Tour de France 2018, July 21, Stage 14: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Mende

Melodeon

Date: Saturday 21st July
Type: Hilly
Distance: 188 km
Start/Finish: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Mende

Stage Map:



Stage Profile:



Finale:



The General Classification after Stage 13:

MPFGLB

I think the break might make it today


Pity because iF Dan Martin had a team that could chase he could win this

So from the break Adam Yates ,Martinez, Izzagirre (either) , Fraile, G Martin, Calmejane

wow wasn't expecting that start , 4 groups on the road.

MPFGLB

could be an exciting stage

happytramp

Martin's position in 9th place seems to be scuppering his chances of another stage win.

Inquitus

MPFGLB wrote: »

could be an exciting stage

And no

Boscoirl

Lost all respect for Sean Kelly now! Well done steak!! The shame

Eamonnator

Boscoirl wrote: »

Lost all respect for Sean Kelly now! Well done steak!! The shame

Tragic

Wiggins on ITV 4 there just the end of what he was saying. Did he have anything interesting to say?

MPFGLB

Patrick Bevoin abandons

Inquitus

Dan with an incredibly badly timed Puncture, sadly.

Itziger

FFS! Puncture for Dan.

He lost about 1:50

Inquitus

It's clearly quite finely poised now between Thomas, Dumoulin and Froome (and perhaps Roglic?). Dumoulin rode brilliantly for a big man there on that Murito, he's defo good for some time in the TT despite the fact it is quite hilly.

That just leaves the 3 Pyreneean stages and tomorrows mid mountain.

Mid Mountain Stage, tomorrow, I have ridden the climb, it's a good one for Dumo, but too far from the finish to be a GC battle you'd think!



The Penultimate Big Mountain stage, finishes downhill, however.



The Super Short Explosive Stage, this one could be mayhem!



The last Big Mountain stage, finishes downhill, however.

Zoncolon

is dan one of the Unluckiest Cyclists in todays peloton? I know everyone punctures but surely the timing of Dan's incidents are always the worst

Inquitus

Zoncolon wrote: »

is dan one of the Unluckiest Cyclists in todays peloton? I know everyone punctures but surely the timing of Dan's incidents are always the worst

I think Porte gets that accolade, no? But yes Dan has had a particularly ****ty Tour this year in terms of luck, sadly.

Zoncolon

Richie and Dan and some couple alright TBF

MPFGLB

Maybe a chance fro Dan to win a stage

top 10 is not really all that ...he has doen it before

But another stage ..now that is something

Inquitus

MPFGLB wrote: »

Maybe a chance fro Dan to win a stage

top 10 is not really all that ...he has doen it before

But another stage ..now that is something

Maybe the short one is one he can target, they might give him some leeway given he is now quite a long way down on the GC? 6 mins and 54 seconds as of today.

GetWithIt

Zoncolon wrote: »

is dan one of the Unluckiest Cyclists in todays peloton? I know everyone punctures but surely the timing of Dan's incidents are always the worst

It's not luck. Froome or Thomas wouldn't have lost a second in the same situation. If you ride for a crap team and have no one around you when things happen then you lose time.

Sky are just so much stronger than every other team that luck doesn't come into it.

Or UAE are so much weaker.

Macy0161

Also a stronger team would've positioned him better, not trying to get up the gutter.

Although it has crossed my mind if he had addressed his TT weakness, that maybe he would've got picked up by a bigger team...

dastardly00

Saw Fraille winning the stage but didn't see the GC action. Disaster for Dan

Tigerandahalf

Having watched Dan over the last few years I think it is clear he isn't good enough to win the TdeF. He seems to be good on short sharp climbs and can win stages with that profile.
But once the long steep climbs come along he is hanging on at best or at worst gets left behind.

Doumoulin seems to be a big threat now once he doesn't have a mechanical or puncture. It could be a very exciting finish yet.

Shoco83

Inquitus wrote: »

Maybe the short one is one he can target, they might give him some leeway given he is now quite a long way down on the GC? 6 mins and 54 seconds as of today.

While not a threat to the GC, would others in the top 10 see him as a threat to their position and might not be as keen to see him up the road?

Dr. Bre

You can’t win a tour without being a good TT . only sastre and before that pantani have managed this.

Lusk_Doyle

Dr. Bre wrote: »

You can’t win a tour without being a good TT . only sastre and before that pantani have managed this.

So you can win the tour without being a good TT rider then!

Dr. Bre

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

So you can win the tour without being a good TT rider then!

Unlikely tho doesn’t happen often.

Lusk_Doyle

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Unlikely tho doesn’t happen often.

Indeed. You phrased it wrong it your point.