Jules said:

Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on at 27 seconds?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GaXA-1um-k&feature=player_embedded

Sock adjustments!

Jules said:

Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on at 27 seconds?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GaXA-1um-k&feature=player_embedded

Good question.  Couldn't tell if the guy on the left was picking something off the guy on the right's bike, or adjusting his sock or brake.

Can’t be sick, because it makes no sense. Everyone can adjust their own damn socks. Looked too low to be brake. Maybe something stuck to a chainstay?

Jules said:

Can’t be sick, because it makes no sense. Everyone can adjust their own damn socks. Looked too low to be brake. Maybe something stuck to a chainstay?

It's some sort of fabric (or twig or whatevs) stuck, but moving up and down, on a chainstay. Not sure what or how, but you see something similar in cx when you blow some tape that rolls all over the frame.

Wow. Good eye!

eloy said:

https://twitter.com/lawsoncraddock/status/1016068162759151616

Can you imagine the pain he's going to be dealing with on the cobbles

Team Sunweb is sponsored by Giant and so are you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9xaQPCBG6M

I believe changes are planned for 2019 with Sunweb becoming Sunweb-Cervelo (and therefore riding Cervelo bikes). Dimension Data are reported to be switching to riding BMC.
Not sure where this leaves Giant next year ??

Based on the comments and tweets he has made I am not a fan of Tom Dumoulin so I am not rooting for Sunweb at the tour.
But I am delighted that they are leading the Giro Rosa.

Ha - this kid is a magnet for trouble

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-gesbert-almost-set-the-hotel-on-fire-35920918.html

ian ellis said:

But I am delighted that they are leading the Giro Rosa.

Ruth Winder had maybe the best of ride of her life yesterday (altho the RIO Silver medal is hardcore) and took the lead. Sharp defined:

Also this crash was both the scariest and funniest thing I've seen at the tour this year. Still can't find video of it.

Mark Taylor said:

eloy said:

https://twitter.com/lawsoncraddock/status/1016068162759151616

Can you imagine the pain he's going to be dealing with on the cobbles

Lawson Craddock has a super strong following in Houston (where he's from, but now based in Austin), no surprise how baller he is.  His dad is still in Houston and joins us on our "Smackdown" rides Tuesday and Thursdays, where we do bridge loops and sprints until we crack (also pass by a wastewater treatment facility,mmmm, tasty , gota love Htown scenery....) , and he also rolls into the weekly crits, playing in the 1/2/3's.  Fun to follow the local!

And for those interested in his ability to walk from crashes, here's this:

https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/982628022204248065

Interesting to see that most riders/teams ditched their disc-brake bikes on the Mur de Bretagne stage, as well as the stage to Quimper. 

If it wasn't for bad luck

That's as serious as can be, here's for his full recovery. 

The NBC post race interview of TJ was awful. TJ is clearly gutted and crying on camera and the Steve Schlanger keeps asking him bonehead questions

That was a helluva stage. My fubo crapped out and I had to struggle for a couple of hours to get things working. I really don't enjoy anybody getting hurt or crashing out but damn if that didn't make for a riveting stage.

I kinda enjoy that the best male cyclists in the world, suddenly don't know how to turn their bikes.

To be fair , the dust was like ball hearings under there tires
what happen to TJ. They radioed through plan B , it’s all you ,Pressure on ! Kepoow!

I don't wish awkward TV moments for TJ, but the fact is if it were not today that he pooped the bed then it would have been some other day. Probably the day after a rest day. He is no more a grand tour contender than I am. (OK, OK, that is stretching it a lot) but he simply is neither good enough nor consistent enough for a GT. Indeed, he has only 2 week-long races to his name and those are both here in the US, so don't really count. I cannot believe that EF-Drapac have signed him for next year, they could have used that budget on someone young and with potential.

ian ellis said:

 I cannot believe that EF-Drapac have signed him for next year, they could have used that budget on someone young and with potential.

I bet they're getting him on the cheap.  He'll be their guy for US stage races, and then a support rider in Europe.  

mugwump said:

ian ellis said:

 I cannot believe that EF-Drapac have signed him for next year, they could have used that budget on someone young and with potential.

I bet they're getting him on the cheap.  He'll be their guy for US stage races, and then a support rider in Europe.  

Without the GC pressure he's a reasonable domestique. If Porte was in yellow nobody we even be considering him a remote possibility for GC.

Never saw the TJ interview. But the Degenkolb interview is quite good. Here it is in full:

https://www.nbcsports.com/video/2018-tour-de-france-john-degenkolb-emotional-after-stage-9-win

Also worth it, if you can find it (probably in the replay), right after crossing the line, Degenkolb stops to celebrate with his soigneur, and slowly all the trek teammates arrive one by one and join the celebration. It is pretty awesome, and a bit moving.

I agree, Eloy. It’s a rare sight that we get a window into something so emotional and positive for the athletes. It seems like we see 10:1 heartbreak to joy. 

La Course was amazing! 

Best example of never give up. 

http://stream.nbcsports.com/gold/cycling?pid=207280

Here's the Course last KM. Which was amaze.

If you have a way to watch the last 25 km or so, they are even better.

eloy said:

Here's the Course last KM. Which was amaze.

If you have a way to watch the last 25 km or so, they are even better.

https://twitter.com/LaCoursebyTDF/status/1019173228118409216

DAAAAAMNNNN

Seriously

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/07/tales-of-the-tour-the-happy-tears-of-cecilie/

The video is amazing