Gap is up to 2m8s. The last climb is a toughie so this could come right down. Froome is 44sec off the virtual lead.
Cycling thread
- Thread starter Bruce Wayne
- Start date
Pinot is poor here. Reichenback is clearly not able to hold Froome, and he's sitting back doing nothing.
Froome 10 seconds from virtual pink.
Froome will surely get the bonus seconds for both the intermediate sprint and the stage win as well?
Virtual leader on the road.
Hopefully not.
Of course, the one major difference with those stages was that they went clear from a fairly large group. Today, the lead group was decimated with 80km to go and it's been pretty much Froome vs Dumoulin ever since. TD has had next to no help from the other 4 in his group.
In the infamous Landis stage, there was a huge group of favourites behind him, but they messed about rather than chase until it was too late. Rasmussen and Chiappucci were largely let go because they weren't serious challengers.
Armel
Player Valuation: £15m
Was the last time that I saw a similar exploit. It would be very strange if he would still gain time on the Jafferau, even more so because Dumoulin has conserved more energy. He's been at it for 60 K and still has +- 20 K to go (so 80 K). Dumoulin shouldn't have waited on Reichenbach but even so. I don't even think he's giving his all, Froome.
This is weird.
tsubaki
Player Valuation: £90m
The sad thing about this is that it isn't weird at all, it is as you say a performance with a lot of precedent and it demands serious questions being asked.
I think TD has been fried mentally by the other four in his group. They've been there but not helping at all. A real mental anchor on him. Fully expect one of them (Lopez perhaps) to drop him on the final climb.
There really isn't. The fact that Armel mentioned three examples from 30 years tells you that. He'll no doubt be tested like you wouldn't believe after this, so I'll give him credit until proven otherwise. The bloke has some balls to attack from that far out. It's been more like a sportive for the last 80km. Riders all over the place on their own.
See, gone.
Armel
Player Valuation: £15m
Tbf all three of them have been caught.
I'd like to be in Aigle now, what they didn't want to happen, is happening now. Yes he's probably broken.