Uran Uran for me today 25/1. He's looked sharp so far and these climbs should suit him, albeit I imagine we'd have to find Froome and/or Quintana to not be in top shape for him to win.

Looks like that should seal it for Froome. Great win for Pinot

Well, the major failure came, but not from Froome, who was yo-yoing throughout the peloton on both of the last two climbs -- instead the major failure came from Nibali who at one point attacked the select group and was riding in a forward position throughout much of the final two climbs.

Froome actually looked like he was gone when Quintana attacked up the final climb, but he made it back on since the Colombian didn't consolidate the gap he had created, and it appeared that Nibali, who was with him, didn't want to contribute and kill-off Froome for good. Once Froome got back on he came to the front and was doing the lion-share of the work, all of it actually, however he wasn't making any time on Pinot who was riding out of his skin and ultimately for stage glory.

Good ride by Zakarin from KAT, who got 2nd, and was within sight of Pinot for a lot of the way on the final climb which had a variety of sections of steepness.

I thought Quintana might attack Froome at some point in the final few kms, and bring Froome back into the Yellow jersey, but Quintana didn't have at it all, and it will be a big disappointment to MOV as they did most of the work for him, with up to four riders involved in getting him into a such a strong position, and whilst he did have a few digs off the front, they were all, perhaps bar one, in closing down attacks, and he just couldn't motor away the way he has done in the past.

That ride from Froome was against the evidence of his performance in this race, but certainly not the Froome in top form, perhaps more the Froome which HB suggested came down from a good training camp.

Zakarin
Pinot       +6
Froome   +14
Spilak      +19
Quintana + 54
Uran         +61

Cheers,
SP

Well, Froome might have got away with his yo-yo tactics on yesterday's stage, however there is no place to hide in the TT and he wasn't riding well from the start. Spilak beat him for 2nd place and Zakarin beat both of them by holding on to his Yellow jersey, after incredibly having a bike change mid-race and looking to be out of it! It was a quick change and he made up the approx 20 secs he lost!

I think Zakarin signals himself as a formidable rider and deserves closer study.

Cheers,
SP

bb -- the additional issue with Froome's style is the fact that he felt he needed to alter the winning style which saw him as such a highly versatile rider. Whether riding off the pace at the head of the peloton and responding to attacks, or waiting in the line to be launched by his team with a whirling cadence, he clearly could ride in any position. Here, when the pace came on he was off the back, and when the pace came off he moved forward. So, it was in fact quite a one-dimensional style and it worked in the peloton but not in the ITT when against the clock. If Quintana and Nibali were to have joined forces up to Champex-Lac they would have left Froome for dead, and so we must expect that in the TdF he won't be provided, what was then, a get-out-of-jail card. I therefore believe, and I agree with you, that Froome will have to resolve the issue which is causing him to ride in this style for the TdF, if he wants to contend with the principals. That he is likely not riding again competitively until the Tour is a worrying sign, since here, even after a good altitude training camp as reported by HB, he could not get his hat-trick. In conclusion; I believe Froome represents a lay proposition at this point of the TdF ante-post market, but at about 3/1 or thereabouts, certainly not 4/1.

I'd suggest separation since it can take some time to load the page when it's really lengthy with all data. Plus it's a Grand Tour so it deserves some elbow room. Whatever is most convenient for you though, MC.