Tour build up
Comments
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I did the Tourmalet 2 years ago. I'd done a little training but nothing specific apart from 1km hill reps. it was tough, pretty relentless, not many switchbacks. My advice is settle into a steady pace early. I tried to stay out of my bottom gear as much as possible, but there comes a point where you just gotta drop into it. Going up through La Mongie is a killer and on the other side its the final 2 km which hurts the most.
On the Tour, i'm actually really excited about this year. I'm hoping that Wiggins can stay upright because he really has a chance this year. And despite what you think of him, wouldn't it be great to have a home made winner?0 -
frenchfighter wrote:
If a TTer doesn't win this (boring) I will be amazed.
I am hoping that this could end up being exciting if, and it is a huge if, the climbers who cant time trial realise they need to try to gain a lot of time in the mountains and attack with one or two climbs left for the day rather than only going hard for the last 5km of the last climb of the day.
If someone like Andy Schleck or Rodriguez is going to have a hope then this is their only option. You cant afford for Wiggins, Evans and now Hesjedal just keeping up for 99% of a stage and then being able to afford to lose 20seconds per day at the end. Climbers need to be taking 2-3 minutes on at least 2 or 3 stages.0 -
I think Fabian is a real hope if his team get behind him, think of who he could use as Domestiques if he needs a hand getting over the mountains!Timoid. wrote:I will watch Cancellara with great interest. Maybe he'll shed a couple of kilos and Johan will work another miracle.0 -
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The Mad Rapper wrote:
If you've any other advise then I'm all ears!Rick Chasey wrote:A bit of training advice - The Tourmalet takes roughly 90-100 minutes if you're pretty fit, others a little less, so say around the hour mark. You want to be training for those kind of efforts. 90 mins at full whack - rather than, say, 5 mins on, 2 mins off.
Use the Turbo to simulate the long efforts, and make sure you hold something back for the last 2 ramps (on the climb from Luz St. Saveur) which are brutal.
last time I did it i got up in an hour 13 on a 39x25, they were resurfacing the last 5km ahead of the 2010 tour too, it was like riding through the 1920s, gravel everywhere!"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Rick has it right on this. I did the Raid in 5 days a couple of years back and hardly trained on my local hills at all, I concentrated on long, aerobic threshold efforts on whatever terrain was to hand but in a slightly higher gear than normal.
I think I was up to 2x 90 mins with 3 mins at 85% MHR and 3 mins at 90% MHR for a 5 hour ride by the end of it. I was bored witless, but it worked, I was absolutely flying when I finally got out there!"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
A friend and I are heading out to catch stages 6, 7 and 8.
I've found this supposed route for stage 6:
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1296452#la ... aptype=osm
Does anybody know how realistic it would be to see both the start in Epernay and get to Metz for the sprint finish? Looks like the A4 should be doable in about two hours, but what would traffic be like?
All sorted for getting onto La Planche des Belle Filles for stage 7 (taking the bikes with us) but any pointers for the best place to head for stage 8?0 -
aspender wrote:I've found this supposed route for stage 6
There are now proper maps and time schedules on the Le Tour website.
http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us ... etape.html0 -
greasedscotsman wrote:aspender wrote:I've found this supposed route for stage 6
There are now proper maps and time schedules on the Le Tour website.
http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us ... etape.html
So there are! Time to start detailed planning
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Anybody know what the differences are between the timings on the schedule?
There is one for Caravane, one for 42, 40 and 38. Are those the suspected timings based on average speeds (seem a bit high)?
Will be there for stage 7 and 8. Will probably head down into Switzerland for the end of the 8th stage as flying from Geneva late in the afternoon.Little boy to Obama: "My Dad says that you read all our emails"
Obama to little boy: "He's not your real Dad"
Kona Honky Tonk for sale: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40090&t=130008070 -
FoldingJoe wrote:Anybody know what the differences are between the timings on the schedule?
There is one for Caravane, one for 42, 40 and 38. Are those the suspected timings based on average speeds (seem a bit high)?
.
Yup.0 -
Some early approx odds from Betfair
Wigg 11/4
Evns 13/4
ASch 6
Menc 20
Nibs 30
SSan 30
Ges 40
Rol 45
Froo 50
Valv 50
VdB 50
Mar 60
Hesj 80
FSch 80
Klod 80
Braj 100
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it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!0
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Dave_1 wrote:it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!
So BMC and Wiggins setting strong enough paces so they deter attacks but not so strong their drop Evans/Wiggins?....
Reduce team sizes to 6.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Dave_1 wrote:it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!
So BMC and Wiggins setting strong enough paces so they deter attacks but not so strong their drop Evans/Wiggins?....
Reduce team sizes to 6.
These steady tempo setters which have appeared more and more in the grand tours over the last 10 years are like vermin in grand tour racing now.. setting the tempo ..but not so fast ..but enough to make sure everyone waits for10 minutes to go on the stage . There's no chance of an attack 2 cols out on almost all mountain stages it seems ..other by no hopers0 -
Dave_1 wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Dave_1 wrote:it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!
So BMC and Wiggins setting strong enough paces so they deter attacks but not so strong their drop Evans/Wiggins?....
Reduce team sizes to 6.
These steady tempo setters which have appeared more and more in the grand tours over the last 10 years are like vermin in grand tour racing now.. setting the tempo ..but not so fast ..but enough to make sure everyone waits for10 minutes to go on the stage . There's no chance of an attack 2 cols out on almost all mountain stages it seems ..other by no hopers
Indeed. As the margins between riders reduce, so will the time gaps realistically available from a mass start stage. TTs matter more and more (though in the Tour they've always been pretty important!!)0 -
Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?Cube Agree GTC Pro
Boardman Comp
Carrera Subway Hybrid0 -
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Rick Chasey wrote:Dave_1 wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Dave_1 wrote:it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!
So BMC and Wiggins setting strong enough paces so they deter attacks but not so strong their drop Evans/Wiggins?....
Reduce team sizes to 6.
These steady tempo setters which have appeared more and more in the grand tours over the last 10 years are like vermin in grand tour racing now.. setting the tempo ..but not so fast ..but enough to make sure everyone waits for10 minutes to go on the stage . There's no chance of an attack 2 cols out on almost all mountain stages it seems ..other by no hopers
Indeed. As the margins between riders reduce, so will the time gaps realistically available from a mass start stage. TTs matter more and more (though in the Tour they've always been pretty important!!)
I wish for weaker teams with lower budgets other than the 2 top climbers or GC men on each team but keep good prize money for winning grand tours. Seems now like a few years of pace setting and completely spoiling mountain stages gains tempo setter enough salary to justify not riding for themself0 -
What about Menchov then ?? has he been preparing away from prying eyes as much as possible or is he just having a duff season?"I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
--Jens Voight0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Ringo 68 wrote:Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?
Certainly does, with Liggett and Sherwin.
Excellent.
New plan for the holiday...
Drop wife, daughter and daughters best mate off at Disney. Return to Villa with a crate of Bud and sit by the pool watching the cycling.
Result.Cube Agree GTC Pro
Boardman Comp
Carrera Subway Hybrid0 -
Ringo 68 wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Ringo 68 wrote:Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?
Certainly does, with Liggett and Sherwin.
Excellent.
New plan for the holiday...
Drop wife, daughter and daughters best mate off at Disney. Return to Villa with a crate of Bud and sit by the pool watching the cycling.
Result.
Better drop them off pretty early then!
. 0 -
TheStone wrote:Some early approx odds from Betfair
Wigg 11/4
Evns 13/4
ASch 6
Menc 20
Nibs 30
SSan 30
Ges 40
Rol 45
Froo 50
Valv 50
VdB 50
Mar 60
Hesj 80
FSch 80
Klod 80
Braj 100
Do odds reflect a British market?
Schleck seems a good bet at 6-1“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
I just realised that stage 18 (Blagnac to Brive) will be passing within a few miles of us along the D820 ... a nice little ride over to watch seems in order. Nothing special as far as the bit of road they'll be on... in fact I've been riding over a short section of it during the last 4 weeks as it forms a short linking section of a ride I often do. Shame they can't deviate off of the main road as there are loads of lovely little roads with some interesting, tight descents.“You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”
Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Ringo 68 wrote:Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?
Certainly does, with Liggett and Sherwin.
Dang. You poor sod.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
maybe they need a new format for time bonuses in mountain stages, what about a 2minute bonus, if you win by more than 2 minutes, one minute if you win by one minute etc. This might lead to some huge attacks in a Richard Virenque style with about 5 mountains to goDave_1 wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Dave_1 wrote:it's the constant waiting game watching the mountain stages. Am so glad the climbers will have to stop their tedious 2 miles to summit finish attacks and do it 30 miles out instead! And earn their money! The Giro was tedious at times. Liqiugas tactics are the death of the sport..just like Banesto but in Fluro or USPS/Disco..so glad the TDF route gives different possibilities!
So BMC and Wiggins setting strong enough paces so they deter attacks but not so strong their drop Evans/Wiggins?....
Reduce team sizes to 6.
These steady tempo setters which have appeared more and more in the grand tours over the last 10 years are like vermin in grand tour racing now.. setting the tempo ..but not so fast ..but enough to make sure everyone waits for10 minutes to go on the stage . There's no chance of an attack 2 cols out on almost all mountain stages it seems ..other by no hopers0 -
Timoid. wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Ringo 68 wrote:Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?
Certainly does, with Liggett and Sherwin.
Dang. You poor sod.
Same in Australia. I've woken up my other half late at night several times shouting at the TV because of my frustration with the Voice of Cycling's increasing confusion. Quite tempted to route a Eurosport audio feed through the computer this year - or even just pay for Foxtel so I can get ES.point your handlebars towards the heavens and sweat like you're in hell0 -
patchy wrote:Timoid. wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Ringo 68 wrote:Just realised that I am away in the States from the 6th July for 2 weeks so basically missing out on the best of the racing.
Anyone know if the TDF gets shown in the US?
Certainly does, with Liggett and Sherwin.
Dang. You poor sod.
Same in Australia. I've woken up my other half late at night several times shouting at the TV because of my frustration with the Voice of Cycling's increasing confusion. Quite tempted to route a Eurosport audio feed through the computer this year - or even just pay for Foxtel so I can get ES.
Do what I do if all else fails. Mute and commentate to your gf/wife yourself.0
