Tour de France - Stage 2, Jun 30, Bastia - Ajaccio, **Unmasked Spoilers**

dastardly00

Stage 2, Bastia - Ajaccio, 156km

Despite the stage only being 156km long, today is going to be tough day, especially for riders who are nursing bumps and bruises from yesterdays carnage. The profile is very bumpy for the opening week of TdF, with three Cat. 3 climbs (6.6km @ 4.6%, 5.2km @6.9%, 1km @8.9%) and one Cat. 2 climb (4.6km @ 6.5%). Additionally, the road actually kicks uphill about 15km before the start of the first categorised climb.

The big question today is whether the pure sprinters (Cav, Kittel etc.) can get over the climbs, and make it to the finish in the main peloton. There will be plenty of time for them to regroup after the first three climbs, but it will be tough if they get dropped on the final climb. Also the road kicks up for 500 metres @ 5% at the 2km mark, which won't help the likes of Cav.
The obvious favourite is Peter Sagan then. If the Cannondale team manage to drop some of the sprinters, then I can't see anyone beating Sagan in the sprint. However, Sagan was involved in the big crash yesterday, and he suffered some nasty road rash. If he doesn't fancy going for the win today, then somebody like Degenkolb could take the win.




Last kilometre:


Stage betting: P Sagan 13/8, M Cavendish 7/1, J Degenkolb 11/1.

Live TV coverage on Eurosport1 from 12.15pm,ITV4 from 1pm, and TG4 from 12.20pm.
Highlights on Eurosport1 at 7pm and 10pm, ITV4 at 7pm, and TG4 at 11pm.

Live text-ticker will be here.

Columbia

Voeckler in yellow by 5pm

Beasty

Martin continues despite concussion

Asked about the wisdom of the rider continuing after a concussion, the team said that he had been fully assessed by medical staff and that it was safe for him to ride on.

ROK ON

Beasty wrote: »

Martin continues despite concussion

Agree. Nothing short of abusive behaviour.

ford2600

ROK ON wrote: »

Agree. Nothing short of abusive behaviour.

I have had concussion 3/4 times. It is not pleasant.
A week after first incident I felt fine and lined out in county semi final. Was I useless, no energy no strength worst performance ever.
Took my 3 week break on next occasions.

Danger to Martin and fellow riders.

Surprise surprise professional team is careless with athlete's health and well being

Beasty

While I may be surprised that he's riding I guess this is one only the medical experts can comment upon. There are different degrees of concussion and I would guess Martin's was at the mild end of the spectrum. Having said that some sports (mainly contact sports I guess) have set periods before anyone suffering from concussion can return to the sport at a competitive level.

ford2600

Beasty wrote: »

While I may be surprised that he's riding I guess this is one only the medical experts can comment upon. There are different degrees of concussion and I would guess Martin's was at the mild end of the spectrum. Having said that some sports (mainly contact sports I guess) have set periods before anyone suffering from concussion can return to the sport at a competitive level.

He collapsed according to article. It not just the Martin's safety it's the other riders also.
Be very surprised if his reactions are as good today as yesterday morning.

Medics have been passing NFL players for years to.

h2005

Beasty wrote: »

While I may be surprised that he's riding I guess this is one only the medical experts can comment upon. There are different degrees of concussion and I would guess Martin's was at the mild end of the spectrum. Having said that some sports (mainly contact sports I guess) have set periods before anyone suffering from concussion can return to the sport at a competitive level.

A lot of medical experts think concussion isn`t being treated seriously enough in professional sport. Good article here on it http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/sport/tom-english-rugby-concussion-rule-causes-alarm-1-2868497 . From what I`ve seen said on twitter by journos the reaction seems to be that Martin shouldnt be riding today.

Ole Rodrigo

The Orica bus driver did a quick ( and sheepish ) interview with Eurosport - fair play to him, was his first day on the job too. Aww.

Wishbone Ash

ror_74 wrote: »

The Orica bus driver did a quick ( and sheepish ) interview with Eurosport - fair play to him, was his first day on the job too. Aww.

In fairness to the driver, the gantry was lowered by 1 metre nearer tothe finish time. He may have driven through it prior to that without problem.

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

He may have driven through it prior to that without problem.

Scratch that - they just announced he was running late and the team were fined $1,500 as a result.

TheBlaaMan

Cyclingnews' TourTracker App looks like an interesting one for the Tour.........IOS or Android

dastardly00

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Cyclingnews' TourTracker App looks like an interesting one for the Tour.........IOS or Android

I downloaded it yesterday. It's pretty nice, good bit of info, and also shows tweets from the teams.

Mine did stop updating during the middle of the stage yesterday though, but that could have just been my phone.

Mint Sauce

Unless there is some serious regrouping, I cant see Cav getting a stage win today (2nd fav this morning). In the stragglers going over the 2nd Cat 3. Still a Cat 2 to go, and a small Cat 3 in around the last 10k.

manafana

vichot in his french champs jersey could spring a shock here otherwise an orica or even kristoff.

MPFG

Here is a mad cap idea….sprinters don’t get over the mountain at end today and then a climbers/gc group finish stage together …..guess who is one of the highest placed rider of such a category ….yeah none other than NIco Roche

Henlars67

Does the winner of today's stage not automatically take yellow as all riders had the same time yesterday?

If not, how exactly does it work?

MPFG

Henlars67 wrote: »

Does the winner of today's stage not automatically take yellow as all riders had the same time yesterday?

If not, how exactly does it work?

Depends on if there is a bunch sprint where riders finish together ...then its a placing issue and placing from yesterday will also count...hence ITV as quering D Millar for yellow as he finished fourth yesterday.....but its a bit to go yet

Inquitus

Henlars67 wrote: »

Does the winner of today's stage not automatically take yellow as all riders had the same time yesterday?

If not, how exactly does it work?

Its the lowest of the added finish positions from stage 1 & 2 of everyone on the same time I think.

C3PO

Europcar are always great value for money!

dastardly00

fcuk me that was a tough little climb!
Froome on the attack!

Mint Sauce

Wow. Frome went off like a catapult there!

Mint Sauce

Theres always one (shirtless) idiot!

:mad:

dastardly00

This is a great finish

Wishbone Ash

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Theres always one (shirtless) idiot!

:mad:

.....or a dog!

Mint Sauce

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

.....or a dog!

His owner made a quick exit.

:eek:

Darkglasses

What is it with damn dogs...

dastardly00

Kelly: "Good work there by the dog to get out of the way"
LOL!

wanderer 22

They need to keep their owners on a leash

Zyzz

Knew I recognised him..

Mint Sauce

He has to get a time gap.

Edit.

They have.

dastardly00

Jesus I thought Kirby was going to explode there.

Darkglasses

Nice

Ole Rodrigo

Good work there by the dog to get out of the way

Gotta love SK and his penchant for understatement

Seriously though, is there no behaviour pointers given to the crowd, as part of the organisation..shirtless road running, dogs on leashes etc.

Great finish !

Zyzz

Absolutely perfect commentary there by the pair of them, would have loved to see a video of him at the end

MPFG

Great race that...this Tour is shaping up to be very exciting....well done by Eurocar for their attacking today

manafana

couldnt get who the radioshack lad was as name they gave didnt match the face, well done to baklandts.

Loq

I really though we were going to see a death dog! Another great finish!

MPFG

Great riding by Nico today chased down Froome and looked so strong he could have been in the front breakaway group but working for Bertie

Mint Sauce

Current yellow jersey still not finished. Has there been such a gap after 2 stages?

Loq

Froome slowed down after that dangerous decent! The cyclist from Europe car almost crashed that was scary, I think he saw that and the fact the peloton was catching up, so he just slowed down, but he looked strong, I though he would continue and try to win the stage!

Mint Sauce

Loq wrote: »

Froome slowed down after that dangerous decent! The cyclist from Europe car almost crashed that was scary, I think he saw that and the fact the peloton was catching up, so he just slowed down, but he looked strong, I though he would continue and try to win the stage!

Yeah, both took last moment change of lines. The camera angle from the motorbikes made it look pretty hairy. A speed check would have been interesting to see.

dastardly00

Nico finished 36th, and is now 11th overall (what is it with him always being just outside the Top-10!).
36th overall.
11th, I think....

Dan finished 87th, just at the back of the lead bunch. He's 68th overall.

Mint Sauce

Yellow jersey in 17 minutes behind the winner, and its only day two.

If tomorrow is anything like today there could be a huge split in the field.

manafana

serioyus day was thinking it was irizgar about to hold off the bunch but ASo normally get it right , lovely post race interview.

kumate_champ07

wasnt Nico top10 at 1stage last year? seem to remember him getting a helicopter ride back to his hotel, only top10 get that privilege?

dastardly00

Some GC-ish riders have lost time today...
Rein Taaramae finished 5'39" behind the winner and Thomas De Gendt lost 17'35".

MPFG

Froome may have slowed down but Roche did chase him and was very strong on the climb.. but kept looking behind for Bertie....

Maybe he wasn't allowed to go for it.....just an idea

Mint Sauce

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

wasnt Nico top10 at 1stage last year? seem to remember him getting a helicopter ride back to his hotel, only top10 get that privilege?

Was that not because he missed his team bus because of having to take a p!ss test.

Inquitus

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Was that not because he missed his team bus because of having to take a p!ss test.

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/helicopter-photo-roche-transfers-in-style-with-froome-contador-valverde/

letape

dastardly00 wrote: »

Nico finished 36th, and is now 11th overall (what is it with him always being just outside the Top-10.

I think Nico is 36th overall - same as his placing today.