Hadn't heard the Spanish were questioning SKY, personally I don't think they have, just sailing a bit close to the acceptable line, which frankly something they all do.
Not a fiddle as in doping, John - but the fact is that Froome only does the Dauphine as prep for the TdF. Contador up at the front, bunch gaining...
Right, Dan Martin just made a break, Contador I think his effort has stalled now, put in too much effort earlier.
Well that was brilliant racing, Roglic wins the stage, but 3 of the GC contenders sprint of the line for the extra bonus seconds, Uran just getting 2nd with Froome 3rd and Bardet 3rd, so Froome extends his lead to 27 seconds from 18 seconds.
I think some of the Sky dislike comes from the fact they are relatively minted compared to the other teams and are able to put out a team for the Tour with at least 3 guys who would be GC contenders in their own rights at other teams, Froome, Landa and G as well as lads like Kwiatkowski who've won nationals and Europeans, bit like how everyone hated Man U in the 90s.
Was a bit worried for Froome yesterday at the lack of a police presence in some of the most heavily crowded areas on the last mountain climb, some of the road side idiots do get a little bit too close for comfort.
It was mainly down to Fabio Aru losing all his domestiques way before Froome did - Aru dropped 30-odd seconds on the stage.
It sure is, if Froome comes through today unscathed then as long as he doesn't have any mishaps he will be more or less the winner, bearing in mind he is the best time trialer of the GC contenders.
Hmmm Astana got 4 in the break a few mins down the road, must surely be part of a longer term strategy for Aru rather than one of them going for the stage win....you'd think.....reckon with the TT to come, anyone who looks to take the yellow today would be looking for around a minute on Froome as a safety mark, anything around the 30s and below mark they'll surely lose
Great finish to the stage, Barguil wins which cements his place as king of the mountains, Bardet just pips Froome for the extra bonus points, Froome finishes 4th. with Uran 5th. Dan Martin take time out of Aru. So Froome still in Yellow and going into the time trial must be favourite to take the yellow again.
Aru again with no team-mates. Great finish by the three GC riders. Still very tight, but what are Bardet and Uran like on a TT?
Bardet nothing special, Uran the last 2 years not so good, but before that was a good time trailer. So a bit of a dark horse no one really knows how he will go, he looks in good form and could spring a surprise. But still must be Froome's to lose.
This is what I was getting at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/jul/21/team-sky-tour-de-france-dave-brailsford