TdF final stage **spoiler alert**

[grellboy]

Spoiler alert - having just seen Quintana take 30 seconds off Froome, I was wondering about etiquette on the final stage into Paris. I know traditionally nobody makes an attack in yellow on the last stage, but what if Quintana does the same or better on Alpe dz'Huez tomorrow and gets to within 30 sec0nds or so of Froome: Would etiquette prevent him from going for it on the Champs Elysees, or will he just say £&##&*?! to it and put the hammer down?

 

[uclown2002]

Pointless as he'd never succeed.

 

[fossyant]

It gets locked down for the sprinters to have a go. No chance

 

[grellboy]

But he wouldn't have to beat the sprinters, just beat Froome by enough seconds. Anyway, hypothetically, would this be frowned upon, even if it were eminently do-able?

 

[Smokin Joe]

But he wouldn't have to beat the sprinters, just beat Froome by enough seconds. Anyway, hypothetically, would this be frowned upon, even if it were eminently do-able?

No it would not be frowned upon, the Tour is a race, not a parade.

There is no "Gentleman's agreement" that the last stage should be free of attacks on the overall, just that unless the gap between 1st and 2nd is only a handful of seconds any attempt to gain time on what is basically a high speed flat criterium would be pointless. Not only would the entire team of the defending rider be flat out at the front but three or four sprinters teams would be helping them as the final stage is one all the sprinters would give their eye teeth to win.

 

[grellboy]

Whilst we are on the subject of team mates working helping each other, can someone explain to me how having team mates around him helps (e.g.) Chris Froome in the TdF? How does having Thomas with him help Froome, when he seems to be the strongest team member anyway? (sorry if this is a stupid question)

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Thomas is a human windbreak, allowing Frome to save more energy by slipstreaming and an immediate spare wheel / bike if Froome has a problem.

The team can all be used in conjunction to keep the pace high & deter other leadership contenders making breaks or chase them down and bring the race back together. E. G. If Luke Rowe and co goes full tilt one after the other at the front, they can roll in at their own pace once worn out, while Froome is still fresh and rested for the last km's

Edit: rested being a relative term of course

 

[mr messy]

What if Quintana sprouts wings tomorrow and Froome finally has a bad day, would we be cheering Froome on to go for it as it's only 2 seconds he needs in Paris to win?

 

[gavroche]

Eddie Mercks once said: " The race is not over until you cross the finishing line" . If there was only seconds separating first and second, then that would be the case.

 

[coffeejo]

I have no doubt that if a few seconds were all that separated the top two or three riders in the GC on the final day, they'd fight all the way to Paris, though the real race would still take place on the Champs-Élysées. Would they beat the pure sprinters over the line? I suspect that would depend on how closely the green jersey was being contested.

 

[bpsmith]

Beating the likes of Cav and Greipel over the line does t really matter at this stage. They could be 10 mins away, as it's only relative to the GC boys that matters.