wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Has Cheng finished yet?

I think he had to finish with all the others. Hopefully the extra lap will be added to his time

Pretty sure a 'lap out' doesnt exist here.

He wouldn't have to do the last lap, but his average lap time will be added. That is common in stage races where there is a finishing circuit.

First time I've come across it. Plausible I suppose.

type:epyt

Nibs proper emotional when the il Canto started playing. Good to see what the whole thing means to him.

knedlicky

frenchfighter wrote:

emadden wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Paul 8v wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Has Cheng finished yet?

I think he had to finish with all the others. Hopefully the extra lap will be added to his time

Pretty sure a 'lap out' doesnt exist here.

He wouldn't have to do the last lap, but his average lap time will be added. That is common in stage races where there is a finishing circuit.

First time I've come across it. Plausible I suppose.

However it was deduced, Cheng was given a time of +9:25.

Not all riders were in the pack or within 2 mins behind, 3 others were +3:30 to +4:30 adrift (Kiryienka, Kadri and Pichot).

Paul 8v

type:epyt wrote:

Such a shame Nibs' Italian champs jersey is so crap. Would have been good to see the bandiera shown with more style.

Maybe they will let him have a proper one now. I hope so,even he thinks it's cack but you have to please the sponsors...

Paul 8v

Cipo, legend!

above_the_cows

And so it comes to this.

The end. The final curtain. The last lap of the Champs Elysee has been done (unless you're CHENG. GO CHENG!!!!!) and here are the results of the raffle.

But first a moments commiseration for hommelbier who briefly leaped into the top 10 today when I added the GC points due to his Valverde pick, only to slip out of the top 10 because he backed the wrong German who had to settle for fourth behind a charging Honey Badger. Sorry hommelbier but I am secretly pleased because I've got my 7th spot back! :P

So the raffle results...

And winning the large strange blue bowl and a rendition of the national anthem of their choice by Lesley Garrett is Key a full 10 points ahead of his nearest rival and holding the lead for most of the race, he is a fitting champion.

In second spot sure no doubt to seek team leadership from Key next year and feed Bernie Eisel's bunny to his pet snake is rozzer32 who backed the right German.

Rounding off the podium 6 points back after a poor time trial made Greipel seem like a good choice we have tforonda. Gorillas are rarely a good choice unless it's misty and you're Dian Fossey.

And the rest of the top 10 is as follows:

In fourth, that most cruel of spots could have been a podium but isn't, we have: archieboy a mere 2 points down on that third step.

In fifth we have, Ben who snores a further 5 seconds back. I'm sure with some sleep therapy his recovery will be all the better and he can challenge for the podium next year.

In sixth it's FJS who sneaked up into the top 10 (and stole my spot) just the other day by having the nerve to pick anyone else other than Peter Sagan. Gefeliciteerd!

In seventh, well yes it's me! My second GT top 10 in a row! Some of you others might also have achieved such feats but sorry I don't care about you. I'm a contender! I will be expecting a pay rise and full on team support only no doubt to languish like Teejay Van Garderen in mid-top 10 obscurity for ever more.

In 8th place it's dish-dash just 1 point behind with a last minute dash into the top 10 also with an inspired pick for John Degenoddingdog on the John Nettles stage

And...

thomasmc, yep you've got to share this one folks, if you'd picked the Nodding Dog too thomas you'd have beaten the usurper, but that's PTP. But as consolation you win the Haimar Zubeldia invisibility cloak, but please use it only for good.

And then in 10th place we have the Nervous Prof, I'm not sure why they have to be nervous, being a Prof they already have tenure but anyway I digress, just 2 points behind dish-dash and thomasmc.

Again hommelbier was so close in 11th just 1 point behind but them's the breaks.

Lastly then, before I trot off under an Arc de Triomphe emblazoned in a lovely horse here is the magnificent spreadsheet that I will dearly miss such as it has come to define the rhythm of my days.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nDDFTMLNVjurt88VlyjNJhWJMJGrfEKgWyaEUqaKAIc/pubhtml

Merci all, it's been fun.

above_the_cows

And now I'm going to eat a curry with a Toblerone chaser.

mike6

Above The Cows wrote:

And now I'm going to eat a curry with a Toblerone chaser.

Enjoy. I have just had the ultimate curry, the two day old leftover, absolutely stunning with a re heated nan bread.

Thanks for the entertainment ATC, always a pleasure.

frenchfighter

RonB

nevman

Only 49 weeks to the next one...what fun.

RichN95.

nevman wrote:

Only 49 weeks to the next one...what fun.

Only one week to the Tour of Poland.

frenchfighter

His wife.

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

Sagan's

Nibali's

Majka's

Paul 8v

Finally those Corina wheels actually match the bike, I've always thought they looked a bit weird with the yellow logos!

I suppose the eternal question will be would he still have won if Froome and Contador were riding? I think he probably would have done to be fair

ben@31

g .

RichN95.

nevman wrote:

Only 49 weeks to the next one...what fun.

Odds for 2015 (from Paddy Power)

15/8 Froome
7/2 Contador
5/2 Nibali
4/1 Quintana
33/1 Uran, Pinot & Van Garderen

frenchfighter

Yellow Gazzetta!

cesco

frenchfighter wrote:

Yellow Gazzetta!

Amazing!