Tour de France 2016

On this stage, they can.

If that mountain were early on in the day they'd have to grind it out and belt it down the other side and hammer it on the flat just to stay in the race.

But a nice late mountain, whilst it's horrible to see it in front of you all day, does make it easier on the timings.

Cummings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZv1REDLIoM

I hope Quintana lights it up today

Why? It doesn't suit him, as he's always better on a summit finish after three or four previous cols, there's a descent which will allow some riders to get back to him, and Movistar will not want the jersey yet. It wouldn't surprise me if Movistar make it hard on the Aspin, but mainly to test Contador with a view to eliminating him from the GC.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see all the GC contenders riding a very cagey race through the next three Pyreneen stages, ensuring that they don't lose time, but none of them trying to gain significant times. The final week is very tough and, with a second week that, with the Ventoux stage excepted, is full of transitional and sprint stages, it would be better for Movistar, Sky and BMC to let someone else hold the yellow jersey and control the race.

I can see the jersey being attacked big time.

Perfect time to try and get a few days in it, if you're a decent climber With a free hand.

Yeah, a KOM contender will make some attacks during this week and would be a good placeholder for the second week. Froome could attack and make an early take though. If he does, it will probably be on the uphill finish on Sunday.

Rolland will have a crack today i reckon.

For the geeks amongst us, this is interesting.

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This is a good read too, ideal to get you in the mood before the racing later. I love the final line.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/author/robert-millar-blog-winning-in-the-circle-of-death/

Ooh. That is interesting. Kittel looked like he faded badly - confirmed by this. Reckon he was overgeared. Wouldnt it be awesome if it showed watts and gearing too? #datagoals

What's the blue bit?
Gear change? Incline?

Slow creeping sense of death by lack of O2?

Also.
Error bars please.

Cav mentioned being in the wrong gear yesterday, not big enough... that he spun out.

I guess you choose these things in advance and can't risk changing gear once you're invested and powering through.

What gear will they have been pushing at the end there? 53/11? Bigger?

I remember seeing a Cav sprint tips video on GCN a while back where he said "don't choose too big a gear".

central london - beer and tour watching? reckon any pub could put it on but from experience there will always be some whiney fuck trying to watch wimbledon. is it a question of out to LMNH or into Rapha cafe? anyone recommend anything. going to work thru lunch today and try and catch last hour of the race

McLay got tangled with a Trek rider so had to slow, looks like Kittel also has to brake slightly whilst Cav was just surfing constantly forward

Just saw this: Stijn Vandenbergh and Cav swap bikes

Probably because he knew he was beat so eased off?

Not quite central but Tempo cycling cafe in between Borough and London Bridge

Haven't they tried that in previous years and Quintana has come second. This year he's been more animated giving orders which seems to indicate a change in tactics.
I agree that this may be a stage that makes or breaks Contador.

cheers not heard of that place. the extra spin down there might cut in to my viewing time but nice call for another time.

anyone else any suggestions?

Tempo is a great shout but if you want somewhere more 'pubby' the sheaf by Borough Market can split sports across their various screens and will put it on for you. Not 100% they have Eurosport but will happily put on the ITV coverage once that's started. They also have a nice range of better than average lagers and the burger is acceptable.

Bigger.

For Cav's peak speed on 53-11 then he would need to be spinning at 122rpm. Not sure how stable that would be on a road sprint. 110rpm would need 58-11.

You don't want to choose too big a gear because you don't want to be grinding to the line. Don't want to small either because you'll loose the ability to kick.

In the interviews yesterday he said he'd put the 'big gear' on for yesterday's finish. I think he said it was a 56, but I could be wrong on that.