Stage 13 *spoiler*

frenchfighter

Go Greipel. Definitely outclassed Cavendish this Tour.

Not sure what is being said about Wiggins but will check later. Glad I didn't bother to be at home to watch this stage.

Turfle

alanp23 wrote:

alanp23 wrote:

I've ridden along the route from Sete to Cape D'Agde. I dont think the hill is big enough to get rid of the sprinters.

Huh! What do I know?

ha you'd probably have gone over in the top 30.

rick_chasey

Turfle wrote:

Come on, that was a pretty decent last 30k.

Yeah it was.

My prediction of a glorified sprint was correct :P.

kanto

frenchfighter wrote:

Go Greipel. Definitely outclassed Cavendish this Tour.

Not sure what is being said about Wiggins but will check later. Glad I didn't bother to be at home to watch this stage.

Cavendish has always been a very limited rider compared to many of the other sprinters who can at least get over a tiny climb, but Cav's been quite exposed this tour. Without his dedicated train, he isn't the same rider. Personally I'm finding it great seeing other riders in for the stage wins. Cavendish is a pretty dull rider, and seeing the likes of true aggressors like Sagan take stages and compete for the win on the flat is much nicer

DeadCalm

Rick Chasey wrote:

Gutted the circle of death stage is on Monday.

Should be on a Sunday.

One of the few advantages of being unemployed is Monday is no different to Sunday.

luckao

That was far from boring. It definitely wasn't the kind of stage to roll your eyes at. It was like a blockbuster compared to many of the stages that HTC choked the life out of over the last four or so years.

rebs

Where was the super strong froome? how come he didntdo anthing in the leadout?:P

luckao

rebs wrote:

Where was the super strong froome? how come he didntdo anthing in the leadout?:P

He was watching Wiggins carefully from a safe distance and making sure he didn't sneak any more seconds on him.

rebs

Just to be on the level. I do like Froome as a rider a very likable character when he appears in the media.

Just find it weird that he'll always do his turn when it is expecte of him. but he'll peel off then fall off slightly then will be at the back of the group recovering. Just seems like he isn't rider as hard as he could/should for others. He is a good TT'er. Just think if him and Wiggins did the leadout it would have stretched it that little bit much for Griepel who did incredable on that last climb but is no where in the same league of climbing as EBH and Sagan.

No saying EBH would have won but may have increased his chance more. Just saying I think Froome should be riding more for the team. At the moment he does what he says.... does what he is told nothing more.

RichN95.

rebs wrote:

Where was the super strong froome? how come he didntdo anthing in the leadout?:P

He'd put some oil and tacks on the road near the end, Dick Dastardly style, but Wiggins missed the trap.

Le Commentateur

Rick Chasey wrote:

Gutted the circle of death stage is on Monday.

Should be on a Sunday.

Limoux–Foix? It does have an interesting final climb about 25km from the finish, the last 3km of which is above 10% and touches 16-18% in places.

Weds & Thurs are the days for calling in sick though.

rick_chasey

Le Commentateur wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Gutted the circle of death stage is on Monday.

Should be on a Sunday.

Limoux–Foix? It does have an interesting final climb about 25km from the finish, the last 3km of which is above 10% and touches 16-18% in places.

Weds & Thurs are the days for calling in sick though.

You're right. It's not on Monday.

*fail*

luckao

rebs wrote:

Just to be on the level. I do like Froome as a rider a very likable character when he appears in the media.

Just find it weird that he'll always do his turn when it is expecte of him. but he'll peel off then fall off slightly then will be at the back of the group recovering. Just seems like he isn't rider as hard as he could/should for others. He is a good TT'er. Just think if him and Wiggins did the leadout it would have stretched it that little bit much for Griepel who did incredable on that last climb but is no where in the same league of climbing as EBH and Sagan.

No saying EBH would have won but may have increased his chance more. Just saying I think Froome should be riding more for the team. At the moment he does what he says.... does what he is told nothing more.

I thought it was a spontaneous decision by Wiggins. He happened to find himself at the front and then decided to put himself to use in the last few kilometres.

rick_chasey

Froome can't steer for toffee apaprently. Probably too busy trying to keep it upright on the black stuff. Argy bargy in the peloton is not his thing at all.

He's no Kenny van Hummel.

rebs

Rick Chasey wrote:

Froome can't steer for toffee apaprently. Probably too busy trying to keep it upright on the black stuff. Argy bargy in the peloton is not his thing at all.

He's no Kenny van Hummel.

He seemed to be ducking and diving last year in the Veulta to win a stage nipping through the smallest of gaps to beat Cobo.

I'm sounding so Anti Froome at the moment which is wrong but I'm finding it weird no-one is asking more questions about how he rides for the team.

AlunP

Wiggo has just done a really good - and long - interview live on French TV - joshing with the interviewer etc. Wish my French was that good.

Then he took time to sign hats etc for people outside the media area. A nice touch.

The final cols before the finish tomorrow are all clouded in at the moment - but forecast is to improve for tomorrow.

oldwelshman

rebs wrote:

Where was the super strong froome? how come he didntdo anthing in the leadout?:P

I thoyught rodgers took it to just under 2km, then thought it was froome for 300m then wiggo? If not who was after rodgers but before wiggp?

jibberjim

Froome's road bike position is also nothing like as aero as his TT position, so whilst he has the power as well as not being a great bike handler (no track background like Wiggins in the Madison) so he's not as monstrous on the long lead out as the other good TT'ers. Froome did as oldwelshman says do a short turn before Wiggins took over, and the lack of aero dynamic advantage means his turns at over 60km are very short compared to Wiggins or Thomas. He's never had the job so doesn't have the position.

Sanchez was pissed - feel for the guy knowing that he attacked with Sagan having no domestiques, Griepel having none so thought he had a good chance, only to see Sky doing it.

Lichtblick

I give in. What is the "circle of death" stage?

rick_chasey

Lichtblick wrote:

I give in. What is the "circle of death" stage?

http://www.cyclingrevealed.com/July11/J ... irDth.html

By definition the “Circle of Death” is the hardest Tour de France stage in the Pyrenees Mountains . It is a place where hopes for the overall victory die.

Since 1910 the Tour de France has included an incursion into the high passes of the Pyrenees Mountains. Stage ten in 1910 included four brutal climbs, featuring the first ascent of the Col du Peyresourde, the Col d'Aspin, the Col du Tourmalet, and the Col d'Aubisque. The press wrote of the new stage routes into the wilderness of the Pyrenees as “dangerous” and “bizarre.” Of course this was much to the delight of race director Henri Desgrange and his sponsoring newspaper Le Auto.

Stage 16 is exactly that, but then in the tougher direction - (i.e. the other way, so Aubisuqe first, then Tourmalet, then Aspin, then Peyresourde, all in one day).



I go on about it a lot since I did stage 16 exactly when I went in the Pyrenees a while back (and like to mention it a lot).

People occasionally refer to the cirlce of death when it's a tough day in the Pyrenees, but this particular line up is the 'classic' circle of death. I believe to commemorate this stage, Rapha have done a special jersey too.

Rundfahrt

Sgt_Pepper wrote:

Rundfahrt wrote:

Islwyn wrote:

Loved that turn of speed by Wiggo to close the group, he needs to do that to show all the non 'cycling followers' media people he is capable of riding himself.

So powerful and after all the power he has shown on the climbs! Of course all it takes is one wrong move from someone else and Wiggins is in the ambulance.

One wrong move and the top 4 bar wiggins could be in an ambulance, your point is moot.

How many of the top four are mixing it up with the sprinters?

Lichtblick

Thank you Rick. You are a very, Very Nice Person. No sarcasm or cliqueyness, just a straightforward answer.

Wednesday. Thanks for the Heads-Up. I'll be glued to the TV from as early as possible right through to the end.

Talking of live coverage, as an experiment today I tried Eurosport on the computer again. (This is the first year that they've deigned to show live TdF on tv, presumably because of Wiggins and Cavendish). To be honest, I then decided that I prefer the commentary and commentators on ITV4, to the two on Eurosport. Sean Kelly's monotone drone to every single question just irritated me after a while, as it had done last year, and the year before, and the year before that. At least the ITV4 guys put some variety of intonation into it and even some passion at a stage finish.

Just my two cents' worth.

Edit to add: I suppose I'm the only one here who can't watch when they're storming down a mountain at ~60mph?

iainf72

Lichtblick wrote:

Talking of live coverage, as an experiment today I tried Eurosport on the computer again. (This is the first year that they've deigned to show live TdF on tv, presumably because of Wiggins and Cavendish).

Que?

Big problem with the P&P show on ITV is the vast amounts of inaccuracy. Maybe they're better this year but I refuse to watch it, even though that means missing out on Rendell.

TheBigBean

I find it quite comical that people are suggesting Froome doesn't do his fair share of the work. Wiggins has done about 1km of pulling in the entire race, but he is the leader, so that's ok. Froome has done multiples of that on several stages.

rubertoe

Rundfahrt wrote:

How many of the top four are mixing it up with the sprinters?

1 André Greipell (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team 4:57:59
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
4 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
6 Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
7 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
8 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
9 Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
10 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD
11 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
12 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
13 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
14 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
15 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
16 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
17 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
18 Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
19 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
20 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team

Not a massive amount of sprinters there.

frenchfighter

Thanks

iainf72

As you all know, I hate all cyclists and cycling.

But even I have a special loathing for Vino. Why can't he just clear off?

frenchfighter

iainf72 wrote:

As you all know, I hate all cyclists and cycling.

But even I have a special loathing for Vino. Why can't he just clear off?

As much as I have liked him, I think his presence this Tour is not good and he is being a waste of space.

Rundfahrt

Rubertoe, you didn't answer the question.

Iainf72- Vino may be the only rider I truly dislike.

rubertoe

Rundfahrt wrote:

Rubertoe, you didn't answer the question.

Iainf72- Vino may be the only rider I truly dislike.

Well the answer is none.

the top 3 are "sprinters"

The top 20 are made up from 9 GC guys, a few puncheurs and a few of sprinters, and a random couple of frenchies as its Bastille day.