"Sutton is said to have worked within a 'power pocket' without real oversight.
Although he successfully coached riders to medal success, he lacked the necessary skill-set to lead the world-class programme, said the review."

With the way all of the main guys have looked so far this year it could be a case of the tallest dwarf winning .

Aru looked really really strong for a guy coming back from injury. Really like him at 20/1 on this course. Think Porte has peaked too early and Froome looked really weak by his standards last week. Only 36km of ITT also really hurts him.

Yeah, I thought Aru might be value at that kind of price, especially if Astana can keep two guys in GC contention deep into the mountains.

Bump

looks like valverde has crashed out of the tour on the first day

Tony Martin was pretty hyped to get a German yellow jersey in Germany on the first day, couldn't do it though.

froome blasted the real competition

WALES tho

Favorites after Stage 1


6. Chris Froome (Sky) 16:16
17. Pierre Latour (Ag2r) +0:13
29. Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) +0:25
33. Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-hansgrohe) +0:28
49. Richie Porte (BMC) +0:35
53. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +0:36
54. Rafal Majka (Bora-hansgrohe) +0:37
55. Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac) s.t.
60. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) +0:38
63. Romain Bardet (Ag2r) +0:39
66. Fabio Aru (Astana) +0:40
68. Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) +0:42
70. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) s.t.
95. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) +0:51
104. Mathias Frank (Ag2r) +0:57
105. Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo) s.t.
113. Louis Meintjes (UAE Team Emirates) +1:00
116. Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) +1:01
162. George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo) +1:25
196. Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) +2:51
DNF Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

Went all the way to Düsseldorf to watch the Grand Depart and didn't see a bicycle all weekend. Damn Germans and their bars which never close.

Did you hit up any of the famous old altbier places?

Lol

man <3 <3 <3 germany. really had a blast there.

Crash at the front, no idea wtf happened as itv took a break.

Yeah the atmosphere yesterday in düsseldorf was super intensive despite the rain. My brother was like: give the germans a beer and they will celebrate every sporting event even when it rains like ****.

Sad story, roglic fell basically right in front of me

Sagan never disappoints. That was ridiculous.

FYP. Drinking in public no issue, curfew unheard of
In Cologne festivities (Karneval, football team / FC shipped something) regularly block out whole streets and the street trains that go through, never an issue either

Sagan!

Of course the one stage I miss he wins.

Was just looking ahead, and stage 5 ends on a 20% grade.

Cav just got nailed by the Slovakian thug. Dq incoming imo.

uhhh wat

lol on all counts

"slovakian thug"

Lol Sagan and Demare should be removed from that stage

Sagan possibly deserve a tour DQ

I guess they will move Sagan a few places back. Shoud be the same with Greipel and demare. Greipels mistake started a domino effect, everyone has to move half a meter to the right, so in the end no space left for cav.
'The elbow of Sagan came after initial contact & didnt touch cav but the damage was down' to use Robbie McEwens words.

-80 points for Sagan

Sagan DQed