Tour of Cali

iainf72

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Are they using a cheap HD version at the Giro ??? - The picture on HD from california is Crystal Clear.....watching the giro it's as if they are using a camcorder

There is no HD at the Giro.

Gazzetta67

There is a "Slight" picture difference from my ordinary British eurosport to the HD version.....tho i agree it's not a patch on this race coverage...begs the question why is the 2nd biggest race in the world not in HD...has it not yet reached Italy ?

greasedscotsman

Please, please, please can the AG2R rider win!

Gazzetta67

Brian Smith doing his best to upset the head honcho's at Eurosport and saying the TOC's "Bubble has Burst" in favour of the Giro ....eh whats on the other side where is that remote.

greasedscotsman

greasedscotsman wrote:

Please, please, please can the AG2R rider win!

Oh wait, didn't know that Sebastien Hinault won stage 3 of the Circuit de Lorraines. Don't care now...

hammerite

I know they've already had a win today, but I really do hope he hangs on. Surely 2 mins with 4k to go can't be caught.

It's the most exciting thing that's happened the whole race.

DeadCalm

hammerite wrote:

I know they've already had a win today, but I really do hope he hangs on. Surely 2 mins with 4k to go can't be caught.

Me too. I fear heartbreak though.

Come on!!!!

hammerite

Is it just me? When Bri Smithy says his name he sounds like a politician - Selwyn George.

majormantra

That was great.

thegibdog

You wait all year for a bus...

greasedscotsman

Excellent win for Sylvain Georges! Fail by Sébastian Salas.

Gazzetta67

Chapeau that Man - Great Ride

rick_chasey

So Sagan takes second instead. Jeez.

Good ride from the Frenchie.

hammerite

Good man.

DeadCalm

Wohoo!!!

Gadret for the hat trick tomorrow?

fleshtuxedo

My god he killed himself there. Chapeau.

DeadCalm

FleshTuxedo wrote:

My god he killed himself there. Chapeau.

Comes across as a really amusing character too.

Will be interesting to see how much coverage he gets here in France for that win. The impression so far has been that the French think of this race as 'comme un pomme-frite' but we'll see.

Moomaloid

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

RichN95.

This AG2R domination is starting to look suspicious.

blazing_saddles

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Brian Smith doing his best to upset the head honcho's at Eurosport and saying the TOC's "Bubble has Burst" in favour of the Giro ....eh whats on the other side where is that remote.

He's not wrong. Field quality is definitely heading in the wrong direction.
While Big Bear isn't exactly conducive towards attacking riding from the bunch, I really enjoyed the final 20 odd kms of the chase.
Chapeau Monsieur Georges. Abandon by "Super tactics" Salas, that was one tough solo ride.

mididoctors

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Brian Smith doing his best to upset the head honcho's at Eurosport and saying the TOC's "Bubble has Burst" in favour of the Giro ....eh whats on the other side where is that remote.

He's not wrong. Field quality is definitely heading in the wrong direction.
While Big Bear isn't exactly conducive towards attacking riding from the bunch, I really enjoyed the final 20 odd kms of the chase.
Chapeau Monsieur Georges. Abandon by "Super tactics" Salas, that was one tough solo ride.

+1

getting into ToLKW territory field quality wise...

And I like the race.. scenery and the different nature of the courses with their rolly poley roads and that.

but the us conti teams?.. half the peloton gets dropped early in the stage and then sagan wins the sprint.

rick_chasey

Can see why team type 2 or whatever they're called were annoyed. We forget how far ahead these world tour teams are.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

Can see why team type 2 or whatever they're called were annoyed. We forget how far ahead these world tour teams are.

And their bus crashed into a moose a couple of days ago

Moomaloid

Its a poor poor race this year. But i don't think the territory helps. Wide open plains of rolling road is never gonna make for great racing. The 'mountains' have what look like freeways running up the side of them that go on forever. No dramatic changes of gradient or switchbacks to assist in exciting the racing. (Similar to the climb in the giro today). Also the field of riders is pretty low on talent this year and some of the 'stars' are riding below par. UNLESS, Sagen is just in stunning form. I don't wanna take anything away from him, coz he has been impressive... but...

Maybe i'm just annoyed with myself for staying up each night to watch thinking... today has got to be better than yesterday.... nope.

greasedscotsman

Moomaloid wrote:

Maybe i'm just annoyed with myself for staying up each night to watch thinking... today has got to be better than yesterday.... nope.

Ahh, just wait, today's stage is gonna be great!

(might not be totally correct...)

mididoctors

Moomaloid wrote:

Its a poor poor race this year. But i don't think the territory helps. Wide open plains of rolling road is never gonna make for great racing. The 'mountains' have what look like freeways running up the side of them that go on forever. No dramatic changes of gradient or switchbacks to assist in exciting the racing. (Similar to the climb in the giro today). Also the field of riders is pretty low on talent this year and some of the 'stars' are riding below par. UNLESS, Sagen is just in stunning form. I don't wanna take anything away from him, coz he has been impressive... but...

Maybe i'm just annoyed with myself for staying up each night to watch thinking... today has got to be better than yesterday.... nope.

if there was a few more decent squads LIQ + GRM would of had a harder time pulling it back everyday... the course is odd but not easy as it looks... I bet those rolling roads in the heat grind you down

LangerDan

Rick Chasey wrote:

Can see why team type 2 or whatever they're called were annoyed. We forget how far ahead these world tour teams are.

A comment in The Asylum described the field as "America's best shop mechanics"

mididoctors

LangerDan wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Can see why team type 2 or whatever they're called were annoyed. We forget how far ahead these world tour teams are.

A comment in The Asylum described the field as "America's best shop mechanics"

I thought the us squads may have come on a bit more

I suppose UHC have a rider or 2 and Livestrong make the "cut" everyday... smattering of something but pretty p1$$ poor showing.

Moomaloid

Oh i'd never ever say they were easy, far from it. But if you are designing a parcours, especially as an advert for US cycling, then surely you'd want a route that makes for more exciting racing? Even the circuits through the cities and towns have been a bit dull. I find a bit more surprising because it is well known that American viewers like their sports to be action filled and 'high scoring', so i would've expected some shorter, more 'impact' stages. But, i guess also its a huge state and these cities are paying good money for the stage starts and finishes, so they have to get between each....

mididoctors

Moomaloid wrote:

Oh i'd never ever say they were easy, far from it. But if you are designing a parcours, especially as an advert for US cycling, then surely you'd want a route that makes for more exciting racing? Even the circuits through the cities and towns have been a bit dull. I find a bit more surprising because it is well known that American viewers like their sports to be action filled and 'high scoring', so i would've expected some shorter, more 'impact' stages. But, i guess also its a huge state and these cities are paying good money for the stage starts and finishes, so they have to get between each....

I think the aesthetics of the race will be different over there..... I think we have to teach ourselves to appreciate the nature of the roads out there... that bear lake road is a real grind to high altitude, perhaps one problem is the course is too hard for the lesser squads to stay in! but just looks unspectacular as entire teams are just ridden of the wheel at 23kph