Tour De France 2010 - *May contain spoilers*

tailwindhome

Rather brilliantly I'm away on holiday from the 11th to the 18th so I'll miss the first battle in the mountains.

tailwindhome

Not in the mood yet


Try this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IMjb6sU5Mg


There you go

shouldbeinbed

coincidentally arranged my hols so I'm at home for the lat week then away, huzzar

Agent57

TailWindHome wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IMjb6sU5Mg

Using that theme for le Tour should be made law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04 : forward to 1:54 for the exciting bit. One of my favourite bits of Tour history.

greg66_tri_v2.0

My money's on JG.

He'll make 'em suffer in the mountains!

cyberknight

Agent57 wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IMjb6sU5Mg

Using that theme for le Tour should be made law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04 : forward to 1:54 for the exciting bit. One of my favourite bits of Tour history.

I alternate between that tune and the classic kraftwerk for my ring tone :shock:

gb155

TailWindHome wrote:

Not in the mood yet


Try this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IMjb6sU5Mg


There you go

Simples !

Agent57

cyberknight wrote:

the classic kraftwerk for my ring tone :shock:

You know what, I'd forgotten that one. =/ It was immediately familiar when I sought it on YouTube though.

Zachariah

That old Channel Four theme is such a classic, I can't believe they don't use it more often. Anyone know who wrote it?

tailwindhome

Just seen Wiggin's interview with ITV4

Doesn't "give a monkey's" what time his rivals do in the prologue.

Would these be the same rivals who you couldn't keep up with in the mountains last year.

I have decided that Wiggins is a c0ck*





*not one to rush to judgement me

DonDaddyD

Psychological game init'

Wiggins was the big surprise last year fact he kept up in the mountains last year has everyone wondering what he's going to be like this year now he has specially prepared (with Sky - adds to the fear factor). So his not interested in the TT - a stage he woul previously specialised in adds to his status as a threat/proper contender.

I wouldn't be suprised if he was told to say that by the powers that be at Sky.

This isn't to say I think he'll win, my money is on Contador or Schelk with Geraint (sp) Thomas or Nibali (if racing) as this years suprise GC contenders. Oh and Vino....

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

So his not interested in the TT

Big difference between not going for the stage win and being 30s down after only 5 miles.

Long way to go of course


Do Sky have a 'fear factor'?

always_tyred

DonDaddyD wrote:

This isn't to say I think he'll win, my money is on Contador or Schelk with Geraint (sp) Thomas or Nibali (if racing) as this years suprise GC contenders. Oh and Vino....

There are only 190 odd riders in the race DDD. If you mention all of them, I'm afraid you don't get credit for predicting the winner.

Oddjob62

TailWindHome wrote:

Doesn't "give a monkey's" what time his rivals do in the prologue.

Would these be the same rivals who you couldn't keep up with in the mountains last year.

I read it as him saying that 30seconds won't mean much if he gets his arse handed to him in the hills, thats where the real battle will be.

Harry182

Anyone know what's up with the cyclingnews.com TDF podcast? The Prologue episode doesn't seem to want to download...

DonDaddyD

TailWindHome wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

So his not interested in the TT

Big difference between not going for the stage win and being 30s down after only 5 miles.

Long way to go of course

Absolutely, and I don't think the prologue went as well as he had hoped. But its still just the prologue and I don't think his intention was to focus on it.

Still could have done better.

Do Sky have a 'fear factor'?

I think they do, they're somewhat intimidating black and blue kit looks almost evil/bad guy like against the bright colours of the other peleton teams.

Then there is the fact that they seem to have more money than the other teams and with that an implied better training, rider development programme. Then there is how they hit the scene: Olympics (albeit that was Team GB) and the aggressive captures of Wiggins and others. I'd say there is a supposed fear factor centered around the team if not anyone specific rider, at least in this tour.

AT wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

This isn't to say I think he'll win, my money is on Contador or Schelk with Geraint (sp) Thomas or Nibali (if racing) as this years suprise GC contenders. Oh and Vino....

There are only 190 odd riders in the race DDD. If you mention all of them, I'm afraid you don't get credit for predicting the winner.

I'm hardly mentioning all, I've only predicted 2 winners. But in race where there is at least four competitions (yellow, green, polka-dot and white jerseys) and worthy mentions (Wiggins, Nibali, Armstrong last year). It's hard to predict one winner without mentioning other riders. The Tour has always had a larger story to tell than simply "who one the race". That's why as a kid I liked it so much.

OK let me break it down for you. Ready?

DonDaddyD's predictions:

Contador or Andy Schelk - Overall GC (winners)

Geraint Thomas and Nibali (surprise packages as in they will be fighting with the favourites right up to the end - not sure they will be on the podium, but they'll earn their respect)

Vino as the guy who comes out of know where to suddenly be in the 'form' of his life.

always_tyred

Now that Vino has left his magic pixie dust at home, he won't do much more than support his team leader and make one or two suicide breaks on transitional stages.

Schleck, A has already blown it.

Ditto Wiggins. All he can do in the mountains is hang on and at the expense of being moderate in the tt. He'll do commendably everywhere and sip back slowly. Top 6.

Geraint Thomas is not a dark horse - he's Wiggins' support guy. Not a contender.

DonDaddyD

Always Tyred wrote:

Now that Vino has left his magic pixie dust at home, he won't do much more than support his team leader and make one or two suicide breaks on transitional stages.

Schleck, A has already blown it.

Ditto Wiggins. All he can do in the mountains is hang on and at the expense of being moderate in the tt. He'll do commendably everywhere and sip back slowly. Top 6.

Geraint Thomas is not a dark horse - he's Wiggins' support guy. Not a contender.

To say that Schleck and Wiggins have already blown it is to say that the tour could be won on merit of the first stage alone. It's the second stage of a three week race. Marathon not a sprint.

Have faith in Thomas...

Oddjob62

Bloody hell that was a messy finish.

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Do Sky have a 'fear factor'?

I think they do, they're somewhat intimidating black and blue kit looks almost evil/bad guy like against the bright colours of the other peloton teams.

Then there is the fact that they seem to have more money than the other teams and with that an implied better training, rider development programme. Then there is how they hit the scene: Olympics (albeit that was Team GB) and the aggressive captures of Wiggins and others. I'd say there is a supposed fear factor centered around the team if not anyone specific rider, at least in this tour.

I don't think it would be too harsh to say they haven't done much this year though?

I wonder if those black shirts will seem such a good idea on a long alpine climb in mid july?

always_tyred

TailWindHome wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Do Sky have a 'fear factor'?

I think they do, they're somewhat intimidating black and blue kit looks almost evil/bad guy like against the bright colours of the other peloton teams.

Then there is the fact that they seem to have more money than the other teams and with that an implied better training, rider development programme. Then there is how they hit the scene: Olympics (albeit that was Team GB) and the aggressive captures of Wiggins and others. I'd say there is a supposed fear factor centered around the team if not anyone specific rider, at least in this tour.

I don't think it would be too harsh to say they haven't done much this year though?

I wonder if those black shirts will seem such a good idea on a long alpine climb in mid july?

The backs are white. With a blue stripe. The blue stripe is important you see.

DonDaddyD

TailWindHome wrote:

I don't think it would be too harsh to say they haven't done much this year though?

True

I wonder if those black shirts will seem such a good idea on a long alpine climb in mid july?

True

always_tyred

DonDaddyD wrote:

To say that Schleck and Wiggins have already blown it is to say that the tour could be won on merit of the first stage alone. It's the second stage of a three week race. Marathon not a sprint.

Have faith in Thomas...

Not this year. They might let him off the reigns to try for a stage win I suppose.

You can't win the tour on day 1, but you can lose it. Really, they've already blown it. If you assume that Contador is fit, and finishes, how much time is anyone realistically going to put in to him?

IF anyone beats him, it won't be by much, certainly not helped by giving the guy a 40 second head start. That's a good Schleck/bad Contador day in the mountains to even get close. Plus there is the long tt to think of. If Schelck was leading and had the ride of his life, he'd still need over a minute against Contador, more if the prologue is anything to go by.

Wiggins never stood a chance. Last year he was the unknown. No one bothered about him. This year he will be worth attacking. He's a steady climber, not one of those guys who can accelerate. The guys who can do that (which even included Armstrong last year) will make more effort to get rid of him this year. You watch - he'll be out of the running early, and in the hunt for a good top 10, top 5 finish overall.

Sorry - no tub thumping for Brad this year - he should have used his form in the Giro.

tailwindhome

Any predictions for today's stage, a mere 201km into Spa

Stage 2: Brussels - Spa
There are half a dozen short, sharp climbs on this bumpy 201km ride that follows part of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège route.

The hills are not hard, but they could put pay to the hopes of the pure sprinters, although a downhill finish into Spa could mean a bunch finish. Hushovd likes the cobbles and could put some distance between himself and Cavendish.

Sort of live coverage here

http://gaps.letour.fr/us.html


The BBC coverage hasn't started yet


There is no report yet wether Cav has the stabilisers back on.

Wrath Rob

Yesterday's run into the finish was kwality!

I'm looking forwards to see how they cope with the pave today :twisted:

greg66_tri_v2.0

If anyone wants live coverage online, and is able to stream video to their work desk, I suggest watching ITV4's live pm coverage from 2.30 on tvcatchup.com

Agent57

This is quite interesting too:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/landing/mytrackstour/

Live telemetry from HTC-Columbia riders. No HR data, as I suppose that's too sensitive.

tailwindhome

The BBC are up and running

No official apology to AndyManc for Mocktheweekgate as yet...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_s ... 788532.stm

bigmat

Nibali isn't riding this year.

Sky have had a pretty good year so far, plenty of wins including a semi-classic.

Thomas is a dark horse - not to win, but a high GC place could be on the cards, and by that I mean top 30 or so - brilliant for a young British rider, we've just been spoilt lately.

Wiggins' prologue was pants. He gambled and lost. But, he then took it very cautiously to avoid crashing in the wet, big pressure on him this year. Lets wait and see where he is say this time next week before judging his chances too harshly - top 10 would be an impressive performance in my opinion.

DonDaddyD

What is it with Holland and Belgium seems like these "cycling friendly countries" have roads race routes designed to wound and maim.

Just read the live feed, sounds like drama. Someone explain please? The Story of the Tour is as good as who wins the races.

amnezia

well that stage was a f**king mess!