*Spoliers* Tour de France talk *Spoilers*

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  • el_presidente
    el_presidente Posts: 1,963
    a) Get well soon Jens and chapeau to the motorbike rider who managed to ride around a crashing Jens on his left and miss the precipice on the right with no problems.

    b) the tracking shots of the top part of the descent from the helicopter that was basically below the riders were just stunning, absolutely superb.
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  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    m0scs wrote:
    Just loving tdf. Wiggo is awsome!

    His efforts should getting more coverage on mainstream sports news IMO.

    .

    +1

    It's nice to see Wiggo has stopped medalling and is going to podium instead :wink:

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  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    I don't know if this has been said elsewhere: but I for one am glad that the Green jersey comp is all but done.

    All I see is Mark Cavendish this, Mark bloody Cavendish that... Okay yes, it's a great achievement but I bet Wiggo is biting his tongue at the increased coverage only AFTER MC shot his bolt in that sprint.

    For crying out loud he's on for 2nd place and is being quoted as the only real contender for 1st! - this is stunning and IMHO out-shines the green jersey antics hugely.
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  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Looked at the Voigt video - way simpler explanation. His hands were relaxed on the hoods and his left was simply bounced off. The grab he made for the drops was simply a grab for something. No white lines, just a bump. I heard the commentary last night of riders struggling with cramp in their hands because of the 30 min descent covering the brakes.

    I've had that happen, sort of (I ran over a little block of wood and ended up very wet in a grassy ditch).
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    I don't know if this has been said elsewhere: but I for one am glad that the Green jersey comp is all but done.

    All I see is Mark Cavendish this, Mark bloody Cavendish that... Okay yes, it's a great achievement but I bet Wiggo is biting his tongue at the increased coverage only AFTER MC shot his bolt in that sprint.

    For crying out loud he's on for 2nd place and is being quoted as the only real contender for 1st! - this is stunning and IMHO out-shines the green jersey antics hugely.

    I think the MC coverage is good for Wiggo - keeps the focus and pressure off him a little bit (although the interviews with Wiggo are great :lol: ). I think comparing the green and yellow jersey comps is a bit like comparing apples and pears, but since this is the closest we've had to a Brit on the podium in 20 years, it puts Wiggo's achievements in focus.
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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I heard the commentary last night of riders struggling with cramp in their hands because of the 30 min descent covering the brakes.

    I've had that happen, sort of (I ran over a little block of wood and ended up very wet in a grassy ditch).

    I saw that. The Euskaltel rider. I get that after two minutes. :oops:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • MartinGT
    MartinGT Posts: 475
    Has there been any news on Jens Voigt? I heard he was going for an MRI on his spine.

    Hope hes ok, looked a nasty one
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    There's this, but not searched for anything else this morning:

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voigt-i ... ific-crash
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • MartinGT
    MartinGT Posts: 475
    Ouch
    A motorcycle carrying a photographer narrowly avoided hitting the fallen 37-year-old. "I saw him laying there with closed eyes and blood on his face," the driver said, adding that he had suspected the worst.

    Sounds like he is on the mend
  • risi
    risi Posts: 231
    Ahem. http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 0#15482820

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  • Coriander
    Coriander Posts: 1,326
    Rich158 wrote:
    m0scs wrote:
    Just loving tdf. Wiggo is awsome!

    His efforts should getting more coverage on mainstream sports news IMO.

    .

    +1

    It's nice to see Wiggo has stopped medalling and is going to podium instead :wink:

    Ducks and runs for cover from the real English society

    You obviously enjoyed your skid along the road the other day, searching for another...? :wink:
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I heard the commentary last night of riders struggling with cramp in their hands because of the 30 min descent covering the brakes.

    When Jens crashed he'd only just started the descent, so I doubt his hands were cramping up from braking.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Graeme_S wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I heard the commentary last night of riders struggling with cramp in their hands because of the 30 min descent covering the brakes.

    When Jens crashed he'd only just started the descent, so I doubt his hands were cramping up from braking.
    And?
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    risi wrote:
    Ahem. http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 0#15482820

    grumble, invisible, grumble

    I read it!
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  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Always Tyred wrote:
    Graeme_S wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I heard the commentary last night of riders struggling with cramp in their hands because of the 30 min descent covering the brakes.

    When Jens crashed he'd only just started the descent, so I doubt his hands were cramping up from braking.
    And?

    And I thought that's what you were suggesting caused his accident.... :?
  • Eau Rouge
    Eau Rouge Posts: 1,118
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    IAll I see is Mark Cavendish this, Mark bloody Cavendish that... Okay yes, it's a great achievement but I bet Wiggo is biting his tongue at the increased coverage only AFTER MC shot his bolt in that sprint.

    I think it was more that the Tour hadn't got to the real mountain stages yet that was limiting the Wiggo coverage. Before this last week, Cavendish was the story. Wiggins has never before been a climber, and with all these mountain stages to come, where he was in the GC before them didn't really amount to much. A single day where he reverts back to the Bradley Wiggins he's previously been and he'll lose minutes and could drop out of the top 20. The thing is, even now, nobody actually knows if he can keep this climbing performance up. It's all very new territory for him. It would be silly to go praising him as the greatest British cyclist since Robert Miller if he blows up on the second day in the Alps, which even now could stil happen. With every Col he climbs it becomes less likely, but frankly, nobody knows if he can actually keep this up. We all hope he does.
    Everyone knows what Cavendish and Columbia can do, this Wiggins thing is taking him by surprise, let alone the rest of us.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    DonDaddyD wrote:


    OH and I reckon Contador will win, Cancellara 2nd, Evans 3rd and Armstrong 5th or 7th.... you read it here first. Edit: Wiggins either 4th or 6th (the future isn't clear on Armstong and Wiggins they've got the best story/journey to tell in this tour)

    :)

    I think it was Roche who suggested Spartacus (aka Cancellara) as an outside bet for the GC, but I don't see him hanging on in the mountains.

    Very interesting to see Wiggins do so well in a TT with a hilly first half. He's lost weight this season and has supposedly been climbing well. Wouldn't be surprised if he goes for a breakaway like he did in 2007, possibly on a mountain stage this tie though.

    I'll be surprised if Armstrong makes top 10.

    My quote from July 8th:

    "On Wiggins - couple of earlier comments knocking his climbing; this has improved massively this year as his body weight has dropped a lot. I hear he is going for a top 20 finish. Don't be surprised to see him hanging in the hills."

    Ok, I didn't think he's be going this well, but he looked so incredibly focused at the start that I did have high hopes. If he's still there on the final climb today he could even win the stage - 15km run in, he will be as good a bet as any of the front runners. Awesome stuff.
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  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Ooh, Evans having a sulk in the gruppetto according to the letour depeches...
    ...van den broeck up the road again
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  • Deadeye Duck
    Deadeye Duck Posts: 419
    JonGinge wrote:
    Ooh, Evans having a sulk in the gruppetto according to the letour depeches...
    I think he's just given up hope on this tour. He's not been very lucky, neither has he been at his best. It's a shame really because when he shines, he really shines.
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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    JonGinge wrote:
    Ooh, Evans having a sulk in the gruppetto according to the letour depeches...

    <clears throat and assumes best Geordie accent>

    WOODPECKER! WHAT A REFRESHING CHANGE!


    Risi - we love you really. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,395
    Physically, everything (is) fine. But for professional reasons I can't comment on the problems I've been having.


    Wondered what Cadel Evans meant by this.

    Is he insinuating something?


    Bradley Wiggins (on ITV4 prior to stage 16) suggested that the Tour De France would be won today. Do you think he'll attack, or mark Contador and try to pick up time in the TT?

    EDIT to add: what a great ride by LA yesterday
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  • msw
    msw Posts: 313
    nice little live update gadget on the Telegraph site (OK, not very little but still nice): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... -live.html
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  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    It's pretty much the queen stage today but without a summit finish. There's a lot of tired legs out there now. It's a stage like this where Bertie got the dreaded bonk back in Paris-Nice. If it's status quo at the end of the day the tour is Contador's: i don't see him losing much in the ITT or ventoux
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  • risi
    risi Posts: 231
    cjcp wrote:
    JonGinge wrote:
    Ooh, Evans having a sulk in the gruppetto according to the letour depeches...

    <clears throat and assumes best Geordie accent>

    WOODPECKER! WHAT A REFRESHING CHANGE!


    Risi - we love you really. :)

    :oops:
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  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    msw wrote:
    nice little live update gadget on the Telegraph site (OK, not very little but still nice): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... -live.html
    Ah, that's just the popout from the letour site. Been using that every day :D
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
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  • risi
    risi Posts: 231
    Menchov in the break. Queue something nasty (given his luck). It's raining, so he'll probably fall off then.
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  • Sea_Green_Incorruptible
    Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
    EDIT to add: what a great ride by LA yesterday

    Indeed. I can't help wondering whether this Tour might represent some sort of genuine redemption for Armstrong after all these years - so long as he doesn't actually end up winning it.

    But if he rides well and ultimately loses - a couple of heroic efforts like yesterday; supporting Contador in the closing stages; admitting his own weaknesses on TV - then maybe he can find supporters where he never had them before. He certainly seems less of an alien this time round than in previous Tours... I am more sympathetic towards him than before that's for sure.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    It seems that they were confident enough that LA will not cause a problem today, in the TT and on Ventoux to not attack him yesterday after he'd been dropped.

    The fact that a 38 year old competing in his first TdF after 2.5 years out bridged that gap yesterday is very impressive. It looked as if no one was helping Schleck, but impressive all the same.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Hushovd's in the lead group. Hincapie covering but looks like he's going for intermediate sprints if possible.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    Eau Rouge wrote:
    It's not like Hushovd is actually any better at climbing that Cavendish is.

    I think I'm starting to disagree with this ^^^ more and more as time goes on tbh.
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