Le Tour 2017

[Jon Crofts]

And we're off with an opening TT in Dusseldorf won by G, his first ever stage win at TdF.

Favourites have to be between Froome, Bardet & Porte, I would have said Valverde as he's been flying so far but he crashed out on day 1 and that's it all over for him.  Quintana won't have the support he'll need to mount a challenge and as we saw last year he's incapable of mounting a challenge in the mountains on his own.

Looking forward to the next 3 weeks of suffering.

[taylorsworkrate]

4 team sky riders in the top 8 today.

Guessing there will be questions asked

[Jon Crofts]

4 team sky riders in the top 8 today.

Guessing there will be questions asked

I doubt it but if they're all still there in the high mountains then yes!

[SteveN]

My favourite sporting event, delighted for Thomas, another Brit in yellow.
Froome for overall victory for me with Bardet and Porte for minor places. The loss of Valvarde is a huge loss for Quintana.

[JD]

Great day for Geraint Thomas and Sky.

Felt very sorry for Valverde, broken knee cap by all accounts. Don't like to see any of the challengers out this early. 

[thick_mike]

Great stage win for Thomas. Froome looked very strong compared to the other contenders

[SteveN]

Kittel takes the second stage.  Have to say I'm not his greatest fan  I see him as a bit of a flat track billy but hey ho.
Cav finishing 4th after his disrupted season is encouraging, hopefully the longer he goes the better he will get.

[SteveN]

If there is such a thing as reincarnation I want to come back as Peter Sagan.

[UK Redsox]

If there is such a thing as reincarnation I want to come back as Peter Sagan.

Before his foot slipped out during the finish yesterday, he looked like he was just cycling down the shops to pick up some milk.

[SteveN]

If there is such a thing as reincarnation I want to come back as Peter Sagan.

Scrub that, it looks as if he has taken out Cavendish in the sprint and possibly the tour.

[Jon Crofts]

That's a DQ no matter how many times you look at it.

[Jon Crofts]

That elbow isn't there for balance.

[aev]

I bet that made his eyes water.

[Jon Crofts]

Sagan DQ'd from the tour and rightly so.

[SteveN]

Sagan DQ'd from the tour and rightly so.

I'm a fan but I dont think there was any alternative if they have decided there was intent rather than it being a racing incident. 

Looked to me that Cav was on Demere's wheel and had every right to go for the gap, Sagan was looking for the same wheel and swung over.  If he had kept his elbows in I don't think he would be looking at an early exit.