Tour de France 2017

Sky get first and last place.

Did Rowe manage to keep the red light last place today?

So, was it the skinsuit that lost of for Froome (and nearly won it for Kwiatkovski)?
PS, it's a rhetorical question.

^^The clue's in what I wrote.

No faces though

Congratulations to Froome, he's risen to all that was asked of him. Not his fault he rides in an incredibly dominant team. Tons of riders with little cameos over the last few weeks though, it has been an enjoyable watch overall.

Hope something bizarre happens tomorrow and the GC gets all messed up by passing cattle in the road allowing the wrong riders 25 minutes advantage.

Not many cows in Paris.

It won't happen anyway, the last stage is always ridden the same way, the riders take it easy until they reach the finishing circuit, then they put on a show for the public and 19 times out of 20, it comes down to a sprint.

Have we had this yet? Flightradar24 data showing planes and choppers following a stage

https://twitter.com/itoworld/status/888418443376168960

I was trying to find a cat meme to express my disdain at the futility of life.

Any chance Matthews sealing it all tomorrow? Also, Lotto-Soudal must be having a sleepless night tonight, as they only have tomorrow's stage to make sure Greipel does not go off his "a win at every tour started" trend...

Dullest tour ever

I thought there was some really good racing and a good tour. Not sure what people thought it was dull.

You've a very short memory.

2011 and 2012 were not that long ago.

The GC battle was fairly pedestrian, it was clear from very early on who the six strongest riders in the race were, and most of the time losses came from tactical errors rather than good racing.

But a lot of the stages have seen some great racing, and riders like Barguil, Matthews, De Gendt, Roglic, Calmejane and EBH have ridden well.

It was largely dull, but it was still fun have it taking place. It's always nice to have a grand tour to distract daily.

Yeah, but Wiggo in 2012.

Also, Galibier stage in 2011 had some GC drama.

Arguably 2014 was duller as well, but Yorkshire.

In fact, the tour is always dull.

Yeah, but Wiggo in 2012

I like Wiggo, but that Tour was dull, day after day of Sky suffocating the hell out of the race. 2011 had two good GC stages, the rest of it was instantly forgettable.

It isn't, it's just people seem to expect it to be some anarchic, chaotic, thrill fest, when it's the biggest race of the season, with all the best riders there and in form, and a lot of pressure on them to perform. That leads to risk free racing on the whole.

The race beyond GC this year has really been a new light.

But yes, there were some dull parts, but on the whole, some great racing nealy every stage. And some new (and old) classy stage winners.

2011 dull - Whaa!?

Voekler somehow holding onto yellow until stage 19, Schelck's long-range raid on the Galibier and the excellent performance by Evans in the final TT to take the win.

Edit - Yeah, I take your point, it was a little 3rd week-heavy on action

This is all true. The stage and minor jerseys battles were fun. One year there may even be an anarchic, chaotic, thrill fest contest for GC.

I like the TdF regardless. But I wish they'd bring back the Skoda sponsorship idents with the accordion music and the wandering cow and the rider dashing a bottle at the car windscreen tho.