[Dr Watson]

Hi to everybody. Best race of the year coming up. 

Topic

[11waterloo]

I just felt that, with a lot

I just felt that, with a lot of flat at the start, he was a decent shout for the break. As we now know, that didn’t happen! Your man Schmid looking good though. He will probably get combativity too as he was the driving force behind the break. I went with O’Connor because he carries  decent points and is unlikely to collapse in the next few days (famous last words!) 

[MinardiM189]

Interesting to see you have

Interesting to see you have kept Vacek in.

I was originally planning the same but I read/heard that he didn’t sprint on stage 5 because he wasn’t well. I wish I hadn’t heard/read that now.

You also have a lot of confidence in O’Connor.

[11waterloo]

Hopefully we will see some

Hopefully we will see some aggressive riding in the next few days. There is only one rider with an excuse to ride defensively now.

[MinardiM189]

Unlucky with Groves, I was

Unlucky with Groves, I was planning to bring him back in but it meant using 2 transfers. I was lucky to get van Eetvelt in for Kron, only just beating the deadline.

I wasted a few transfers the last few stages, I lost Kron and I Schmid crashed yesterday too, nothing from Narvaez either.

Vacek a star again and Kung too.

I thought it would be touch and go for Groves, he came 3rd in the Giro last year after a similar climb near the finish but with longer to get back on.

It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. I think Roglic will go for it, he was after bonus seconds today. Although they may want to save energy for Stage 9.

 

 

[11waterloo]

Not the worst decision!

Not the worst decision! Groves scuppered me, was only 20 seconds behind leaders going over top of climb when he fell so could well have got back on. 

[MinardiM189]

Risky move today, I left most

Risky move today, I left most sprinters out.

[runaroundsioux]

From an Ozzie point of view I

From an Ozzie point of view I hope you are right. That lead should spark some action from a few teams, which will make it a competion for 2/3 teams from here on in.

[11waterloo]

Yes, his team are going to

Yes, his team are going to have to be super vigilant. However, history suggests that the bigger teams find it very hard to cooperate with each other (yesterday being a prime example). 

[runaroundsioux]

Precisely. Looking forward to

Precisely. Looking forward to seeing how he goes with Jayco. But, more interested at present to see how he goes for the rest of this race. I am sure there will be surprise attacks during various stages to wittle away his lead.

 

[11waterloo]

Jayco must be very happy to

Jayco must be very happy to have got him signed when they did. His price tag would have gone up a bit after yesterday! 

[runaroundsioux]

Absolutely brilliant news.

Absolutely brilliant news. But like all of you, what the heck have the other teams been thinking !!!!    Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie

 

[11waterloo]

Would be interested in the

Would be interested in the view from down under as you wake up to a red jersey.

[11waterloo]

In theory, yes, but O’Connor

In theory, yes, but O’Connor is very experienced. He also has a decent team to support him. Gall is in a great position to be a plan B while the rest of the team (De Pestel excepted)  can all climb – and I include Armirail that! Either way it has certainly put some pressure back onto the ‘big’ teams and, as Sniffer says, there is going to have to be some hard racing. I would imagine that riders like Sivakov, Vlasov and Kruijswijk will not be looking forward to the next mountain stages! 

 

[MinardiM189]

If the top teams really

If the top teams really attack they could take the 5 minutes back on stage 9 alone.

Get riders up the road and attack 1st time up ‘Alto de Hazallanas’

 

[Sniffer]

I think it will mean some

I think it will mean some harder racing going forward, with teams keen to put O’Connor and Decathlon under pressure.

[Author]

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