Tour De France 2018

How long has tomorrow's stage format been known? Could the plan be for Thomas and Froome to attempt to TT off the front (Thomas working for Froome?)

Had a nasty leg break out training a few years back. Doesnt look like it straightened out afterwards.....

Missed it today, as I was out with the kids. But caught the back-end of an interview on the radio with Dan Martin talking about someone letting off some mace/pepper spray - wtf???

Edit: aha, I didn't read back enough pages. Why does all the drama happen when I can't watch?

The highlights should be entertaining today at least. In fact it sounds like this is one to watch right from the off, over 100k before the breakaway forms

Don’t bin it tomorrow lads

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They mentioned last night that they (ASO) spoke to the teams about how it will be setup in June.

I reckon Lappartient and Brailsford need to settle their beef like men, with a dance off.

I kinda tuned out in the final third. Lack of GC action but I guess the Alaphilippe/ Barguil / Yates battle should have kept me interested.

Ah right

Be funny if tomorrow backfires spectacularly as the GC guys just wait for the doms to get to the front

Could well happen, but there's a lot to lose if a few of the GC guys try it but one or two don't.

Is a 70m grid really big enough to make a difference? It's not like cyclists are F1 cars where a few seconds of accelleration will make a huge distance.

This is what I've been thinking. 65k is short, but is it short enough anyone attacking on the Peyresourde tomorrow really expect to hold off a a focussed GC peleton.

The best bet would be Movistar, which inevitably means that Quintana gets sacrificed for the better positioned Landa. But without any help on climbs 2 & 3, which are harder, it seems like a doomed effort. There's a lot of combinations of collaborations among the top ten but I can't see any of them benefiting the team that waits for 3+ doms over the first 3k or so. Waiting, that is, at a fairly high pace.

Arguably the most likely person in the top ten for a off the line solo effort is the worst placed Dan Martin who's main interest is more likely to be the stage win. Sky can old off the longest on chasing and force all the others to do the work to protect their position before the final climb.

No more Gilippe Filbert: apparently he just came out if the x-ray truck saying his Tour is over

Pretty gnarly he could even stand up, sad but no surprise.

Alaphilippe descending is something to behold. Genuinely terrifying.

Gilbert landed on big chunky rocks how he walked away from that I don't know.

Tough as nails!

Really looking forward to tomorrow's stage, it's going to be all out from the off.

They're going off in blocks of 20 riders I heard. Or at least the top 20 GC go off first. I don't know how long the gap is to the next lot though.

Walked away and got back on the bike with something broken. Nails. I'd need lots of bed rest, intense therapy and a pint of vodka.

Gilbert doing podium and TV interviews with blood oozing through his bandages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ytDCZS9oM

explanatory animation:

https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x6nks2m

Probably the teams will just regroup shortly after the start... but I do hope for a good battle between the top 4 riders

https://www.velonews.com/2018/07/tour-de-france/holm-on-tour-stage-16-crash-gilberts-scream-was-a-good-sign_473011

Didn't even finish last!

I'm telling you guys, Froome is off on a big day out tomorrow. Forcing movistar and t'others to chase. And Froome secretly hoping he knackers Geraint*.

Unless the loss of Moscon has actually affected team plans to the point where Sky now HAVE to back the Yellow jersey, 'cos they need the extra man in support.

*Maybe