TDF 2017: Stage 5-Vittel - La planche des belles filles 160.5kms *Spoilers*

ocdupalais

Dinyull wrote:

David Millar??? Monotone??? Say it ain't so...

There's been a couple of times he's gone a bit Alan Rickman.

No_Ta_Doctor

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

rick_chasey

TheBigBean wrote:

I think prologues are rarely indicative of much in a three week race. I have also thought that Froome has been a bit undercooked all season, so today's stage will be interesting.

The thing is I'm not sure who else has any form.

I think the opposite. > about prologues

Were I not waiting for my wife on a lovely terrace after a few beers & bitterballen id give evidence ...

kleinstroker

Above The Cows wrote:

God this thesis is boring!

Ooh a cow!

FocusZing

Rick Chasey wrote:

TheBigBean wrote:

I think prologues are rarely indicative of much in a three week race. I have also thought that Froome has been a bit undercooked all season, so today's stage will be interesting.

The thing is I'm not sure who else has any form.

I think the opposite. > about prologues

Were I not waiting for my wife on a lovely terrace after a few beers & bitterballen id give evidence ...

Jeez, keep it between you and your wife!

above_the_cows

kleinstroker wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

God this thesis is boring!

Ooh a cow!

imatfaal

No tA Doctor wrote:

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

From the DS's comments I think they are trying to put a marker down and show that as a team they are stronger than Sky. Which, I think, smacks of hubris. Even if they are the stronger team, there is no need to raise the stakes yet. I cannot believe they are going to put enough pace into the forthcoming cat 3 to inconvenience too many riders, and anyone dropped will be back before the Beautiful Girls anyway. If they can semi-isolate Froome/Thomas on the cat3 and really attack on the MTF then they will be justified - but I just cannot see that. *

*this will now happen

above_the_cows

Galloping cows!

TheBigBean

Contador says he is feeling good, but not exactly talking up his chance of victory.

blazing_saddles

So, Thomas Voeckler has sign to appear in a French soap called: "The Dustbin of Life". :shock:

above_the_cows

Stevo has Bernie to keep him company at the back of the peloton.

No_Ta_Doctor

imatfaal wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

From the DS's comments I think they are trying to put a marker down and show that as a team they are stronger than Sky. Which, I think, smacks of hubris. Even if they are the stronger team, there is no need to raise the stakes yet. I cannot believe they are going to put enough pace into the forthcoming cat 3 to inconvenience too many riders, and anyone dropped will be back before the Beautiful Girls anyway. If they can semi-isolate Froome/Thomas on the cat3 and really attack on the MTF then they will be justified - but I just cannot see that. *

*this will now happen

I'm a strong believer in psychological mind games to dominate the opposition. But not when it lets one of (if not *the*) strongest teams in the peloton avoid doing any work at all before they hit the climbs.

RichN95.

No tA Doctor wrote:

imatfaal wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

From the DS's comments I think they are trying to put a marker down and show that as a team they are stronger than Sky. Which, I think, smacks of hubris. Even if they are the stronger team, there is no need to raise the stakes yet. I cannot believe they are going to put enough pace into the forthcoming cat 3 to inconvenience too many riders, and anyone dropped will be back before the Beautiful Girls anyway. If they can semi-isolate Froome/Thomas on the cat3 and really attack on the MTF then they will be justified - but I just cannot see that. *

*this will now happen

I'm a strong believer in psychological mind games to dominate the opposition. But not when it lets one of (if not *the*) strongest teams in the peloton avoid doing any work at all before they hit the climbs.

There's a decent chance that we'll get to stage 17 before realizing that Mikel Nieve is in the race.

imatfaal

No tA Doctor wrote:

imatfaal wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

From the DS's comments I think they are trying to put a marker down and show that as a team they are stronger than Sky. Which, I think, smacks of hubris. Even if they are the stronger team, there is no need to raise the stakes yet. I cannot believe they are going to put enough pace into the forthcoming cat 3 to inconvenience too many riders, and anyone dropped will be back before the Beautiful Girls anyway. If they can semi-isolate Froome/Thomas on the cat3 and really attack on the MTF then they will be justified - but I just cannot see that. *

*this will now happen

I'm a strong believer in psychological mind games to dominate the opposition. But not when it lets one of (if not *the*) strongest teams in the peloton avoid doing any work at all before they hit the climbs.

Agree - a team can be beaten like that; and BMC have enough ex-Sky to know how it works. However, it can backfire spectacularly if Sky have a train at the bottom of the final climb and BMC are spent; even if Richie hangs on or wins, the team know they are the weaker.

ocdupalais

The message I get from the Watchfinder ads (into and out of the itv4 break) is this: slow, ugly models - clearly not fit for purpose - that then break down with mechanical issues.

I got to me one of them watches.

BrianS

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

What are the English commentators saying? The Dutch commentators on Eurosport are going with the opinion of the other sprinter's they've interviewed and now they've said that that is the end of it.

Brian Smith had a right old rant about Sagan yesterday.
Today it's a back track to relegated yes, DQF no.

Degenkolb and Kittel a bit non-committal, although "hair" said that it sends a message.

Robbie McEwen is currently on the blower to ITV.
Also back tracted. This is a step too far. Bad jury decision. No elbow contact.
Also, Demare different because nobody crashed.

If you watched the show yesterday i called for a sanction and never mentioned a DQ. I stick by that today.....

bigmat

imatfaal wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

imatfaal wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

So BMC doing huge amounts of work today on the flat, while Sky keep everyone fresh. Overconfident in LRP's form to ride the finish alone? An early attack planned?

From the DS's comments I think they are trying to put a marker down and show that as a team they are stronger than Sky. Which, I think, smacks of hubris. Even if they are the stronger team, there is no need to raise the stakes yet. I cannot believe they are going to put enough pace into the forthcoming cat 3 to inconvenience too many riders, and anyone dropped will be back before the Beautiful Girls anyway. If they can semi-isolate Froome/Thomas on the cat3 and really attack on the MTF then they will be justified - but I just cannot see that. *

*this will now happen

I'm a strong believer in psychological mind games to dominate the opposition. But not when it lets one of (if not *the*) strongest teams in the peloton avoid doing any work at all before they hit the climbs.

Agree - a team can be beaten like that; and BMC have enough ex-Sky to know how it works. However, it can backfire spectacularly if Sky have a train at the bottom of the final climb and BMC are spent; even if Richie hangs on or wins, the team know they are the weaker.

I can't see BMC being spent, they don't seem to be pressing that hard at the moment. Maybe just want to keep Porte at the front, he seems a bit nervy so far, I reckon the pressure of being (a) favourite is getting to him a bit. A good showing today would help with that, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him shoot his load a bit too early.

blazing_saddles

Can somebody shut that stage 4 row down?
I'm half asleep and I keep going to post in there as it's always at the top.
Nice of Richie to donate his team to Sky for the day.
Worth 10 seconds.

Right, Carlton is back. time to switch to ITV....

ocdupalais

Porte is currently rocking the best power to weight ratio of most of the GC guys - if the Dauphin is anything to go by: which it is- (Quintana and Thomas being the unknowns). PDBF climb is perfect for him to make the most of it: particularly steep at the bottom (which Froome seems to dislike more and more), fairly consistently steep for another 4km before getting really steep again. He's got time to make up and has to go long and hard.

takethehighroad

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's got ... to go long and hard.

I've got a film with some Beautiful Girls in it that goes along those lines

darkhairedlord

OCDuPalais wrote:

The message I get from the Watchfinder ads (into and out of the itv4 break) is this: slow, ugly models - clearly not fit for purpose - that then break down with mechanical issues.

I got to me one of them watches.

When he has the bike upside down.. :shock: .. he pops the wheel back in backwards.. :oops:

pat1cp

I predict Bertie will loose a good bit of time.

FoldingJoe

OCDuPalais wrote:

The message I get from the Watchfinder ads (into and out of the itv4 break) is this: slow, ugly models - clearly not fit for purpose - that then break down with mechanical issues.

I got to me one of them watches.

I'd like to know who wears multi-thousand pound watches whilst out cycling!! :shock:

pat1cp

FoldingJoe wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

The message I get from the Watchfinder ads (into and out of the itv4 break) is this: slow, ugly models - clearly not fit for purpose - that then break down with mechanical issues.

I got to me one of them watches.

I'd like to know who wears multi-thousand pound watches whilst out cycling!! :shock:

People with Parrrrleeeee's

ocdupalais

pat1cp wrote:

I predict Bertie will loose a good bit of time.

I'll go further and name Top 5:
1. Porte
2. Pinot @ 4 secs
3. Quintana
4. Thomas @ 7 secs
5. Aru

No_Ta_Doctor

FoldingJoe wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

The message I get from the Watchfinder ads (into and out of the itv4 break) is this: slow, ugly models - clearly not fit for purpose - that then break down with mechanical issues.

I got to me one of them watches.

I'd like to know who wears multi-thousand pound watches whilst out cycling!! :shock:

Cavendish, apparently.

blazing_saddles

The bus has been flagged down.

lettingthedaysgoby

Anyone have an idea of approx finish time?

Richmond Racer 2

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's got ... to go long and hard.

I've got a film with some Beautiful Girls in it that goes along those lines

#Filth

blazing_saddles

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

He's got ... to go long and hard.

I've got a film with some Beautiful Girls in it that goes along those lines

Abandon this thread immediately.