Tour De France 2018

It’ll be interesting.
Personally I’m not paying any attention to the interviews or bike position on the car.

Im guessing there's another time trial stage in the next week? The obvious thing there is : can Thomas hold the lead over domoulin (spelling) before the TT and after? I know Thomas has TT form right now, and I know that domoulin and froome are both post giro. I think it'll be doumoulin, froome, Thomas in that order on the tt stage. I would think Thomas needs about 2 minutes before that stage.

I think sky will make their decision on who is the prime rider after that stage. Their twin leadership model seems to be informal, less structured, and responsive to what is happening out there.
It has obvious reminders of the 2012 tour with froome playing the role of Wiggins, but there appears (from my limited vision and not traveling through Twitter) to be an acceptance of the situation and it's only really the observers (us) who are "who's the leader, who are sky backing?".
To me it appears sky are backing both of them to go as hard as they can, without pitching them against each other, which causes more pressure on the other teams.

Sky can still call up bernal, Powels, and Kwia, to help Thomas and froome.
Who can sunweb call up?
Movistar are shot, and going for the team trophy.
Scott are just getting around.
Bmc. Bmc.
Trek?
Drapac?

As with last year, I'm wanty are my favourite team.
"Guys, get in the break again"
"But boss..."
"The break."

I think Thomas knows he can't win while Froomes in the race so hes doing everything he can and hoping Froome has a crash or some other issue (fan), I can't see sky changing their plan while Froome is second, think sagan is making up for last years absent great to see.

But where will Froome make up the time on Thomas? I can't see them telling Thomas to wait and he won't lose 1.40 in the TT. If he doesn't have a bad day then it's his?

OK so Froome might attack and gain time. But at the moment it looks like Dumoulin will chase and Thomas will follow. Froome doesn't look strong enough (currently)

Dumoulin to attack on the downhill, and cause some splits? Crosswinds expected in the run in to the finish.

Really hoping what you say happens,

can someone remind me again which stage it was that abcdef gained the time over froome

First stage where froome crashed.

Also the first of Thomas' stage win he had 20 seconds plus time bonus.

Second stage win was a time bonus too

Fortuneo have riden great so far too. Barguil hasn't been as competitive as hoped but as a team they've been in nearly every break and when they aren't they're right up at the front.

thanks ^^

Froome to smash up to climb today and do his crazy mad descending to claw back time today?

The trouble is, Froome needs to attack to take time on Dumoulin, but whenever he attacks he will also look like he's attacking Thomas which will make him more unpopular. If Thomas can follow Froome then that probably makes it more likely Dumoulin can jump on as well.

If Froome is to win, I can see it being from some kind of spectacular fail from Thomas, like a major crack or another crash. The former is probably unlikely given the incredible strength Sky have, but you never know, and the latter - isn't he one of the only ones in the top 10 who has stayed on his bike so far?

Froome is a Millwall fan.

I dunno. I wouldn't be surprised to see Froome attack and G just sit on Dumoulin. If Windmills closed the gap then G can do the old one two and increase his lead but if he doesn't then Froome would increase the gap between second and third.

I've got a horrible feeling that the weird F1 Stage 17 could be the one which is the big GC day. The final climb is 16km at 8.7% according the Tour site. I think we might see Froome attack Geraint.

If that happens, we could see a Lemond-Fignon style TT on the penultimate day. Ideally placed for Sky to just hold their hands up and say well the best man will win.

That’s exactly the tactic they’ll use, Froome will attack, Thomas will sit on Dumoulin. If Froome comes back then Thomas will attack. And repeat. The goal has to be to gain time on Dumoulin, he’s too good a TT rider to risk it all in the final time trial.

Not going to happen, but I would love to see it come down to the final stage, smashing champagne flutes over each other's heads to try to gain that one second advantage.

I can’t help thinking next Wednesday might suit Roglic. He came second on the hilly worlds TT course. If someone slips up, he’s a potential winner.

However, it’s funny how he seems to escape the scrutiny of those who are sceptical of Froome’s ‘donkey to racehorse’ transformation.

Roglic is a pretty handy TTer as well... Ahead of Froome at last year's Worlds.

Edit. Just seen the post above. To slow :)

... attack on the downhill

Kwiatkowski back on the front to close down attacks on the descent?

https://youtu.be/_OfHXkHsQO8

If Froome attacks won't dumoulin just sit and look at Thomas to bring it back?

He loses the Tour if he does. Sky still win.

^ Froome likely to be more explosive on the Pyranean type climbs. Dumoulin and Thomas to ride together ..... but .... I don’t see any reason (other than the most defensive and cynical team orders) that a strong Thomas wouldn’t attack Domoulin if he felt he could get away cleanly.

Perhaps I give sky too much credit.

Jack Bauer and Arnaud Demare off the back 1km in.