Le Tour de France

[Dobcheev]

The TDF commences today.

This could possibly be the most predictable tour since Lance was in his prime. That slippery gent A. Contador looks an odds-on winner......again. His imminent doping ban does not kick in until after the race finishes & pending an appeal. Resentment will be running high from his rivals & the majority of the peleton as well as the rest of the racing fraternity. Andy Schleck looks again to be his main threat, but as usual he is handicapped by his time-trialing deficientcy in relation to the spaniard.

I can only see another winner if Contador is 'dopey' enough to be caught out again with a failed blood test. I'm not getting my hopes up.

Edit: There is no Prologue this year which is good news for Andy Schleck as Contador put over 40 secs into him on that stage last year. The race organsisers have come to the conclusion that having two personal TTs gives an unfair advantage to riders who are specialists in that discipline.

This race might be closer than I thought.

 

[Mads2506]

Bjarne Riis will win again. Without the guidance of him Andy Schleck can't do **** about Contador.

 

[GodCubed]

Come on Andy Schleck. He closed the gap a **** of a lot on Contador last year, and may even eclipse it this year with his added experience and superior team.

Also, go Hushovd for the green jersey.

 

[Mads2506]

Come on Andy Schleck. He closed the gap a **** of a lot on Contador last year, and may even eclipse it this year with his added experience and superior team.

Also, go Hushovd for the green jersey.

Hushovd isn't really one of the fastest anymore, but he is known for being a sly fox when it comes to snapping up points outside of the final sprints. I am putting my money (figuratively speaking) on Farrar or Cavendish though.

---------- Post added at 05:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:57 PM ----------

That's pretty ******* stupid. Contador lost over a minute because 1 stupid spectator couldn't stay away.

 

[Dobcheev]

Come on Andy Schleck. He closed the gap a **** of a lot on Contador last year, and may even eclipse it this year with his added experience and superior team.

Also, go Hushovd for the green jersey.

Nah, he's had it before by getting a lot of points on the many intermediate sprints, as well as the odd stage win. You've probably noticed that each stage will now feature only one, so there is far more of a chance that the fastest sprinter (Cavendish) will win Le Maillot Vert this year. It's Cav's for the winning - if he wants it.

Cadel Evans put a lot of time into his rivals today thanks to that pile up near the finish, but I reckon he'll fade on the mountain finishes as usual. It's a pity that Andy Schleck was also in Contador's group when it happened.

 

[jmoser]

Yeah the important thing about today's finish was that Contador and Schleck finished in the same group. Cadel Evans was the only real contender in the front group, but like Dobcheev said, unless Evans has gotten a lot stronger in the mountains since last year, he doesn't really stand a chance. When Contador and Schleck start kicking in the mountains stages, a gap of a minute can disappear really quickly.

 

[Dobcheev]

Things are looking good for Andy Schleck & Cadel Evans after todays Team Time Trial. Yesterday's messy finish for the GC contenders & a poor showing by Contador's team today have combined to put him 1 min 40 secs behind arguably his two main rivals in the overall standing. Baring accidents that situation should not alter much before the Tour hits The Pyrenees & the first big climbs. Fascinating.

 

[Jack]

Cavendish takes the green jersey I think having won the sprint just now.

Really want Andy Schleck to win overall - especially now Brad is out of the tour altogether, broke his collarbone. Gutted for him.

 

[Dobcheev]

Cavendish takes the green jersey I think having won the sprint just now.

Really want Andy Schleck to win overall - especially now Brad is out of the tour altogether, broke his collarbone. Gutted for him.

Bad karma. I don't think Wiggins would have troubled the big hitters on the HC climbs but it's a **** shame anyway. Phil Ligget & Paul Sherwen were as gutted as anyone when they saw how bad the injury was.

 

[Mads2506]

If Alexandr Kolobnev fails his B test he will be fined FIVE YEARS OF PAY. He was 69th in the Tour De France and many of the stages till now have actually suited him.

Two words, epic fail.

 

[Mads2506]

Andy Schleck wins the award for biggest crybaby following the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2011.

 

[Nixon]

Can't wait for today's stage. My heart wants Voeckler to hang on, but my head says Contador will take time today, with Evans taking the yellow jersey. Hope the Schlecks try something too.

Also hope Cavendish doesn't get eliminated!

And from what I've heard (only been back to see this week's racing), Wiggins was in good form before he crashed out. Would have been good to see how close to contending he would have been.

 

[White Wolf]

Wiggins was looking very good - quite possibly a podium contender.

I've been very impressed with Bosen Hagen and Hushovd this year, people who were considered sprinters have won through breaks as well as sprints.

My money for today is on Voeckler, as much as I don't want him to, to lose the yellow Jersey, and I agree with Nixon on Evans picking up the Jersey.

 

[Jack]

Wiggins was looking good, hanging around the front of the peloton for most of the races. He would have had Geraint Thomas racing for him in the hills too, so a podium place wouldn't have been unrealistic. Maybe next year, if he competes.

Andy Schleck was outclassed by Cadel Evans in the end. Thought Schleck had done it with that 12km breakaway to take the yellow, but it just shows he's only any good in the hills! Evans ran a great time trial.

Also - did anyone watch the final stage? The HTC Highroad steamtrain was epic at the end. Go on Cav!

 

[Nixon]

Cycled the stage from Modane to Bourg D'Oisans over the Telegraphe, Galibier and Alp d'Huez 3 days ago. No idea how they cycle stages like that for 3 weeks - and that was one of the shorter stages! The climbs are just so long and spectacular, and the Alp d'Huez at the end feels so steep, although that may just be my exhaustion. Massive respect for all the cyclists who haul themselves up at incredible speeds. Pantani's record time seems ridiculous.