TdF 2017: Stage 19 Embrun - Salon-de-Provence, 222.5kms *Spoilers*

245

Comments

  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436
    Today needed to be a medium mountain stage.
    3 climbs of 20-25 mins.
    125km
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    No, but you'd have to try surely. I'm sure in 99.99% of situations it would be a forlorn hope but if you were secure on the podium it's worth the gamble for a 0.01% chance of the top step. What if there were huge crosswinds on the run in to Paris?
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    Less than one second, with the countback deciding it. It will not happen. Was it last year they even took the times a lap before the finish?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Not a chance it will be contested on the Champs. Ever.

    Why not? If you're in second and less than 10 seconds off the lead with a 2 minute cushion to third place why on earth wouldn't you at least try? I've never seen a gap anywhere close enough for it to be tested (50 seconds or so is the least I can remember and that's too much).

    Also, slightly different question but if the leader punctures when the racing is on on the Champs and the gap is so small it's likely to cost them the race do the other contenders wait for them and leave the rest to fight out the stage.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,436
    Pross wrote:
    Not a chance it will be contested on the Champs. Ever.

    Why not? If you're in second and less than 10 seconds off the lead with a 2 minute cushion to third place why on earth wouldn't you at least try? I've never seen a gap anywhere close enough for it to be tested (50 seconds or so is the least I can remember and that's too much).

    Also, slightly different question but if the leader punctures when the racing is on on the Champs and the gap is so small it's likely to cost them the race do the other contenders wait for them and leave the rest to fight out the stage.

    UNWRITTEN RULES LAD! UNWRITTEN RULES!!!!!
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Pross wrote:
    Not a chance it will be contested on the Champs. Ever.

    Why not? If you're in second and less than 10 seconds off the lead with a 2 minute cushion to third place why on earth wouldn't you at least try? I've never seen a gap anywhere close enough for it to be tested (50 seconds or so is the least I can remember and that's too much).

    Also, slightly different question but if the leader punctures when the racing is on on the Champs and the gap is so small it's likely to cost them the race do the other contenders wait for them and leave the rest to fight out the stage.

    Too much on sprinters' teams to have a sprint.

    No more EPO for Vino style moves off the front. Too easy to control. Too short.

    Nah.
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    Pross wrote:
    Good camera position to give a flavour of the speed. It's a bit harsh on Kwiato that he's having to spend a fair amount of the front again today!

    Just thinking ahead, how small a gap among the leaders would be needed to make the final stage a race rather than a procession?

    Never. Unless the final stage is a TT
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  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    I have the Klaxon at the ready, however, someone else might have to take over at some point as our architect is coming over at 16 CET.

    New tower for the klaxon?
    Pet%C5%99%C3%ADn.Lookout.Tower.original.32814.jpg

    Yep, we're hoping to build it above the shed.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    23 seconds was too much for Evans in 2007
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    I'm guessing not much is happening today then.
  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    Pross wrote:
    Not a chance it will be contested on the Champs. Ever.

    Why not? If you're in second and less than 10 seconds off the lead with a 2 minute cushion to third place why on earth wouldn't you at least try? I've never seen a gap anywhere close enough for it to be tested (50 seconds or so is the least I can remember and that's too much).

    Also, slightly different question but if the leader punctures when the racing is on on the Champs and the gap is so small it's likely to cost them the race do the other contenders wait for them and leave the rest to fight out the stage.

    UNWRITTEN RULES LAD! UNWRITTEN RULES!!!!!
    Greg LeMond did with a ITT.
  • ok,then: No chance it will ever be contested on the Champs UNLESS ITS A TT
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    The last stage is and has been regarded as an effective victory parade by riders and teams for over 40 years. The only exception is a last stage TT such as in 89. There is so much pomp and pagentry that takes place on the last day, the on-the-road celebrations, sponsors and prime ministers flown in etc. The teams and riders see the GC race as effectively concluding on the last day ... up until that point the riders had 3 weeks to make the GC. This would be the case even if the gap between 1st and 2nd were only 2 seconds. This is another one of those unwritten rules, but possibly the more sacrosanct of them
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  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I'm not watching, just following on the internet. Why are team Sky leading the chase to bring the break back?
    <a><img></a>
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    PeteinSQ wrote:
    I'm not watching, just following on the internet. Why are team Sky leading the chase to bring the break back?

    I'm not sure they are bringing it back, just holding it so they can be sure of the team prize.
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    What would happen if 1st and 2nd (or even 2nd and 3rd) were on equal time going into the final stage?
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    edited July 2017
    TGOTB wrote:
    What would happen if 1st and 2nd (or even 2nd and 3rd) were on equal time going into the final stage?

    Then decided on points... and if they are level on points it goes down to the next classification (mountains), then stage placings

    EDIT: This is in the TdF Regulations... trying to find the 2017 version.

    EDIT AGAIN: Ok, I got it a bit wrong. Here is what the rules say:
    a) Final individual general time ranking
    The general individual time ranking is established
    by adding together the times achieved by each
    rider in the 21 stages including time penalties.
    In the event of a tie in the general ranking,
    the hundredth of a second recorded by the
    timekeepers during the individual time trial stages
    will be included in the total times in order to decide
    the overall winner. If a tie should still result from
    this, then the places achieved for each stage are
    added up and, as a last resort, the place obtained
    in the final stage is counted.
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  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    emadden wrote:
    TGOTB wrote:
    What would happen if 1st and 2nd (or even 2nd and 3rd) were on equal time going into the final stage?

    Then decided on points... and if they are level on points it goes down to the next classification (mountains), then stage placings

    EDIT: This is in the TdF Regulations... trying to find the 2017 version.

    It is down to hundredths from the TTs though isn't it - so dead heat pretty unlikely
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,182
    edited July 2017
    TGOTB wrote:
    What would happen if 1st and 2nd (or even 2nd and 3rd) were on equal time going into the final stage?

    I thought fractional seconds in the TT count - so there doesn't have to be whole second differnce.

    edit - beaten to it twice
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    imatfaal wrote:
    emadden wrote:
    TGOTB wrote:
    What would happen if 1st and 2nd (or even 2nd and 3rd) were on equal time going into the final stage?

    Then decided on points... and if they are level on points it goes down to the next classification (mountains), then stage placings

    EDIT: This is in the TdF Regulations... trying to find the 2017 version.

    It is down to hundredths from the TTs though isn't it - so dead heat pretty unlikely

    Correct. I fixed my post above. Here are the rules: http://netstorage.lequipe.fr/ASO/cyclisme/le-tour/2017/reglement/TDF17-Reglement-INTERIEUR_FR-UK-BD.pdf
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  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Obligatory Provence shot.

    Screen%20Shot%202017-07-21%20at%2015.32.30_zpsedadnejy.png
    Correlation is not causation.
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    What if Echelons form on the Champs?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    mrfpb wrote:
    What if Echelons form on the Champs?

    giphy.gif
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    Bo Duke wrote:
    222kms is tooooo far... it's distance for the sake of it. And darn boring telly stuff.

    Not wrong. This is too long for today. Would have made sense earlier on but not today.
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    Where's my Pink Fluffy Unicorn! - I want my Pink Fluffy Unicorn!
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Thanks - that makes sense!
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • emadden
    emadden Posts: 2,431
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSXINb_zvNgF3k7PU3mXyc2UysDRxEHXqGr0cnAoDj8TQ9EluS5
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  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    5d1e7fb2011fe82d382190671dbe33e6--unicorn-bike-unicorn-horns.jpg
    That's my weekend sorted!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    If you can't beat 'em over 3,400km through France, deliberately heading into the two biggest mountain ranges it has, you ain't gonna win the Tour.

    Last day is just a paaaaartaaay.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Anyone mentioned Vino winning on the Champs to grab a place on the podium due to bonus seconds yet? Unwritten rules my arse, if Bardet could sneak a win that way no way would he turn it down. Reality is though, it would have to be a very small gap and a very special rider. If Uran was within 10 seconds, you never know he might try, but doubt he'd manage it.

    Also, didn't Froome have a go at bonus sprints on the final stage of the Vuelta that Cobo won by a handful of seconds? So he wouldn't really be able to complain.