monty1104
Premium Platinum
Actually, could be Cancellara officially in green too. Also not sure whether Sagan might be ahead of Greipel too due to the intermediate sprint.
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I wouldn't call that a "climbing stage". The only reason it's not a stage for the sprinters is that it finishes on top of the Mur du Huy, which is a nasty little climb used in the Fleche Wallone (one of the spring classics). It's not really a race for the climbers either. This is a stage for the "puncheurs", riders like Gilbert (not riding the Tour this year), Gerrans and Valverde who are capable of an explosive kick on short steep climbs. Valverde should be a fairly strong favourite for tonight's stage.Climbing stage tomorrow. 3 x cat 4 and a cat 3 climb.
He'll definitely be closely marked. He may be 87 seconds down on Contador and 99 seconds down on Froome, but that's nowhere near enough for them to think about letting him off the leash.Quintana was my pick before the tour, but I am not sure he can come from that far back, can he? He will also still be fairly closely marked I am guessing.
I read in one place they are available on every stage and another place that it was only stages 2-8. Both places were in the official tour website so not sure which is correct.I know there are time bonuses on the flat, but are there time bonuses in the high mountains. A stage win and 30 sec gap + a time bonus, might be able to help Quintana. No more ITTs also help him. But I agree. It's a lot to make up - but then again... People fall off and break things so this race is far from over.
Bizzarre finish from Cav, either it was just a brainfade or he doesn't have the confidence to beat Sagan and Greipel. He's told the media it was Renshaw's fault, I can't agree with the sook, unless he has a full train to lead him in he's hopeless. He's half the rider Sagan is.
Cav's whinge is disgusting. Even if Renshaw went too early (which i think is debatable) he has been the best lead out man in for a looooong time and Cav owes him many a win, he dicks up once or twice, let it go. Plus even his own director said he gave up on the sprint which cost Martin the Maillot Jaune.
I know there are time bonuses on the flat, but are there time bonuses in the high mountains. A stage win and 30 sec gap + a time bonus, might be able to help Quintana. No more ITTs also help him. But I agree. It's a lot to make up - but then again... People fall off and break things so this race is far from over.
I read in one place they are available on every stage and another place that it was only stages 2-8. Both places were in the official tour website so not sure which is correct.
In another significant change, the Tour has reshuffled the points competition in what could be viewed as the “anti-Sagan” rule change. Like time bonuses, the new points rules will apply to the first nine stages only.
In 2014, Sagan won his third consecutive points jersey without winning a stage. By consistently placing in the top-5, Sagan picked up points to coast relatively unchallenged into his third green jersey. Under new rules introduced for 2015, that feat could prove more difficult, with a new rule structure favoring stage winners.
“We want to give more of a bonus for those who win,” Prudhomme said Wednesday.
Under new rules, a stage win will be worth 50 points, compared to 45 under old rules. The gap to second-place is significant, with just 30 points to the runner-up, compared to 35 under former rules. Here are new points for the top-15 — 50, 30, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 — compared to the former top-15: 45, 35, 30, 26, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2. Those numbers will only put more pressure on green jersey candidates to win.
Maybe, but I doubt he'd want it. No point in wasting the team's energy trying to retain the yellow jersey from week 1. If they wanted the exposure, they'd have made sure Dennis kept it.I can honestly see van Garderen being in yellow tomorrow. Hope to see a good stage from the Yates brothers, they were average last night.
Yeah, probably. Just think he could possibly be in the yellow. I like BMC and want to see them do well.Maybe, but I doubt he'd want it. No point in wasting the team's energy trying to retain the yellow jersey from week 1. If they wanted the exposure, they'd have made sure Dennis kept it.
Don't count on it. It's too short for any real time gains to be made and I doubt any of the top GC contenders see themselves finishing top 3 on the stage, which means they won't be getting a time bonus.Should be a good stage tonight.
Hoping for a nice battle on the last climb between some of the big names.