TDF 2017:16th July - Stage 15 - Laissac-Sévérac l'Église - Le Puy-en-Velay 189.5kms *Spoilers*

No_Ta_Doctor

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Wanted to attack over the summit. An earlier attack risked a counter attack and getting dropped. He knew he wasn't the best climber in the group

salsiccia1

Just finished watching this on delay. That's a brilliant ride by Mollema, shame he's not at the pointy end.

As for the French public, if I was Froome and I managed to win this, I'd be riding down the Champs like

No_Ta_Doctor

Salsiccia1 wrote:

Just finished watching this on delay. That's a brilliant ride by Mollema, shame he's not at the pointy end.

As for the French public, if I was Froome and I managed to win this, I'd be riding down the Champs like

Though obviously with both hands, as it would be four wins. Afterwards he'd be asked about it and would slip into a Kenyan accent as he says he didn't think of it as two fingers but a double victory salute...

No_Ta_Doctor

Someone miscounted the riders ahead of Mathews at the finish. He bust a nut to ensure a couple of points, but came in 16th. There were 2 pts for 15th place. I wouldn't want to be his DS this evening.

inseine

I think Froome and Landa just showed they're the best two climbers in the race. Possibly best two riders period

wiggofan

Noticed some comments on other forums saying Landa was told to drop right back to help Froome as soon as he punctured. I don't know how true this is but either way if I was Froome I don't think I would trust Landa. The commentators have been saying how much Landa helped Froome get back to the Bardet group but his help was very minimal - Froome had virtually made it back before Landa decided to drop back.

above_the_cows

iainf72 wrote:

Good stage. I'm not sure AG2R know they're French anymore.

Unrelated to cycling but important link

http://boingboing.net/2017/07/15/meet-t ... t-hor.html

So that's what Frenchie is doing now.

iainf72

Nope. He was told to stay in the leaders' group.

And drifting out for the final bit was more of a psychological aid than anything else.

RichN95.

wiggofan wrote:

Noticed some comments on other forums saying Landa was told to drop right back to help Froome as soon as he punctured. I don't know how true this is but either way if I was Froome I don't think I would trust Landa. The commentators have been saying how much Landa helped Froome get back to the Bardet group but his help was very minimal - Froome had virtually made it back before Landa decided to drop back.

Why on earth would they drop Landa back? He's still in with a chance himself. It's like when Valverde lost 8 minutes due a puncture in crosswinds in 2013, Movistar kept Quintana (who was 8th at the time) in the front group.

slim_boy_fat

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Also Martin said they were in the red at the bottom of the climb so can only imagine how deep they had all gone by the time Froome got back on. Maybe he just couldn't attack and make it stick at that time.

Lanterne_Rogue

No tA Doctor wrote:

Someone miscounted the riders ahead of Mathews at the finish. He bust a nut to ensure a couple of points, but came in 16th. There were 2 pts for 15th place. I wouldn't want to be his DS this evening.

Probably an innocent explanation for miscounting.

Was one of them Zubeldia?

iainf72

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Also Martin said they were in the red at the bottom of the climb so can only imagine how deep they had all gone by the time Froome got back on. Maybe he just couldn't attack and make it stick at that time.

The fact Froome got back must be slightly crushing for those guys.

I thought Landa dropping back was also a display of power. Dropped back and then rode back up without an issue.

fleshtuxedo

No tA Doctor wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Wanted to attack over the summit. An earlier attack risked a counter attack and getting dropped. He knew he wasn't the best climber in the group

In effect that means he was riding against Aru and Uran, when Froome was on the ropes. That's what surprises me - Bardet was 2nd last year, but he still doesn't seem to be prepared to risk it all to go for the win.

fleshtuxedo

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Also Martin said they were in the red at the bottom of the climb so can only imagine how deep they had all gone by the time Froome got back on. Maybe he just couldn't attack and make it stick at that time.

But they'd done the climb 45 secs slower than Froome had, and Bardet was able to attack 1-2 minutes after Froome got on. Was Bardet really not capable of going that much earlier? Surely a blunder.

inseine

You can understand Bardet. Probably thought Froome was finished and was deploying the team with the finish in mind, not expecting Froomecto get back.

inseine

iainf72 wrote:

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Also Martin said they were in the red at the bottom of the climb so can only imagine how deep they had all gone by the time Froome got back on. Maybe he just couldn't attack and make it stick at that time.

The fact Froome got back must be slightly crushing for those guys.

I thought Landa dropping back was also a display of power. Dropped back and then rode back up without an issue.

Like I said, best two riders on the race. Martin said he was on the limit yet La da could drop off and ride back.

fleshtuxedo

inseine wrote:

You can understand Bardet. Probably thought Froome was finished and was deploying the team with the finish in mind, not expecting Froomecto get back.

Radio???

slim_boy_fat

iainf72 wrote:

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Also Martin said they were in the red at the bottom of the climb so can only imagine how deep they had all gone by the time Froome got back on. Maybe he just couldn't attack and make it stick at that time.

The fact Froome got back must be slightly crushing for those guys.

I thought Landa dropping back was also a display of power. Dropped back and then rode back up without an issue.

First thing I thought when I heard Martin's comments. If they were indeed at their limit and Froome managed to make up 45 s and Landa dropped off a couple of hundred metres and spun back up to the front of the group seemingly without breaking sweat must have them wondering what they have to do to make up enough time to have a chance in the TT.

Lanterne_Rogue

FleshTuxedo wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

FleshTuxedo wrote:

I dont get why Bardet left his attack until after Froome and Landa got back on. They had what 1-2 minutes to catch their breath? An attack just that much earlier surely made more sense.

Wanted to attack over the summit. An earlier attack risked a counter attack and getting dropped. He knew he wasn't the best climber in the group

In effect that means he was riding against Aru and Uran, when Froome was on the ropes. That's what surprises me - Bardet was 2nd last year, but he still doesn't seem to be prepared to risk it all to go for the win.

This is thinking one-dimensionally. Bardet absolutely has to beat Aru and Uran as well as Froome. Focusing only on Froome is the mistake that Porte made in the dolphin, and you'd like to think a GC contender would have learnt from that.

blazing_saddles

I see that Matt Rendell needs to go an ambush Jalabert, again.
He has about as much class as those French peasants on the climb.

slim_boy_fat

Blazing Saddles wrote:

I see that Matt Rendell needs to go an ambush Jalabert, again.
He has about as much class as those French peasants on the climb.

What's he said now?

specialgueststar

SpecialGuestStar wrote:

Pross wrote:

Cannondale look like a strong team of domestiques where someone forgot to select a team leader. FDJ and AG2R look to be lacking any real support for the great French hopes.

Ag2R have some real strength in depth for general riding and more (Naesen and Bakelants etc) and Latour, Vuillermoz and Frank in the mountains and that team rides and rides - so I think Bardet is well protected. He also is a rider who reacts well to the race and doesn't need constant pacing

blazing_saddles

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

I see that Matt Rendell needs to go an ambush Jalabert, again.
He has about as much class as those French peasants on the climb.

What's he said now?

https://twitter.com/oufeh/status/886639781609971712

RichN95.

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

I see that Matt Rendell needs to go an ambush Jalabert, again.
He has about as much class as those French peasants on the climb.

What's he said now?

https://twitter.com/oufeh/status/886639781609971712

I don't think that's a reliable source

inseine

FleshTuxedo wrote:

inseine wrote:

You can understand Bardet. Probably thought Froome was finished and was deploying the team with the finish in mind, not expecting Froomecto get back.

Radio???

True, though I'm not sure how easy it is to read those situations on the fly and then relay to the team. Of course I've never been in that situation

salsiccia1

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Slim Boy Fat wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

I see that Matt Rendell needs to go an ambush Jalabert, again.
He has about as much class as those French peasants on the climb.

What's he said now?

https://twitter.com/oufeh/status/886639781609971712

andyp

Pross wrote:

Can't help feeling Barguil should have been challenging the GC here.

He broke his pelvis at Romandy. It's amazing he's even riding the Tour, never mind doing so well, but that's too big a chunk of training too miss to aim at GC.

iainf72

RichN95 wrote:

I don't think that's a reliable source

He's one of the "Bert was stitched up" brigade, isn't he?

RichN95.

iainf72 wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

I don't think that's a reliable source

He's one of the "Bert was stitched up" brigade, isn't he?

I don't know about his Bert feelings. He's one of the twitter doping fans. The one's who currently can't understand how Froome can ride up a mountain 45 seconds faster than Alex Vuillermoz.

tailwindhome

If you see a cyclist changing a wheel and your assumption is secret motorized doping rather than puncture, you're probably a moron.