Tour de France 2015 Stage 17 Digne-les-Bains - Pra Loup *contains unmasked spoilers*

stecleary

TeJay with the team car and all alone, looks like the team are talking him off the bike

Eamonnator

Movistar doing the work for Movistar

D3PO

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

The only thing is, the Sky lads are burning off quicker than you'd think.

he still has 2 and 2 up the road so its not the worst situation in the world for Sky.

ZiabR

retalivity wrote: »

jaysus ...tj would be quicker walking

He is unwell or so reports suggest. How else can you explain dropping over 4 minutes behind at the start of the race. I know he made it back on but they are saying he is most likely unwell.

retalivity

and hes done

spock.

Tejay abandons. Very sad to see.

Talib Fiasco

D3PO wrote: »

he still has 2 and 2 up the road so its not the worst situation in the world for Sky.

Oh definitely, but it's a fr more positive sign than seeing Froome and 6 guys approaching the main climb together!

godtabh

TJ out?

Pudsy33

Not the most exciting of racers but I genuinely feel bad for him.

mhiggy09

Sad to see Tj gone

D3PO

logik wrote: »

He is unwell or so reports suggest. How else can you explain dropping over 4 minutes behind at the start of the race. I know he made it back on but they are saying he is most likely unwell.

hes 100% ill BMC came out and confirmed it.

neris

there goes teejay

Arrow in the Knee

Au revoir TJ

D3PO

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Oh definitely, but it's a fr more positive sign than seeing Froome and 6 guys approaching the main climb together!

Might work the other way too though. Nico & Porte are wheelsucking and conserving energy so might be stronger than you would otherwise expect when called upon later.

stecleary

the poor chap looks devastated.

I know they are pictures that sell and tell a story but sometimes i wish cameras wouldn't swarm around riders like that

ThisRegard

Balls, not one TV to be found in Dublin airport and it sounds like I'm missing a cracker. Enjoy the rest of the tour lads.

Talib Fiasco

D3PO wrote: »

Might work the other way too though. Nico & Porte are wheelsucking and conserving energy so might be stronger than you would otherwise expect when called upon later.

Very true. Might be the same case for Majka and Sagan and the 3 Movistar lads too! Let's hope anyway.

Only thing with TJVG gone is Valverde is 3rd now...cannot see Contador getting a sniff now that it's a Movi 2/3.

neris

if a rider got in the car and bike was put on the roof, car doesnt move off and few minutes later the rider decides he wants to get back on the bike and keep racing is that allowed or was he deemed to have abandoned when he sat into the car?

D3PO

sad to see somebody lose a TdF podium spot to a retirement. Im not a massive fan of TVG but I respect him for what he has done thus far in this TdF

mhiggy09

Well there goes my velogames chances with Tj.

mhiggy09

There's attacks coming from all angles off the front

Talib Fiasco

So much for the rain...

ZiabR

Ah sorry to see TJ go, he is gutted.

D3PO

3 more days of Alps racing like this after today oh my giddy aunt

mhiggy09

Its not forecasted to they topb the col d'allos

Talib Fiasco

I know he was sick during the Giro and he had that doping hearing thing wrecking his routine, but Kreuziger has been very very quiet this Tour. In comparison to other times where he's almost led Contador up climbs.

MPFG

Sam Bennett has abandoned

MPFG

Kirby doesn't half talk some made up rubbish

D3PO

MPFG wrote: »

Sam Bennett has abandoned

:mad: He had battled so hard to keep going up to this point I really hoped he would manage to get to Paris.

He will have learnt so much from the experience though and will be a stronger rider for it too.

Talib Fiasco

At least he gets a bit of a longer rest and won't have to battle the rest of those mountains...should be right as rain for the Vuelta.

D3PO

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

At least he gets a bit of a longer rest and won't have to battle the rest of those mountains...should be right as rain for the Vuelta.

Who ? TVG ?

neris

MPFG wrote: »

Sam Bennett has abandoned

id say sean orourke and his panel of gaa experts are pissed now that they wont get the chance to slate an irish journeyman for coming last on the tour

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

Sam Bennett has abandoned

Pitty. Hopefully it was a good experience for him

Meglamonia

Did he just say Martin in break?

mhiggy09

Meglamonia wrote: »

Did he just say Martin in break?

Thought I heard that too. Is it not hesadal (excuse my spelling)

Meglamonia

mhiggy09 wrote: »

Thought I heard that too. Is it not hesadal (excuse my spelling)

The tracker says hesadal but pretty sure he said Martin.

YeahOK

MPFG wrote: »

Sam Bennett has abandoned

That's a shame. He'll have learnt a lot from this and no doubt we'll see a lot more from him...

markusz

YeahOK wrote: »

That's a shame. He'll have learnt a lot from this and no doubt we'll see a lot more from him...

here here... a great experience for him. will be back stronger

retalivity

nice long shot of valverde having a piss there...

buffalo

Abandonments so far today...

*Coppel
*Haas
*Van Garderen
*Bennett

MPFG

What is Rogers up to ?
IF he bridges across surely he will be wrecked ?

I suppose Porte & Roche may have to drop back if Froome is isolatedesp on the descent of Col de Allos

YeahOK

buffalo wrote: »

Abandonments so far today...

*Coppel
*Haas
*Van Garderen
*Bennett

Todays stage +4 days to go and already the total number of riders to abandon this year has matched that of last year's total for the full tour. I think this years edition has been much tougher....

retalivity

MPFG wrote: »

What is Rogers up to ?
IF he bridges across surely he will be wrecked ?

I suppose Porte & Roche may have to drop back if Froome is isolatedesp on the descent of Col de Allos

dont think he'll bridge over....id imagine sagan will drop back, rodgers will stay behind with majka near the front - 3 nice stepping stones for contador to use up the col d'allos

/fantasy ds'ing...

YeahOK

MPFG wrote: »

What is Rogers up to ?
IF he bridges across surely he will be wrecked ?

I suppose Porte & Roche may have to drop back if Froome is isolatedesp on the descent of Col de Allos

Getting up the road for Berties next rattle on this climb.;)

eagle eye

Feel terrible for TJ and Sam, to get this far into the tour and not be able to finish is gut wrenching I'd imagine.

DDC1990

First stage I've missed this year. Sounds like I'm missing a cracker.

MPFG

Looks like Porte & Roche given the orders to fall back or at least not waste energy by chasing in the break

MPFG

Pity as I think the break will make it and contain the winner

mhiggy09

I wonder what the odds are of roche winning the stage

ZiabR

MPFG wrote: »

Pity as I think the break will make it and contain the winner

I didnt think the break would be in with a shout today but seems I was wrong.