Cycling

[theadore]

Looking like not... Thomas has been pretty impressive thus far... seems odd to think he'd have been pulling Froome up the mountains if it wasn't for the loss of 50 seconds in the early stages.

Dumoulain could still just about do this, but has been looking like Thomas since the Alpe stage.

[Jim]

Thomas has always been a strong rider and a future leader, Just honestly didn’t see him beating Froome hands down and he is.

Could be the Giro exertions starting to show, like it has for Quintana in years past. Either way I’m delighted for him and I do think he has the beating of Demoulin, probably not in the time trial but certainly in the mountains.

[mrblackbat]

Thomas has always been a strong rider and a future leader, Just honestly didn’t see him beating Froome hands down and he is.

Could be the Giro exertions starting to show, like it has for Quintana in years past. Either way I’m delighted for him and I do think he has the beating of Demoulin, probably not in the time trial but certainly in the mountains.

No, he hasn't always been a leader. For years Thomas was an out an out classics man, or one to take stage wins. There was an awful lot of surprise and scepticism a few years ago when Thomas was pacing Froome and dropping big name climbers out the back. I think Pete Kennaugh was probably pencilled in for the next team lead from Britain.

[mrblackbat]

Froome dropped again, Thomas on his own with Dumoulin, Roglic and Krisjwyck (or however you spell it)

[mrblackbat]

Thomas finishes third in the time trial to maintain his lead. Personally, I don't like ITTs as the penultimate stage, too many riders have nothing to ride for at that point so just coast.

Never imagined Thomas would win the tour a few years back.

[theadore]

No... But fair play to him... Must have taken a lot to change his riding style and body shape. This hasn't been like Wiggins in 2012 with a TT heavy course to suit, he has been the best climber in the field and possibly had a little left in the TT as well.

Agree about final stage TT... In the right circumstances I guess it can make great drama... But like an inevitable sprint stage there is still no point tuning in to anything but the last hour.

[Rover the Top]

Is Geraint Thomas a legitimate contender or will Froome become Sky's lead man later in the race?

Different answer to that question this year... Without being a cycling fan, Thomas' name has kept coming up for the last ten years, winning golds at the Olympics and the road race at the Commonwealth Games. Yet even last year when he had an early lead, he wasn't talked about as someone who could win the Tour de France. Unlike Wiggins and Froome, he seems a personality you can get behind. It makes a great story that he's the unlikely winner beating his big name team mate and it's made the Tour worth following for the first time for me.

I wonder how long it will be before anyone starts digging through his medical records?

[mrblackbat]

Yates makes up for his implosion in the giro and wins the vuelta (well, will do tomorrow).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/45535153

[mrblackbat]

Teehee, Geraint Thomas wins SPOTY..... something Froome never managed....

[theadore]

Funny couple of weeks for Ineios (sky)... Lost the two favourites for the tour in a week, and then Froome might have managed to bag himself a grand tour with a broken femur...