Le Tour 2018

[Ger Regan]

Of course it is wrong, and the twats that do it should get their collars felt.

I don't think it is so much the lack of a French challenger but more the belief that Sky are as bad as US Postal. People believe that Sky are drug-ridden, and the argument that Sky have the best finance/riders/preparation doesn't seem to convince when you see them flying up slopes generating more power than a small motorbike.

Agree with all that. I also think you'd see a hell of a lot more scepticism on here about Sky if they weren't a british team, so the original question kind of works both ways.

[ian c.]

It seems a policeman removing protesting farmers from the road managed to pepper spray half the peloton. The race was stopped and restarted.

The policeman managed to spray himself in the face too apparently.

Thomas certainly looked like he got some.

[SteveN]

Bloody hell, Gilbert has abandoned but just to get back on the bike showed true grit.  He's nails.
Good to see the concern in the peleton as they rode past him.
Alaphilippe is having a grand tour, he may well have caught Yates even if he hadn't gone down.

[UK Redsox]

Bloody hell, Gilbert has abandoned but just to get back on the bike showed true grit.  He's nails.
Good to see the concern in the peleton as they rode past him.

No idea how he rode on with a broken knee cap. Seeing the later footage of where he landed. He actually got off lightly

[manic-road]

Thomas looked strong today and extended his lead, looked like Froome could have done with his inhaler on the climb at the end of the stage.

[SteveN]

Be fair to Froome, he's won the Tour  Vuelta and Giro in succession on top of the palaver off the bike.  Not bad going when you compare to Quintana's efforts over the past 12 months for example.
All for G now.

[Somniloquism]

Thomas looked strong today and extended his lead, looked like Froome could have done with his inhaler on the climb at the end of the stage.

Either Sky has decided it is G's now to setup for the handover and maybe for the visuals, or Froome thinks he can get it on the TT on the penultimate day.

[ian c.]

I'm hoping Dan Martin can perform a miracle and put 10 to 12 minutes into all of them on Friday. I know it won't happen.

I wonder how close he would be if his team could time trial and he hadn't had the accident and puncture.

[Jon Crofts]

I take it all back, Quintana actually made an effort rather than sucking on someone else’s wheel all day.

[Meanwood Villa]

Froome talking up the team angle as he has to but he must be hurting as the competitor he is. What's Thomas like at time trialling? Surely he's got enough of a cushion?

[Jon Crofts]

Froome talking up the team angle as he has to but he must be hurting as the competitor he is. What's Thomas like at time trialling? Surely he's got enough of a cushion?

I think tomorrow will be pivotal, G will be attacked time and again in the mountains, has Froome got enough to carry G through a tough day?  Gs TT is OK it’s nowt special.

[SteveN]

I'm nearly as nervous today for Thomas as I was for the Fulham game.  Seems to be a top man, I really hope he can do this.

[Jon Crofts]

Also wonder will Froome attack? He's 2:30 down on G and won in 2016 on a descent rather than a climb, todays stage finishes with a technical descent, it wouldn't surprise me.

[UK Redsox]

Froome talking up the team angle as he has to but he must be hurting as the competitor he is. What's Thomas like at time trialling? Surely he's got enough of a cushion?

I think tomorrow will be pivotal, G will be attacked time and again in the mountains, has Froome got enough to carry G through a tough day?  Gs TT is OK it’s nowt special.

I'm hoping that it's Bernal who looks after G. He's looked very good so far. Reminds me of when Landa was riding for Sky

[Somniloquism]

Also wonder will Froome attack? He's 2:30 down on G and won in 2016 on a descent rather than a climb, todays stage finishes with a technical descent, it wouldn't surprise me.

He also did similar in the Giro as well. For all the attack on the stage 19 climbs, it was his decent that shook the chasing bunch as well.

Although I think it is G's to lose now on mechanical or on a fall rather then another rider out-riding him. Sagan goes to show how even the best can make mistakes when it is in the bag and was lucky he continued.