*Spoliers* Tour de France talk *Spoilers*

DonDaddyD

Hamilton, is a born winner who is frustrated with his current situation. Some of it is his fault, a lot of it is the fault and poor judgement of those around him and in someways that is even more frustrating. Personally given his situation its expected for him to be a little out of character (compared to the charming chap from last season).

Lastly, in this instance Hamilton is one of the few workmen who can blame his tools. The car is crap.

biondino

I think Hammy was charming for about half the 2007 season. Moving to Switzerland didn't help; also negatives were not joining the driver's association, and the fact that many of the other drivers seemed to have issues with his personality or his driving (I admit there could be a fair degree of sour grapes in that). And he's a choker, and while he's obviously a brilliant driver he makes rookie mistakes at bad times.

But more than anything, the faux-humility combined with the inevitable and not-entirely-his-fault fawning of the British press just really turned me against him. Just occasionally it's be nice to have some aspect of F1 that isn't judged on how it affects, or is affected by, Lewis sodding Hamilton*

*i.e. this season. It's great.

il_principe

I prefer Button anyway, he doesn't act/speak like a PR produced automaton. I'm enjoying the GP this year it's nice to see the "small" teams performing for a change.

cjcp

A clubmate rode with some pros yesterday during the rest day. Story here: http://www.kingstonwheelers.co.uk/news.shtml

attica

cjcp wrote:

A clubmate rode with some pros yesterday during the rest day. Story here: http://www.kingstonwheelers.co.uk/news.shtml

Lucky bleeder.

BTW, who's keeping odd hours now then?

cjcp

Hmm, yeah, needed to be up early to do some work. It's all very peaceful at that time of the day. Switch on Classic FM and away you go.

DonDaddyD

Yesterday a guy dressed complete in Columbia HTC kit and a Scott bike, shot past me just after Colliers Wood tube heading towards South Wimbledon. This was around 6pm.

He was so fast that even though he looked at me, my brain didn't have time to register everything... The guy was rapid.

biondino

cjcp wrote:

Hmm, yeah, needed to be up early to do some work. It's all very peaceful at that time of the day. Switch on Classic FM and away you go.

Dude, Radio 3. The ads on Classic take up half the airtime and don't have get one out of one's reverie! I wake up to Radio 3 these days. It's lovely.

cjcp

biondino wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Hmm, yeah, needed to be up early to do some work. It's all very peaceful at that time of the day. Switch on Classic FM and away you go.

Dude, Radio 3. The ads on Classic take up half the airtime and don't have get one out of one's reverie! I wake up to Radio 3 these days. It's lovely.

I know what you mean: there's an ad on now, but Radio 3 got a bit evensongy at times when I used to listen to it. Also had problems for a while with the internet streaming thingy system, but will check it out again.

Jamey

Stage 10 underway. I notice there are no radios allowed for today's stage. At least that's what it says on the official website.

Armstrong's twitter says he reckons a Brit will win today and I'd go along with that.

Eau Rouge

Il Principe wrote:

I prefer Button anyway, he doesn't act/speak like a PR produced automaton. I'm enjoying the GP this year it's nice to see the "small" teams performing for a change.

Whadyamean? This year is a resumption of the same Adrian Newey vs Ross Brawn battle that has dominated F1 for the last 18 years or so, save the last few seasons when they were switching teams.

Jamey

Lol:

1402: Oops. A bit of a smash in the peloton, caused by the TV helicopter getting too close and blowing riders about - or at least that's what I'm told. That's something that doesn't affect me on my commute, thankfully. Still, everyone's back on their bikes - I'll bring you more on that, and who was affected, when I find out.

(Sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh but I can't help it)

attica

Ignatiev must be really pleased with his days work so far, what a git.

Coriander

who did they just spot talking into a radio? I missed the name.

risi

Attica wrote:

Location: Clevedonia

Clevedonia? Have you "emigrated"? Couldn't take the smell of decomposing scalps creeping over from Wrington, eh?

I won't be busting a gut* into the headwind to get home for the highlights at this rate!


* I possibly have more than 1

Jamey

Yessss!!!!!

Cav wins Stage 10.

cjcp

HE DA MAN!! 8)

fungus_the_muffin_man

great last 20k today. This is the first full stage I've had chance to watch. Quite funny some of the riders having to stop for a railroad crossing LOL!

fungus_the_muffin_man

when I grow up I wanna be just like the Cav Man

attica

risi wrote:

Attica wrote:

Location: Clevedonia

Clevedonia? Have you "emigrated"? Couldn't take the smell of decomposing scalps creeping over from Wrington, eh?

I won't be busting a gut* into the headwind to get home for the highlights at this rate!


* I possibly have more than 1

Enforced emigration sadly
Although it is a better distance to warm up for they there hills!

You gonna do something about that stench? I pickle mine, yum.

risi

Attica wrote:

You gonna do something about that stench? I pickle mine, yum.

Nah, it covers the smell of cow poo...

Those hills, eh? Straight out the front door & up to the airport for me & I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

iain_j

This year's Tour is back to front. I only watch it for the mountain stages, where the GC action hots up, all in between is boring.

This year's first week had me riveted. First day in the Pyrenees was good, Contador's attack and Wiggo keeping up, but I lost interest the next few days. Back on the flat roads today - edge of my seat the last few km's! Will-they-won't-they catch the breakaway. I can see the advantage of no radios, it had less feel of a "programmed" race. And Cav's win was awesome, the lad is unbeatable :twisted:

greg66_tri_v2.0

So, Cav's spanking the field senseless in the sprints. He must be pretty awesome, right?

Well, maybe. Probably.

The thing is, no other team is contesting the sprints. Today was a perfect example. THR pushed the pace into town. They hit the 1km banner, and it's Hincapie from Renshaw from Cav from Husvold.

Hincapie peels off, Renshaw hits the afterburners, and at 250-200 to go, lets Cav loose. Pow. End of the game. Husvold gets to follow Cav home.

So who's Hushvold's lead out man? Cav. Trouble is, he can't get past Cav. Hushvold's fighting a one man battle against a team. He's getting *no* support from CTT.

Now, on present form, barring a breakaway that doesn't get chased down, Cav + his organised team has every sprint from here to Paris sewn up. There's no contest.

When are the other teams going to start fighting back? No one's saying it would be easy to do so, admittedly, but not trying seems to be a pretty limited tactic.

redddraggon

So this is where the n00bs discuss the TdF?

greg66_tri_v2.0

Oh, and I reckon Nocentini will stay in yellow until the ITT on Sunday. No point in stripping him of it and then having to defend.

And if Leipheimer or Wiggins are within 15s of the podium in Paris, they're going to be mightily p!ssed off...

greg66_tri_v2.0

redddraggon wrote:

So this is where the n00bs discuss the TdF?

Oi you! Move along. Nothing to see here.

[Although, I must admit, the chat here seems generally more insightful than the Road Forum chat on the TdF]

attica

Greg66 wrote:

So, Cav's spanking the field senseless in the sprints. He must be pretty awesome, right?

Well, maybe. Probably.

The thing is, no other team is contesting the sprints. Today was a perfect example. THR pushed the pace into town. They hit the 1km banner, and it's Hincapie from Renshaw from Cav from Husvold.

Hincapie peels off, Renshaw hits the afterburners, and at 250-200 to go, lets Cav loose. Pow. End of the game. Husvold gets to follow Cav home.

So who's Hushvold's lead out man? Cav. Trouble is, he can't get past Cav. Hushvold's fighting a one man battle against a team. He's getting *no* support from CTT.

Now, on present form, barring a breakaway that doesn't get chased down, Cav + his organised team has every sprint from here to Paris sewn up. There's no contest.

When are the other teams going to start fighting back? No one's saying it would be easy to do so, admittedly, but not trying seems to be a pretty limited tactic.

I quite agree Greg, but what I don't understand (and today was a bad example as it was quite twisty in the last few km) is why another team doesn't set up a parallel lead out?
Itcan't be that THR have all of the fastest leadout men too? Surely they're beatable. (not that I want to see them beaten mind you, I'm rather enjoying a bit of British success.

cjcp

Good point re no help from the other teams. Where did Quickstep disappear to on the run in? I know Boonen's fallen, but are they interested in helping him? Ciolek is another one who hasn't featured as much as I thought he might. Thing is though, Cavendish was actually moving away from Hushovd on the run in. Bl00dy incredible.

Yeah, I'd be mifffed if I was on the wrong side of that 15 sec gap.

greg66_tri_v2.0

My read of it is that either you have a pocket rocket (like Robbie McEwan a couple of years back) who can come from anywhere, or in order to control the last km, you have to boss the last 10km (or so). No other team's been prepared to do that; whether it's lack of strength in depth, or lack of organisation, or simply resignation to the fact that THR is so strong, I've no idea.

Over on the Cervelo forum there's a bit of chat about how Hushvold's lead out men are suffering from a lack of form. Who knows? Boonen's team is rarely anywhere to be seen at the sharp end either.

I'm not knocking the sight of a Brit clean up the sprints either (although Hushvold has shown how a crafty rider can pick up green and hold it), but it would be nice to see a bit more excitement in it.

attica

Cav seriously had the measure of him, it was fantastic to watch