I do not envy any of the team's directors tomorrow. They will have one million things coming at them every moment. What sort of plan do you go in to tomorrow with? The safe plan would be just do no lose time to the other GC rivals, but how do you even plan to do that? You can not just say stick by Contador or Froome. As trite as it is to say, there will be a lot to gain with risk, but also a lot to lose. Not to mention watching and reacting to what the other teams do. It is also a very different race than Roubaix, even for those going for the win, since many teams and very strong riders are looking at GC instead.

I think it will be interesting to see who goes into the break tomorrow. If GC teams put some people in the break, that could either result in calm race or total chaos.

Absolutely. This is their chance to hurt Froome. This stage is a potential gift for Contador who has shown that he can ride cobbles (he just typically doesn't want to). After tomorrow he may be a few minutes out of yellow, but as long as Nibali and Froome are further behind he should be happy.

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Remember - It's important to be comfortable in your own skin... because it turns out society frowns on wearing other people's

Froome out with broken collarbone tomorrow. Boom!

The thing is that Contador may not feel the need to put much time into Froome, so should he make a big risk and attack? He probably has the most to lose right now. Not to mention that Saxo will probably be the #1 team being watched by GC teams, so will be under a microscope and any attack will probably be marked. Unless alot of other GC team's moves have failed, then I think Saxo would strike.

Really or are you just kidding around? I just read on the BBC that he's OK and going to race.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...t/0/cycling/28219348

A little banged up but he spent 20 minutes staring into a 'healing' stem and everything is healed up.

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Remember - It's important to be comfortable in your own skin... because it turns out society frowns on wearing other people's

Yes, an attack by Saxo would be marked. But, given the inevitable crashes and punctures, it's better to be at the pointy end. Contador has shown that he is fearless, sometimes bordering on reckless. It would be out of character for him to just play defense tomorrow.

Also factor in the fact that they don't have Boasson Hagen to help steer Froome through the cobbles......not many have talked about it, but his presence will be sorely missed tomorrow, I think.

Wiggo must be chuckling to himself tonight....cold comfort, though, sitting at home.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

I think a bigger group will come together than expected (or I'm just playing devils advocate). I think Degenkolb or Kristoff for the win!

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Carson Christen
Sport Scientist / Coach
Torden Multisport

Froome tweeted @ 14:09hr today, https://twitter.com/...s/486618116156588033
Sounds like he's riding

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res, non verba

For sure, Eddy Boss would have been a good hand for tomorrow and all these chaotic stages. And of course, Wiggo too.

No, I'm saying he's going to hit the deck on the cobbles tomorrow. Bye bye Froome.

Sagan in yellow. This is not P-R... Cancellara will not get away, stage is only 155km.

FC stirring the pot- I like it https://twitter.com/...s/486617366504411137

@thejessemoore is Talansky's coach and has thrown a few nuggets from what his power files depict

That is awesome....definitely some guys not sleeping well tonight!!!

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

Did a team mechanic get fired tonight? Check closely in the secondary crash with Froome. The guy's handlebars look to have come off before he swerves right into the Cofidis guys. Then when the bike is on the ground it is clear it has no front wheel or bars on it. Also no wheel when it is carried off the road. That happened pre-crash.

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

I'm going with Boom tomorrow, simply because Sherwen will mention that he is a former CX world champion and suited for wet cobbles at least 37 times.

I don't see him on the podium, but I do see him punishing people early on and maybe in a break group on behalf of Terpstra et al. OPQ is good at this kind of parcourse.

And! Garmin has cards to play today.

2 sections of pavé removed due to the weather. Shame really.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/...o-weather-conditions

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´Get the most aero and light bike you can get. With the aero advantage you can be saving minutes and with the weight advantage you can be saving seconds. In a race against the clock both matter.´

BMANX

Bernie Eisel is pretty well accustomed to protecting leaders. And Geraint Thomas has a good pedigree on cobbles - top 10 finishes at both Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders this year. So they've got reasonable coverage in that department, and Froome himself is a decent bike handler and tough enough to cope with the cobbles, though obviously he's going to be hurting after that fall.

I really don't think they'll be missing Wiggo at all - much better to get all the media attention about the Wiggins-Froome relationship out the way a month ago than to have it going on during the race. I don't know how much of an asset Wiggo would be today - he had a decent Paris-Roubaix result this year, but struggled badly in the Giro last year when it got wet. That was descending not cobbles, but he had several falls which I don't think were anybody's fault but his and looked to have no confidence on the wet roads at all.

Any team would miss a rider of Eddy's all-round qualities, but I think the scenario they would miss him most is the one in which Froome crashes out and they're left trying to salvage something from the Tour. I really can't see Porte having the consistency to do much better than a top 10 finish, and they don't have any obvious stage winners in the team unless somebody like Thomas gets lucky and gets in a break.

Sep can race for the win today but he'll kind of have to do it on his own, as guys like Wynants need to stay with Mollema.

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Don't forget to attack!

Well I may be biased but I would put my money on Lars Boom, Maarten Wynants, and the rest of Belkin riding for Mollema. Half of Team Belkin in the Tour is also their squad for Paris - Roubaix.

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Don't forget to attack!

Unfortunately, I'm afraid you will be right. I'm also thinking about Degenkolb as maybe THE biggest favorite today.

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Don't forget to attack!

I don't think Boom will get a chance to race for himself, expect he may need to stay with Ten Dam tomorrow.

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Don't forget to attack!

Boonen is home, scratching at the door to be let out.

Froome out. Crazy