Author Topic: Le Tour de France (Read 8298 times)

MrsCablebandit · « **on:** July 07, 2014, 07:09:31 PM »

Anyone else into it?!?

I follow Chris Froome (VaVaFroome! Hoping for the repeat!), Peter Sagan, Jens Voight, and Simon Gerrans.

On a moto-related note, have you seen the cameramen riding pillion who stand and film the race? Insanely awesome!!! I also like the white C14s that they have across the pond.

Cablebandit · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:14:39 PM »

Time to find a painter.

Flyer · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:18:03 PM »

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NIBALI!!!
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mxvet57 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:20:34 PM »

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:36:11 PM »

Did Lance win?

mxvet57 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:44:45 PM »

If he's still using steroids.

JReazor · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2014, 08:44:52 PM »

Quote from: Vulcanbill on July 07, 2014, 07:36:11 PM

Did Lance win?

Who? Never heard of him.

Cookie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2014, 09:07:35 PM »

Quote from: JReazor on July 07, 2014, 08:44:52 PM

Quote from: Vulcanbill on July 07, 2014, 07:36:11 PM
Did Lance win?

Who? Never heard of him.

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doc4216 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2014, 10:20:54 PM »

Lance didn't win. Just in case you were looking for him.

JReazor · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2014, 10:21:16 PM »

Quote from: Cookie on July 07, 2014, 09:07:35 PM

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Lancelot Link? That was quality television right there.

JReazor · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2014, 10:30:33 PM »

Talansky or van Garderen are a couple strong American riders with an outside chance. I'd love to see one of them take it but if I had to bet money, I'd have a hard time betting against Contador this year.

fourstring · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2014, 07:23:25 AM »

I've cheered for Team Cannondale since the days of Mario Cippolini, but I'm not holding out a lot of hope for them this year. Kind of the lovable losers of the Tour, but with more crashes.

JReazor · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2014, 12:27:21 PM »

Quote from: fourstring on July 08, 2014, 07:23:25 AM

I've cheered for Team Cannondale since the days of Mario Cippolini, but I'm not holding out a lot of hope for them this year. Kind of the lovable losers of the Tour, but with more crashes.

Cannondale has both the green and white jerseys for now. Sagan will probably give up the green before too long but he might hold on to white.

motormike · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2014, 12:38:27 PM »

I used to enjoy it quite a bit but I'm so tired of all the drug using, blood doping crap and lies. The whole sport is dirty and I'm not confinced they've fixed it yet.

If I'm around a TV, I'll watch the daily late-night rebroadcast.

JReazor · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2014, 12:43:04 PM »

Quote from: motormike on July 08, 2014, 12:38:27 PM

I used to enjoy it quite a bit but I'm so tired of all the drug using, blood doping crap and lies. The whole sport is dirty and I'm not confinced they've fixed it yet.

If I'm around a TV, I'll watch the daily late-night rebroadcast.

I've felt the same way the past few years. This is my first year back watching international cycling in general, not just the TdF, since 2010 (I think). For me, it's finally fun again.

Papa Lazarou · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2014, 01:05:23 PM »

It has to be said.

Feckin cyclists.

Cablebandit · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2014, 02:45:11 PM »

All sports are fixed and full of drug users. It's just entertainment.

Flyer · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2014, 08:21:00 PM »

Very entertaining, notwithstanding...

http://youtu.be/TrCT_-6SGNc

MrsCablebandit · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2014, 07:23:24 AM »

Yeah, baby! First day of cobbled sections...there will be nine sections altogether today! Ought to be fun watching the prime time coverage tonight.

Froome's spill early yesterday gave me cause for pause...did anyone see how rashed-up his hip was?

But I think he'll be just fine. Kudos to Kittel with the hat trick in just four stages.

MrsCablebandit · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2014, 09:31:11 AM »

Quote from: MrsCablebandit on July 09, 2014, 07:23:24 AM

Froome's spill early yesterday gave me cause for pause...did anyone see how rashed-up his hip was? But I think he'll be just fine.

Damn it. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/09/chris-froome-out-of-tour-de-france-team-sky

Flyer · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2014, 02:23:05 PM »

Too bad for Froome, but there are SO many variables in these races; it must give the bookies a bellyache...

MY man, OTOH, played it perfectly.

NIBALI!!
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Acadian Rider · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2014, 02:39:22 PM »

This is the fourth year that Sue and I watch and follow "Le Tour". Her favourite is Peter Sagan but I don't have one.

Too bad for Froome. I think there will now be a question of whether or not the eventual winner of this year's tour would have won if Froome was still there.

Papa Lazarou · « **Reply #22 on:** July 13, 2014, 03:16:46 PM »

Top tip: pretend to be a professional cyclist by lying the road, clasping one leg and groaning.

miles · « **Reply #23 on:** July 13, 2014, 03:18:59 PM »

Quote from: Papa Lazarou on July 13, 2014, 03:16:46 PM

Top tip: pretend to be a professional cyclist by lying the road, clasping one leg and groaning.

You're thinking of footballers.

Papa Lazarou · « **Reply #24 on:** July 13, 2014, 03:31:19 PM »

Quote from: miles on July 13, 2014, 03:18:59 PM

Quote from: Papa Lazarou on July 13, 2014, 03:16:46 PM
Top tip: pretend to be a professional cyclist by lying the road, clasping one leg and groaning.

You're thinking of footballers.

Actually, I was thinking of British cyclists.

miles · « **Reply #25 on:** July 13, 2014, 03:36:33 PM »

Well, what did you expect? Sky left Wiggins, a class act, at home in favor of Froome, who's proven to be fragile.

JReazor · « **Reply #26 on:** July 13, 2014, 06:03:58 PM »

Quote from: Acadian Rider on July 13, 2014, 02:39:22 PM

This is the fourth year that Sue and I watch and follow "Le Tour". Her favourite is Peter Sagan but I don't have one.

Too bad for Froome. I think there will now be a question of whether or not the eventual winner of this year's tour would have won if Froome was still there.

I was sorry to see Froome go but there should be no question as to whether he would have won if he was still there. Survival is part of winning any endurance event. He didn't.

The bigger question for me is what would have happened if Sky brought Wiggins?

Mac · « **Reply #27 on:** July 13, 2014, 06:26:20 PM »

Quote from: Papa Lazarou on July 13, 2014, 03:16:46 PM

Top tip: pretend to be a professional cyclist by lying the road, clasping one leg and groaning.


Family Guy Peter is Hurt

miles · « **Reply #28 on:** July 13, 2014, 07:55:49 PM »

Quote from: JReazor on July 13, 2014, 06:03:58 PM

The bigger question for me is what would have happened if Sky brought Wiggins?

Looking at this year's route,Wiggins should have been the guy at Sky. With the early stages looking more like spring classics than the traditional Tour flat warm-ups, (including a stage of cobbles) Froome was always in doubt. The guy's just not that great a bike handler, and he's fragile- neither of which problem applies to Wiggins.

That said, Wiggins is slightly off the climbing pace he used to have, so if it came down to a fight in the big hills, Nibali would have it over him, but Froome might have been able to equal the Italian.

The other factor is that Froome might be the team's mainstay for a few more years, but Wiggins is on the wrong side of the age slope these days.

MrsCablebandit · « **Reply #29 on:** July 14, 2014, 07:41:28 AM »

Yesterday was a great stage - a tale of two Tonys! Tony Martin was an absolute monster yesterday. Breakaways rarely pay off, but his sure did...quite impressive! And it was pretty neat to see a Frenchman take the maillot jaune on the eve of Bastille Day...WTG, Tony Gallopin.

Personally, I'm happy to see Richie Porte in the Top 5. If Froomey isn't in it anymore, I'm glad to see his wingman stepping up.

Quote from: miles on July 13, 2014, 07:55:49 PM

The other factor is that Froome might be the team's mainstay for a few more years, but Wiggins is on the wrong side of the age slope these days.

Wiggins' win of the Amgen Tour of California was impressive (from Stage 2 forward) but the commentators were saying at that point that his climbing was off and they were questioning whether he would be in the mix if he did ride in Le Tour (which obviously he's not). I don't think Team Sky made the wrong call - Froome was (and will continue to be) the better bet over Wiggins.

Flyer · « **Reply #30 on:** July 14, 2014, 09:02:45 AM »

...and Contador is kaput!
More pre-race favourites falling...

MrsCablebandit · « **Reply #31 on:** July 14, 2014, 09:18:28 AM »

Quote from: Flyer on July 14, 2014, 09:02:45 AM

...and Contador is kaput!
More pre-race favourites falling...

I just saw that on Twitter. This was me...

kneescrubber · « **Reply #32 on:** July 14, 2014, 09:46:37 AM »

Wow! Just when the real climbs were about to begin.

Flyer · « **Reply #33 on:** July 14, 2014, 01:17:42 PM »

Quote from: kneescrubber on July 14, 2014, 09:46:37 AM

Wow! Just when the real climbs were about to begin.

The real climb is hoisting your glutes onto that leather wedge every morning for three weeks...

Contador crashed, yet continued to climb, with a fractured right tibia until pain forced him to abandon.
NO commonality with soccer whatsoever...

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #34 on:** July 18, 2014, 07:01:51 AM »

So, what does Peter Sagan has to do to win a stage? Second again yesterday.

Flyer · « **Reply #35 on:** July 18, 2014, 05:11:28 PM »

His consistency is remarkable though, and he has a long career ahead of him (he's 24).
Nibali looks so strong today, just torqueing away from everybody on the last climb, but the next four on GC are within 4:00.
The mountains await..

Flyer · « **Reply #36 on:** July 22, 2014, 11:18:20 AM »

BIG shake-up on General Classification today!!
Outstanding ride by Michael Rogers.

Quote from: CyclingNews

Here is the GC.

1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 73:05:19
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:04:37
3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:05:06
4 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:08
5 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:40
6 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:09:25
7 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team NetApp - Endura 0:09:32
8 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:11:12
9 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:11:28
10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:11:33

Nobody can stay with Nibali when he climbs away, but Valverde still believes anything can happen on the Pla d'Adet.

JReazor · « **Reply #37 on:** July 22, 2014, 11:44:24 AM »

As sad as this is, watching Nibali ride this year reminds me of Contador in 2010, Landis in 06 and Armstrong. I hope it doesn't play out that was but he looks unrealistically stronger than everybody else.

Flyer · « **Reply #38 on:** July 23, 2014, 05:15:20 AM »

Quote from: JReazor on July 22, 2014, 11:44:24 AM

I hope it doesn't play out that was but he looks unrealistically stronger than everybody else.

LA, LA, LA!