I've heard some teams are giving this one some preview rides. If somebody wants to attack on the climbs, today might be that one-blow monoclimb sort of day. It's a short day, at 108 km, so there could be plenty of attacking.
I guess all teams that participated in the Criterium de Dauphine have been previewing it, as it was stage 6 in that race on June 9th. Stage win by #astana Pello Bilbao and #sky Geraint Thomas leading in the GC favorites some 20 secs later. Fairly small gaps between the best GC riders, but plenty of losses further back (amongst riders already off the back GC-wise). The expected "one stage I try harder" ride by #bahrain Nibali never materialized.
It also seems some riders that didn't ride the Dauphine have been out for a Sunday ride with friends:
https://twitter.com/simongeschke/status/1010948312944521216
Nice move, the Beaufort area is now on my must do before I ...... list. Along with the cheese! :D
I guess all teams that participated in the Criterium de Dauphine have been previewing it, as it was stage 6 in that race on June 9th. Stage win by #astana Pello Bilbao and #sky Geraint Thomas leading in the GC favorites some 20 secs later. Fairly small gaps between the best GC riders, but plenty of losses further back (amongst riders already off the back GC-wise). The expected "one stage I try harder" ride by #bahrain Nibali never materialized.
It also seems some riders that didn't ride the Dauphine have been out for a Sunday ride with friends:
https://twitter.com/simongeschke/status/1010948312944521216
Nice move, the Beaufort area is now on my must do before I ...... list. Along with the cheese! :D
In media, after stage 10, mixed responses between blaming the others for being cowardly and that sinking feeling when commentaries realize Team Sky is riding so fast it looks like the others are on the limit on the climbs.
Today there was a little hint of a #uae Dan Martin attack and that was about all, if we discount the fact that Greg van Avermaet continued to open the gap to the other GC riders :P
I don't think I will be able to follow the race for the rest of the week but I hope there will be a little bit more to discuss when I come back.
11 | Classemente | Rider | GC Time | Change |
GBR | 1 | THOMAS, Geraint (SKY) | 44:06:16 | 2:22 |
GBR | 2 | FROOME, Chris (SKY) | 1:25 | 1:56 |
NED | 3 | DUMOULIN, Tom (SUNWEB) | 1:44 | 1:58 |
ITA | 4 | NIBALI, Vincenzo (BAHRAIN - MERIDA) | 2:14 | 1:13 |
SLO | 5 | ROGLIC, Primož (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) | 2:23 | 1:13 |
NED | 6 | KRUIJSWIJK, Steven (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) | 2:40 | 1:05 |
ESP | 7 | LANDA MEANA, Mikel (MOVISTAR) | 2:56 | 0:25 |
FRA | 8 | BARDET, Romain (AG2R LA MONDIALE) | 2:58 | 1:13 |
COL | 9 | QUINTANA, Nairo (MOVISTAR) | 3:16 | 1:13 |
IRL | 10 | MARTIN, Daniel (UAE TEAM EMIRATES) | 3:16 | 1:45 |
ESP | 11 | VALVERDE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) | 4:28 | -1:18 |
DEN | 12 | FUGLSANG, Jakob (ASTANA) | 4:53 | -1:41 |
RUS | 13 | ZAKARIN, Ilnur (KATUSHA ALPECIN) | 4:58 | 0:14 |
ESP | 14 | NIEVE ITURRALDE, Mikel (MITCHELTON - SCOTT) | 5:21 | |
LUX | 15 | JUNGELS, Bob (QUICK - STEP FLOORS) | 5:50 | -2:30 |
GBR | 16 | YATES, Adam (MITCHELTON - SCOTT) | 5:51 | -2:30 |
ITA | 17 | POZZOVIVO, Domenico (BAHRAIN - MERIDA) | 6:36 | -1:18 |
ITA | 18 | CARUSO, Damiano (BMC RACING) | 10:01 | |
BEL | 19 | PAUWELS, Serge (DIMENSION DATA) | 10:10 | -4:58 |
FRA | 20 | LATOUR, Pierre Roger (AG2R LA MONDIALE) | 11:46 |