Well I'm enjoying it....

tailwindhome

TDF2012 seems to be dissapointing many of the regulars on here.

Yeah the GC race is over but I think it's been better than the recent tours I've watched. The big mountain stages in those tours seem to be the 'heads of state' riding up the final climb together giving each other the evil eye and doing sweet FA.

Things I've like about this tour

1 SAGAN - has lit up the race and will have a couple more cracks at stage wins
2 CANCELLARA - in yellow and just oozes class.
3 THE FDJ DS (MADIOT?) - going Bat Shit mental.
4 NIBALI/EVANS - Already beat like they stole something but won't let it lie.
5 CAVENDISH - Won 1 stage should maybe have taken another but is hanging in there. Deserves another win.

Rundfahrt

Honestly, except the usual suspicions, it has been very enjoyable. Today's stage was very exciting.

RichN95.

Me too.

I'm also enjoying:
Thibault Pinot
The Froome/Wiggins dynamic (like today's Mau Mau Uprising)
Tweeter Sagan
Today looking like racing from before EPO (with stats to match)

ellerslierd

I agree entirely, but this may be due in (large) part to the British interest. Nevertheless, I do prefer the less anglophone oriented coverage on Eurosport to ITV.

I'm sure the French are enjoying the last few days too, and I am enjoying it with them. Madiot has been my stand out moment so far.

More than anything I'm just enjoying the wall-to-wall coverage that I scramble around the rest of the year desperately searching for.

Best thing of all is that I'm going to the Pyrenees on Saturday :-)

Can a Tour be enjoyable to watch without a big GC battle? I would say yes as teams desperately scramble for something to salvage their race with...

Turfle

Me too.

Other things:
VDB has been good value. Should be a contender next year.
Feels like a bit of a changing of the guard too. Pinot, Froome, Rolland, TJVG. All in the top 10.
The meltdown on the other forum.
Boasson Hagen.
Stage wins from Brits not named Cavendish.

LeicesterLad

My avatar tells you what I have enjoyed this year...

Also enjoyed Rolland today and even TV Tommy yesterday made me smile.

Enjoy the fact Wiggins has won, just a shame more of a fight hasnt been made by others, my only gripe. Also not a fan of the total domination method, but at the end of the day it works and thats that. Can't always make for exciting riding all the time, no matter how much I wish for it...

I know plenty knock the high mountains stages and say it induces negative racing etc, but i'm looking forward to the Vuelta. Not a big fan of TT's (watching or indeed taking part).

Enjoying the fact that at least we know from this Tour there will be plenty of GC talent on offer for the next few years, most of it French.

Kinda wished Froome hadnt punctured. Would have made the Froome/Wiggins dynamic much more interesting.

Erm...bout it really.

Turfle

You're going to hate Sky signing Pinot in the winter.

ddraver

it's been a great race!! Bring more of it on! Remember it's cool to say everything sucks on BR!

LesDiablesRouges

Would be nice for a TDF winner to win a mountain stage ....

Even Carlos Sastre was able to do that...

I am enjoying the emergence of the future stars
Rolland, Pinot, Van Garderen, Sagan

Turfle

It's the Tour de France, not the Tour de Mountains. Wiggins has won a TT, and has a 3rd, a 4th, and a 6th on the 3 mountain stages so far.

RichN95.

LesDiablesRouges wrote:

Would be nice for a TDF winner to win a mountain stage ....

Even Carlos Sastre was able to do that...

Tours are lost in the mountains, but they're won in Time Trials.

Jez mon

LesDiablesRouges wrote:

Would be nice for a TDF winner to win a mountain stage ....

Even Carlos Sastre was able to do that...

I am enjoying the emergence of the future stars
Rolland, Pinot, Van Garderen, Sagan

Yea, but he was never able to win a TT

Besides even Carlos? Think that's being harsh to someone who was, at the end of the day, a deserving winner.

alanp23

I've been waiting nearly thirty years for a British winner and two turn up at the same time. Typical!

Ignoring all that excitment for a moment, there are a whole load of other things that have made it a very good year.

The parcours design - I think it has been carefully thought out and really added to the racing. The days of 10 days flat sprint, three days in the Alps, a couple of intermediates, two days in the Pyrenees and a few time trials are long gone. Good work Mr Prudhomme.

The changing of the guard - Pierre Rolland. I have high hopes for him and the rest of his new mates.

and then there is Peter Sagan. I expect him to win again

I also think that what Sky has done will ultimately be seen to be good for the sport. The other teams will have to react and it will generate some interesting new tactics and strategies in the months and years ahead. (Very similar to how everyone else has had to react to British Cycling's track dominance)

And did I say that I was at the start at Orchies? That was a brilliant morning that just on its own will make this year very special for me

inkyfingers

I've been busy and now on holiday so just been watching highlights (apart from yesterday when rain meant I got to watch live)!

Every year everybody says that the Tour is boring blah blah blah, yet we all still watch it. Personally I've enjoyed it, not as exciting as last years, but that was a particularly vintage year. Nibali, Evans & VdB have all tried to make it interesting, just a shame that so many of the other big names are either not here or are just not performing (Gesink, Valverde, Schleck, I'm looking at you).

Wiggins has been impressive, even if his style isn't exciting, but that's just the way god made him. If he started attacking and dropping people then he'd just get labelled as a doper (by even more people) so he can't win really.

Froome really is a talent, but does he have the consistency or the tactical nous yet, maybe not. I think he'll win a GT sooner or later though.

Evans, not sure whether he just got his training wrong or if age is catching up with him. Hope he keeps on trying though, even if just for a big stage win.

Nibali, most exciting rider in the race, but needs to work on his TT and ride a bit smarter.

VdB has been good value, but probably needs more of a pure climbers course, points for trying though.

inkyfingers

Oh and how could I forget Pinot, what a talent. Can't wait to see how he develops.

Rolland also showing that last years performance wasn't a flash in the pan, that was a proper gutsy ride yesterday.

MrTapir

I have to say i would agree with most of the points here, without reiterating them.

Always enjoy a french winner at the tour, and so far there have been three, with two young lads which is great.

Plus, all the possible GC contenders have at least tried to attack. I wonder if Nibali had been testing the waters yesterday and will try something on stage 14 and 16. I hope so. And Evans too. I wonder if Tejay will be allowed of the leash a bit more if its clear Evans is done.

Also I like the interviews Ned does with Wiggins, I think he is open and articulate.

The clearest signs yet of non-doping is also absolutely heartening.

BelgianBeerGeek

Also really enjoying it. GC may be done and dusted, but the white and polka-dot jerseys are still fairly open. As said, there is some amazing young talent coming through and it's nice to see something of a resurgance in French cycling. The future of the TdF, and pro cycling, looks good.

Jens Voigt is probably worth the price of admission alone.

Froome impresses more and more.

Oh, and Nicky Roche is having a good tour so far (although slipping a few places on GC).

Moontrane

alanp23 wrote:

I've been waiting nearly thirty years for a British winner and two turn up at the same time. Typical!

Ignoring all that excitment for a moment, there are a whole load of other things that have made it a very good year.

The parcours design - I think it has been carefully thought out and really added to the racing. The days of 10 days flat sprint, three days in the Alps, a couple of intermediates, two days in the Pyrenees and a few time trials are long gone. Good work Mr Prudhomme.

The changing of the guard - Pierre Rolland. I have high hopes for him and the rest of his new mates.

and then there is Peter Sagan. I expect him to win again

I also think that what Sky has done will ultimately be seen to be good for the sport. The other teams will have to react and it will generate some interesting new tactics and strategies in the months and years ahead. (Very similar to how everyone else has had to react to British Cycling's track dominance)

And did I say that I was at the start at Orchies? That was a brilliant morning that just on its own will make this year very special for me

I think you've waited long enough. Seems to me, too, that lots of good riders have come on the scene.

Mad_Malx

Glad you started the thread. When many of the high posters started moaning about boredom yesterday I really wondered if I was watching the same event. I'm enjoying the race (if not the PTP).

cogidubnus

I have to say I'm enjoying it. Highlights for me:

1. Wiggins' TT and overall performance
2. Sagen. A joy to watch his performances and his celebrations have been fun.
3. Rolland and Pinot's wins.
4. TV Tommy knowing that a helicopters camera was on him and gurning into it yesterday. Sheer panache
5. How strong Sky have been. EBH, Porte and co have been doing a massive job for Brad.

My major disappointment is the lack of form for the major GC riders and the losses through injury during or before of top riders.

iainf72

I think it's about as good as it could be based on the route.

The fact some many people who may have ridden in the top 10 have crashed out is unfortunate.

Can think of 3 stages which I thought were good, so that's not too bad.

ddraver

Blimey Iain! I think that's the first time in 3 years you ve said you ve enjoyed something about cycling! This must mean it's ther greatest tour ever ever!

iainf72

ddraver wrote:

Blimey Iain! I think that's the first time in 3 years you ve said you ve enjoyed something about cycling! This must mean it's ther greatest tour ever ever!

You need to pay more attention. I thought last years Tour was great.

But I don't like false praise - I mean, anyone who thought the Worlds last year was good needs their head felt. They might of liked the result but don't pretend it was interesting. :P

Paul McCartney might have written some decent tunes with the Beatles, but that doesn't mean that Frog song he did was a work of genius too

slim_boy_fat

iainf72 wrote:

ddraver wrote:

Blimey Iain! I think that's the first time in 3 years you ve said you ve enjoyed something about cycling! This must mean it's ther greatest tour ever ever!

You need to pay more attention. I thought last years Tour was great.

But I don't like false praise - I mean, anyone who thought the Worlds last year was good needs their head felt. They might of liked the result but don't pretend it was interesting. :P

Paul McCartney might have written some decent tunes with the Beatles, but that doesn't mean that Frog song he did was a work of genius too

But that's not to say plenty of people will think it's a very good song and enjoy listening to it. Takes all sorts and it would be a fairly boring life if we all enjoyed the same things as they say.

iainf72

Indeed

But not all cycling is good. And there's nothing wrong with saying if you think something is boring.

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

Indeed

But not all cycling is good. And there's nothing wrong with saying if you think something is boring.

Indeed.

Better than the Giro.

slim_boy_fat

iainf72 wrote:

Indeed

But not all cycling is good. And there's nothing wrong with saying if you think something is boring.

At the end of the day though it's all opinion. What you or I might not find good or interesting others might. F1 this year is a great example. The new tyres have really spiced the racing up, a lot of people think it's great but many others think it's all a bit of a lottery and hence false.

RichN95.

I bought the Frog Song. I still have the Frog Song on vinyl. Let's not go slagging off the Frog Song.

MrTapir

RichN95 wrote:

I bought the Frog Song. I still have the Frog Song on vinyl. Let's not go slagging off the Frog Song.

We've all done things we regret: I once stole 'I'm a Scatman' by scatman john on tape from HMV.

mroli

I think the Tour has been interesting in the way that some of the potential "old guard" GT hopes have failed to step up to the plate: Menchov/Kloden/Leipheimer/Schleck for example and the way some of the "new" guard have done TJVG, Rolland, Pinot, Sagan.

I think some of the domestiques have shown that they are worth their weight in gold - Knees/Rogers/Porte/EBH at Sky (Michelle, I'm not including Froome as he is a "super" domestique!), but also the ride by Kerne yesterday, the leadouts for Greipel by Henderson etc

Sagan has been stunning and like a breath of fresh air too.

Griepel has been awesome - the day he finished 2nd having dislocated his collarbone was pretty amazing.

Some of the big names have failed to perform - Gilbert and Valverde for example, some have crashed out - Sanchez and Hesjedal.

There hasn't been the nail-biting tension of previous tours, but it has been pretty good and with Nibali and Evans still thereabouts, I think there will be some twists and turns yet....

Tom Butcher

For me it's a poor race - shaping up to be one of the worst GTs of recent times.

I suppose Wiggins might crack on the Queen stage in the Pyrenees which might open up a battle between Nibali and Froome but with another long time trial to come it'd have to be a pretty major collapse.