Tour de France Stage 11 - First Mountain Finish - SPOILERS

jlwdm · #1 07-18-2018, 08:36 AM

First mountain finish but not very steep so probably not a lot of great action until tomorrow.

Jeff

justindcady · #2 07-18-2018, 08:41 AM

Somebody just needs to make a move. This whole Sky train business got old years ago. Can't have any chance of winning unless you take a few risks, no?

kramnnim · #3 07-18-2018, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justindcady

Somebody just needs to make a move. This whole Sky train business got old years ago. Can't have any chance of winning unless you take a few risks, no?

Movistar read your request.

harlond · #4 07-18-2018, 08:55 AM

Don't think Cavendish is going to make up any ground on Merckx this year.

jlwdm · #5 07-18-2018, 09:13 AM

Sky is so impressive in how they handle attacks. No panic and just continue to ride their race.

Jeff

kramnnim · #6 07-18-2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harlond

Don't think Cavendish is going to make up any ground on Merckx this year.

Sounds like he will DNF today

jlwdm · #7 07-18-2018, 10:31 AM

Wow! This is much better racing than I expected.

Jeff

PNW · #8 07-18-2018, 10:37 AM

Wow! Thomas really proved his strength. I thought Quintana would attack harder in this stage.

kramnnim · #9 07-18-2018, 10:39 AM

Poor Nieve lol

Yay G!

jlwdm · #10 07-18-2018, 10:44 AM

Sky rode a brilliant race, but I feel so sorry for Nieve.

The biggest issues for Sky are Poels and Bernal. Maybe they be stronger in future stages, but they were not any help today.

Jeff

jr59 · #11 07-18-2018, 10:45 AM

Some day of racing there. But Sky just does what it does and in the end, well it just kind of works out.

ultraman6970 · #12 07-18-2018, 11:02 AM

And dumoulin put all that work for 3 seconds, dont think he is too happy. But he has something darn quintana doesnt have... courage to go for it.

Quintana or did not have the legs or he did what he has been doing lately, dropping the ball and suck wheel at the worst moments (waste of time). At that point of the race IMO movistar did all possible for him to get him back in the race. He is gone of the race IMO.

IMO the biggest problem for Movistar now is that Landa is not too reliable, independently of the crashes he got already, if you notice he wins one day and then he lose tons of time next day. Movistar should be thinking in changing tactics and try to win stages maybe with soler. Probably tomorrow landa will win, who knows.

Great set up by sky... you cant deny that.

Froomey: Hey G... you win today... then tomorrow I win the classic stage 12, ok?

marciero · #13 07-18-2018, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNW

Wow! Thomas really proved his strength. I thought Quintana would attack harder in this stage.

Both he and Froome. Am wondering about the tactics- first Thomas attacking, then Froome eventually chasing his teammate. Froome's move was explosive enough not to drag the rest of the group and jeopardize Thomas' chances of getting in yellow, and he did wait for Thomas to get away first. With Thomas away, it also makes sense also to have Froome not lose, or gain time on other GC guys. So it makes sense team tactics-wise. If both of them are strong enough to win the Tour they will have to make some decision at some point. Froome's remarks a few days ago seemed to indicate being open to the possibility of supporting Thomas if things worked out that way.

Between these two and the rest of the team, Sky seem pretty much able to control the race at will.

paredown · #14 07-18-2018, 11:23 AM

Sky burned off one their own riders (of the 6 starting up the last climb)--and that meant that Kwiatkowski had to even do more work on the front--did you see when he switched off, he looked like he was going to fall off his bike. He'll be hurting tomorrow.

I felt sorry for Nieve--a brave ride. He looked too depressed to compete for second, or maybe he was gassed.

GregL · #15 07-18-2018, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marciero

Both he and Froome. Am wondering about the tactics- first Thomas attacking, then Froome eventually chasing his teammate. Froome's move was explosive enough not to drag the rest of the group and jeopardize Thomas' chances of getting in yellow, and he did wait for Thomas to get away first. With Thomas away, it also makes sense also to have Froome not lose, or gain time on other GC guys. So it makes sense team tactics-wise. If both of them are strong enough to win the Tour they will have to make some decision at some point. Froome's remarks a few days ago seemed to indicate being open to the possibility of supporting Thomas if things worked out that way.

Between these two and the rest of the team, Sky seem pretty much able to control the race at will.

Finish line quotes from Thomas stated that his attack was not planned. I think he saw an opportunity to win both the stage and the yellow jersey. This also puts Sky in the position of supporting both Thomas and Froome. As long as Thomas doesn't falter, the team is obligated to support him. The stage 20 time trial is the only upcoming stage Froome can ride for himself. We'll just have to see how this plays out in the days to come.

As far as other GC competitors, only Dumolin looked really good. Landa, Bardet, Quintana, and Nibali ceded time. Quintana is ruing the time he lost earlier in the race. Once again, Sky's race to lose. Shades of 2012.

Greg