Tour de France 2017

Or when he stopped Aru from going because he was having a 'mechanical', because woe betide anyone ruining the procession that is yet another Froome yellow jersey?

Froome had nothing to do with stopping Aru's attack.

People see what they want to see, whatever suits their narrative. It was a nothing moment

Ned and Millar cruising in a Maserati and discussing todays stage
https://www.pscp.tv/millarmind/1dRKZAYlOdmxB?t=0

lol at dirty little ratbag

I don't. But if I was Aru and my attack was shut down by a peloton that clearly holds Froome in high regard; I wouldn't put my neck on the line to say it was purposeful.

Stop with your reasonable views!

It was 100% Froomes doing, just like it was entirely Cavs fault Sagan was DQ'd, he was personally responsible for making the decision.

Or at least thats what I read online/made up in my head.

I think that's patently untrue. Why did Aru not go?

Also, Froome told the presser that he didn't know Aru had attacked.

If that's true, why is everyone presuming Aru knew he had a mechanical?

Because Aru was behind him when he raised his hand and he attacked immediately he saw Froome was in trouble. Froome on the other hand was focused on his mechanical.

How could Froome stop Aru's attack. He was back down the road. Only those with Aru could do that

How did Aru know Froome had a mechanical? He was behind Froome when he put up his hand to call for the support car.

So this proves that Aru saw? Because he was behind him?

Tomato potato. Close enough.

I'm not sure it would be nice to see the tour decided by one competitor having a mishap like that. Aru could have gone, but it would have left a bitter taste, no?

Aru went and Porte chased him down and told him to stop because of the mechanical.

Not sure how froome could stop him attacking when he's further down the climb getting his bike changed...

It doesn't "prove" tht he saw but there is a high degree of probablility that he saw. The timing of his attack may have been a pure coincidence but that is highly unlikely.

Aru is just behind Froome.
Froome's hand goes up and he slows
Aru attacks

Certainly the balance of probabilities is that he saw. It may well be beyond reasonable doubt.

I'm not saying he literally stopped the attack.

To answer my own question: he didn't attack because the peloton (I can't remember who exactly it was now, someone did say) told him not to.

Why did they tell him not to? Because it's considered bad form (by some) to attack when the leader of the GC has a mechanical.

Is it bad form then? Maybe, maybe not. One thing I can tell you for sure is that having Sky turn the Tour into a procession, again, is fucking boring.

So would I have rather Aru attacked? Yes. Do I think that would be unfair? Given the massive financial and other advantages Sky have, no.

I also think Froome deserves to be attacked. It's one thing for him to seem to feel entitled to the yellow jersey but when it spreads to the rest of the peloton that's a problem.

Especially if you're at home watching it.

One thing I can tell you for sure is that having Sky turn the Tour into a procession, again, is fucking boring.

we must have been watching different races.

So crap for Thomas.

To win the tt and wear the yellow and crash out. So bitter sweet.

I don't think that the Tour has been boring so far and I have high hopes for the next two weeks. FRoome may win but there are others around who can challenge. I would love to see Yates have a crack. Quintana should not be dismissed.

Fact is that Froome and Quintana have lost their top domestiques. The race is still open.

If Froome turns it into a procession, it will be because he will have deserved it. It is certainly not a procession yet.

So if he didn't literally stop it, how did he metaphorically stop the attack?

Other riders, not part of his team, made a decision (with no other sky risers around) that it wasn't the right thing to do.

As @Sumo said, maybe you were watching a different stage because I thought it was one of the best stages of the Tdf I've ever seen. Including froome's performance.

I didn't think today was boring at all! Or the rest of the Tour so far.

But it was not boring because of the battle for the stage win, wet roads, crashes (unfortunately but Porte's crash was certainly dramatic and Sky losing Thomas was significant). Oh and because of Aru's attack of course...

Not because of the GC battle or anything Sky did deliberately.

The GC 'battle' has been boring so far. Again.

Like I said it's a peloton wide problem.

Definitely agree it was one of the best stages I've seen. But not because of Froome or GC stuff.

Fact is that Froome and Quintana have lost their top domestiques.

That's true. And Froome only has 15 seconds right? It's not a massive lead. Maybe I should be more hopeful...

What's a peloton wide problem? Decency? Sportsmanship?