Fantasy Tour de France + general TdF discussion...
07-11-18, 09:39 AM
#76
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Good for Sonny, making it interesting.
07-11-18, 09:47 AM
#77
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cobrelli...did not see that coming.
otherwise, the expected hilly classics guys were pretty much at the head of the class. if the finishing climb had been another km, it coulda been danny
martin, valverde or even nibbles with the w. but then again, it coulda still been sagan.
expecting this same cast of characters in contention for tomorrow's stage six (valverde, nibbles, martin, gilbert, gva, alaphilippe, sagan, kwiatkowski. picking alaphilippe (again) for the win.
otherwise, the expected hilly classics guys were pretty much at the head of the class. if the finishing climb had been another km, it coulda been danny
martin, valverde or even nibbles with the w. but then again, it coulda still been sagan.
expecting this same cast of characters in contention for tomorrow's stage six (valverde, nibbles, martin, gilbert, gva, alaphilippe, sagan, kwiatkowski. picking alaphilippe (again) for the win.
07-11-18, 11:33 AM
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Sagan had great team support, and just stupid power 
I always love watching a Frenchman fly off on the break, I'm really enjoying watching Sylvain Chavanel. He has the true spirit of it all.
I always love watching a Frenchman fly off on the break, I'm really enjoying watching Sylvain Chavanel. He has the true spirit of it all.
07-11-18, 03:33 PM
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Lol he had a few minutes on TV, fumbling with his team radio alongside the team car. Dropped radio, had to dismount and snatch it from the ditch. Lucky older bystander walks up to hold bike. Gets radio situated, yells at camera man and gestures as he pulls down his shorts to pee 
Sadly, I'm afraid that's where he is now.
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07-11-18, 03:33 PM
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07-11-18, 06:55 PM
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It was also nice to see Egan Bernal lead for that short time. Give him a taste of whats to come for him in the future.
07-11-18, 08:49 PM
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I used to be a fan of Cavendish but he seems to have become a Nancy boy lately.
07-11-18, 10:16 PM
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I've enjoyed Sagan's growing up. A few years ago he rubbed people the wrong way. Today when they told him Matthews had to drop out he was genuinely disappointed and bummed even though a sprint rival was out. His english is getting better for post race interviews too and seems to be able to say what he wants. It is always interesting to hear the sprinters be able to recall the last like 2km to the pebble. Cav used to do it all the time.
07-12-18, 09:55 AM
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OK, maybe it was a little too punchy for the usual puncheur suspects, particularly the way they all revved it up today for the GC boys.
Thus my increased disdain that the shark of Messina was a bit of a fish out of water on this stage. Perhaps he burned too many matches doing the lead out for Colbrelli yesterday. Ha ha.
Thus my increased disdain that the shark of Messina was a bit of a fish out of water on this stage. Perhaps he burned too many matches doing the lead out for Colbrelli yesterday. Ha ha.
07-12-18, 11:10 AM
#86
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^haha colbrelli lead-out. alaphilippe close but no cigaro. let's stick with gaviria to take stage seven. can't wait for the encore of the hell of the north on stage number nine number nine number nine...
07-12-18, 12:13 PM
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Really great win by Dan Martin. Attacking with over a km to go and holding the lead to the line. He's gained a bit on GC and hopefully if he stays safe will finish in the top ten. Top five would be fantastic.
07-12-18, 02:47 PM
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yes a well-deserved win by dm. it's been a lean year for team uae. if they can give martin solid support in the big mtns, he could get into the top five. logjam of gc riders currently. waiting for the judgment of the cobbles.
07-12-18, 05:30 PM
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Well done, ugly Irish dude. It's nice to a see a brother get a result. Slainte.
With the onslaught of folks making it beyond-puncheur hard, today had some of this written all over it:
- ugly Irish dude
- Grandpa Valverde, long may he reign
- crafty Sicilian
Many prognosticators see Vincenzo grabbing a few minutes on the cobbles. That's a real big ask. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. But it may be a bigger ask to see him pick up time anywhere else.
I see Nibali going all in on stage 9 with whatever odd bedfellows he can muster. GVA is out (Porte). Sagan will attack rather than cooperate (Majka). Perhaps a lash up with Quick Step?
Gaviria picks up 7 and 8, unless a break survives on stage 8. Or Colbrelli rears his awesomeness again!!!
With the onslaught of folks making it beyond-puncheur hard, today had some of this written all over it:
- ugly Irish dude
- Grandpa Valverde, long may he reign
- crafty Sicilian
Many prognosticators see Vincenzo grabbing a few minutes on the cobbles. That's a real big ask. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. But it may be a bigger ask to see him pick up time anywhere else.
I see Nibali going all in on stage 9 with whatever odd bedfellows he can muster. GVA is out (Porte). Sagan will attack rather than cooperate (Majka). Perhaps a lash up with Quick Step?
Gaviria picks up 7 and 8, unless a break survives on stage 8. Or Colbrelli rears his awesomeness again!!!
07-13-18, 02:18 AM
#91
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stage nine. paging niki terpstra...
Last edited by diphthong; 07-13-18 at 03:52 AM.
07-13-18, 03:23 AM
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You know what's even worse, @Caretaker? I toasted him with a Protestant whisky. Can you believe it?
Ta bron orm.
Ta bron orm.
07-13-18, 03:53 AM
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slcbob...always instigating...mods?
07-13-18, 04:01 AM
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feeling pretty good about my fantasy team's chances, having picked gaviria, sagan, martin and thomas...with nibbles and zakarin in reserve...oh wait...bleeping tdf mucks everything up.
07-14-18, 02:26 AM
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stage eight prediction...appears to be five substantial turns/bends in the road within the last 5 km on a flattish stage. weather looks like it will be good.
normally, on a sprint stage with an almost flattish finish, i'd pick gaviria...and he could win. those corners in the last few km's could wreak havoc tho
and induce a/multiple crashfest(s). i think the quick step train has plenty of places to get derailed. gonna pick the ultimate opportunist-sagan.
normally, on a sprint stage with an almost flattish finish, i'd pick gaviria...and he could win. those corners in the last few km's could wreak havoc tho
and induce a/multiple crashfest(s). i think the quick step train has plenty of places to get derailed. gonna pick the ultimate opportunist-sagan.
07-14-18, 08:55 AM
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A mini-version of the Sagan Cav battle between Greipel and Gav. Sagan kicked too early. Big ups to Groenewegen again!
07-14-18, 09:32 AM
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Looks like he still got a second from it instead of fourth.
07-14-18, 10:26 AM
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Bad GC day for Dan Martin. Crash at 15km and with no other GC guy in the crash UAE had to do all the chasing. Drops ten places after losing 1'20" on peloton.
That's bike racing, one day you're up and two days later you're down.
He seems to be OK to continue and hopefully there will be better days ahead.
That's bike racing, one day you're up and two days later you're down.
He seems to be OK to continue and hopefully there will be better days ahead.
07-14-18, 12:31 PM
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Cavendish ain't going to break the most-stage wins by a single rider. I wonder how many wins he'd have now if he didn't crash out of last year's tour
I don't know what his thoughts were of Sagan before that crash, but I'd bet he would love to bang Sagan's
today.
I don't know what his thoughts were of Sagan before that crash, but I'd bet he would love to bang Sagan's
today.