2018 Tour De France (Spoilers)

[Richard Fairhurst]

I wasn't the only one to suspect some jiggery pokery:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-shorts-moscon-questions-rapid-returns-after-cobbled-crashes-groenewegen-hopes-to-continue/

It was certainly an... impressive recovery? But Moscon is the last person I'd listen to - disqualified last year for an overly sticky bottle, racially abused Kevin Reza, then followed that up by deliberately knocking Reza's team-mate Sebastien Reichenbach off. A very nasty piece of work.

[mjr]

For anybody unfamiliar with this, all riders finishing together get the time of the of the leader in their bunch but a gap of 1 second means that that a new time is taken on the first rider to finish after that gap, so riders a finishing a couple of seconds apart can have a big difference in their finish time.

Lengthened to 3 seconds for flat staged a few years ago, to discourage overall contenders from trying to keep in touch with those competing for the stage, usually sprinters. I don't know if cobbles count as flat for this or not, though.

[thirdcrank]

Being an undesirable character doesn't mean somebody doesn't know what they are talking about, and they may have a tad less Pangloss than someone who wouldn't cheat and wouldn't suspect anybody else.

Moscon's theme of why include the cobbles to break up the race if their effect is to be neutralised by the organisers? seems central to this. Perhaps more footage will emerge from spectators' phones. On the subject of giving most of the bunch the same time, apart from any other considerations, once upon a time it was expedient when there was little practical way of equitably splitting a large bunch but with modern technology it's so much easier. I'd love to see the photo-finish for the whole bunch.
==========================================
PS I didn't know the gap had been increased to three seconds. Setting aside safety considerations, that does have the side effect of making getting back on a lot easier on a day when the bunch is spread out by the nature of the stage, rather than riders avoiding tangling with the sprinters' trains.

[Cyril Haearn]

Geraint Thomas is ready to take the jersey
Cymru am byth!

[Paulatic]

La Course was a great race this morning and this has to be one of the best post race interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbyFDr ... ture=share

Why was the guy in background taking pics of her cassette and derailleur ?

[cycleruk]

La Course was a great race this morning and this has to be one of the best post race interviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbyFDr ... ture=share

Why was the guy in background taking pics of her cassette and derailleur ?

The RD has the large jockey wheels so I presume that's what took his interest ?

[thirdcrank]

To avoid square eyes, I've been watching evening highlights rather than the live broadcast and keeping more-or-less up-to-date with the ASO live feed. On the first climb it said "Cavendish en perdition" and he's not been mentioned since.

[Cyril Haearn]

Geraint Thomas is ready to take the jersey
Cymru am byth!

He just did, but CF was described as his compatriot on the radio
Cadel Evans won the Tour too, so GT will win it for Wales for a sixth time
Cymru am byth!

[thirdcrank]

It looks as though the sprinters' bus only had three occupants today Cav, Mark Renshaw and Marcel Kittel. Outside the time limit and no safety in numbers.

[cycleruk]

What a good stage today. Edge of seat stuff and much more entertaining than flat sprinters stages.
Sorry to see Cav' go but I don't think his heart was in it this year.
But I'm a bit disturbed that Sky are going to dominate now and the other GC contenders are not in contention.

[foxyrider]

Couldn't be happier for G. We've seen a Sky 1,2 before, would be nice for a repeat regardless of who is 1 or 2. Not sure who to cheer most, GT for a well earned tilt at a GT or CF to do #5 and a record 4th GT in a row?

Early days yet but it's still quite exciting to see Brits on top and on a Brit team too - even ten years ago that was still a pipe dream - however you look at it it's an amazing change of national fortune in the peloton.

Not seen mention of young Yates today, what happened to him? And you have to feel sorry for the sprinters bus - short, fast mountain stages are always a danger.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Media are trying to force G to say he is going for GC, but he's too modest and that would imply a rift..........

Boardman is tipping G for GC.

Early days and we see how quickly things can change.

Tomorrow will see who still has full charge.....................interesting.

[reohn2]

It's a two pronged attack with G in yellow and Foome at 20seconds anything's possible.One thing's for sure Sky are in a very formidable position.
We'll see.......

[reohn2]

It's a two pronged attack with G in yellow and Foome at 20seconds anything's possible.One thing's for sure Sky are in a very formidable position.
We'll see.......

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I think Froomey is at 1 min 40 down IIRC,but we know that's nothing for Froome.

I hope that they both make it safely, not sure G will topple Froomey, either way I like them both.

Edited 85 seconds

Without G, Froomey would still have not been first, Dummoulin piping him on the line.

Would have been different? if the three had all moved as one to finish.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... int-thomas