Tour de France 2016

Seems quite smart to me. Letting Majka go up the road means they don't have to control the bunch all day to protect yellow, and can save the rest of the team for the finale to support Contador. Also means that Majka might close some of the gap on GC.

L'Equipe today,

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"almost wished"

Going to go see this stage I think; http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2016/us/stage-15.html

This.
They've been quite reactive, rather than defensive.

Wondered the same thing myself.

Brailsford said they won't attack because...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/tour-de-france/will-rivals-target-battered-alberto-contador-on-hilly-stage-five-254557

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We've not had a last week as hard as this one for some time. I think Sky will be mindful of this, especially as Froome struggled last year in the final two mountain stages, so will hold back this week.

If I was in charge of Sky's tactics I'd tell Froome to stay in the wheels in the Pyrenees then go on the offensive on Ventoux a week tomorrow.

#armchairds

Not much.

Today isn't a real killer of a day where all the domestiques are going to be used up keeping the GC rider in contention. Three better theories are a) get up the road early and then sit up to haul Sagan and keep him in yellow but Contador is still their GC hope, b) get up the road early and then sit up to haul Contador when an inevitable GC attack happens on Peyrol and Perthus and c) (my favourite) go out and soak up KOM points so he can challenge for this jersey later on.

Nope, rode the Tour de Suisse to show his form and had a bad ride, by his own admission, so was overlooked.

With Tinkhoff withdrawing there is no guarantee the skeleton of the team will continue into 2017 under new owners. Majka needs to waive a flag to remind other team managers he is available.

Ah ok thanks. Been under a bit of a rock.

So the break have a day pass, and the stage winner (and yellow jersey wearer) are going to come from these nine.

Something very ironic about cycling hub wanting you to pay to watch their stolen feed.
Fuck them.

Was that a penis fish?

Love a good breakaway.

I also like the breakaway name game on the Guardian's rolling coverage.

Hope so

strong breakaway... 14 minutes ahead with 54 km to go

That is a highlight, particularly while you're waiting for the interesting last 50k to kick off. 9 was a bit tricky though.

Right, I'm going to try (and fail, obvs) to watch the rest of the stage in bed...

Movistar drilling it on the front of the peloton. Sprinters leaving the back door of the same peloton. Sagan still there I think.

Sagan gone. As has Nibali.

And Landa!

He should get back on the descent.

Good climb. This is what it's about!

Sagan doesn't care, he looks he's lapping up the attention from the spectators!