Tour de France 2017

I don't quite understand the dynamics of the teeth during the pedal stroke, but on my XL Q rings the difference in height between top and bottom is massive, which means setting up the FD is a pain and the chance of the chain coming off if you shift whilst going over really rough tarmac is much higher.

In a word, faff. But if I was being supported by a team of world-class mechanics then I wouldn't expect to be having to pull over for a bike change caused solely by oval rings during the most important 3 weeks of my career. We'll never probably find out what the real problem was.

It's about the TUE's & UKAD investigation, all confirmed facts afaik. Focuses on unanswered questions

Sounds more like he was stuck in gear, rather than dropping a chain. Personally think this "etiquette" is somewhat BS, unless the mechanical is caused by outside influences (Tacks, crowd etc) then to an extent it is yours/ the teams fault so attacking is fair game.

^ this.

It's like the card game 'Asshole'. Every round the asshole has to give the president their best card. It makes it really hard to move up from asshole and really easy to stay as president.

I think it's been reported that he had a flat.

It seemed pretty obvious that Froome was stuck in a very low gear as his cadence was way higher than anyone else nearby (even accounting for his preference for a high cadence) and he was still struggling to keep up with them.

unless the mechanical is caused by outside influences

Trying to decide, in the middle of a stage, whether something was outside influence or not is going to be an interesting one. Was it a fan that got too close and knocked the rear derailleur? Was it the fault of the team mechanic? Was it a duff battery supplied by Shimano?

All the GC riders should have stopped, logged into lfgss and been guided as to what the appropriate behaviour should have been.

Just imagine the UCI board trying to decide on red or white wine at the start of their meetings...

It would be like lfgss producing a book

But the president is an asshole?

This is a good idea, we should make one.

logged into lfgss and been guided as to what the appropriate behaviour should have been.

Moar skids, obvs.

Well, this came up today, I'm trying to understand who made it, but I'll leave it here for now, if noone minds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LSynlie_GU

The name of the video is "Song about Peter Sagan" in Russian language

I don't know the game and it doesn't sound like much fun, but it does seem like a fitting metaphor for the GC race: the person in yellow gets special favours because jersey even though they're the one in the most secure position.

See also: Monopoly.

How is the yellow jersey in the most secure position?

Because they have the least time on the race so far?

Who would you suggest is in the most secure position? Or would you say everyone in the race is in an equal position?

I reckon this thing about "respecting the yellow jersey" is a bit romantic. In team sports like football, if a team had to use a third-choice keeper in a top of the table clash due to injuries, the other team should be blasting shots in from all over the park to capitalise.

Equipment is all part of the overall team package in cycling. If they break, tough titties.

That's exactly the point, it is romantic. So glad it's nothing like football in that regard.

I agree. Spices it up a bit too. I'd suggest F1 as a better analogy than a 3rd choice goalkeeper in football though.

Well, by wearing yellow you're the target of concerted efforts from multiple teams. If you're in places below 1st, you aren't likely to be the same focus of attacks.

Yeah, but then being able to halt proceedings (to some limited extent, in some conditions) by sticking your arm in the air is a pretty significant advantage in the face of those attacks. If a third place rider was being attacked by a four place one, he wouldn't be able to stop it by needing a 'comfort break'...

During the rest-day downtime, I've been street-viewing my way through some of next Thursday's stage up the Col de la Croix de Fer and reliving my favourite/hardest bit.

There's a section which contains some descending through some switchbacks before it goes up to 9%+ - it kills!

You can see it on the profile:

And here's the street view - just look at the mountains in the distance in both directions! Stunning. It's well worth a little fly-through. Although things can change very quickly, this is presumably taken on a couple of different days, as the weather turns from glorious sunshine to brooding, dark and misty as you head up the hard section I mentioned. I was lucky to have done it on a good day, although the heat was an issue - riding these roads in the rain utterly terrifying.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@45.2107971,6.0562569,3a,75y,121.54h,90.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3XXcY1vQ1HnF6sRRhIJdPQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Fabio Aru could have been in yellow if he wanted all that extra power from the jersey. He just needed to ride his bike faster on the first stage, but he didn't, so he's not, its pretty simple really.

Isn't the whole "Respect the yellow jersey" quite a modern thing possibly linked with Lance being Yellow Johnny/peloton patron/sociopath for so long? Peloton bullied into submitting to him?

I think earlier in this thread people have talked about peloton bullies like Mercx, Hinault and Lance. I don't think Froome is quite like that, although he's becoming more likeable as a rider, if not as an interviewer or bike model. Those elbows are aesthetically haram.