This has to be one of the best photos of the 2013 Tour: Nairo Quintana at the finish on the Ventoux. Nairo gives very little away when he climbs but as he crossed the line his head dropped and the lights went out. He later admitted having gone too early again. Before that, on the slopes of the Giant of Provence, he knew he was going to win. Then he was caught, then dropped, then he regained Froome’s wheel. Finally he was dropped a second time, towards the summit. There was no fighting back to Froome’s wheel, only the need to race on, as fast as possible.
His soigneur drapes a fresh long sleeve jersey on his shoulders, a bottle of pink spanish recovery fluid awaits. Nairo’s left hand lies open by his leg. His head hangs with exhaustion and disappointment. This soigneur has to do his magic now as Quintana has left it all on the Ventoux.
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@frank
I move that this post and link be stricken from the official record. It doesn't even deserve the honor of being scoffed at by the Velominati.
@Podger76
ok so how the fuck does he manage the no-hander?
@Mikael Liddy
That reminds me of the old joke: Rumor is that a pedestrian on Fifty-seventh Street, Manhattan, stopped Jascha Heifetz and inquired, "Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" "Yes," said Heifetz. "Practice!"'
Welp, there's another Tour in the bag. Gilbert's send-off:
http://i.imgur.com/Pka2p2z.gif
@TBONE
And here's another BMC send off!!!
BMC Racing sporting director quits after Tour flop
@sthilzy This link works
BMC Racing sporting director quits after Tour flop
The VMH saw that lead photo yesterday (video) during the closing highlights and said, "Oh my gosh, is he dead?"
I'm baffled by the jerks who run alongside the riders and distract them. Anyone who has ever played any sport should know that being harassed or heckled totally fucking sucks. Fun ribbing is great, but I hate drunken negative idiots harassing athletes. "He gets paid a lot." So what, have some fucking respect.
Great photo, Quintana is impressive.
Kittel definitely has impressive hair too. Hey, how about the voices on some of the lads? I think the Team Award for that has to go to Saxo. Both sound like their bibs are a bit too tight.
@sthilzy
I'm reading the Merckx book, "Half Man, Half Machine" and it talks about Lelangue. I saw that DS speaking during the Tour and thought, "Damn, he looks young to have ridden with the Prophet." Ha, turns out this is the son of Merckx's pal.
@Gianni: I'm in total awe when I see these guys, I would never want to mess with their concentration.
That, in a nut shell, is the difference between a true fan and the attention whores.
@scaler911
Number 1 is definitely the LeMan photo. That is a 1000yd stare that even Vietnam Vets could learn from!