Favorites ascending. Photo: Gruber Images.
As many of you know, I write a monthly column for Cyclist Magazine where I answer Dear Abby-esque questions, and the most recent query pertained to whether I consider the Tour the best race of the year, or whether it’s an over-publicized circus. The question made me realize something about myself: I have a weariness around the Tour de France not unlike a romantic whose heart has been broken one too many times.
The fact is, as much as I prefer a race like Paris-Roubaix or the Giro d’Italia to the mid-summer shit show that is the Tour de France, nothing gets my anticipation going quite the way the Tour does, which is undeniably the pinnacle of the season; all the classifications and stages are prestigious enough that racers of all sorts are all arriving at the start in peak form. There is a promise of hard racing from day one, but the first week consists mostly of me worrying about the big favorites crashing out. As soon as we get through that mess, my heart is usually broken on the first day in the mountains, when the favorite takes a decisive lead and the rest of the race is most about stages than the GC.
At least, these are the dreads of a man who lived through the Indurain and Armstrong eras of racing.
Nevertheless, the Tour always manages to seduce me, and this year is no different. Maybe this year, she won’t be such a cruel lover. And, maybe this year, I won’t make horrible picks in the VSP. Just maybe, just maybe. You know the drill; get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and you get some swap options on the rest day. Good luck!
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Hard to believe Richie just missed that corner following wheels. Any chances Martin got hung up with him from behind going in to the corner ? Just all looked squirrley and terrible tumble.
"One gear Uran" ?!? A faulty Di2 by chance ? That be a mechanical ? Or electrical ?
Aru: so very uncool. So, so, so very...
The Giro/TdF double is just not in the cards nowadays hey?
@Randy C
A replay showed Martin's foot hitting Uran's rear mech during the Porte crash.
@Rick
Bent derailleur or maybe popped wire ? Did the strike cause need for crash mode reset ? Maybe he wasn't even on Di2 ?
Kudos to Froome. He attacked on the Mont du Chat and took his turns at the front on the run in to the finish. Froome has done the leader's jersey proud the last two years by riding like a true champion.
Chapeau Monsieur Froome.
If Froome goes on to win I'm sure people will complain about the Sky train and Froome's boring style etc etc. All I'll say is if you watch that stage and boredom is still the prevailing feeling then cycling just isn't for you.
@Randy C
Vaughters said he thought it may have been a popped wire but he wasn't sure yet. Chapeau to the Mavic mechanic who put him in the 11 knowing it was a relatively flat finish. Uran had two choices 53x11 and 39x11. I think Cannondale owes that mechanic some champagne tonight.
@Randy C
Initial reports from the tour Dr was that Porte is "ok" but under observation at hospital & undergoing x-rays. He was conscious the whole time & said he'd had to brake to avoid the rider ahead of him.
Only 125 riders finished within in the time limit today Lets see What the jury does #TDF2017
Update:
#TDF2017 - Official: 181 riders are in time limit
@Buck Rogers
Yes indeed! How crazy was it for an epic stage like that to come down to what amounts to a photo finish? Barguil was justifiably upset.
Lots of swaps on the cards for tomorrow I think . . .