TDF 2017: Stage 8 -Dole - Station des rousses 187.5kms *Spoilers*

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

Week 3 is a long way away for Aru.....

He's shown he can last the course though. But that will be his best day.

Anyway. Stage 8. No-one will attack on that last climb - but if there's a concerted effort to keep the pace high, the field of contenders could be narrowed.

rick_chasey

The descent is the interest.

Very dicey.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

The descent is the interest.

Very dicey.

On stage 8? Surely stage 9 - the one from the Dauphine

shockedsoshocked

Personally has Cummings writen all over it. Attack breakaway on climb and solo to victory whilst they're all looking at each other.

Put your house on it

FocusZing

Saint-Claude is Alexis Vuillermoz's (Pikachu) home town, 5.9ft, 60kg. Rides for AG2R La Mondiale.

NervexProf

Stage 8 Steve Cummings please

blazing_saddles

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

Did you catch what Francois Thomazeau was saying on t'podcast this morning about BMC and their mullarkey on the Belles Filles stage?

The thing with BMC on that stage is, while it looked baffling, when ultimately the move went after Aru - Froome, Porte, Martin, Bardet - Porte just sat wheelsucking. They could have put time into the others, but he was obsessed with Froome. I'd be p1ssed off if I was his teammates that he turned down an opportunity to make some profit. (He must have learned at Sky that early narrowing down of the contenders is beneficial)

I think LRP and Fenton are both too obsessed with each other tbh...which is how Aru skipped off

Fenton prob wont make that mistake again this Tour, mind

Much as Contador used to be obsessed with Froome's wheel, back in the days when he could hold onto it. :P

Storms forecast for the second half of the stage.

above_the_cows

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

That's a great cow collective and a lovely trotteur de charme, AtC


So. Stevo C for this stage?

That's exactly what Mr Cows has just said, who knew he paid so much attention.

smithy21

One for Gesink today??

imatfaal

Some dire predictions on the weather front. Weather Channel even has an article on Thunderstorms for the Tour de France. Hope we see no rain - although the temperatures and humidity will be bad enough with three climbs

Pross

Given the recent trend to curtail or cancel races in any slightly inclement weather will they ride in thunderstorms? All that carbon fibre on hilltops with electricity

No_Ta_Doctor

Above The Cows wrote:

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

That's a great cow collective and a lovely trotteur de charme, AtC


So. Stevo C for this stage?

That's exactly what Mr Cows has just said, who knew he paid so much attention.

I like to think of Mr Cows as a disinterested, impartial observer, not swayed by hyperbole or hysteria. I shall henceforth refer to him as "Above The Bull(****)"

Pross

I'd have thought a stage like today could suit Froome and maybe Porte as they are stronger riding solo on the flat than many of their rivals. If the lead group can get thinned to just the favourites in the climb they could gain with an attack late on the climb.

No_Ta_Doctor

Now this is what televising the opening is all about.
First 11km done in 12 mins - 55km/h.

Madness, everyone wants into the break.

Sky doing their best to let something go and calm it down.

No_Ta_Doctor

Lotto Jumbo didn't make it, so they're chasing.
GVA one of the two BMC that got up the road a little

No_Ta_Doctor

GVA, Chavanel and Lutsenko have a little hole, another group of about a dozen were trying to get up to them, too many riders trying so Sky up the tempo

Lanterne_Rogue

Cummings showing every sign of doing bugger all, for those who are interested. Nobody seems to be able to agree to let it go yet though, so maybe he has time.

No_Ta_Doctor

Front trio have 16" to the peloton. Plenty of pissed off DSes telling their riders to go off the front.

No_Ta_Doctor

:shock: 20km in 20 minutes.

Dimension Data among those trying to narrow the gap.

No_Ta_Doctor

Sunweb desperate to get in today

Lanterne_Rogue

No tA Doctor wrote:

:shock: 20km in 20 minutes.

Dimension Data among those trying to narrow the gap.

First stage to live up to the hype, as far as the first hour goes?

No_Ta_Doctor

Stevo in customary position at the back, for those that put money on him.

No_Ta_Doctor

Calming down a touch as nobody wants to go into the first small climb already on the rivet. But I don't think the front three will remain three all that long. Sunweb to the front again, the climb will be interesting.

No_Ta_Doctor

underlayunderlay wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

:shock: 20km in 20 minutes.

Dimension Data among those trying to narrow the gap.

First stage to live up to the hype, as far as the first hour goes?

And then some, imo. The first few minutes were utter madness. Half the peloton were trying to get in the break.

No_Ta_Doctor

To add to the interest, there's an intermediate sprint at 45.5km, shortly after they've gone up the (uncategorised) climb. Looks like a few of the sprint teams don't want the points going to the break.

RichN95.

The Moto 3 driver spends more time with Steve Cummings than they do with their own family

No_Ta_Doctor

Break caught, cue more attacks.

lettingthedaysgoby

Ooooh look, bike racing.

I'd forgotten what it looked like after the last couple of days

No_Ta_Doctor

Renshaw out the back already, gonna be a long day for ham. Rowe also taking a shot at the Lanterne.

No_Ta_Doctor

Sunweb trying to keep things together for Mathews in the intermediate in 10km