" TDF" any one watching the big race?

[anchorman]

The only one game enough to challenge Froome is now gone from the race.It is a mere formality now unless Froome and Sky implode.
Yet again Porte was left to fend for him self for large portions of the stage before he was injured.It was a shocking crash.I hope he will recover quickly.They are a tough reed these cyclists.
For me the break aways will be the only interest left in the race, other than seeing of Simon Yates can win the white jersey as best young rider.
I think Aru was quickly told what he had done was wrong. Porte and the other GC riders quickly reined him in and gave him the message.
Maybe an early night tonight, rest day.

[R.Griffen]

For Porte, Aru and probably Bardet this was the chance. Valverde was out of the tour and Quintana had been in the Giro was pretty much no chance of winning. Thomas had crashed out a couple hours before Porte (I know Sky is still strong) but he is/was the main helper for Froome. So the best 2 riders in the tour without their main team mate. Now Porte crashing out I think we will see a different style of race

[anchorman]

Griff, I think that Thomas was having as easy a ride as what Froome was.He was tucked away deep in the Sky train as much as Froome.The rider who controlled the speed of the peloton were and are the riders doing all the work.
Sad to see both Thomas and Porte out of the race.Any crash is not good, but two riders of class out, that is disappointing.
Regardless of whether I feel the race is over, i will still be watching tonight.Here in the West we get to see the lot and can be in bed before midnight.
How do you see the change in racing from tonight ? I am interested  to know.
I am a fan of cycling but do not under stand a lot of the tactics, maybe you can enlighten me.

[R.Griffen]

Personally I see Aru and Fuglsang going for broke. Fuglsang managed to ride away from Porte and Froome just a month back. I know Froome is in better form and it's also a three week tour but these guys are pretty explosive. The short bursting attacks would come right away not waiting into the climb. However if this happen it will lead a very very small group of riders ( Aru, Bardet, Fuglsang, Uran, Martin, Froome then depending on who is left from sky chasing). This strategy can't be over used on a stage if it doesn't work well they gotta sit and wait hoping not to be dropped by the pace of Sky.

A different strategy will suffer with riders such as Zakarin not being in the tour. But this strategy is having the GC group ride at a constant speed. The same tempo suits guys like Quintana, Yates, Meintjes but it also helps guys like Nieve and Henao from sky. I'm one of few with the opinion that Quintana isn't doing poorly. He has stayed on his bike yes he has dropped time but it's far from over. In the Giro won by Dumoulin(More of a time trial specialist than a climber) Quintana couldn't even break away from him. Someone else needs to control the pace like AG2R did in stage 9 and hope they catch Froome on a bad day.

Strange to say but if Valverde had not crashed in stage 1, he would likely be top 3 with how the race has been as he is the most explosive climber on the tour. The race staying like it is at the moment Aru is a real chance. Will the race stay the same? Wouldn't think so, we have only had a couple days climbing and both have been indifferent finishes. Froome will have a stage picked out he will be attacking on other than that we might see the GC contenders group properly for a couple stages when reaching the mountains next

One other thing we may start to see is trying to keep the Peloton together for longer. This is likely to happen only if Froome drops the yellow jersey (doesn't matter who to) more riders will mean more attacks and since everyone knows Froome is favourite Sky will need to be very selective which ones they chase down when they aren't setting the pace (unlikely any other team chase riders down apart from maybe Astana).

Hope his makes sense

[GoLions]

I keep thinking the thread title says 'DTF' and not 'TDF' heh

Watched almost the entire thing last year, haven't really gotten into it this year though. Probably because I've been playing Crash every night haha

[R.Griffen]

Fuglsang not 100% and Sky pace is crazy. Not looking good for anyone but Froome

[PowerBug]

How the flower are there still 4 Sky riders when the final group is down to like 20?? Bardet, Aru, Quintana have no teammates left yet Froome has 3....

Sky are like robots. The Harlem Globetrotters. Hawthorn :P It's not fair :'(

[PowerBug]

Oh come on... attack the flowerer he's too good as it is may as well attack. Especially when he flowers up on the road :o

[R.Griffen]

Can't stand having Aussie commentators. Quintana gonna finish a hell of a lot higher than Porte will

[R.Griffen]

ARU IN YELLOW!!!

[PowerBug]

IS THIS REAL LIFE?! OH MY GOD FROOME JUST STOPPED ON THAT CLIMB!!

[R.Griffen]

IS THIS REAL LIFE?! OH MY GOD FROOME JUST STOPPED ON THAT CLIMB!!

Aru 2 - Froome 0 excluding time trial

[PowerBug]

IS THIS REAL LIFE?! OH MY GOD FROOME JUST STOPPED ON THAT CLIMB!!

Aru 2 - Froome 0 excluding time trial

Very true. But there's a time trial at the end which may decide it all...

Bardet and Uran still a chance as well.

[anchorman]

Still nobody has attacked Froome.It was a sprint up hill he was beaten in.
I think it is money, money, money that keeps the Sky team going.Almost all the Sky riders could be lead riders for almost any team if the wanted to.Porte left to make his own name after carrying Froome for many years.
I am surprised that the other teams haven't got together and decided to attack Sky as a group and take them out.

[R.Griffen]

after tonight if Aru is still in yellow. Sky riders will be doing less work for a couple days, will give them a nice rest