Disappointments of the tour 2017

gweeds

Rick Chasey wrote:

Alright I'm just gonna say it.


Thomas de Gendt.


Come on mate; you've got double the talent of Voeckler or Voigt. At least finish one of the bloody breaks off.

Yep. Spent over 1000km in breaks and nothing to show for it. Strong rider but needs some serious tactical nous.

meanredspider

Kittel not getting the chance to do one of those amazing finishes on the Champs

jimmythecuckoo

M.R.M. wrote:

Greipel.

I would stretch that out to Lotto/Soudal as a whole.

Wellens got sick and went home rather that TUEing (which is very noble), Roelandts didn't get in the right break, De Gendt did but never looked like winning one and you could see Gallopin was just a click or two away from top form.

professeur

Why is the live data/screen overlay in the final TT still terrible? Genuine chance for some informative graphics to try and add to the excitement and they faill every year.

professeur

Rick Chasey wrote:

Dolan Driver wrote:

Got to agree with the assessment on the French crowd. I'm not sure if it is because they dislike Froome in particular, SKY (probably), the English in general or if, this year, it is a reaction to Brexit. Whatever their issue is, it is poor form. It has traditionally been a feature of the sport that fans respect all riders, regardless of who your favourite rider is. You cheer for your favourite the loudest. Another cycling tradition that is slowly dying off.


DD.

You know the French crowd boo'd Armstrong, Anquetil, Hinault, Merckx in the past too, right?

They like booing, and they don't confine irrational partisanship to ball sports.

After all, the Tour's a circus.

Exactamundo - sorry, but I don't know why anyone gets over-excited by a bit of booing.

timoid.

iainf72 wrote:

For me it's how everytime Contador attack loads of people seemed to get a jones about it. It wasn't exciting, it was borderline tragic.

This. Contador needs to give it up.

specialized_nick

Cav and Sagan both going home early.

Quintana, nuff said.

Not catching Kwiato's Oakley's when he chucked them.

tailwindhome

On a personal level, arguing that Froome signalled for assistance after Aru attacked, having not watched the highlight clip to the end was a low point.

vinnymarsden

Disappointed for De Gendt..how does a guy spend over a 1000kms in breakaways and NOT win the super combative title?
Oh Sorry, I just realised they gave it to a frenchman..who let's be fair deserved the KOM, but he already had a title..Dg could have been given the SC and I don't think Barguil would have been pissed off would he?
DeGendt was in most of the "boring" stage breakaways and to give him nothing looks a bit poor in my opinion..also, and I have watched cycling for a long time..can anyone answer me this....why was Landa not allowed to attack Bardet's 1 second lead to get on the podium?
I get not attacking the yellow, albeit that is not cast in stone, I'm sure I saw Fignon do it some years ago, the "procession" only really came about when they started finishing on the Champs..or have I got it wrong...I'm sure Hinault did it to Lemond too, or the other way round...I await being shot down!!!

rick_chasey

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Disappointed for De Gendt..how does a guy spend over a 1000kms in breakaways and NOT win the super combative title?
Oh Sorry, I just realised they gave it to a frenchman..who let's be fair deserved the KOM, but he already had a title..Dg could have been given the SC and I don't think Barguil would have been pissed off would he?
DeGendt was in most of the "boring" stage breakaways and to give him nothing looks a bit poor in my opinion..also, and I have watched cycling for a long time..can anyone answer me this....why was Landa not allowed to attack Bardet's 1 second lead to get on the podium?
I get not attacking the yellow, albeit that is not cast in stone, I'm sure I saw Fignon do it some years ago, the "procession" only really came about when they started finishing on the Champs..or have I got it wrong...I'm sure Hinault did it to Lemond too, or the other way round...I await being shot down!!!

In fairness, if you only watched the highlights (like I did, bar a couple of stages), you won't have seen much of TdG at all; I saw a lot more of Barguil than I did TdG.

timoid.

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Disappointed for De Gendt..how does a guy spend over a 1000kms in breakaways and NOT win the super combative title?
Oh Sorry, I just realised they gave it to a frenchman..who let's be fair deserved the KOM, but he already had a title..Dg could have been given the SC and I don't think Barguil would have been pissed off would he?
DeGendt was in most of the "boring" stage breakaways and to give him nothing looks a bit poor in my opinion..also, and I have watched cycling for a long time..can anyone answer me this....why was Landa not allowed to attack Bardet's 1 second lead to get on the podium?
I get not attacking the yellow, albeit that is not cast in stone, I'm sure I saw Fignon do it some years ago, the "procession" only really came about when they started finishing on the Champs..or have I got it wrong...I'm sure Hinault did it to Lemond too, or the other way round...I await being shot down!!!

Hinault attacked on the last day for giggles and Zoetemelk went with him. Cue surreal 2 man breakaway that somehow made it to the end. Hinault of course won the two man sprint.

Vino grabbed some bonus seconds from Leipheimer when he won the final stage in 2005 and thus nicked 5th place (I think) Leipheimer was doubly miffed as the organisers had previously said that due to slippery conditions, bonus seconds would not apply.

dolan_driver

Rick Chasey wrote:

Dolan Driver wrote:

Got to agree with the assessment on the French crowd. I'm not sure if it is because they dislike Froome in particular, SKY (probably), the English in general or if, this year, it is a reaction to Brexit. Whatever their issue is, it is poor form. It has traditionally been a feature of the sport that fans respect all riders, regardless of who your favourite rider is. You cheer for your favourite the loudest. Another cycling tradition that is slowly dying off.


DD.

You know the French crowd boo'd Armstrong, Anquetil, Hinault, Merckx in the past too, right?

They like booing, and they don't confine irrational partisanship to ball sports.

After all, the Tour's a circus.

I can understand them booing;

Lance - Johnny Foreigner who didn't even bother to learn any French.

Merckx - Johnny Foreigner who won everything.

Hinault - Angry French Man who didn't shy away from a bout of fisticuffs with whatever striking French miner/truck driver/air traffic controller/etc happened to be hijacking that day's stage.

But booing Anquetil? All he did was beat Raymond Poulidor!

I guess the moral of this story is "Don't win too much in France or they will boo you!


DD.

ridgerider

Not picking Roglic for PTP when he got his stage win...seriously. And not picking Gesink when he got his 2nd place.

I hate PTP!

bobmcstuff

Probably Porte crashing out is the big one, as he had potential to be a major challenger. Although I seem to remember some speculation that he was coming off his form peak.

philbar72

Rick Chasey wrote:

Alright I'm just gonna say it.


Thomas de Gendt.


Come on mate; you've got double the talent of Voeckler or Voigt. At least finish one of the bloody breaks off.

Does far too much work though... doesn't really help himself.

No_Ta_Doctor

Katusha not taking Mørkøv to lead out Kristoff. Danish TV wasn't happy, Mørkøv wasn't happy, and Kristoff was seriously pissed off.

mididoctors

well, apart from Katusha (seriously wtf) my biggest disappointment was the level and detail of debate on this forum which was poor compared with eras when I used to post regularly.

Porte wasn't a disappointment because him coming a cropper was totally predictable

timoid.

mididoctors wrote:

well, apart from Katusha (seriously wtf) my biggest disappointment was the level and detail of debate on this forum which was poor compared with eras when I used to post regularly.

Porte wasn't a disappointment because him coming a cropper was totally predictable

There was less to debate (Aru shenanigans and Sagan expulsion aside). I think it's a reflection of a dull race, with dull characters taking part.

mididoctors

there was a lot missed by the forum which usually does better than the pro pundits due to the wisdom of the crowds, besides like the way the riders make the race the posters make the thread.

rick_chasey

mididoctors wrote:

there was a lot missed by the forum which usually does better than the pro pundits due to the wisdom of the crowds, besides like the way the riders make the race the posters make the thread.

What was missed?

kingstongraham

mididoctors wrote:

there was a lot missed by the forum which usually does better than the pro pundits due to the wisdom of the crowds, besides like the way the riders make the race the posters make the thread.

I posted a picture of the spectator waving a pug in the riders' faces. What more do you want?

Sun Dodger

No tA Doctor wrote:

Katusha not taking Mørkøv to lead out Kristoff. Danish TV wasn't happy, Mørkøv wasn't happy, and Kristoff was seriously pissed off.

I'd say taking Kristoff was a bigger mistake than leaving out Mørkøv.

- Hindsight: 20/20 since forever....

mididoctors

Sun Dodger wrote:

No tA Doctor wrote:

Katusha not taking Mørkøv to lead out Kristoff. Danish TV wasn't happy, Mørkøv wasn't happy, and Kristoff was seriously pissed off.

I'd say taking Kristoff was a bigger mistake than leaving out Mørkøv.

- Hindsight: 20/20 since forever....

what was the point of katusha. Kristoff had been riding like bag of cement all year. very poor showing by katusha given the budget.