Tour de France 2014

RP said after the shorter steeper ramps aren't his bag so he was happy yesterday. I've a feeling he may also end up admitting long shallow drags aren't quite his thing either but it'd be nice if he could hold onto nibbles and contadles in the high mountains to make it a 3 way race.

Porte is the best time triallist of the three (on paper) so if he can remain in touch he could still be in with a shout on the final time trial. Both Nibali and Contador know this so I'd imagine they'll try and ensure they exploit any signs of weakness from Porte.

I kind of want to believe in Porte, but he didn't look so great today.
But, hey, I could be wrong. we shall see.

Bit short for him perhaps? Or was he behind valverde who let Nibabli's wheel go, and then couldn't close the gap?

over 10 mins,
should be a breakaway win

Please fuck off with the poetry

Dude, it doesn't even scan.

Thursday didn't count?

not in terms of climbing no - maybe he should enter Roubaix next year!

Porte is the best time triallist of the three (on paper) so if he can remain in touch he could still be in with a shout on the final time trial. Both Nibali and Contador know this so I'd imagine they'll try and ensure they exploit any signs of weakness from Porte.

is he? fair enough - i'm still recalling some of Contadors best time trials, from back during the clenbutarol days.

Didn't nibs do a great tt albeit uphill one when he won the giro?

Didn't nibs do a great tt albeit uphill one when he won the giro?

yes, but not against anyone great.

Contador's time trialling has been below par since he returned from his ban.

I'm sure he's just a bit out of practice, that's all.

Of doping?

Contador's time trialling has been below par since he returned from his ban.

yes, agreed. i guess i wondered if his general return to form would include a boost there.

but, we shall see, that's the fun, right? It's quite wide open which is a nice surprise, and I wouldn't rule out a wild card performance from someone else, too.

Today. Thoughts? The last 20km. Should that calm today down a bit, which is otherwise a pretty lumpy stage?

Paolini cycling like a 13 year old schoolgirl (in this little part of the world anyway)

Will they be racing proper from the start today? Or do they sit behind the car for the first hill?

It'll be eyeballs out from the gun today, it's highly likely a break will succeed again today and lots of riders want to be in that break. Sky are warming up on turbos already, and I'd imagine other teams will be too.

Some good riders off the front of the peloton. Tony Martin and Cancellara included. Martin and Demarchi seem to have chipped off from the break. Love to see him win a road stage.

Paolini cycling like a 13 year old schoolgirl (in this little part of the world anyway)

I resemble that remark

30 riders up the road, Astana are going to be punch drunk by the rest day

They could let someone who is in reach of the yellow jersey go up the road, then Tinkoff would have to work (assuming they'd prefer Astana to defend it).

Gallopin has a mechanical, very convenient for the break

But where does the steam go?

So what's up with Reza? Putting in lot's of effort in at all the wrong places to very little effect?
Is he basically in the wrong team and trying to show potential employers what he is capable of?

Isn't putting in lots of effort at all the wrong places exactly what Europcar does?

Ah, it'll be amazing if Tony Martin stays away.