TDF 2018, Stage 9: Arras Citadelle > Roubaix 15/07/2018 - 156,5 km *Spoilers*

above_the_cows

And can we take a moment to remember all those four legged friends sent off to fight the war's of men.

RonB

Always a good time to remember what happened in these parts. Well said AtC







Times are CET

blazing_saddles

Edit, wrong thread.

Vino'sGhost

RonB wrote:

Message from Katusha-Alpecin - Unfortunately Tony Martin won‘t start tomorrow in stage 9. A spinal fracture (vertebral compression fracture) makes it impossible to continue @LeTour

Fark

itll fuck his bike fit up too

rick_chasey

What are the timings for this?

Entirely missed today...

Vino'sGhost

Rick Chasey wrote:

What are the timings for this?

Entirely missed today...

not sure but https://twitter.com/VelonCC/status/1018154508139028481

RichN95.

Above The Cows wrote:

You promised me you'd use that picture for private use only :shock: :oops:

Pross

Rick Chasey wrote:

What are the timings for this?

Entirely missed today...

See a few posts up.

Lanterne_Rogue

Above The Cows wrote:

adr82 wrote:

Pross wrote:

Right turn in or left? A right turn would at least slow them right down but it will cause a big battle for a few kms beforehand.

Left turn off the nice big wide road into that... can see some people ending up buried in one of those hedges

Or going straight through that window.

I'm really, really hoping that a proper unit like Greipel goes straight through the window and comes cycling out the other side covered in straw, chickens, broken eggs etc. If someone could arrange jaunty piano music whilst he does so...

RichN95.

RonB wrote:

I think I saw this in an animated film once, maybe Sing or Over the Hedge, but seriously what on earth is this in real life.

RonB

underlayunderlay wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

adr82 wrote:

Pross wrote:

Right turn in or left? A right turn would at least slow them right down but it will cause a big battle for a few kms beforehand.

Left turn off the nice big wide road into that... can see some people ending up buried in one of those hedges

Or going straight through that window.

I'm really, really hoping that a proper unit like Greipel goes straight through the window and comes cycling out the other side covered in straw, chickens, broken eggs etc. If someone could arrange jaunty piano music whilst he does so...

Thanks for that. Now do you have any recommendations for getting a nice Chinon out from my keyboard

RonB

RichN95 wrote:

I think I saw this in an animated film once, maybe Sing or Over the Hedge, but seriously what on earth is this in real life.

It is a fine Yukon Porcupine (no-one dare find out its gender).

rick_chasey

We have THE stage of the Tour and you guys are chatting porcupines.

Where are the spurious predictions?


Here’s mine; Nibz won’t be that good.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

We have THE stage of the Tour and you guys are chatting porcupines.

Where are the spurious predictions?


Here’s mine; Nibz won’t be that good.

General predictions (accidents and punctures aside)

Up: Thomas, Froome, Valverde, Porte Jungels, Fuglsang

Par: Landa, Yates, Roglic, Nibali, Dumoulin

Down: Bardet, Martin, Quintana, Uran, Majka

FocusZing

Well if the French win the world cup tomorrow Sky/Froome might get a bit of a break during the last couple of weeks.

Lanterne_Rogue

Cavendish to place highly after using it as a trial to shift focus next year to the classics.

Wait, how spurious are we supposed to be?

I'll also predict, with a certain amount of weariness, that Froome will again be touted as likely to fail on the cobbles by the usual voices for the whole stage whilst he continues reasonably serenely on his way. The myth of poor bike handling doesn't ever seem to go away, does it?

above_the_cows

Captain Haddock for the win!

above_the_cows

If the Yukon porcupine is lonely, this quokka will be its frined.

FocusZing

Fark, Chris Packham will turn up in a minute and discuss how tits cope with the heat.

Sky have wheels all over the shop so they should be ok.

takethehighroad

Really very excited for this.

I've lived in Arras, Lille and Lens over the years and I LOVE Paris Roubaix.

This is a Mini Paris Roubaix and while Matt White says that like it's a bad thing, I am quite the contrary.

No rain though, shame

RichN95.

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

This is a Mini Paris Roubaix and while Matt White says that like it's a bad thing, I am quite the contrary.

No rain though, shame

As I've said elsewhere, many who now think that this is a great stage will later condemn it after their favourite blows out.

Lanterne_Rogue

underlayunderlay wrote:

Cavendish to place highly after using it as a trial to shift focus next year to the classics.

Wait, how spurious are we supposed to be?

I'll also predict, with a certain amount of weariness, that Froome will again be touted as likely to fail on the cobbles by the usual voices for the whole stage whilst he continues reasonably serenely on his way. The myth of poor bike handling doesn't ever seem to go away, does it?

Aaaand Jeremy Whittle provides the first example. Just couldn't wait, could he?

The Tour’s defending champion, Chris Froome, often derided in the past for his lack of bike-handling skills

FocusZing

TD Needs to make up time.


Yeah great on the day but might ruin the last two weeks. I just hope Landa, Froome …. are still OK for the mountain battles.

RichN95.

underlayunderlay wrote:

Aaaand Jeremy Whittle provides the first example. Just couldn't wait, could he?

The Tour’s defending champion, Chris Froome, often derided in the past for his lack of bike-handling skills

To be fair to him, he has said he wouldn't be surprised by a 'virtuoso performance' from Froome on the BBC podcast. He seemed to say it with an amount of displeasure though.


Like I've said somewhere before - 2015 soft cobbles - Valverde, Thomas, Froone and Nibali go off the front (with cobbles specialists). Expect similar.

Lanterne_Rogue

RichN95 wrote:

underlayunderlay wrote:

Aaaand Jeremy Whittle provides the first example. Just couldn't wait, could he?

The Tour’s defending champion, Chris Froome, often derided in the past for his lack of bike-handling skills

To be fair to him, he has said he wouldn't be surprised by a 'virtuoso performance' from Froome on the BBC podcast. He seemed to say it with an amount of displeasure though.


Like I've said somewhere before - 2015 soft cobbles - Valverde, Thomas, Froone and Nibali go off the front (with cobbles specialists). Expect similar.

Yeah, seems a fair expectation. My recollection of last time is that it did less damage than the hype prior, whilst still causing enough of a sort out to remove some GC candidates. My fear is that someone will cop an unlucky accident that ends up diminishing the tour - although I don't think there's been enough real action so far to make it obvious which of the GC candidates are on a good year, so losing one won't make us regret what might have been.

RonB

What about BMC? I expect GVA gets a free pass, but that does leave Richie Porte with few specialist teammates

No_Ta_Doctor

Degenkolb has this in the bag, guys. You heard it here first.

No_Ta_Doctor

underlayunderlay wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

underlayunderlay wrote:

Aaaand Jeremy Whittle provides the first example. Just couldn't wait, could he?

The Tour’s defending champion, Chris Froome, often derided in the past for his lack of bike-handling skills

To be fair to him, he has said he wouldn't be surprised by a 'virtuoso performance' from Froome on the BBC podcast. He seemed to say it with an amount of displeasure though.


Like I've said somewhere before - 2015 soft cobbles - Valverde, Thomas, Froone and Nibali go off the front (with cobbles specialists). Expect similar.

Yeah, seems a fair expectation. My recollection of last time is that it did less damage than the hype prior, whilst still causing enough of a sort out to remove some GC candidates. My fear is that someone will cop an unlucky accident that ends up diminishing the tour - although I don't think there's been enough real action so far to make it obvious which of the GC candidates are on a good year, so losing one won't make us regret what might have been.

Glad it's not wet, tbh. If we lose a GC candidate it won't matter what form he might have been in, because we'll always imagine he was ready to fly.

ddraver

I'm still not a fan of GC Paris Roubaix's

However my dark horse is Titchie Ritchie who will glue himself to GVAs wheel and ride off the from with the cobbles boys (probably followed by G and Froome respectively

carbonclem

I’m sure Froome will be just fine, I know the surfaces are different but I guess his experience of riding tracks in Africa mean he can handle a bike. Surrounded by G, Rowe and Moscon and he’s golden.

I’ll be surprised if Dan Martin makes it

Wouldn’t be a shocker to see Cav go home either ...

Quintanas GC tilt will finally be put to bed too.