Critérium du Dauphiné ***spoilers***
Comments
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Interesting to note that Froome now has 5 victories this year (3 road stages, 2 GC's) and Contador has 2 (1 stage, 1 GC)
Interesting in what way? The both won a stage at Andalucia and Froome edged the overall win by 2secs. Contador won a whole Grand Tour. Froome won this race with two stage wins. Not much you can read into that other than as per usual Contador doesn't win sprints and a Grand Tour win trumps a week stage race.
I just hope Contador focuses all his training on riding up mountains faster given the TT is no longer an element. He is back in action this Thursday at Route du Sud which Quintana is also racing.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
In glorious slow-motion :shock:New self-lactating skinsuit prototype (might just be a dreadful coincidence, given the recent happy announcement).
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Oh boy this is a photo and a half.
Just found the credit - James Startt apparently
Some great Lance photos
http://jamesstartt.zenfolio.com/p252388754/h112840d6#h112840d6“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
In glorious slow-motion :shock:New self-lactating skinsuit prototype (might just be a dreadful coincidence, given the recent happy announcement).
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Tekle win MTN's first ever WT jersey! Nice work.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Based on what I've seen so far Contador really has to be favourite for the Tour. Froome is not as strong as 2013 and neither are Team Sky but they look slightly stronger than Contador's troops and that might edge it for Sky. They'll have to ride smarter though. Spending every day on the front is not going to work. No one seems that dominant though. Perhaps Quintana but is he that much better in the mountains? Be nice to see Yates and Bardet figuring in the mountains too.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme0 -
I don't think there is really anything between the top 4 - Nibbles couldnt give a monkeys about the Dauphine so did nt exactly bring his A game last week. Quintana is unknown but easily the most capable of lighting up the race. Bertie and Froome both favour riding an uber-defensive race. The problem for either of them will be to shake the other off. Bertie will be tired after the Giro, but I'm not sure Froome always has the racing instinct to take advantage of a momentary weakness. Nibbles sits somewhere in between the 2 groups i reckon.We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Gruber
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Oh boy this is a photo and a half.
Brilliant find Frenchie. Probably your best contribution of the year.Trail fun - Transition Bandit
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris0 -
Gruber
Kennaugh is definitely one of the more aesthetically pleasing SKY riders, especially in GB jersey.0 -
Based on what I've seen so far Contador really has to be favourite for the Tour.
I don't think there can be a favourite for the Tour at the moment. They are so closely matched on paper. Personally, I've always backed Quintana since the start of the year but we'll see what he looks like in the Route du Sud.0 -
Barring injury the Tour will finish this way (only amongst the four favourites here so there's a small possibility that someone else could sneak in between)
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Quintana
4. Contador
I say that because Bert has a GT in his legs already and has by quite some distance the worst team around him, especially given that Sagan will be going for Green.0 -
Quintana will beat nibali. He is physically stronger and equally mature, mentally. Tactically astute as well0
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Barring injury the Tour will finish this way (only amongst the four favourites here so there's a small possibility that someone else could sneak in between)
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Quintana
4. Contador
I say that because Bert has a GT in his legs already and has by quite some distance the worst team around him, especially given that Sagan will be going for Green.
That's quite a degree of certainty that 4 riders will finish in that precise order after a grand tour that doesn't start for another 3 weeks and only injury can prevent this outcome.
Why would I bother to watch it now?"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
I am unconvinced by Quintana - I think he is overrated.
My Tour finishing order
Froome
Contador
Quintana
Nibali0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19625746#p19625746]disgruntledgoat[/url] wrote:Barring injury the Tour will finish this way (only amongst the four favourites here so there's a small possibility that someone else could sneak in between)
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Quintana
4. Contador
I say that because Bert has a GT in his legs already and has by quite some distance the worst team around him, especially given that Sagan will be going for Green.
That's quite a degree of certainty that 4 riders will finish in that precise order after a grand tour that doesn't start for another 3 weeks and only injury can prevent this outcome.
Why would I bother to watch it now?
Obviously you don't need to now you know the result.0 -
I am unconvinced by Quintana - I think he is overrated.
My Tour finishing order
Froome
Contador
Quintana
Nibali
I agree with you about Quintana, he's close but not quite there yet. I'd like to be proven wrong (again) as I like him.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19625746#p19625746]disgruntledgoat[/url] wrote:Barring injury the Tour will finish this way (only amongst the four favourites here so there's a small possibility that someone else could sneak in between)
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Quintana
4. Contador
I say that because Bert has a GT in his legs already and has by quite some distance the worst team around him, especially given that Sagan will be going for Green.
That's quite a degree of certainty that 4 riders will finish in that precise order after a grand tour that doesn't start for another 3 weeks and only injury can prevent this outcome.
Why would I bother to watch it now?
Obviously you don't need to now you know the result.
Excuse me, I need to call my turf accountant"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
It was TWH's find.
Oh boy this is a photo and a half.
Brilliant find Frenchie. Probably your best contribution of the year.
You can both have aadr82 wrote:
In glorious slow-motion :shock:RonB wrote:
New self-lactating skinsuit prototype (might just be a dreadful coincidence, given the recent happy announcement). from me too. 0 -
What makes you think Quintana is overrated? He is exceptional!0
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Everyone sure that the big 4 are all even going to finish the race? Wouldn't be surprising to see at least one of them drop out for one reason or another...0
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Everyone sure that the big 4 are all even going to finish the race? Wouldn't be surprising to see at least one of them drop out for one reason or another...
We had similar anticipation last year before Frome & Contador both crashed out - as well as the Cav/Kittle showdown being over before the first finish line.0 -
Everyone sure that the big 4 are all even going to finish the race? Wouldn't be surprising to see at least one of them drop out for one reason or another...
Well no, they most likely won't all make it out of week 1.0 -
That was my point, seems ever so slightly premature to be talking about finishing orders already! Can't even be sure they'll all even start, Contador or Quintana could crash in the Route du Sud for example.Everyone sure that the big 4 are all even going to finish the race? Wouldn't be surprising to see at least one of them drop out for one reason or another...
Well no, they most likely won't all make it out of week 1.0 -
If Quintana is at the same level as 2014, I think he has a narrow edge, and he should still be improving. I don't think Contador or Froome would have dropped him recently. It's more likely Quintana could have skipped away for short gains. Froometador's TT superiority over 13.8km is balanced by a likely Movistar edge in the 28km TTT.
Quintana also has podium-threat Valverde and an in-form Movistar, at least a match for Fuglslang and Astana, more resilient than Sky, and vastly superior to Saxo. He has form for turning around iffy form, winning the Giro by miles coming from way back after illness. He's not lacking in self-confidence.
It's a dead heat just behind. Contador's marginal top-form uphill superiority over Froome dampened a touch by Giro fatigue, and Froome's climbing edge over Nibali matched by Italian TTT and opportunist savvy.
Might be an OK Tour....a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.0 -
"...18....19...20. Here I come, ready or no-ot"0 -
What makes you think Quintana is overrated? He is exceptional!
His climbing isn't as good as the others when it gets really steep. And he will lose time on the ITT.0 -
"...18....19...20. Here I come, ready or no-ot"
Is he trying to find a teammate at the top?0 -
Where's Cuddles?0
