Tour so far....opinions.
What do we think?
It's not been hugely interesting yet IMO, but then opening weeks rarely are. The route is interesting but in a way not dissimilar to what they've done in the Giro for quite a while.
I know i sound miserable (again)
Valverde has to fight back so that should make for some interesting stages but it's looking like all Evans has to do is sit there.
It's not been hugely interesting yet IMO, but then opening weeks rarely are. The route is interesting but in a way not dissimilar to what they've done in the Giro for quite a while.
I know i sound miserable (again)
Valverde has to fight back so that should make for some interesting stages but it's looking like all Evans has to do is sit there.
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
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Comments
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I think it's been interesting. Prudhomme's take on the race makes it more interesting already, we're only in the first week but we've seen plenty of action. Compare this to the first week of previous years, where you had a prologue and then 5 days of flat stages, this time we've had summit finishes, time trials and more, it's been good, the yellow jersey has changed shoulders a lot. We haven't even got to the mountains yet.
Today looks fun for TV viewers and ducks only, there's a serious weather alert in the region where the stage is.0 -
I don't think I've ever known a Tour where it's so obvious who the top five will be, i.e. Evans, Valverde, Sastre, Kirchen and Menchov, so early on. The finishing order will probably be similar to that too.
I just hope someone goes for a shit or bust attempt to win the race in the Pyrenees or Alps (more likely the latter).0 -
Its been pretty mellow the last week. I reckon when it hits the mountains it will be a bit more exiting. I just hope the racing doesn't get ruined by some doping scandal. Would also be nice to see some out and out contests and battles going on like Rass and Contador last year.
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I wasn't looking forward to the race that much, but have been pleasantly surprised by how much I have enjoyed it.
There is nothing more relaxing that watching cycling on tv is there? so I have been napping and catching up on the action. How cool is that?0 -
I think it’s been quite good really, with some quite obvious potential for the next two weeks. We have no idea who will win the polka dot jersey, none at all. We have no idea who will win the green jersey, and it might not even be a sprinter. We have no idea who the best young rider will be, although there seem to be four possibilities. The yellow jersey has hanged bodies four times and the record is eight. Nearly everyone thinks Evans will wear it so that is five. As far as someone “knowing” who the to five are, I tend to agree, although the top three is not at all clear. I go for Andy, Alex and Cadel, but who knows? For plausible possibilities of riders breaking into AndyP’s “certain” top five, how about Kirchen, Lovkvist, Devolder, Sanchez, Schleck, Kreuziger, Nibali or even Zubeldia who seems to do nothing and then suddenly, top ten. So for me there has been plenty of interest, including the confirmation of Cavendish and Ricco as genuine winners. But me, I have always found some interest in the week of sprinting as well. This year it is different, and I am quite happy with it.0
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I think its been better than normal first weeks where we have to sit through stages of nothing just for the sprinters. i think the route has been well thought out and it must be great for tv viewing figures that the top men have had to show their faces so early. I do wonder if some of them can keep up the pace. Kirchen has been everywhere, even leading out the train on some stages. Can he hold that pace. Can some of the youngsters come through as TV says above. I think we are set for some mighty battles in the mountains which will be great and really think some of the favoruites are gonna crack. Anyone see how Cunego couldn;t take the pace on the final climb to the finish yesterday?0
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Im enjoying it and think the absence of bonus seconds is a good thing.I just hope someone shows the courage to attack Evans in the mountains.Its nice to see so many young riders doing well and who could win the tour in the near future like Kreuziger,Andy Schleck and possibly Ricco.
Sastre is going quite well in a quiet way maybe he will attack Evans,hope someone does.As its like watching Alain Prost follow Senna :shock:0 -
I think it's been good so far and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We've had -
Great French endeavour deservedly rewarded.
Tactical guile by long breakaways.
Millar and his nearly TT win.
Cav's stage win.
Still a number of candidates for every classification with small time gaps in the GC.
Evans looks good but, like all the others, the gaps are so small that " one bad day" could make the difference.
Good roadside support from the fans.
A new atmosphere of 'Cleanness' (OK, I know that could disappear overnight).
Unprecedented TV and Web coverage.
My only disappointment is that my Satellite reception is being affected by a nearby tree during the squally weather I've been avoiding by watching the Tour !!!0 -
Oh Yes, and the Yellow Jersey was lost by a dramatic fall in the final few hundred metres yesterday too !!0
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Think it has been fascinating!
If Cadel hasn't been cracked yet, then his team certainly looks fragile and there's any number of potential challengers that could take advantage on a bigger stage - roll-on the mountains!0 -
It's been a tougher than normal week, what with the weather and the rolling Breton landscape.
I'm looking forward to more excuses from Robbie.0 -
I'm not sure, although at the moment it looks like Cadel might wheelsuck his way to no 2 before the final TT, and then slink into yellow. I think we've got to remember that it's only the first week.
I think we should take the results yestarday with a pinch of salt. It wasn't really a proper mountain stage, and we haven't got one of those for a while yet. Cunego found the initial acceleration difficult, but we don't know how he will go on a long climb.
What have we learnt for the future, well, if Ricco wants to win a grand tour, TTs must be banned!! Cav is most definitely a world class sprinter and Giant are making it their mission to build the ugliest bikes in the world!You live and learn. At any rate, you live0 -
iainf72 wrote:What do we think?
It's not been hugely interesting yet IMO, but then opening weeks rarely are. The route is interesting but in a way not dissimilar to what they've done in the Giro for quite a while.
I know i sound miserable (again)
Valverde has to fight back so that should make for some interesting stages but it's looking like all Evans has to do is sit there.
Jeez Iain, have you been skipping your prozac again?0 -
andrewgturnbull wrote:
Jeez Iain, have you been skipping your prozac again?
Perhaps prozac will make it interesting :shock:
You just want someone in a Ridley to win, admit it.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
For so many years the Tour has just been full of sprint stages, with a handful of mountain stages. Finally there is an interesting route, giving more riders a chance to do something. We've seen that already in this first week. It has certainly made the race more interesting. The only stage I've not bothered with is the one Cav won. OK, I watched the last few hundred metres, but that was it.
My only real disappointment this year is that the mountain stages haven't been timed to happen on the weekend, so I will have to follow them on my PC at work.0 -
claudb wrote:I think it's been good so far and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We've had -
Great French endeavour deservedly rewarded.
Cav's stage win.
Certainly plenty of the former, and glad to see Sylvain Chavanel has seen some of his efforts bear fruit by getting the Mountains jersey for the time being. Would also be nice to see Moncoutie bag at least a stage win at some point - didn't I hear somewhere that he's retiring at the end of this season?
The latter was excellent news for us Brits, but returning to the topic of French endeavour, I felt really, really sorry for poor old Vogondy being pipped for the lone win in the finishing straight!
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
claudb wrote:Oh Yes, and the Yellow Jersey was lost by a dramatic fall in the final few hundred metres yesterday too !!
Absolutely - controversy of a different flavour to the one we've been used to in a good many recent tours. Leader being taken out of contention by a collision with a challenger for the overall honours? Sounds like something you'd associate more with F1 (insert Schumacher puns here
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David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
Cmon, remember when it was a prologue, loads of flat stages then Lance asserting himself in the 1st TT then the routine of the mountains and hopes fading for Ullrich who had focussed on the Tour this year but..... etc
Remember the Indurain years.
OK, it's not been a stonker so far, but it's been very enjoyable and the main thing for me was that, after yet another cull of big names both from last year and with the loss of Astana, there's still plenty of good blood (no pun intended) left over to cheer for.
There're some good riders in it, and many lie in contention so hopefully one of them will stop Evans. Also Kirchen I wouldn't have expected to be looking this good.
This race had been tipped as one that suits climbers so I was expecting some nightmare mountain stages, but from the look of the route and profile it doesn't seem so. It's just that the lesser importance of the TTs means the mountains are more significant, rather than there being a few very tough mountain stages.0 -
Ive enjoyed it overall - the finishes have been quite exciting...... most exciting in ages!!!
Cadel is perfectly placed and riding a smart race so far - things are looking great
I do have a couple of issues - I didnt like the fact that we didnt have a prolouge and who was the smart arse who thought having the length of the TT was a good idea!!!!!!! Hated that!0 -
If you can get the window the right size on your pc you can watch the commentary, route profile and gap analysis on www.letour.fr0
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Keep the faith - the first real climb of the Tour often throws a few surprises after racing on the flat for a week. Besides, Cunego has the knack of riding into form over 3 weeks where others are heading down the overall.FCE2007 wrote:Moomaloid wrote:... Anyone see how Cunego couldn;t take the pace on the final climb to the finish yesterday?
Indeed. My 16/1 doesn't look good value now
I'm missing the Team TT - such a spectacle and always livens up the overall, even though they need to keep it short otherwise they have to fiddle the figures like they did a couple of years back.
Overall though, it's been a reasonable start, gently warming up to some proper fireworks next week (I hope).0 -
iainf72 wrote:andrewgturnbull wrote:
Jeez Iain, have you been skipping your prozac again?
Perhaps prozac will make it interesting :shock:
You just want someone in a Ridley to win, admit it.
Hi there.
My Cervelo wins more than my Ridley...
Cheers, Andy0 -
sportzchick wrote:Ive enjoyed it overall - the finishes have been quite exciting...... most exciting in ages!!!
Cadel is perfectly placed and riding a smart race so far - things are looking great
I do have a couple of issues - I didnt like the fact that we didnt have a prolouge and who was the smart ars* who thought having the length of the TT was a good idea!!!!!!! Hated that!
Hi there.
Cadel leads all the real contenders by a minute already (unless Kirchen can suprise me).
If the time trial had been longer then he'd just be in the lead by a bigger margin - more interesting this way!
Cheers, Andy0 -
cthompso wrote:Think it has been fascinating!
If Cadel hasn't been cracked yet, then his team certainly looks fragile and there's any number of potential challengers that could take advantage on a bigger stage - roll-on the mountains!
Thats the point, there's so many stages this year where you can lose the Tour, like today for example. There's so many stages that need a good team to get you through safely, and I don;t think Evans has that (safe for Popovych)0 -
Lotto team was weaker last year and still Cadel was only 23 seconds behind the winner
you guys dont know him well enough do you?0 -
No, we know his capabilities very well. We just don't like him enough.0
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well thats your loss0
