Critérium du Dauphiné 2014 **use spoiler tags til midnight**

pelevin

Doesn't seem like anyone's doing a thread on this race, & it's beyond my technical know-how or commitment to the cause to do a proper one either, so as a sorry makeweight, this might step in and with a sense of shame fill a vacuum.

Froome very strong in opening 10km technical TT has 8 seconds over Contador. In the context of everyone else split by tiny margins, this seemed more dominant than might be suggested.

Today's stage: fairly mad mountainy.

Live reports here: http://live.cyclingnews.com/

Live Eurosport 2: 12.30 to 14.30.

gordongekko

I was surprised at the result. Bertie did a great tt. Pity Saxo have sent a second string team to back him up. But he looks to be coming bang in form for the tour.

pelevin

Just to add, dunno who has the call but can this be an anything goes thread, i.e. we can talk about today's stage without spoilers? Not necessarily that anyone will have anything to say.

Darkglasses

Use spoiler tags in this thread when it's about the current day's stage. If you make a thread for one individual stage, you don't use spoiler tags in it. On mobile, but it's in the charter

n-dawg

Great battle going on right now...

Inquitus

All kinds of awesome in this finale, one to watch later if you missed it.

Robxxx7

Fantastic racing by Froome .. they guy is remarkable

couerdelion

Well Froome put on a real show of intent there! Fair play to Contador for sticking on his wheel

mistermatthew

Fecking awesome finish. Neither of the two of them were giving up. Contador looks good too. And Chris Froome is not the boring rider some claim.

Dcully

Wow what a finish ,roll on tdf for these two.

tomdempsey200

wow! amazing stuff

nilhg

That was great, and perfectly timed for lunch.

pelevin

I don't even know how to use spoilers so I'll just say that was great stuff, & managed to finish 5 mins before Ive to head.

Darkglasses

pelevin wrote: »

I don't even know how to use spoilers so I'll just say that was great stuff, & managed to finish 5 mins before Ive to head.

Hit go advanced when you reply, and press the button that says Spoiler above where you type in your message, on the very right hand side. Then just type in whatever!

gordongekko

Did not realise kelderman was racing this. That's a lot of effort after the giro. I hope he does not get burnt out

MPFG

Kelderman very very impressive ....even had the temerity to attack Bertie & Froome ....big talent.......Everyone is going on about how good Froome is ...which he is no doubt....but Bertie finished on the same time even though Froome attacked several time.......If I was Contador I would take great heart from that......Jurgen Van DeBrock also rode a great race.....Nibali hasn't go it yet...Maybe Vino needs to try e-mail next time

MPFG

Last 5 KM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRXcCOip7Dk&feature=youtu.be

gordongekko

froome may have won today but is Wiggins the real winner?

Inquitus

gordongekko wrote: »

froome may have won today but is Wiggins the real winner?

Indeed with Porte seemingly nowhere today, unless there's a valid reason for it, it's hard to see how he can get into the sort of form to be of any use to Froome at the Tour and no hope of him being a "Plan B". Obviously this still requires a good performance out of Mr Wiggins at the TDS

death1234567

gordongekko wrote: »

Did not realise kelderman was racing this. That's a lot of effort after the giro. I hope he does not get burnt out

I was very surprised to see Hesjedal there too, he must be exhausted after the Giro.

MPFG

Lots of people who rode Giro are in Dauphine & T of Suisse including Kerderman , Pozzovivo , Hesejedal, Deignan ...its only another week racing

Spare a thought for Roche & Rodgers ...they have to ride another tour

tomdempsey200

Inquitus wrote: »

Indeed with Porte seemingly nowhere today, unless there's a valid reason for it, it's hard to see how he can get into the sort of form to be of any use to Froome at the Tour and no hope of him being a "Plan B". Obviously this still requires a good performance out of Mr Wiggins at the TDS

they said on the climb he wasn't in great shape
so froome allowed him to drop off rather than waste energy

Inquitus

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

they said on the climb he wasn't in great shape
so froome allowed him to drop off rather than waste energy

Aye which means he has no form at all if he can't even hang with his own train while doing no work. Unless he is sick, again, I can't see how he is going to be any use at the tour.

godtabh

that was some finish!

MPFG

Betencur seems to be gone awol

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/Betancur-ne-ra-pond-plus/472388

dastardly00

Highlights just started in Eurosport2 now.

MPFG

Full highlights for those without access ...great racing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIAWEAnzuAg

albert kidd

serious,serious riding outta froome.

JacksonHeightsOwn

albert kidd wrote: »

serious,serious riding outta froome.

:rolleyes:

NeedMoreGears

I can't remove the spoiler tags on an iPad. Anyone know how?

Darkglasses

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

I can't remove the spoiler tags on an iPad. Anyone know how?

Try pressing quote and reading it in the preview.

Inquitus

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

I can't remove the spoiler tags on an iPad. Anyone know how?

If you tap them. On android at least, they clear.

tomdempsey200

albert kidd wrote: »

serious,serious riding outta froome.

"If people want the entertainment value of riders attacking each other, stopping, attacking each other again and again then go back to 'old cycling', which will give you the capability to do that. If you want clean sport and clean cycling, then it's going to be different. You can't have it both ways"

Dave brailsford

Inquitus

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

"If people want the entertainment value of riders attacking each other, stopping, attacking each other again and again then go back to 'old cycling', which will give you the capability to do that. If you want clean sport and clean cycling, then it's going to be different. You can't have it both ways" -Dave brailsford 2013

To be fair Froome was hardly Bjarne Riis on Hautacam today.

MPFG

Inquitus wrote: »

To be fair Froome was hardly Bjarne Riis on Hautacam today.

He was better than Riis IMO....and given that he has asthma he is a brilliant climber/TTer

mahoo

MPFG wrote: »

He was better than Riis IMO....and given that he has asthma he is a brilliant climber/TTer

ah come on. he only put a few seconds in to a 23 year old who just rode the giro and couldnt shake his nearest rival... not how i remember Riis's attack.

Froome looked shocked when he turned around to see Bertie still on the wheel after his first attack. I did chuckle

* thought Kelderman was fantastic today btw.

retalivity

Was surprised at how poor nibali looked...for a man who is geared solely for the tour this year he has struggled for form and problems with astana...a podium in paris is definitely not a given

buffalo

Commentary grated greatly on me today, not sure why. Perhaps all the references to 'Froomey'. What happened to the great monikers of old? The Badger! The Tashkent Terror! The Eagle of Toledo! Il Pirata! I suppose we still have El Pistolero and Purito (where's that come from again?).

I like his racing, but we need something more imaginative than 'Froomey'.

See also: Wiggo.

MPFG

I am annoyed by Froomey too - not just the name but the familiar way Brian Smith talks about him....and then Kirby too ...too biased in commentary towards SKY...obvious who they want to win ....(besides Netapp)

Need to be a bit more impartial in commentary

(and I am not a SKY hater)

The tax man

Jesus that commentary today for the final few km's did my head in. I can just about stand Kirby 50% of the time but today tipped me over the edge.

Yesterday I wanted to kick my TV into next week. I only need to hear about the wonderful tunnel and it's lights once, not every time a rider enters the damn thing.:mad:

MPFG

The tax man wrote: »

Yesterday I wanted to kick my TV into next week.

ever thought you might ave anger issues

The tax man

MPFG wrote: »

ever thought you might ave anger issues

LOL....everyone has their tipping point. I came close to mine.:D

pelevin

The chummy Froomey stuff is irritating all right. Kelly's no bull commentary definitely a serious blessing. Thank goodness his standing is so huge, the only reason he'd leave is personal choice.

Lumen

MPFG wrote: »

I am annoyed by Froomey too - not just the name but the familiar way Brian Smith talks about him....and then Kirby too ...too biased in commentary towards SKY...obvious who they want to win ....(besides Netapp)

Need to be a bit more impartial in commentary

(and I am not a SKY hater)

It is British Eurosport. Why should they be impartial?

(I find it equally irritating, fwiw)

pprendeville

Nibali looks like a rider who has had a long training block at altitude and only finished yesterday. Fair play to him for coming back to the wheels though once or twice. Of all the big guns he's my favourite.

Inquitus

pprendeville wrote: »

Nibali looks like a rider who has had a long training block at altitude and only finished yesterday. Fair play to him for coming back to the wheels though once or twice. Of all the big guns he's my favourite.

I like Nibbles, but if Froome and Contador had ridden together he would have lost big big time. He looks to me like he will struggle to podium in the Tour and has little chance of being in the mix for the win.

pelevin

I love Nibali & his attitude but unfortunately he doesn't seem to have any real spark in his legs all season. Could be a very cruel TdF for him.

pelevin

Lumen wrote: »

It is British Eurosport. Why should they be impartial?

(I find it equally irritating, fwiw)

The same way Kelly isn't all over the Irish riders, "Come on Rochey" etc. The same way Tony Ward and the chummy versions of the Irish rugby players is irritating. It doesn't become good when it's for your own country's riders 'benefiting'.

Lumen

pelevin wrote: »

The same way Kelly isn't all over the Irish riders

Kelly works for British Eurosport. If he worked for Setanta I'm sure his commentary would be more partial.

mistermatthew

Chris froome is so skinny its scary. His arms on this photo compared to contador are just weird.

It really can't be healthy that. As well as really ugly.

MPFG

mistermatthew wrote: »

Chris froome is so skinny its scary. His arms on this photo compared to contador are just weird.

It really can't be healthy that. As well as really ugly.

But it is effective ...he used to be 72 Kilos racing weight
Went down to 65kg and took off

BTW his missus is unbelievable on twitter