Tour de France

[Norder]

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Sky are simply too strong and have a stranglehold on the race. It doesn't make for compulsive viewing for the most part but it is what it is.....

All's well Sinkov

Certainly agreed on the Sky train stranglehold.....and also think that the quality of the competition and course design compounded the suffering.

Cheers


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Stage 19 was taken by Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)....from the break and with 2.9km to go, Boasson Hagen and Arndt gained advantage by following the shortest route around a roundabout....no bunch sprints and no photo finish - BH seized the chance an attacked....expanding his lead and cutting a lone figure as he crossed the finish line.


Stage 20 - Marseille, individual time trial, 22.5km.

Short distance for an end tour TT....so margins wont be massive - as long as Froome doesn't fall off that is.

[sinkov]

The TT would appear to be a formality for Froome, yet when he attacked on the Izoard and opened up a sizeable gap quite quickly, Uran closed it down just as quickly, bringing Bardet with him. I don't think Froome expected that, just maybe he'll have a problem with Uran yet, it ain't over till it's over.

[oldcolner]

Well done Froome though it's a pity he didn't manage to win a stage.
Well done Simon Yates too
Tomorrow it's Champers on the Champs Elysee

[Norder]

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Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe) - takes the stage - with Kwiatkowski running a close second, and only by a second - Froome took third, was booed for his trouble - but has the Tour...where Uran has the 2nd podium place and after a painfully disastrous time trial...it's Bardet for the third spot but only by 1 second....from Mikel Landa in fourth.

A super ride from Contador - only 21s off Bodnar and fastest in the middle (climb) section by 8 seconds !



https://twitter.com/velofacts/status/888783102604185600

Well done Froome though it's a pity he didn't manage to win a stage.
Well done Simon Yates too
Tomorrow it's Champers on the Champs Elysee

....I think Colner.... because Bardet was let off that 20s time penalty on stage 12....no Sky drinking champers en route...they should make Bardet sweat for it - take Landa to the finish - and snatch those few needed seconds.

[sinkov]

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....I think Colner.... because Bardet was let off that 20s time penalty on stage 12....no Sky drinking champers en route...they should make Bardet sweat for it - take Landa to the finish - and snatch those few needed seconds.

I don't think for one minute it would work, AG2R would easily close down any gap between Bardet and Landa, but I'd like to see Sky give it a go and race today. It would go against tradition, they would be accused of disrespect, but the race jury showed no respect for the rules or the other riders when they failed to penalise Bardet, and the French public have shown no respect for Froome or Sky, so feck em, piss on their parade, and make a race of it.

Sadly it won't happen.