Tour de France 2014 in UK

MissChief · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:44

Froome abandons. Bradley should have been in the squad.

drunkenmaster · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:44

Some team sky guys down on the roundabout, then Froome down just down the road... think Froome might be out, doesn't look happy at all right now.

One More Solo · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:45

I don't like Froome at all but that's a gutting way to go.

That's why crashes aren't fun, kids. I was really looking forward to Froome v Contador in the mountains.

SDK^ · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:45

So many riders falling - this stage is dangerous.

Froome out just makes for a less exciting Tour

One More Solo said:
I was really looking forward to Froome v Contador in the mountains.

Me too

ic1male · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:48

So has Contador got this in the bag now? Providing he escapes unscathed today?

One More Solo · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:49

The stage is dangerous but let's not forget we hadn't even hit the cobbles when this happened and bike handling skills are as much part of the package as anything when it comes to being a great rider.

drunkenmaster · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:50

Don't watch an awful lot of cycling, was there really any reason for Sky to be racing so hard in such conditions? Shouldn't they have gone with the whole, safe and steady be in the race for the end mentality? Particularly after the fall yesterday and did he also fall earlier in the stage?

I'd prefer to be a minute down and in the race than on the floor repeatedly.

Vonhelmet · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:50

Contador will win. Rodriguez isn't on form after his injuries and I'm not sure who else could really challenge for it. Maybe Valverde.

ic1male · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:51

The mentality seems to be whoever is first on to the cobbles stands a better chance of getting through without incident.

Jimbeam3678 · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:51

Gutted to see that , like previously said was looking forward to see them battle it out in mountains.

topgun06 · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:52

What an absolutely crazy stage! :eek:

ic1male · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:53

Can Tejay van Garderen do it?

SDK^ · 9 Jul 2014 at 14:57

drunkenmaster said:
I'd prefer to be a minute down and in the race than on the floor repeatedly.

It would be tough to recover a minute on the leaders.

Vonhelmet · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:00

MissChief said:
Froome abandons. Bradley should have been in the squad.

Easy to say that, but there's basically no reason to believe he'd have fared any better.

One More Solo · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:00

drunkenmaster said:
Don't watch an awful lot of cycling, was there really any reason for Sky to be racing so hard in such conditions? Shouldn't they have gone with the whole, safe and steady be in the race for the end mentality? Particularly after the fall yesterday and did he also fall earlier in the stage?

I'd prefer to be a minute down and in the race than on the floor repeatedly.

Generally the safest place to be is at the front but Sky are useless at controlling the race in anything other than the mountains, they were pulling hard but badly. Other teams knew Sky would suffer today so put their foot down to test their skills and have achieved the desired result. Astana in particular have bossed it today, got their tactics spot on even though Nibali (AFAIK) has never ridden Paris-Roubaix. Sky couldn't cope.

adey · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:02

Cav and frome out now, my interest in the tour has dropped

Kimi · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:08

Arise Geraint Thomas, it is your time

~Mike~ · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:10

This is great stuff.

Jimbeam3678 · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:14

One More Solo said:
Generally the safest place to be is at the front but Sky are useless at controlling the race in anything other than the mountains, they were pulling hard but badly. Other teams knew Sky would suffer today so put their foot down to test their skills and have achieved the desired result. Astana in particular have bossed it today, got their tactics spot on even though Nibali (AFAIK) has never ridden Paris-Roubaix. Sky couldn't cope.

From a keen viewer which doesn't really understand race tactics overly well, what are different skills required to control a race up mountains compared to flat stages like today?

touch · 9 Jul 2014 at 15:16

Kimi said:
Arise Geraint Thomas, it is your time

Surely it's got to be Porte?

He looked stronger than Froome on a couple of mountain stages last year anyway, could be a great chance for him.
I bet they are glad they sent back the team to look after him when he crashed on stage 1 (or was it 2?).