I don't understand the time classification.

How does anyone ever end up beating the leader? If the leader stays up front and everyone ends up getting the same time if they are in the same group, how do they gain on him?

Does it come down to waiting for the time trial?

Also, what is the cutoff for everyone in the group getting the same time? If there is a big peloton group, but the difference between the first rider and the last rider is 30s, do they literally all get the same time because they were all one big pack of riders?

They gain time on him by trying to finish ahead of him in some stages (time trial included).

And yes to your second question.

From what I've seen, all he has to do is keep up with the peloton and finish near the leaders to hold onto it throughout the entire Tour?

It kind of blows my mind that Kittel has won 5 stages, yet he's still over an hour behind the leader? I understand he's leading in the points, but isn't the Tour de France all about the yellow jersey?

The tour is won in the mountains (and time trials). The flat stages are more or less just for sprinters and make no difference to the GC. Kittel has no chance to win the GC he is only going for stage wins. In the mountains there is no peloton in the climbs as no one can hang with the best climbers and you gain time by beating your rivals to the top.

That makes sense. I guess that is what separates the riders.

I was just familiarizing myself with the standings and it appears that the best individual riders are those that consistently place near the top in all stages. That makes it more clear.

So, even though Kittel has won 5 stages, he hasn't done very well in all of the stages, placing 150+ in some, which caused him to lose a ton of individual time.

Looking at Froome, he has been consistently at or near the front with the worst only being 56th.

It's not necessarily about position. 150th on a flat stage will lose you no time. But on a mountain stage you might lose 30 mins. On a time trial a GC contender coming 5th or so overall probably puts a lot of time into his rivals. Perhaps more than a minute for example.

I think a jersey for rider with the best average stage position would be cool on Grand Tours, unless it's just the GC guys getting those best average positions

That would make sprints so messy if there was a second tier of guys sprinting for like 15th place.

That actually sounds awesome.

So, if Sagan was still there would Kittel be winning the green jersey with all these stage wins?

I think Kittel would win. He has still 3 flat stages where he can win. Its everytime 50 points. Always 2nd and winning the same amount of intermediate sprints gives you also 50 points. Does Sagan always finish 2nd?? Clearly no, i guess his EV in flat sprints is like 3-4 place which is 19 points, maybe he can win 2 hilly finishes for 30 points each, but even then he needs to win like 10 intermediate sprints where kittel gets no points.

Also todays stage is my personal favorite, did half the climbs by myself. Just feels really cool to see all this guys riding there. If you ever want to go camping in south france, you should visit col d'ares. Small campsite right on the top (run by a dutch man) great hiking location, obv great for bike riding. Its really a great feeling riding up this (small) mountain and seeing all the names of the pros on the street.

Not sure how optimistic I should be to see fireworks today.

Heard the last few hundred meters are 16%, hopefully the stage win is still up for grabs for tour conteders.

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The final kms today are the same as in 2012. Legendary how froome asks wiggins to ride fast.

Last 500m could take 10 mins to ride.

Wtf they going up a wall.

Is that the stage that, it is said, caused (or maybe added to) friction between Frome and Wiggins - in that Wiggins could have let Frome go near the end?

So now they've waited for Froome and Aru... Or at least not attacked... even though they just seemed to have messed up taking the turn

Unwritten rule # 142145

If your opponent team is killing everybody on climbs but they are disabled with the downhill thing, you can't attack

I like this angry German talking guy. "Why are they waiting for Froome to slaughter them?"

Yes, they said on Eurosport that today's finale is the same as in 2012.

Half an hour ago I thought Cummings didn't have much of a chance, but who knows. The Sky guys aren't gaining much on him.

Edit: meh, never mind. Less than 30 seconds left now.

If sky signed me today, i'd probably be a better climber than quintana tomorrow

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Gordon Bennett!

Did Froome just die or something

They found out with 175m to go that Froome couldn't follow. Never too late i guess gjge

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I'm gonna win the ****ing yellow jersey on Velogames, my team is running like jesus

Wow, missed chance to gain more time surely. But, Frome is still favourite right?

For some reason I thought Aru was older, what a great prospect he is. Sky need to hurry up and sign him!