Tour de France 2013

48 watchers

hammerite Sep 2013 12:56pm, 30 Sep 2013 19,084 posts	0 hammerite It's really not uncommon to see the majority of the field withdraw in a world champs. If you're dropped you're out of the race, over a short finishing circuit ypu'd lose time and get lapped so pulled out anyway. the tactic of sitting on the front for the first 100k was the silly thing, most the geam were knavkered by the time Italy ramped it up on the first couple of laps
SPR Sep 2013 1:04pm, 30 Sep 2013 18,797 posts	0 SPR Yeah didn't understand that myself. They weren't favourites, so why not let another team try and control things?
magnumpti Sep 2013 1:09pm, 30 Sep 2013 134 posts	0 magnumpti It does seem that Team Sky/Team GB have a plan A which is to control the race completely. If that goes tits up there doesn't seem to be any Plan B in place and as most of the team appear to be robots there is nobody capable of making a decision on initiative on the road.
The Teaboy Sep 2013 1:21pm, 30 Sep 2013 10,037 posts	0 The Teaboy At least not without Millar, who actually has some nous. If it is going to be a sprinter's race, then at least Cav has a chance of surviving on his own, or with one trusty shepherd! It seems to me that the trick to winning the Worlds really is to sit absolutely tight and not panic. It was clear that it would be one of the stronger riders on that course - whether it be a GC type a la Nibbles/Purito or a Puncheur a la Gilbert/Sagan. Since those guys would definitely be involved at the finish somehow, just hold it in check while the minor nations get their TV exposure and then sit with the big names as it all rumbles back together.
Chrisull Sep 2013 8:11pm, 30 Sep 2013 5,808 posts	0 Chrisull Bit harsh on Froome, a machine? The Ventoux ride was spectacular, and his break to catch Quintana was certainly not dull and boring - what TV feed were you watching? I get your drift with Wiggins, but even then his frailties are hidden, he almost quit the tour the year he won after Froome's attacks. I think you're buying the French rhetoric here. I don't like the suspect doper Nibali and I don't see how he's any less boring?
hammerite Sep 2013 9:18pm, 30 Sep 2013 19,085 posts	0 hammerite Agreed TB, some unknown Romanian with no team mates managed to hold in there until it all kicked off in the last lap. Bet he didn't stick his nose in the wind all race. Same as the Spaniards, the only thing you heard of them all race was Sanchez crashing and Contador chasing to get back on, the others just sat protected, it's what you have to do in a 270km race. Beforehand Froome was saying that we needed to make it difficult for Gilbert and Sagan, the best way to do that would have been to take it up when the Italians sat back after hammering the first two laps, not holding the break in check.
Lisa T Sep 2013 9:33pm, 30 Sep 2013 1,963 posts	0 Lisa T Maybe they just have bad days like everyone else eh!
The Pilotlight Sep 2013 11:33pm, 30 Sep 2013 6,250 posts	0 The Pilotlight like the spanish!
SPR Oct 2013 8:01am, 1 Oct 2013 18,798 posts	0 SPR GB = Bad day and bad tactics. Spain = good tactics, bad Valverde
magnumpti Oct 2013 1:10pm, 4 Oct 2013 141 posts	0 magnumpti Just read Geraint Thomas's column on the BBC website. He was road captain which explains why he was the last man standing. Apparently he didn't see what happened to Wiggins and didn't see him afterwards to discuss it with him. Very odd behaviour. Reading between the lines he seems disappointed with the so called stars of the team.