Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 26
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123

    Tour De France 2017

    A reminder for those who cycle or merely enjoy watching the spectacle on TV, this year's tour starts tomorrow (Saturday/1st).

    I know that it will be shown live on Eurosport 1/2. This year's Giro was brilliant, with the race only decided on the last day, with the excellent Tom Dumoulin winning by the narrowest margin.

    Looking forward to seeing some of the 'characters' again, who manage to display humour in spite of the pain of some of the stages. Here's a clip of Peter Sagan at this year's Tour of California:



    Couple of quite good articles here:

    Tour de France 2017: Will Chris Froome win fourth title in five years? - BBC Sport

    Chris Froome: Tour de France & the secret world of climbing - BBC Sport

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Palace Far from Worries
    Posts
    14,393
    I'm a fan.

    Richie Port to win ... well, podium at least.



    ^ Apologies ... it's in Frog
    .

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123
    Great start for Team Sky, with Geraint Thomas winning the first stage, and Froome gaining a 30 second lead over his main rivals already.

    Valverde out with a broken knee, which will have a major impact on the support that Quintana counts on from the rest of the Movistar team.

  4. #4
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    First mountain stage comes early doors this year - tomorrow, in fact, on Les Planche Blle Filles in the Jura. Would like to see Thomas consolidate his lead with help from Sky, including Froome - but that won't happen unfortunately.

    If Froome crashes out early I'd say Thomas has a very good chance of standing on the podium in Paris.

  5. #5
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Sagan out due to callous act of thuggery. Good riddance, to be honest. A talented rider, yes, but a bit of a boner with it. Think he won every green jersey since 2012...

    Should be a cracking stage today... a bit of muscles flexing to be expected from the hierarchy. Looking forward to it.

  6. #6
    Member
    Shrinking Violet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Last Online
    02-09-2017 @ 04:42 AM
    Location
    Sainsbury's Meat Counter
    Posts
    896
    sagan was a knob but perhaps a bit of karma for the gobby manxman, as he's pulled off just as stupid shit over the years. would love to see quintana win the tour but wont be this year, perhaps never. his form hasnt been great of late but i still think froome-dog will win it at a canter
    Purple Monkey Dish-Washer

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
    buriramboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    23-05-2020 @ 05:51 PM
    Posts
    12,224
    Cav out aswell with a broken shoulder. Didn't really look like a big enough gap for him to get through, bit harsh on Sagan to be disqualified I thought. Must say though it is nice that they are showing the whole stages live on TV this year as opposed to just the last 2 hours.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Palace Far from Worries
    Posts
    14,393


    Stage 5
    One of only three summit finishes in the 2017 Tour de France, Stage 5 will give us the first clear indication of who has the
    legs to challenge for the overall Maillot Jaune.

    The stage starts fairly easily with only small uncategorised climbs to manage up until the immediate sprint point.
    From there the road heads upwards with the first categorised climb, a CAT 3 climb of Cote d’Esmoulieres.
    Strangely, the peloton has to climb for a further 10km or so to reach the actual summit of the mountain before descending into the valley.

    There follows a further uncategorised climb before the final brutal climb of La Planche des Belles Filles.
    At 6km in length and averaging 8.5% this will really test the legs.

    At various points during the climb, the gradient becomes very severe, with the final 0.5km to the summit at a horrid looking 20%.

    Only the best climbers in the peloton will be in contention for the stage win and The Wolf gives no hope to any breakaway that forms early on in the day.

    The teams with GC aspirations will chase hard and the pace will be on into the bottom of the climb.

    From there we could see some early attacks with the GC boys waiting for their chosen attack point to pounce.

    It should be an epic battle that you don’t want to miss as the race springs into life.
    From my Bookie aka the Wolf.
    Go Richie Port
    Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago ...


  9. #9
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD
    Go Richie Port
    BMC are currently pushing hard at the front of the peloton. Porte will definitely have a crack at getting the yellow jersey today.

  10. #10
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Cracking stage! Although I suspect Aru may have mixed in a little EPO with his Weetabix.

  11. #11
    Member
    Shrinking Violet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Last Online
    02-09-2017 @ 04:42 AM
    Location
    Sainsbury's Meat Counter
    Posts
    896
    ^same as nibali and contador before him

  12. #12
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Three out of four sprint stages for Kittel. Although I'm not sure how he was awarded the win - looked like a total dead heat to me...

    Oh well, mountains this weekend. Come on Thomas!

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Palace Far from Worries
    Posts
    14,393
    Why the Tour just doesn't catch on in come places ...

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    reddog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:09 PM
    Posts
    1,424
    Fromme is looking good for another win,what a crash by Porte,poor bastard.

  15. #15
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Quote Originally Posted by reddog
    what a crash by Porte,poor bastard.
    That was a nasty tumble. Mind you, it was a complete twat of a descent made worse by the damp conditions.


  16. #16
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    What, on paper, should be the most exciting stage of the Tour has just started. Froome lost yellow to Aru yesterday so he'll be looking to get that back over the next 100km - which comprises three massive mountains.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    bobo746's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    24-01-2019 @ 09:21 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    14,320

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat
    bobo746's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    24-01-2019 @ 09:21 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    14,320
    Michael Matthews claims another stage win as Tour gets tough

    MICHAEL Matthews is riding the biggest wave of his career after a second Tour de France win in three days put him within striking distance of the green jersey.

    The Australian again stalked Greg Van Avermaet in the last 300m of a technical Stage 16 finale, before launching clear to pip Edvald Boasson-Hagen in a photo-finish.
    Matthews, who also took the intermediate sprint, hauled in another 50 sprint points to put himself only 29 points behind the green jersey of Marcel Kittel.
    “It was all in slow motion for me, really. The team did such a great job to put me in the right spot at the right time to launch my sprint,” Matthews said.
    “To get my second win in three days, I don’t really know. I think it won’t really sink in until tomorrow,” Matthews said.
    With the result not initially known, Matthews screamed for joy when the verdict came through.
    But German sprinter John Degenkolb was angered by what he claimed was Matthews changing his line at the finish and denying him the chance to sprint.
    Footage emerged showing Degenkolb appearing to strike Matthews as he rode past after the finish.
    “I was waiting for the result and he grabbed me on the way past. The officials saw it,” Matthews said.
    “We’ll see what the officials will do about it. I don’t think it’s very sportsmanlike.”
    Tour de France 2017: Michael Matthews wins stage

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat
    bobo746's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    24-01-2019 @ 09:21 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    14,320
    Pawel Poljanski shows what your legs look like after 16 stages of the Tour de France


  20. #20
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Quote Originally Posted by bobo746
    Michael Matthews claims another stage win as Tour gets tough
    Sunweb are having a great Tour.

    Today and tomorrow should decide the outcome of the GC. Although there is a time trial on the penultimate stage which could potentially shake things up further.

    Already settled in for five hours of cycling on ITV4 - at work of course. I love getting paid to watch TV.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Palace Far from Worries
    Posts
    14,393
    tage 17 The race has reached the Alps and the next two days will be for the mountains goats in the peloton as the riders face the Croix de Fer,
    Telegraphe, Galibier, Vars & the Col d’Izoard across a brutal looking 360km of racing.

    These stage will offer the last chances to put time into the top GC contenders before the final TT on stage 20 and the likes
    of Bardet, Aru & Uran will all be looking to isolate and pressurise Chris Froome and his Sky team.

    First up is Stage 17, the Queen stage some might argue and the stage in which the GC standings will get a mssive shake up.
    The question being, will Froome crack? With 4 categorised climbs, ending with the double-header of the Telegraphe & the Galibier,
    two of the most iconic climbs in France, the riders face a massive task of endurance and willpower. Given the state of the race,
    we should see the first attacks on the slopes of the Croix de Fer, a 24km climb at 5.2%, as Froome’s rivals know that they’ll need
    a decent time gap to take into the individual time trial on Stage 20. Once over the top, a 30km descent lies ahead before the
    riders face the daunting back-to-back challenge of the Telegraphe (12km at 7.1%) and then the iconic Galibier (17.7km at 6.9%).

    The Wolf will be looking at AG2R to put the hammer down on the descent of the the Croix de Fer and is expecting Froome to be under
    pressure for the whole day.

    The defending champion has shown chinks in his armour in the Tour this year and pre-race, The Wolf predicted that we would
    see the end of his dominance in the race and tonight will show why. If Froome becomes isloated, he panics and this has been
    evident on both Monday morning and earlier on the steep sections of Stage 12.

    This is the stage in which Froome cracks and Bardet, Aru & Uran will be there to take full advantage. In fact, The Wolf can see
    Landa ignoring all team orders tomorrrow from Sky and riding away from his team leader on the final climbs of Telegraphe & Galibier.

    With almost 60km of downhill racing, expect to see AG2R taking the race to Team Sky in what should be an epic battle amongst the GC riders….

    Romain Bardet – $8.50
    1985 – The last French winner of Le Grand Boucle in Bernard Hinault. The French public have yearned for another winner for over
    30 years now and in Bardet, they have a man that is ready to take the mantle. Runner up last year and sitting just 23 seconds
    behind Froome right now he knows that he needs to put time into the defending champion over the next two days and the
    terrain is absolutely perfect for him to do so.

    Of the GC riders, he has been the most attacking and his form is clearly there to mount a challenge on yellow.
    His team will risk everything to put him in with a position to win and he’ll be targeting the Galibier climb and following descent to
    distance himself from his rivals.
    The Wolf can see him taking his second stage win of the race.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat
    bobo746's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    24-01-2019 @ 09:21 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    14,320
    Aussie Matthews grabs Tour green jersey

    The Australian took the Tour de France points classification lead after Wednesday's 17th stage -- won by Primoz Roglic -- after Germany's Marcel Kittel, the winner of five stages this year, crashed and abandoned the tour.
    Matthews has performed brilliantly to put pressure on his main rival by gradually whittling down Kittel's seemingly insurmountable lead, and he has subsequently taking the green jersey after the German's misfortune,
    "I hope Marcel is fine," Matthews said.
    "I heard he crashed when I was already in the breakaway. It's not nice to get the green jersey in those circumstances but I've also fought a lot for having it.


    https://au.sports.yahoo.com/a/364365...-jersey/#page1



  23. #23
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Did anyone watch the stage yesterday, where they went up the Col d'Izoard? I was there a month or so back. Would stick up some pics if I knew how.

    All down to the last TT then. Looks like, on paper, that Froome will top the podium, followed by Uran in second and Bardet third. Team Sky have been very strong this year, again. Landa looks like a real contender for next year.

  24. #24
    RIP
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    16,939
    Chris Froome effectively clinched his fourth Tour de France title after finishing third on the penultimate stage of the race in Marseille.

    Briton Froome finished six seconds behind stage winner Maciej Bodnar.

    The 32-year-old took time out of all his major yellow jersey rivals on a 22.5km individual time trial.

    The Team Sky rider will not have his lead attacked on Sunday's processional final stage into Paris and will win the race for the third successive year.

    "It just was just an amazing feeling to finish in this atmosphere in this stadium," Froome told ITV4 afterwards.

    "Three weeks of racing are almost at an end - we've still got to get to Paris but this is an amazing feeling."


  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
    bobo746's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    24-01-2019 @ 09:21 AM
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    14,320

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •