Sam and DQS v Bora, battle for the Green, Stage 19

donfers wrote: »

Is there an intermediate sprint on the last stage?

If Sam finishes ahead of Sagan in a bunch sprint then is he guaranteed green jersey winner?

Not necessarily. He'd need a gap of 70 points going into the last stage to be 100% sure. i.e. even if he crashed and rolled in 10 minutes after the bunch he'd still win it.

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

Tim Declerq going up the road, would have liked to seem him pulling Sam to today's finish. Is the hope that there will be be enough people up the road that the finish won't matter?

Sam mentioned a while ago that he was going to concentrate on green at the expense of chasing stages. It's a win-win for them - have a man in the break in case it stays away and also save them from having to ride at the front of the peleton.

Had this been the first week I think you'd have seen them playing it differently.

You'd think DQS would want to keep it together for Sam and not be attacking ?

MPFGLB wrote: »

You'd think DQS would want to keep it together for Sam and not be attacking ?

Stringing out the peloton probably damages all the sprinters equally and could mean none of his competitors get any points

De Bhál wrote: »

Caleb Ewan can't get up any type of hill

His hamstrings are too tight :pac:

This is set for a cracking finale, attacks coming everywhere and now Sam following Sagan into the latest breakaway!

Richard Hillman wrote: »

But as said the Time Trial offers points but its unlikely either will be involved

To elaborate. In the ITT it's only the finish that offers points and you've to be top 15 for that. Sam has absolutely no chance of being top 15 and Sagan is highly unlikely to be in that group either.

mr spuckler wrote: »

This is set for a cracking finale, attacks coming everywhere and now Sam following Sagan into the latest breakaway!

This is class and as amazing as they were, don’t think that Cavendish or Kittel ever got up to this craic. Green jersey fight almost as good as Yellow this year (and obviously for Irish fans much better)

godtabh wrote: »

has sam distanced Sagan coming up to the intermediate sprint?

Sam beat Sagan to the intermediate sprint. No distance between them

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Sam is literally stuck to Sagan in this break

And now contributing (in a limited way) to the pacesetting! Really brilliant stuff tbf

Can see Sam sitting in soon, once they're certain they'll make it to the end.

Be nice to see Sam stay away with the group and beat Sagan to the stage win.
He could put a bottle of bubbly in his bottle cage Sunday morning.

Always loved Thor Hushovd going up the Alps for 6 points in the intermediates to beat Cavendish

This years battle is great though. First time anyone has challenged Sagan at all really in the last 8/9 years

donfers wrote: »

this group could stay away....trentin might be the dark horse as GVA would provide an excellent leadout for him

Very dark - hasn't been inside the top 6 yet on a stage and can't beat Sagan or Sam in an intermediate either (not sure how hard he's trying...)

Jumping on the bandwagon here due to Irish interest, so Sam just needs to stay with Sagan here and its basically over?