Le Tour 2013

[jyl]

Quintana should have waited until the second climb. He's young and will learn, then watch out.

Froome and Porte were impressive as hell. They broke the best riders in the world like they were dry twigs.

I'm worried that the Tour may be essentially over in a couple of days, if not already. All the other top contenders lost 2-4 minutes to Froome. With such a strong lieutenant, is he more likely to extend his lead, or give it back?

[Baz]

As I suspected, Sky has a hangover from yesterday.....

[jyl]

But not Froome.

Movistar didn't apply decisive pressure. Sure, they cut the peleton to 25 riders or so, but Froome didn't look in difficulty, and Evans, Contador, and other GC contenders all stayed with them. Still, Valverde moved up so that's progress. And they've shown that the Sky train can be broken.

I'd sure like to see Saxo and Movistar collaborate in the coming weeks.

[bkreigsr]

I haven't been in the game for quite a few years, but are those hill climbers using eliptical chain rings? I saw a close up of Saturday's winner's big ring when he was hammering and it looked egg shaped.
Bill K

[T77911S]

check sundays stage near the end, mile 4.6 togo. look over to the right and someone drops their pants and moons the peloton.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

I haven't been in the game for quite a few years, but are those hill climbers using eliptical chain rings? I saw a close up of Saturday's winner's big ring when he was hammering and it looked egg shaped.
Bill K

Froome is, despite studies that find no benefit...

[jyl]

I think a couple Sky riders are. Sky have presumably done their own studies.

[widgeon13]

Time trials today and I've noticed some little outriggers on these bikes coming off the top of the front fork, what are those things?

Never mind, it's the way the handlebars are designed.

[Baz]

Tony Martin!

Chris Froome!

Wow!

[jyl]

How can Valverde, Contador, etc take 4 min off Froome? He's so strong.

[bkreigsr]

dimpled singlets and no rear brakes

[Baz]

Stage 15 – Givors / Mont Ventoux – 242.5km
Longest stage, French National Day, finish at the top of Mont Ventoux…

[Baz]

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Baz

Stage 15 – Givors / Mont Ventoux – 242.5km
Longest stage, French National Day, finish at the top of Mont Ventoux…

I am in pain just looking at that. Though I suppose there was more climbing in Stage 8 or 9 where there were the 4 cat 1s.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Froome is, despite studies that find no benefit...

...they don't seem to be doing him much harm either...where can I get me some of that?
His pedal stroke seems to be more jerky than the others that are using conventional rings - good comparison of smoothness when he passed the Columbian near the finish.
Bill K

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Baz

Stage 15 – Givors / Mont Ventoux – 242.5km
Longest stage, French National Day, finish at the top of Mont Ventoux…

That stage is brutal even WITH epo...

[intakexhaust]

^^^^ brutal
Then come the final few days of agony in the mountains.

There are three straight days of tortuous climbing -- including two ascents up the famed l'Alpe d'Huez pass in one day on Stage 18. The next two days both feature two Hors Categorie climbs each -- so tough they are considered beyond classification.

[T77911S]

froome has turned out to be stronger than i expected. especially inthe TT.
he just drives me nuts to see his form when climbing.

will it ever come to and that when someone is so much stronger than others you have to wonder if he is doping?

[nostatic]

ahh, remembering the days of Biopace™ chainrings. Late 80's iirc. History repeats.

Froome had an epic ride yesterday. Every tour has a defining stage, that likely was the one.

[jyl]

Had thought stage 8 was his epic ride, now he out epic'ed himself. Form bizarre and lots of pain-face, he attacks ferociously, style be damned.