15-07-2016, 00:49
I'm now back on track here, although after today's calamitous crash near the finish, I'll be reporting on the Tour de Farce!
I've always felt that the cretins who harass the riders, running beside them, waving flags in their faces and crowding in so that the riders can't race properly should be made to move aside, by force if necessary. They're the type of self-centred morons who think the world wants to see them. TOSSERS!!! I would gladly drive the snowplough that removes them from the road.
It's a serious racing event contested by top athletes and should be treated with the respect it deserves.
Yesterday, Peter Sagan again led the attacks, this time winning the stage, closely followed by Chris Froome and Maciej Bodnar. By following Sagan, Froome extended his overall lead by another 12 seconds, and looks invincible. He is attacking at every opportunity and is dominating Quintana, who many, including me, felt would give him a real run for his money.
On today's shortened stage, because of 75mph winds on the top of Mont Ventoux, there was a 13man breakaway group. None of them were threatening the GC leaders and they were allowed to go. After various attacks, the Belgian duo of Thomas De Gendt and Serge Pauwels finished ahead of Daniel Navarro well ahead of the others. Well behind there was an attack by GC contenders, Richie Porte, Bauke Mollema and Chris Froome who all hit the camera motorbike which had been forced to brake hard to avoid a spectator. Mollema managed to get back in the race right away, but Porte and Froome didn't with Froome running up the hill before getting a spare bike then another to complete the stage in 25th place. Quite rightly, Porte and Froome were given the same time as 10th placed Mollema, to right the injustice suffered during the race. Once again Quintana was found lacking and the biggest damage to him might be psychological.
The overall effect is that Froome leads the GC by 47 seconds from Adam Yates, with Quintana 54 seconds behind and Mollema 56 seconds behind.
Peter Sagan will be hot favourite for the Green Jersey, leading by 90 points from Mark Cavendish with Marcel Kittel a further 17 points behind.
Winning the 3 climbs today means that De Gendt moves to the top of the King of the Mountains rankings on 89 points, with Thibaut Pinot on 80 points and Rafal Makja on 77.
Yates leads the Young Rider classification by 1'42" from Louis Meintjes, and by 3'41" from Warren Barguil.
Tomorrow's stage is a 37.5km Time Trial, a mere warm-up for Saturday's sprinters stage. I expect Froome to be in contention in this, with Tom Dumoulin and perhaps Tony Martin to be competing for the win.
I've always felt that the cretins who harass the riders, running beside them, waving flags in their faces and crowding in so that the riders can't race properly should be made to move aside, by force if necessary. They're the type of self-centred morons who think the world wants to see them. TOSSERS!!! I would gladly drive the snowplough that removes them from the road.
It's a serious racing event contested by top athletes and should be treated with the respect it deserves.Yesterday, Peter Sagan again led the attacks, this time winning the stage, closely followed by Chris Froome and Maciej Bodnar. By following Sagan, Froome extended his overall lead by another 12 seconds, and looks invincible. He is attacking at every opportunity and is dominating Quintana, who many, including me, felt would give him a real run for his money.
On today's shortened stage, because of 75mph winds on the top of Mont Ventoux, there was a 13man breakaway group. None of them were threatening the GC leaders and they were allowed to go. After various attacks, the Belgian duo of Thomas De Gendt and Serge Pauwels finished ahead of Daniel Navarro well ahead of the others. Well behind there was an attack by GC contenders, Richie Porte, Bauke Mollema and Chris Froome who all hit the camera motorbike which had been forced to brake hard to avoid a spectator. Mollema managed to get back in the race right away, but Porte and Froome didn't with Froome running up the hill before getting a spare bike then another to complete the stage in 25th place. Quite rightly, Porte and Froome were given the same time as 10th placed Mollema, to right the injustice suffered during the race. Once again Quintana was found lacking and the biggest damage to him might be psychological.
The overall effect is that Froome leads the GC by 47 seconds from Adam Yates, with Quintana 54 seconds behind and Mollema 56 seconds behind.
Peter Sagan will be hot favourite for the Green Jersey, leading by 90 points from Mark Cavendish with Marcel Kittel a further 17 points behind.
Winning the 3 climbs today means that De Gendt moves to the top of the King of the Mountains rankings on 89 points, with Thibaut Pinot on 80 points and Rafal Makja on 77.
Yates leads the Young Rider classification by 1'42" from Louis Meintjes, and by 3'41" from Warren Barguil.
Tomorrow's stage is a 37.5km Time Trial, a mere warm-up for Saturday's sprinters stage. I expect Froome to be in contention in this, with Tom Dumoulin and perhaps Tony Martin to be competing for the win.
Cabbage is still good for you