Winnersaint Posted 14 June, 2016 Share Posted 14 June, 2016 Le Grande Boucle is almost upon us again. Time for predictions. Think that Quintana will run Froome close again but he looked in superb form in the Dauphine, plus Froome has trained more specifically to peak in the third week this year. Add to that around 55K's of ITT and I think he will have the edge just. Will have to look out for Romain Bardet though. Think we might see a different Cav this year. A la Robbie McEwan in his later years, but don't see him winning a drag race with Kittel, Greipel, Bouhanni and Caleb Ewan as of old. Yellow Jersey - Froome Green Jersey - Sagan Polka Dot Jersey - A Climber White Jersey- Alaphilippe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 14 June, 2016 Share Posted 14 June, 2016 Y - Nairo G - Sagan PD - Bardet or Rolland W - Barguil Cav to abandon before Bastille Day Valverde abandoning day 2 for the Saints manager's job...a welcome shot in the arm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 21 June, 2016 Share Posted 21 June, 2016 Time for Quintana I think, his TT seems to have improved although it's just been uphill TTs. Froome just that little bit shaky this year although no cobbles is probably to his advantage. Contador can never be discounted but... nah. Nairo Quintana for yellow and polka dots. Not sure on young rider. Sagan obviously green jersey, they may as well just pop it in the post now and not bother with the actual competition. Not sure what to make of the sprinters this year, they have a few stages and you'd think Cav would be there for some of it, but he just doesn't seem to have the edge. Not just Kittel, but even Greipel and a few others beat him, plus he was ill last week. Would love to see him pull Paris out of the bag one more time though. I don't think he'll abandon though, he's usually too committed (proud?) to do that. Bob Jungels to win a stage or two just because he has the best name. And Steve Cummings to do a Jens Voigt thing and grab a breakaway stage win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 21 June, 2016 Share Posted 21 June, 2016 Can Kittel win green if he wins most of the sprinters stages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 21 June, 2016 Share Posted 21 June, 2016 My wife has put £5 of my money on Alaphilippe E/W. One of the positive things about my treatment is that I'm off work for the whole of the tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 21 June, 2016 Share Posted 21 June, 2016 Time for Quintana I think, his TT seems to have improved although it's just been uphill TTs. Froome just that little bit shaky this year although no cobbles is probably to his advantage. Contador can never be discounted but... nah. Nairo Quintana for yellow and polka dots. Not sure on young rider. Sagan obviously green jersey, they may as well just pop it in the post now and not bother with the actual competition. Not sure what to make of the sprinters this year, they have a few stages and you'd think Cav would be there for some of it, but he just doesn't seem to have the edge. Not just Kittel, but even Greipel and a few others beat him, plus he was ill last week. Would love to see him pull Paris out of the bag one more time though. I don't think he'll abandon though, he's usually too committed (proud?) to do that. Bob Jungels to win a stage or two just because he has the best name. And Steve Cummings to do a Jens Voigt thing and grab a breakaway stage win. Re: Cav abandoning I think this will be strategic and depends on whether he gets the nod for the Olympics Track Team - I've assumed he will and won't want to ride Ventoux! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 1 July, 2016 Share Posted 1 July, 2016 Update estimate: Steve Cummings to get 2 stage wins. He's sounds very hacked off at british cycling after not being picked for the Olympic road race. point to prove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 1 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 1 July, 2016 (edited) Update estimate: Steve Cummings to get 2 stage wins. He's sounds very hacked off at british cycling after not being picked for the Olympic road race. point to prove. Which two stages do you think he will target then? Stage 10 looks a possibility as it is the transition out of the Pyrenees, with a Cummings like bump at the end and possibly Stage 5 into the Massif Central or perhaps Stage 16. Edited 1 July, 2016 by Winnersaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 1 July, 2016 Share Posted 1 July, 2016 Which two stages do you think he will target then? Stage 10 looks a possibility as it is the transition out of the Pyrenees, with a Cummings like bump at the end and possibly Stage 5 into the Massif Central or perhaps Stage 16. He probably won't, I know - win one and he'll be marked out of winning another. Just interesting to see how people respond when annoyed like that, thinking him and Dani King should get together and form their own country or something. Stages: was thinking 10 and 16 look a little Cummings-ish but he can just about do it anywhere that's a bit lumpy. Hadn't thought about 5 but you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 1 July, 2016 Share Posted 1 July, 2016 Can't see past Froome winning again, Sky just look so strong and the amount of TT distance is massively is his favour. Hoping that Adam Yates and Daniel Martin both have a decent crack at a stage win and I'll be stood up celebrating if Cummings nicks one. Anyone know much about Daniel McLay? He's a British rider who has completely snuck under my radar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 2 July, 2016 Share Posted 2 July, 2016 Wow. Cav took Kittel apart. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 2 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 2 July, 2016 (edited) Young sprinter think he was born in New Zealand. Riding pro-continental with FVC formerly Bretagne Seche Environnement. Edited 2 July, 2016 by Winnersaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 2 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 2 July, 2016 Just re watched it. Cav had a hell of a lead out from Sagan. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 2 July, 2016 Share Posted 2 July, 2016 Now THAT was fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 2 July, 2016 Share Posted 2 July, 2016 Just re watched it. Cav had a hell of a lead out from Sagan. Lol. Sagan is pretty much the best wheel to take. He has to go early because he won't beat any of the others over 150m, so sit on him and then jump when he starts to fade. Perfect tactics from Cav, I'm so happy for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 3 July, 2016 Share Posted 3 July, 2016 Sagan, today, won the Green Jersey. No one is going to get close. The man is the ultimate rider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 3 July, 2016 Share Posted 3 July, 2016 ITV showed a clip of this on their highlights. What a bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 4 July, 2016 Share Posted 4 July, 2016 Y - Nairo G - Sagan PD - Bardet or Rolland W - Barguil Cav to abandon before Bastille Day Valverde abandoning day 2 for the Saints manager's job...a welcome shot in the arm... Sort of hoping Cav doesn't abandon now - his best form for a number of years..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 4 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 4 July, 2016 Cav talking up being there for duration, he won't want to let team or charity down by quitting early, Ventoux might be a tipping point though. He is on the best form for years, but there again form is temporary, class is permanent, and he has bags of that. Equalling the record of Le Blaireau is astonishing. Really, let's put this in perspective in terms of achievement, I am seriously struggling to think of a Brit sportsman quite at his level within his own sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 4 July, 2016 Share Posted 4 July, 2016 The 2 best sportsmen we have are both cyclists. Aside from Froome and Cav you could make a case for Andy Murray perhaps, especially if you take the superhuman Djokovic out of the equation. Maybe Anthony Joshua will turn out to be the next one in the years to come. A stunning sprint today made all the more remarkable when you consider he's spent most of his time recently training on the track. What a win that was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 5 July, 2016 Share Posted 5 July, 2016 What a bore yesterday's stage was though, I wouldn't count on today's being any better either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 7 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 7 July, 2016 Cav nails it again. 29 stage victories. Went long today and reckons he had maxed out and needed a bigger gear. Wanted it more than Kittel. Great second by Dan McClay btw he was close too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 8 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 8 July, 2016 Into the Pyrenees today. GC boys could come out to play. 7k drop off Col d'Aspin finishes it. Did it on the smart trainer a few months back https://www.strava.com/activities/446706595 which is same direction as they go up today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 8 July, 2016 Share Posted 8 July, 2016 He probably won't, I know - win one and he'll be marked out of winning another. Just interesting to see how people respond when annoyed like that, thinking him and Dani King should get together and form their own country or something. Stages: was thinking 10 and 16 look a little Cummings-ish but he can just about do it anywhere that's a bit lumpy. Hadn't thought about 5 but you never know. OK. Stage 7. Didn't see that coming... One more? Maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 8 July, 2016 Share Posted 8 July, 2016 OK. Stage 7. Didn't see that coming... One more? Maybe... Amazing win today. This tour is looking better and better for the British riders. 4 wins already with the likelihood of more to come. I'd love to see Thomas or Yates win a stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 8 July, 2016 Share Posted 8 July, 2016 I'd love to see Thomas or Yates win a stage. He needs to stay clear of the inflatable banners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 9 July, 2016 Share Posted 9 July, 2016 5 out of 8 stages to Brits, 3 out of 4 jerseys overnight. Looks like Brexit is working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 10 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 10 July, 2016 Don't think I'll be descending like that any time soon. Not enough bottle and too many potholes. Ouch!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 13 July, 2016 Share Posted 13 July, 2016 Any extra effort that Froome expended in today's break is compensated by the 6km being cut from tomorrow's climb due to the forecast 120km/h winds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 14 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 14 July, 2016 Any extra effort that Froome expended in today's break is compensated by the 6km being cut from tomorrow's climb due to the forecast 120km/h winds. Some club members were on holiday in the area yesterday and rode out beyond Bedoin. I think that general consensus was that it was the windiest ride ever. Not much better in the Vendee according to another person from the club. Classy ride from Sagan and Froome though yesterday. Today's stage is a hard one to call. Froome is the better time triallist, but neither he or Quintana will be wanting to go too deep even a shortened Ventoux. It will be tough as the ride up to Chalet Reynard has the steepest gradients on the mountain as it goes through the trees. There will be wind today on the flat which may split the peloton again which may well be a problem for Quintana as Movistar doesn't have a Kyrienka, Stannard, Rowe or Thomas type of rider, all of whom could rip the peloton to shreds on the way to Ventoux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 14 July, 2016 Share Posted 14 July, 2016 Mt Ventoux. Utterly, utterly mental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 14 July, 2016 Share Posted 14 July, 2016 Well that was a mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1576 Posted 14 July, 2016 Share Posted 14 July, 2016 There are some real ***@ts lining the route, something really needs to be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 16 July, 2016 Share Posted 16 July, 2016 Another win for Cav as he breezed past Kittel in the last 100m. He'll have the overall stage win record next year if he carries on like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 19 July, 2016 Share Posted 19 July, 2016 Cav's abandoned... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 20 July, 2016 Share Posted 20 July, 2016 Shame. Olympics got in the way Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 20 July, 2016 Share Posted 20 July, 2016 Shame. Olympics got in the way Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk There was nothing left but unecessary hardship left for him anyway, well apart from Sunday's jaunt on the Champs but 4 days in the mountains, although relative low ones, was too high a price to pay. Green is gone, Champs is a lottery so why bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 20 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 20 July, 2016 Quintana's got no form, nor a team to support him like Froome and hasn't been able to send Anacona off up the road like last year. Great to see Adam Yates out climbing Quintana today as well. Megeve TT tomorrow might just seal it for Froome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 22 July, 2016 Author Share Posted 22 July, 2016 As predicted! Not sure I've seen anyone riding the top tube on a descent on a TT bike before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyboy Posted 22 July, 2016 Share Posted 22 July, 2016 Be sad if Adam Yates missed out on the podium but probably looks that way now. Unless he can do some dynamic descending tomorrow off the front and then dodge the falling 1km booby-trap banner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 23 July, 2016 Share Posted 23 July, 2016 One of the most boring tours ever, not helped by Neds commentary which I find annoying. Just shut up for two ****ing seconds every now and then you **** Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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