TdF 2015 - Stage 8 - Rennes to Mur De Bretagne **Spoilers***

RideOnTime

I don't know why I should go to the trouble of giving a lovely start to the thread as I have been so terribly abused and belittled by the moderators.

So I won't bother...

Might actually try and find time to watch a bit of this one... but it doesn't look all that exciting .. flatish through Britanny.

That said I do like Britanny

blazing_saddles

The odd graphic might help your plight.




Another beautiful day forecast, but after a gentle headwind for much of the stage, it becomes a crosswind as the route heads North for the fast and furious final run to the Mur.

smithy21

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648151#p19648151]RideOnTime[/url] wrote:

I don't know why I should go to the trouble of giving a lovely start to the thread as I have been so terribly abused and belittled by the moderators.

So I won't bother...

Might actually try and find time to watch a bit of this one... but it doesn't look all that exciting .. flatish through Britanny.

That said I do like Britanny

As Cavendish said to Renshaw yesterday- "take a break, sunshine".

robnewcastle

GC rivals can't afford to lose any more time to Froome today (states the obvious)

The Loyal Lieutenant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648151#p19648151]RideOnTime[/url] wrote:

I don't know why I should go to the trouble of giving a lovely start to the thread as I have been so terribly abused and belittled by the moderators.

?

thomthom

It's not hard to start a thread with posting a simple stage profile and additional info. Harden up and soldier on.

milton50

So what do we think for today?

With the TTT tomorrow will Sky and the other GC teams be happy to let a breakaway go all the way or will Nibali and Contador want to try and take a few seconds back today?

JackPozzi

Wondering if we might see the climbers attempting to get some time into TJ today to counter what they're expecting to lose to hime tomorrow?

robnewcastle

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648193#p19648193]Milton50[/url] wrote:

So what do we think for today?

With the TTT tomorrow will Sky and the other GC teams be happy to let a breakaway go all the way or will Nibali and Contador want to try and take a few seconds back today?

Contador or Nibali could do with a confidence booster. A punchy win for a psychological victory and some valuable seconds would be just the ticket. Question is, can either of them distance Froome?

inseine

Evans winning in 2011 (sorry Bertie). Iran was 4th and Wiggins lost 6 seconds. Didn't seem that decisive but apparently it's harder this year with a turn at the foot of the climb which means they start it with little momentum.

FJS

Result on Mur de Bretagne in 2011:
1. Evans
2. Contador
3. Vino
4. Uran
5. Gilbert

Group of 9 mostly GC favourites was clear, with Hushovd in yellow very impressively being able to hang on, but too exhausted to sprint.
Will Sagan be able to hang on, and if he does, does he have enough left to sprint?

kleinstroker

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648151#p19648151]RideOnTime[/url] wrote:

I don't know why I should go to the trouble of giving a lovely start to the thread as I have been so terribly abused and belittled by the moderators.

So I won't bother...

Might actually try and find time to watch a bit of this one... but it doesn't look all that exciting .. flatish through Britanny.

That said I do like Britanny

Well I for one always enjoy them, they add local colour to places I have never seen or been to. I say keep it going!

RideOnTime

milton50

My guess would be that we see a similar finish to stage 6. I think there'll be a group of about 15-20 who reach 1km to go together, look around at each other, someone launches one and just manages to hang on.

The key for the likes of Sagan and Degenkolb is having a team mate with them to lead them out.

wombly_knees

Only rider in the field to win in Mur de Bretagne is Reinardt van Rensburg, albeit in a tiny race. Hope he turns up again after yesterday's stage.

DeadCalm

Very excited about this stage. Fully expect my man Barguil to light it up.

alihisgreat

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648222#p19648222]FJS[/url] wrote:

Result on Mur de Bretagne in 2011:
1. Evans
2. Contador
3. Vino
4. Uran
5. Gilbert

Group of 9 mostly GC favourites was clear, with Hushovd in yellow very impressively being able to hang on, but too exhausted to sprint.
Will Sagan be able to hang on, and if he does, does he have enough left to sprint?

I hope not... I entered a competition guessing that Sagan will be in white on Sunday.. not yellow.

FJS

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648239#p19648239]Milton50[/url] wrote:

My guess would be that we see a similar finish to stage 6. I think there'll be a group of about 15-20 who reach 1km to go together, look around at each other, someone launches one and just manages to hang on.

The key for the likes of Sagan and Degenkolb is having a team mate with them to lead them out.

I'd be impressed if Degenkolb is still there on this hill. Or disappointed at inaction... It's considerably harder than Le Havre. Kinda in between Le Havre and Huy

milton50

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648255#p19648255]FJS[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648239#p19648239]Milton50[/url] wrote:

My guess would be that we see a similar finish to stage 6. I think there'll be a group of about 15-20 who reach 1km to go together, look around at each other, someone launches one and just manages to hang on.

The key for the likes of Sagan and Degenkolb is having a team mate with them to lead them out.

I'd be impressed if Degenkolb is still there on this hill. Or disappointed at inaction... It's considerably harder than Le Havre. Kinda in between Le Havre and Huy

Yep, I watched it in 2011.

stanislav

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648193#p19648193]Milton50[/url] wrote:

So what do we think for today?

With the TTT tomorrow will Sky and the other GC teams be happy to let a breakaway go all the way or will Nibali and Contador want to try and take a few seconds back today?

This may well be the first break to stick,Non GC teams could put a couple of puncheurs in the break with the sprinters teams not chasing due to the finish. Agree GC teams could be saving energy for the TTT but if it all comes back together they can have a go late on.

mr_poll

Big split on todays PTP:

Purito is slightly ahead and goes in as the PTP fave, with Gallopin, Valverde and Dan Martin joint second favourites

blazing_saddles

BOTD currently at 3'-40". Bartosz Huzarski (Bora-Argon 18), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Romain Sicard (Europcar) and Pierre-Luc Périchon (Bretagne-Séché Environnement).

Have a feeling the race will blow apart in the final kms to Muy de Bretagne. Roller coaster road and a crosswind.

ddraver

Nice article to whet your whistle before the coverage starts - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/11724777/Fabian-Cancellara-fittingly-exits-in-yellow-after-carnage-of-Tour-de-France-crash.html -

I'm not a big fan of taht guy's writing but he'd done good there...

The Loyal Lieutenant

You guys watching ITV4 or ES?

ddraver

ES or Sporza on the telly with english ES (only option) on the laptop

rick_chasey

TdG riding on the front.

2 broken ribs bruised shoulder.

Lad.

ben@31

Interesting article on ITV explaining the TDF timing system. I agree its a bit odd that if there is a bunch finish, the rider who was 99th gets the same time as the front of the peloton, yet if the 100th placed rider is 1 second behind he gets a completely different time (that does not reflect the difference between 99th and 100th, in ITV's example 99th was +0'01" and 100th was +0'14". Even when 100th finished 1 second after 99th).

rick_chasey

always been that way in all bike races.

ben@31

ITV commentator "Look you can see the..."

...Website starts buffering...

... Then it's gone.

RideOnTime

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648288#p19648288]The Loyal Lieutenant[/url] wrote:

You guys watching ITV4 or ES?

I am ITV4 :shock: :? :shock:

DeVlaeminck

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648320#p19648320]ben@31[/url] wrote:

Interesting article on ITV explaining the TDF timing system. I agree its a bit odd that if there is a bunch finish, the rider who was 99th gets the same time as the front of the peloton, yet if the 100th placed rider is 1 second behind he gets a completely different time (that does not reflect the difference between 99th and 100th, in ITV's example 99th was +0'01" and 100th was +0'14". Even when 100th finished 1 second after 99th).

Interesting that you thought that was interesting. For me that is exactly what is wrong with the ITV coverage - it's like watching Bike Racing for Dummies - would they stop to explain the offside rule before a football match? Anyone with even a passing interest in bike racing knows what the timing situation is and why it is like that - those that don't would soon pick it up. I don't want them to explain what I'm watching I want the commentary to add to it, I want the pundits to give me some opinion.