TDF - STAGE 18 - 17km ITT - Sallanches / Megève

neris

Uphill time trial, a first since 2004.

Stage 18 from Sallanches to Megève showcases the hill of Domancy in its first three kilometers. There'll be a 5000-euros prize for the fastest rider on that climb. But there'll be more kilometers to cover and more climbing, although not on a regular scale. The changes of rhythm will be the key to win the race with a steep section towards the end. Chris Froome is a hot favourite but not the only one. He said he might suffer after the fast start of stage 17 in which Richie Porte has showed his great form. The Australian is a challenger to stage favourite Tom Dumoulin who is not involved with the overall classification and therefore can pick his days. The Dutch champion for time trial wouldn't discard a third stage win prior to going to the Olympics. Bluff or not, Froome mentioned another potential winner at Megève: Nairo Quintana. Such an uphill time trial suits the pure climbers

The riders will initially start at two-minute intervals, until the final starters, who will go off at three-minute intervals. They will start in reverse order based on the overall classification at the end of the previous stage. The time cut is +33% of the winner's time.

Darkglasses

Nairo Quintana

I'm excited. Uphill TTs FTW

letape

Some randomer no 1 was expecting to win

Darkglasses wrote: »

I'm excited. Uphill TTs FTW

I was at the last uphill TT in the tour - at Alpe D'Huez - can't believe it was 12 years ago!

Only Irish rider that day was Mark Scanlon - in fact he was the first Irish Tour rider since Stephen Roche in 1993!

RobFowl

Nairo Quintana

Woo Hoo, an up hill TT. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

I can't believe it's the first uphill TT since 2004. They seem to more regularly occur in the Giro and Vuelta I think. Maybe not though.

Complete list of start times here.

GC Top-10 start times (CET):
Louis Meintjes (RSA) Lampre - Merida 16:32:00
Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step 16:35:00
Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 16:38:00
Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 16:41:00
Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team 16:44:00
Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 16:47:00
Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 16:50:00
Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge 16:53:00
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 16:56:00
Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 16:59:00

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

Frank Schleck as a option in the poll!
Nice one

Andy Magic

Nairo Quintana

Hopefully it will get interesting today and over the next two days. Someone has to challenge for this. Slightly off topic but does anyone know why there is no team time trial this year?

TheBlaaMan

Andy Magic wrote: »

Hopefully it will get interesting today and over the next two days. Someone has to challenge for this.

' you reckon? I very much dount that there will be any change in the leadership at this point. Quintana clearly doesnt have it - dropped yesterday by 5-6 GC guys. Maybe Yates will leapfrog into 2nd. But no-one is touching Froome at this stage....sadly.

Mint Sauce

So can we expect Froomy to do his supertuck for the final 2km decent?

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

Andy Magic wrote: »

Slightly off topic but does anyone know why there is no team time trial this year?

For variety.
There isn't a TTT every year. The current trend seems to be every two years. 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009 and so on.

'Against the clock' type stages are: prologue (short distance); ITT (long distance and flat); ITT (medium distance and rolling terrain); ITT (short and uphill); and TTT.

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

' you reckon? I very much dount that there will be any change in the leadership at this point. Quintana clearly doesnt have it - dropped yesterday by 5-6 GC guys. Maybe Yates will leapfrog into 2nd. But no-one is touching Froome at this stage....sadly.

Porte might gain a couple of places. That's all I'm expecting.

Mint Sauce

Andy Magic wrote: »

Hopefully it will get interesting today and over the next two days. Someone has to challenge for this. Slightly off topic but does anyone know why there is no team time trial this year?

For 2nd and 3rd maybe. Froomy will have this even more wrapped up after today.

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

letape wrote: »

I was at the last uphill TT in the tour - at Alpe D'Huez - can't believe it was 12 years ago!

Pop quiz, hotshot....... Can anyone name the riders who finished that stage and who will be starting today

I count four.

Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voeckler, Matteo Tosatto, and Bernie Eisel

ThisRegard

Andy Magic wrote: »

Hopefully it will get interesting today and over the next two days.

The tour lately has been constantly reminding me of this scene from the Simpsons. Afraid to give it a miss just in case Quintana does something like this.

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

donfers

Hopefully Dan will put the hammer down and surprise a few today, the course will suit him and if he has his best day he may nick a surprise stage win especially if Froome falls on the descent

Moflojo

Vasil Kiryienka

Nibali FTW?

gordongekko

How long is it going to take the main lads to complete the course. I want to try and get the finish of the last 10 starters.

at1withmyself

Moflojo wrote: »

Nibali FTW?

He fairly burned himself yesterday and didn't do too well in the Giro uphill TT so I'd say he'll hold out for a stage win Friday or Saturday?

letape

Some randomer no 1 was expecting to win

dastardly00 wrote: »

Pop quiz, hotshot....... Can anyone name the riders who finished that stage and who will be starting today

I count four.

Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voeckler, Matteo Tosatto, and Bernie Eisel

Cancellera finished in 2004 but has abandoned so will not be starting today.

Moflojo

Vasil Kiryienka

at1withmyself wrote: »

He fairly burned himself yesterday and didn't do too well in the Giro uphill TT so I'd say he'll hold out for a stage win Friday or Saturday?

The only thing that I thought might go in his favour is the 2.5km descent at the end, but it's probably not long enough for him to take any major time out of his rivals, and it doesn't look particularly technical on the map either.

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

letape wrote: »

Cancellera finished in 2004 but has abandoned so will not be starting today.

That's why I didn't count him

dastardly00

Nairo Quintana

80 riders have finished.
18 currently on the road.
81 riders yet to start.

Current Top-5:
1. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 32'37
2. Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ '29
3. Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept @ 1'09

5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data @ 1'10

neris

the IAM lad took a fair aul tumble over the barriers earlier

neris

still an awful lot of gob****es crowding into the road on top of the riders

WinnyThePoo

Was voeckler in yellow in 2004?. If my memory serves me he was in a break away that was allowed 20 minutes.

equivariant

What setup are most riding? I can't watch it at work but from various photos online I see a mixture of setups from full TT with skinsuit and aero lid, to clipons to straight up road bike.

neris

equivariant wrote: »

What setup are most riding? I can't watch it at work but from various photos online I see a mixture of setups from full TT with skinsuit and aero lid, to clipons to straight up road bike.

not been watching long but the few Ive seen all road bikes with clip on TT bars aero suits and lids. Dumoulins gone full aero incl bike

DominoDub

Tom Dum was lucky that Bloody Fan taking a vid with his Phone did not hit him...( items that appear on your phone screen are closer :mad:)

isitraining

Some randomer no 1 was expecting to win

equivariant wrote: »

What setup are most riding? I can't watch it at work but from various photos online I see a mixture of setups from full TT with skinsuit and aero lid, to clipons to straight up road bike.

Tom Dumoulin is on a full TT bike. I think riders are going with whatever they're comfortable with.

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

Couple of people with road bikes and clip ons

neris

dumoulin putting in 20 seconds on the 1st split

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

Fantastic time by Dumoulin. 41 seconds up on de gent

neris

has any other country ever advertised that they are the host country for the worlds? fed up of qatar's "dramatic" ad that their gona be some sort of amazing event for holding the worlds this year. may be with their lack of cycling history they feel they have to try harder.

isitraining

Some randomer no 1 was expecting to win

"Go real fast, all the way."

Sean Kelly's advice for Richie Porte.

DominoDub

Love that fan ...Track Pump with Horn Attached ..great Hack Or Bodge ?

Eamonnator

Nairo Quintana

Im just in.
Has anybody switched bikes yet?

neris

DominoDub wrote: »

Love that fan ...Track Pump with Horn Attached ..great Hack Or Bodge ?

Bodge

retalivity

Dan 26secs back at first tome check, not bad

irishrover99

That AG2R helmet is awful. Goes well with the awful kit they wear.

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

Eamonnator wrote: »

Im just in.
Has anybody switched bikes yet?

Yes they have. Not sure who it was but a bike was switched at the start of the climb

DominoDub

Eamonnator wrote: »

Im just in.
Has anybody switched bikes yet?

Well they are testing them at the finish line :P

Pudsy33

Dan going very well, top 10 after 2 intermediate checks

retalivity

Porte fastest by 9secs at first time check!

donfers

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Dan going very well, top 10 after 2 intermediate checks

Ouch, Dan 31 seconds down on Aru....looks like he will be a little bit off the form guys and certainly will not be climbing places but only maintaining position at best

irishrover99

Froome is gonna smash them today if Porte is already 9 secs up

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

68 lost souls wrote: »

Yes they have. Not sure who it was but a bike was switched at the start of the climb

Rodriguez is the one who switched

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

Slower second split for Porte. 9 seconds down now

68 lost souls

Nairo Quintana

Some clown jumping out at Froome

retalivity

Quintana is bolloxed...45 secs down on froome porte already at first check

gordongekko

Dan currently tenth

donfers

average from Dan, thought he would do better on this type of route, will end up about 17th or 18th, not far off the position he was for the flatter time trial, gutted