Clipped_in

Thanks goodness for that!

KantoBoy

You mean either Tinkoff stocks up on Classic guys or just move to a Belgian/Dutch team?

I believe this kid is tactically fine but he is just SO MARKED. Everyone didn't know him 4 yrs ago (neither his capabilities) then on his 3rd yr you just saw guys tailing him when he made his moves. He leaves himself isolated because I also believe in most cases he has no choice (i.e. stage 16 where he was forced to work and do the chase).

I can't imagine how much damage he'll do if he had his own men. Too bad he went to Tinkoff for the money.

colnago62

I wouldn't call him a sprint specialist. He hasn't won a tour sprint stage in years. Also, looking at how he rides the sprints, he doesn't seem to want to mix it up when the wheel fighting starts.

climberguy

"Why do they say XX has won the Tour de France...?"

I think they must mean "xXx has won the Tour...". xXx (Triple X) was the character Vin Diesel played in a movie of the same name. He was an extreme sports athlete so hugely talented he would have won the Tour easily.

TrojanHorse

He's not really, but he's incredibly strong - he usually appears to be gaining on the winner (gorilla) when they cross the line, so he either needs better tactics or a better team with more support.

Or maybe being in the break EVERY DAY is hurting his chances, which again comes down to tactics.

He does need to leave Tinkoff though, the man's a nightmare.

colnago62

I don't think he has the horse power to come around Griepel. Griepel throws a big draft. Once you come around him and no longer have his draft, it takes massive watts to get by him, especially if he has timed it right and is still accelerating at the line.

Pirkaus

Griepel is a beast, he is certainly the strongest sprinter in the Tour. Unless he is jumped early I don't think many have close to the horsepower needed to catch and pass him. Watching him power up is incredible, the power meter on his bike is screaming for mercy, as well as anyone trying to catch him.
Quintana will have his Tour win one day, the Sky team is just too strong for him right now,. Ritchie Porte has delivered Froome again, he is such a stron g weapon for Sky.

colnago62

Peter, while no where at the finish line, was bumping and jiving. Not something that we have seen from him in the sprints. I think he has grown tired of all those 2nd places and really wants a win. There are some real premium sprinters in pro racing right now and riders who, in different circumstances, normally would be on the 1st step in other races are coming home empty handed at the TDF.

Dan333SP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyfb3H7LEg

Enjoy.

stlcowboyfan

Much appreciated! Geez...he needed 19 seconds with two miles left. He averaged 34mph!! Fignon was devestated.

Mumonkan

thanks for that, a great watch

its crazy to se how "fine" he seemed after that effort, fignon was cooked

i ****ing love racing. and i love the 80s.

sidenote: now i need to search for some high viz oakleys

Dan333SP

A great bit of sporting drama. I'm also an F1 fan and I was surprised to see that Sam Posey was involved in cycling coverage back then, he was an F1 commentator for a long time and still does the race intro videos for NBCSN. He had that interview with Greg immediately after he finished.

unterhausen

moved here from road

fietsbob

The time gap was cut by a minute , in the Last Alpine day but it was still over a minute.. to 2nd.

the Avenue des Champs-Élysées loop is essentially a Criterium race, and the winner and the whole field gets the same time.

Wet streets this year, time of the race ended, when they entered that loop the 1st time.