Tour De France Stage 1 : Noirmoutier-En-L'Ïle - Fontenay-Le-Comte, 201km

Can't see it being anything more than a day for the fast men, though it's a coastal route so maybe some cross winds?

magicbastarder

i will change the typo in the thread title - i don't think it's *that* big a stage!

MPFGLB

Didnt a load of riders crash into the water going over a lowbridge on this stage in 1999

Miklos

A break has gone away in the first 100m... eager beavers!

MPFGLB

MPFGLB wrote: »

Didnt a load of riders crash into the water going over a lowbridge on this stage in 1999

Eamonnator

The break have a gap of three minutes after 10kms.
Is that correct?

Brian?

Eamonnator wrote: »

The break have a gap of three minutes after 10kms.
Is that correct?

Does it really matter?

Eamonnator

Brian? wrote: »

Does it really matter?

No.

idle curiosity at it's worst.

godtabh

I cycled some of the route last year and around the area previously.

Relatively calm for 2 weeks so wouldn’t be expecting winds to be an issue.

neris

Some amount of pressure been put on Bernal

https://twitter.com/TeamDiData/status/1015550602334670849

dahat

What will be the estimated finish time? Trying to grab a sneaky few mins poolside to catch the sprint.

75km to go I'd say you'd be fine to tune in around 14:30ish

fat bloke

Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem.

Eamonnator

Decisions....decisions..
Tour de France on ITV4 or Downhill World Cup from Val de Sole on Red Bull TV

Lumen

fat bloke wrote: »

Man, I gotta go to Jerusalem.

On a related subject, Academic Singles should really be called Dates For Dorks.

dahat

Watching this in Portuguese, looks a nervous peleton approaching the last few kms.

eagle eye

I just have this feeling that Sagan is going to win this stage. I dont know why.

Sal Butamol

Froome down!

Sal Butamol

Porte down and Quintana puncture

Allez Allez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wirelessdude01

Be interesting to see what the gaps are after this today.

retalivity

Everybody slow down and wait!!! Have you no manners??

fat bloke

Which group did Dan finish in?

REBELSAFC

Fernando Gaviria 4 stages Giro 2017 ---> Yellow Jersey 2018
Sam Bennett 3 Stages Giro 2018---> ???

dahat

Wow, what a powerful sprint that was,very strong.

GC contenders will not enjoy this evenings meal and will likely see no dull procession sprint stages now given the time losses.

Inquitus

fat bloke wrote: »

Which group did Dan finish in?

In the front group on ST, 52nd

dahat

Thomas only SKY rider in front group it seems.

Froome down 48 seconds.

fat bloke

dahat wrote: »

Thomas only SKY rider in front group it seems.

Froome down 48 seconds.

And I've always thought schadenfreude to be a bad thing

wirelessdude01

That gap could help Dan negate the assumed TTT losses.

Inquitus

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

That gap could help Dan negate the assumed TTT losses.

How bad is the UAE TTT? It has to be better than at the Dauphine?

sxt

I Have a feeling that Chris froome won't finish this race. The focus needed to win a race like this can't be there

Inquitus

sxt wrote: »

I Have a feeling that Chris froome won't finish this race. The focus needed to win a race like this can't be there

Why not, he won the Giro with a cloud hanging over him, showing great mental fortitude, I would have thought now he has been cleared his head is in a much better place. Not sure its possible to win the Giro and the Tour myself, but I don't think its his mentality that will prevent him winning.

wirelessdude01

sxt wrote:

I Have a feeling that Chris froome won't finish this race. The focus needed to win a race like this can't be there

If he doesn't win it won't be down to focus. Will be down to circumstances.

coco0981

Inquitus wrote: »

How bad is the UAE TTT? It has to be better than at the Dauphine?

Martin said they'll be better but you'd still be thinking at least 90 seconds of a loss to top teams. Today has helped negate that somewhat

MPFGLB

Dan had the good luck today for a change
Needs timeto negate the TTT, IT and Roubaix stages

Think Thomas will have the yellow after monday and if not then after Roubaix stage

sxt

Inquitus wrote: »

Why not, he won the Giro with a cloud hanging over him, showing great mental fortitude, I would have thought now he has been cleared his head is in a much better place. Not sure its possible to win the Giro and the Tour myself, but I don't think its his mentality that will prevent him winning.

I think the cloud over the Giro was what kept him most determined and focused. Maybe I won't race again?

I don't think he can maintain that focus. I think the mental toll and hence physical toll from competing in this tour will mean he won't come close to finishing this tour.

Inquitus

MPFGLB wrote: »

Dan had the good luck today for a change
Needs timeto negate the TTT, IT and Roubaix stages

Think Thomas will have the yellow after monday and if not then after Roubaix stage

Someone from BMC, not Porte, might well have it after the TTT, GVA or TJVG finished in the front group today, Sky will defo be there or thereabouts. GVA could well keep it through the cobbles as well.

Pa8301

I wasn't unhappy to hear that Froome lost time today.

retalivity

https://www.facebook.com/letour/videos/1720241951358510/

Video of froomes crash from the bike behind him. Idiot looks like he had his head down looking at his power meter and didnt see the bend in the road

fat bloke

retalivity wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/letour/videos/1720241951358510/

Video of froomes crash from the bike behind him. Idiot looks like he had his head down looking at his power meter and didnt see the bend in the road

My brain read the accompanying official tweet as "Unfortunately the reigning champion got back on his bike"

Lumen

retalivity wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/letour/videos/1720241951358510/

Video of froomes crash from the bike behind him. Idiot looks like he had his head down looking at his power meter and didnt see the bend in the road

He's not going to be looking at his power meter in a flat bunch final.

Looks to me like Froome was moving up to the right of Zabel and failed to avoid his handlebars. Normal racing incident.

De Bhál

retalivity wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/letour/videos/1720241951358510/

Video of froomes crash from the bike behind him. Idiot looks like he had his head down looking at his power meter and didnt see the bend in the road

Hardly

Was Wiggins participation on Eurosport during the tour just the ads for crazy priced Le Col gear??? Let's hope so.

De Bhál

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Was Wiggins participation on Eurosport during the tour just the ads for crazy priced Le Col gear??? Let's hope so.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/2018/eurosport-signs-sir-bradley-wiggins-for-exclusive-tour-de-france-digital-series_sto6825899/story.shtml

cunavalos

Craddock reported to have a small fracture in the scapula. Nearly breaks down in interview at the thought of not starting but will see how he feels on the bike in the morning.
Will be a blow to Urans chances in the TTT
https://twitter.com/Ride_Argyle/status/1015611543789039616

I currently have stitches more or less where he's bleeding from his neck there and they are an absolute bastard. You have to twist your whole body to avoid tugging them. Did try the bike this week but knew the moment I sat on it i couldn't look right effectively + given the heat sweat getting into the wound stung like a you know what.

cunavalos

I didn't catch the race live so only catching up with the footage now but there looked to be a noticeable split after the first handful of sprinters. Was there any reason why all the first group were given the same time. To me the gap looked to be greater than 2 seconds, i know it seems trivial but rules are rules

Sinbad_NI

Is the time gap not 3 seconds on sprint stages now, introduced last year to reduce the panic at the end of a stage.

Lusk_Doyle

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Is the time gap not 3 seconds on sprint stages now, introduced last year to reduce the panic at the end of a stage.

Yep.

http://www.velonews.com/2018/02/news/uci-confirms-time-gap-rule-adds-tv-jury_456181

Dr. Bre

No thread for today’s stage! People losing interest already..