It never even occurred to me that Thomas had any chance of winning today’s stage as they approached the final climb ! Also I think today answered the question of,whether Team Sky would allow Thomas to attack his own Teammate! May the better rider win ! That man could still turn out to be Froome but lot of racing left. Dumoulin looks dangerous for sure ! Tomorrow will be huge as how much did today’s brutal stage take out of the riders ! More later on tomorrow’s killer stage 12 !
well said
quotes after stage 11;
[h=2]Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) - stage winner, overall race leader[/h]It is unreal and I didn't expect it at all. We were low on numbers [at the end] and so it was more instinct when I went - it was so that we didn't get caught out and have to ride. I got a little gap and then Froomey could follow the other guys. I committed and got across to [Tom] Dumoulin and was able to sit on because Froomey was coming across. I could see Frosty [Mikel Nieve], and it's a shame, but I had to go for that win because it was super nice.
We knew the attacks would come, and it was just a matter of trying to control them. Luckily we did. For me it was just an amazing day. I said earlier, whatever happens now is a bonus, this race has been amazing for me so far. It will be a success whatever happens now.
I wasn't really thinking of taking yellow, after yesterday I knew anything could happen. To get it was a nice bonus, but to actually get the stage was a shock - it's great.
(On leading Froome) Froomey's won six Grand Tours - he knows how to race over three weeks. For me, it's an unknown. It's a great situation for the team. We'll keep riding well together, communicating as a team, and as long as one of us wins, that's the main thing.
It was great having both of us there, because anything can happen, anyone can have a bad day. Hopefully both of us can be consistent. (NBC, Eurosport)
[h=2]Chris Froome (Team Sky) - second overall[/h]Amazing position for us, I don't think we quite expected that going into today's stage. I think initially everybody thought Alpe d'Huez would be the more decisive and it very well still could be. It puts us in a fantastic position going into tomorrow's stage.
I think it was a spur of the moment thing but it made sense, it was perfect. We didn't even have to talk, it was the right thing for G to do and push on there. I let the wheel go because I knew it would put the onus on the rest of the guys to chase.
He [Dan Martin] put in a big acceleration there, I was surprised I was the only one that held on to his wheel but Dan's ridden really well, I think he's trying to make up time as well from when he crashed and lost a bit of time. I think the main guy who stands out as a bit of a threat right now is Tom Dumoulin, he rode a very impressive stage today I guess it depends on how everyone is going to back up tomorrow because tomorrow is a really big stage.)
[On tomorrow] You'll have to wait and see. (Eurosport)
[h=2]Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates)[/h][On fighting back to GC group then attacking] I saw that they had stopped and I was coming up behind, so I thought why not give it a go. I knew on that last 4k that everyone would be looking at each other and if you could get a gap it could stay.
I was really grateful to Chris for riding with me, as I knew with G up front he didn't need to. But damn he was strong and he was killing me!
I was pretty tired at the end there, but considering how I felt, it was a pretty good operation. After the crash I wasn't really thinking about the GC, just trying to do my best every day.
I just love racing in the mountains. The last few days haven't felt like racing as I have enjoyed it so much. It's a shame that I enjoy something that hurts like hell. Racing on this mountain with this crowd - there is no feeling like it!
Everybody had a go today: Movistar had a go and then Tom [Dumoulin]. This Tour is going to be about who has the least bad 'bad day'. If I haven't of had the crash I would be a lot better off by now. I am just going to keep going what I am doing. (UAE Team Emirates)
[h=2]Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb)[/h]The attack was improvised, we went on intuition. Søren [Kragh Andersen] was in the break and he is a madman in the downhills. I told him to go at the front and go fast, but not take any risks and suddenly we had a gap.
He did such an amazing job, the whole team were brilliant today. I had a lot of guys with me for the whole day which was great.
I actually learned to ski in this village when I was a little kid. My uncle rented a house here and the whole family came. This spring he passed away, just two weeks after my aunty also passed away. So my dad lost his brother and sister within two weeks of each other. Today I really wanted to perform well for them and I hope that I did them proud. I’ll keep doing my best every day.
Today I had a good day, maybe tomorrow I pay for it but I'm happy with today. (Team Sunweb
quotes after stage 11;
[h=2]Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) - stage winner, overall race leader[/h]It is unreal and I didn't expect it at all. We were low on numbers [at the end] and so it was more instinct when I went - it was so that we didn't get caught out and have to ride. I got a little gap and then Froomey could follow the other guys. I committed and got across to [Tom] Dumoulin and was able to sit on because Froomey was coming across. I could see Frosty [Mikel Nieve], and it's a shame, but I had to go for that win because it was super nice.
We knew the attacks would come, and it was just a matter of trying to control them. Luckily we did. For me it was just an amazing day. I said earlier, whatever happens now is a bonus, this race has been amazing for me so far. It will be a success whatever happens now.
I wasn't really thinking of taking yellow, after yesterday I knew anything could happen. To get it was a nice bonus, but to actually get the stage was a shock - it's great.
(On leading Froome) Froomey's won six Grand Tours - he knows how to race over three weeks. For me, it's an unknown. It's a great situation for the team. We'll keep riding well together, communicating as a team, and as long as one of us wins, that's the main thing.
It was great having both of us there, because anything can happen, anyone can have a bad day. Hopefully both of us can be consistent. (NBC, Eurosport)
[h=2]Chris Froome (Team Sky) - second overall[/h]Amazing position for us, I don't think we quite expected that going into today's stage. I think initially everybody thought Alpe d'Huez would be the more decisive and it very well still could be. It puts us in a fantastic position going into tomorrow's stage.
I think it was a spur of the moment thing but it made sense, it was perfect. We didn't even have to talk, it was the right thing for G to do and push on there. I let the wheel go because I knew it would put the onus on the rest of the guys to chase.
He [Dan Martin] put in a big acceleration there, I was surprised I was the only one that held on to his wheel but Dan's ridden really well, I think he's trying to make up time as well from when he crashed and lost a bit of time. I think the main guy who stands out as a bit of a threat right now is Tom Dumoulin, he rode a very impressive stage today I guess it depends on how everyone is going to back up tomorrow because tomorrow is a really big stage.)
[On tomorrow] You'll have to wait and see. (Eurosport)
[h=2]Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates)[/h][On fighting back to GC group then attacking] I saw that they had stopped and I was coming up behind, so I thought why not give it a go. I knew on that last 4k that everyone would be looking at each other and if you could get a gap it could stay.
I was really grateful to Chris for riding with me, as I knew with G up front he didn't need to. But damn he was strong and he was killing me!
I was pretty tired at the end there, but considering how I felt, it was a pretty good operation. After the crash I wasn't really thinking about the GC, just trying to do my best every day.
I just love racing in the mountains. The last few days haven't felt like racing as I have enjoyed it so much. It's a shame that I enjoy something that hurts like hell. Racing on this mountain with this crowd - there is no feeling like it!
Everybody had a go today: Movistar had a go and then Tom [Dumoulin]. This Tour is going to be about who has the least bad 'bad day'. If I haven't of had the crash I would be a lot better off by now. I am just going to keep going what I am doing. (UAE Team Emirates)
[h=2]Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb)[/h]The attack was improvised, we went on intuition. Søren [Kragh Andersen] was in the break and he is a madman in the downhills. I told him to go at the front and go fast, but not take any risks and suddenly we had a gap.
He did such an amazing job, the whole team were brilliant today. I had a lot of guys with me for the whole day which was great.
I actually learned to ski in this village when I was a little kid. My uncle rented a house here and the whole family came. This spring he passed away, just two weeks after my aunty also passed away. So my dad lost his brother and sister within two weeks of each other. Today I really wanted to perform well for them and I hope that I did them proud. I’ll keep doing my best every day.
Today I had a good day, maybe tomorrow I pay for it but I'm happy with today. (Team Sunweb
Today really has thinned the field ! Tomorrow’s stage 12 will probably be more of the same and that’s saying a lot ! Today’s stage was one of the best I can recall ! Movistar made their move and it turned out disastrous for them. Team Sky was patient and showed that they are the strongest team once again. However let’s see what Tom Dumoulin has left in his tank tomorrow. If it wasn’t for Froome trying for a double after winning the Giro, I’d have to say it’s his race to lose now. However Team Sky will let Thomas give it a go I think because of not being sure if Froome still has The stamina! Should be interesting. Today showed me that Froome is not planning on giving up the chase to Thomas or anyone. That finishing climb tomorrow is brutal ! Somehow I see Froome fighting to win stage 12 ! GL
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7/29/18<time class="clock" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">7:00 AM</time>
</sp-score-coupon><sp-prop _ngcontent-c39="" _nghost-c63="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; -webkit-box-flex: 1; flex: 1 1 0%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: rubik; font-size: 12px;"><section _ngcontent-c63="" class="markets-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; width: 680px;"><header _ngcontent-c63="" class="event-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-flex; flex: 1 0 auto;">[h=3]Tour de France 2018 - General Classification [/h]</header><sp-show-more-component _ngcontent-c63="" _nghost-c68="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
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got Dumoulin from the start but dont like my chances...@)
stage 12..............Judgement Day...
this follows two grueling mountain stages ........ 70 kms longer than today's stage. Just brutal
WHO HAS THE LEGS??
Movistar was battered out there. Just can't see it. It's Team Sky's to lose:Thomas is in stupid form and Froome is the best GC rider in the world and they are 1 and 2 in the standings,geez.....but, shit can happen out there. Gotta believe Thomas eventually has a bad day ...tomorrow could be that day. Dumoulin is an exceptional rider, won the Giro two years ago and can TT. He needs something special tomorrow..... gotta stay within striking distance . He was very strong today.
how about Froome ? To catch Thomas/Dumoulin was psychologically huge.......just awesome
stage 12..............Judgement Day...
this follows two grueling mountain stages ........ 70 kms longer than today's stage. Just brutal
WHO HAS THE LEGS??
Movistar was battered out there. Just can't see it. It's Team Sky's to lose:Thomas is in stupid form and Froome is the best GC rider in the world and they are 1 and 2 in the standings,geez.....but, shit can happen out there. Gotta believe Thomas eventually has a bad day ...tomorrow could be that day. Dumoulin is an exceptional rider, won the Giro two years ago and can TT. He needs something special tomorrow..... gotta stay within striking distance . He was very strong today.
how about Froome ? To catch Thomas/Dumoulin was psychologically huge.......just awesome
