Tour de France 2015

A brilliant final break-away today by Tony Martin, I thought. And the bike exchange will add to the lore. I was impressed with Matteo Trentin's after race interview done on NBCSN. He came off as a very upbeat and jovial team member. To paraphrase "Yes, it was uncomfortable for me to finish on Tony's bike, but the results were all good.... I just hope Tony doesn't want to ride my bike for the rest of the race"

So every day a new person for the yellow jersey....so today another one, perhaps Cavendish's day today.

I think it just is the fact that people have the feeling they have survived something. In the professional context I think the interest is connected to the fact that the race get's less predictable and hence more interesting...

I think there is the historical context but also, having ridden on them a few times they really are brutal! It is almost a psychological challenge too. It just feels wrong to hammer over them. If you slow too much they become even worse.

I think it is good the Tour allows stages for all sorts of competitors to shine; the climbers, the sprinters, the rouleur, the classics riders.

As for the race, yesterday looked perfect for Froome. I am sure he is happy not to be in yellow for now and to have stayed upright. He looked far bolder in the cobbles this year, admittedly in the dry. Maybe the race will settle down a bit now?

All will be settled in the mountains

I wish Team Lotto and Tinkoff-Saxo didn't wear yellow kit,

all too often one can't see who & where the maillot jaune is.

Would have though TDF rules would have forbid the using of too much yellow in team colours.

Debs

"Once" (the team) used to swap their default yellow colours to pink for the tour.

Cavendish just not looking the force he was now unless the leadout is absolutely perfect. Not a great surprise, he has had his time I guess.

Bruce

Interesting thoughts on Cav. Just over a year ago he seemed well poised to threaten Merckx for most TDF stage victories - then the crash. Now it seems a longer way off for him, and Greipel showed him who's boss today. And then there's Sagan. I don't doubt Cav's got more stage wins ahead, but he needs nine to tie Merckx. Hallowed ground.

Yeah I was surprised how easy he was beaten, I guess he has had his best years. Now he needs to morphe into a different rider...

Or not.

I was going to post that!

OK. Now down to eight

Cav fights back! Again not exactly a textbook leadout but this time he had the timing right, and some great work to weave into position.  Well done. Still not the force he was but maybe Renshaw also not where he was as he seems to have gone missing a bit at the crunch of stages.

Been a good TdF week so far although not good to see crashes and withdrawals. At least Martin got to wear yellow once!.

The team time trial might just lose yellow for Froome? I'm never quite happy about the TTT if it makes a big difference to the timings, unlike an individual TT.

Bruce

Tough break for Tony (pun unavoidable)  though he did seem to be the proprietor of his crash. It happens.

The usual exemplary coverage of Tour, and I've been particularly impressed with the new on-board video cameras. Gives a real perspective of being on the road with the riders. I hope this link from Stage 6 follows for others to view http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...de-france-2015_sport

Notable shots for me were at times:

0:30 - how close to the spectators the riders are at high speed

1:04 - how close to one another the riders are within the peloton

1:57 - a rider hitting road furniture head on

It mat not be beautiful, but it sure is effective as Froome just hammers away on the first big climb with only Quintana remotely in touch. Everyone knew what Sky would do but it seems nobody can get near. Three Sky riders in the top 5 places I think.

Bruce

Sky were mightily impressive on the first big hill, and unless they have shot their bolt early it really doesn't look like anyone is going to touch them and Froome. Early days of course, but baring disaster, based on todays performance it looks like Froome & Co. are in control.

While I'd agree Froome and Sky look impressive thus far, the only sure bet for me is that Nibali is not looking like much of a factor. If this were a marathon we'd be barely at mile 13 with numerous hills ahead. Lots can happen. The mountains will sort things and this was but the first day.

Especially by what looks like a bag of bones.

After seeing Froome's performance yesterday, Lance shouldn't be made to feel too bad turning up for his charity ride.  It's just not real whatever way you want to cut it.  Makes for good telly though!

Peter

Froome has spent 1908 minutes in the saddle, BMCs GC rider in 2nd at +3 mins, being 2 mins up equates to roughly 0.1% better than the next guy (not much if you think that effort came in one go). As the next guy is TJ (BMC) and not our 'other 3', I would be more interested in knowing if their apparent lack of ability is more to do with not being able to dope to previous levels rather than Froome being clean. Worth thinking about maybe, especially as the worst performing favourite is an Astana rider!

Good telly I'll grant you, none of the French commentators are making snide comments, I watch France 2/3 channels. One even asked Brailsford after the race yesterday if there was room please for a French rider in SKY next year. He speaks good French and is a better diplomat than Hollande!

I just don't think a big team like Sky could afford to be systematically doping nowadays, similarly the main contenders. I'd be looking at the rear of the pack; the teams and pros battling to save contracts and sponsors.

Maybe I want to think they are clean. I have not seen the data but my understanding is that climbing performances now are not yet ahead of those produced in the bad old days, suggesting perhaps that we are seeing clean athletes.

Bruce

The infamous data video is bogus with no correlation between the power readings and the activity pictured. I don't think it shows anything.

Wink, not sure what you are referring to.

I meant that some of the performances in the days of endemic doping are not yet being improved upon by modern riders with better kit and more sophisticated training, nutrition etc. In other words performances are not currently 'too good to be true'.

Bruce

Bruce