Le Tour - 2013

[Bornadog]

Starts tonight. Froome hot favourite but anything can happen over 3 weeks. Cadels last chance I would think.

[boydogs]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Starts tonight. Froome hot favourite but anything can happen over 3 weeks. Cadels last chance I would think.

Sky were just so dominant last year, hopefully we see more of teams working together against them to make it interesting

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Great time trial by the Orica Greenedge team to win the stage and give Gerrans the Yellow Jersey. Cadel now 26 seconds off the lead after BMC's time trial.

Good to see an Aussie with the Yellow Jersey - for now.

[EasternWest]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Incredible that Gerrans couldn't even get a ride a few years ago.

He's such a good rider - wins Australia's first mountain stage in 08 (which was so much bigger in Europe than here), then beats Sagan in a sprint finish.

The likelihood of him winning the yellow is low of course, but I'm pleased to see him wearing it.

[Flamethrower]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Simon Gerrans should keep the yellow for the next few days with some flat stages coming up. Once the tour hits the Pyrenees over the weekend the main GC contenders will take over, with Froome only 3 seconds behind Gerrans and Contador 9 seconds back.

BMC's poor time trial is going to make it difficult for Cadel to win now, but he will keep fighting like he always does.

[boydogs]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

BMC's poor time trial is going to make it difficult for Cadel to win now, but he will keep fighting like he always does.

26 seconds isn't going to kill him, but if that performance is indicative of the strength of his team he will struggle when it really gets going.

[Mantis]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

26 seconds isn't going to kill him, but if that performance is indicative of the strength of his team he will struggle when it really gets going.

Any time given up in the early stages is very hard to make up, especially against a very good all-rounder like Froome.

A lot is going to have to go right (and badly for others) for Cadel to finish on the podium.

[boydogs]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Any time given up in the early stages is very hard to make up, especially against a very good all-rounder like Froome.

A lot is going to have to go right (and badly for others) for Cadel to finish on the podium.

My inner cycling bandwagoner is showing here, but is Orica Green Edge better than BMC? Just wondering why Cadel isn't on the Aussie team if they are winning the time trials and would be better support for him

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

My inner cycling bandwagoner is showing here, but is Orica Green Edge better than BMC? Just wondering why Cadel isn't on the Aussie team if they are winning the time trials and would be better support for him

Firstly Cadel is contracted to BMC. BMC Also have a very good team they just had a bad time trial. In the world chsmpionships for the time trial they were second with Orica third

[boydogs]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Firstly Cadel is contracted to BMC. BMC Also have a very good team they just had a bad time trial. In the world chsmpionships for the time trial they were second with Orica third

Thanks. Obviously there is more to the Tour than time trials, the mountain stages are where you need to perform. I guess I've just seen Cadel Evans as a bit like Mark Webber in his early days, elite but not in the right team to make a go of it. Even when he won, they were a lot of stages where he was fighting for himself up the front and last year when he was losing time there was only Tejay van Garderen trying to drag him back. Sky were just so dominant that I think his lack of help was exposed.

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Nice gesture from Gerrans to allow his team mate Daryl Impey to take the yellow jersery. First African to ever do so.

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Froome just too good in the mountains, blitzed his rivals. Great help from his Aussie team mate Richie Porte who now sits second. Cadel no longer good enough. I can't see anyone challenging Froome. He needs to get through the next two weeks and only an accident or injury will stop him.

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Sky racing cracked which left Froome exposed in the mountains. He managed to hang in there following Movistar team and hold on to the yellow jersey.

Ritchie Porte lost 15 minutes after an unbelievable effort the previous day with all his work to help Froome.

[Mantis]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Sky racing cracked which left Froome exposed in the mountains. He managed to hang in there following Movistar team and hold on to the yellow jersey.

Movistar didn't really capitalise on the isoaltion of Froome did they? Not enough moves made.

I hope that if the opportunity arises in the Alps the strong teams will try and put more pressure on Froome.

[Bornadog]

Re: Le Tour - 2013

Movistar didn't really capitalise on the isoaltion of Froome did they? Not enough moves made.

I hope that if the opportunity arises in the Alps the strong teams will try and put more pressure on Froome.

Yes you are right, they should taken advantage of the situation.