Tour de France 2013 - Race Chat

greasedscotsman

Centenary TdF silk scarf anyone? Looks a bit of a bargain!

http://www.rapha.cc/la-centime-silk-scarf/

Gazzetta67

Bloooody Hell - MIKE SMITH @ Eurosport - Snooker Bloooody Snooker to the Tour FFs - I remember this idiot at the top of Holme Moss during the Wincanton Classic screaming like a women. Poor Sean Kelly being surrounded by these 2 idiots.

yourpaceormine

This, is needed

http://boutique.letour.fr/stores/letour ... pid=127326

(along with stripey Breton shirt, and string of oignons)

dougzz

No Harmon is very disappointing. CK is hard work to listen to. Please Eurosport, fix it before the Tour.

Gazzetta67

Eurosport - Please get this guy on in place of the chuckle brothers Kirby & Smith or watch your ratings tumble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D568_-2E2Uo

ddraver

Everyone going to the Tour should write HARMON! on the road to show our support!

mididoctors

is he ill or summit?

Richmond Racer

Rumour had been knocking around that he wasnt happy with ES and his pay (nor was Kelly, for that matter). Also he's had some...erm...complicated personal stuff going on

Turfle

It might be a Matt Keenan Tour for me then.

greasedscotsman

yourpaceormine wrote:

This, is needed

http://boutique.letour.fr/stores/letour ... pid=127326

(along with stripey Breton shirt, and string of oignons)

Is that the ultimate TdF fancy dress outfit? Going as a Frenchman!

Pross

TailWindHome wrote:

Carlton Kirby ‏@carltonkirby 17m
As you're asking: Tour de France on Eurosport is me & Sean Kelly on site, with Mike Smith back in the Paris dungeon. David H returns soon.

'kinell, I know I take the mick out of Rob Hatch's pronounciation but he is the best ES have got by a long way (especially with Harmon's absence).

above_the_cows

Turfle wrote:

It might be a Matt Keenan Tour for me then.

Matt Keenan's commentary will go something like this:

"Blah blah blah Porte. Blah, blah, Porte. Porte, blah, Porte, blah blah. The little Australian Richie Porte, blah blah. Porte. Richie Porte. The Australian Richie Porte blah blah."

I might have to finally actually use (and improve) my Dutch.

Tom Butcher

RichN95 wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Carlton Kirby ‏@carltonkirby 17m
As you're asking: Tour de France on Eurosport is me & Sean Kelly on site, with Mike Smith back in the Paris dungeon. David H returns soon.

"Whaaat! I sorry but that's bolloks, JC"

Who was the guy that did the Giro, I think I'd probably give him another spin.

RichN95.

Above The Cows wrote:

Turfle wrote:

It might be a Matt Keenan Tour for me then.

Matt Keenan's commentary will go something like this:

"Blah blah blah Porte. Blah, blah, Porte. Porte, blah, Porte, blah blah. The little Australian Richie Porte, blah blah. Porte. Richie Porte. The Australian Richie Porte blah blah."

I might have to finally actually use (and improve) my Dutch.

That's a bit unfair on Keenan. He mentions Evans just as much as Porte (not surprising as he's known Cadel since they were kids).

Richmond Racer

RichN95 wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

Turfle wrote:

It might be a Matt Keenan Tour for me then.

Matt Keenan's commentary will go something like this:

"Blah blah blah Porte. Blah, blah, Porte. Porte, blah, Porte, blah blah. The little Australian Richie Porte, blah blah. Porte. Richie Porte. The Australian Richie Porte blah blah."

I might have to finally actually use (and improve) my Dutch.

That's a bit unfair on Keenan. He mentions Evans just as much as Porte (not surprising as he's known Cadel since they were kids).

He does seem to have a lot of man love for the little Tassie, though, Rich. 'tis natural

above_the_cows

RichN95 wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

Turfle wrote:

It might be a Matt Keenan Tour for me then.

Matt Keenan's commentary will go something like this:

"Blah blah blah Porte. Blah, blah, Porte. Porte, blah, Porte, blah blah. The little Australian Richie Porte, blah blah. Porte. Richie Porte. The Australian Richie Porte blah blah."

I might have to finally actually use (and improve) my Dutch.

That's a bit unfair on Keenan. He mentions Evans just as much as Porte (not surprising as he's known Cadel since they were kids).

I'm just going on the recent Dauphine coverage and seeing as Evans wasn't riding it, it was all Porte this and Porte that. And as RR noted at the time and just now he did seem to have a lot of man love for Titchy Richie.

Anyway all this port talk is not good when you have a weakness for a certain alcoholic beverage with the same name (minus an e) and it just reminds you that you have a very good bottle sitting in the kitchen asking to be consumed.

knedlicky

Richmond Racer wrote:

mroli wrote:

Anyone know why Cummings isn't on the BMC shortlist?

Cummings rode the Giro - probably trying to field as many fresh legs as possible, though the likes of Morabito made himself indispensible to Cuddles in the mountains so gets a shot at the Tour.

Cummings is on the BMC team for the Tour of Austria (coincides with first week of TdF).
And so too is Mathias Frank!

TheBigBean

So, in the who is going to be team leader* debate. Do we have the following

Sky - Froome (Wiggins rested, Porte a loyal domestique)
BMC - Evans (TVG not looking so good)
Movistar - Valverde (Quintana too young, Costa out of favour)

Any other leadership in the balance?


*personally, I think it is possible to have two and see who gets dropped first, but that ruins the debate.

RichN95.

TheBigBean wrote:

Any other leadership in the balance?

Cofidis. Is Taaramae or Coppel most likely to sneak unnoticed into that coveted 19th place?

Richmond Racer

Garmin - Hesjedal to be outshone by Talansky or Martin?

Turfle

Europcar?

Pross

Saxo - Contador or Rogers?

TheBigBean

Saxo - I think this will be Contador. I suspect this was a cheeky suggestion.
Europcar - Surely this is Rolland with Voeckler going for some stages?
Garmin - they all leaders, big love etc. No-one in the top ten.

FJS

FDJ. Bouhanni or Demare
Blanco. Gesink or Mollema
OPQS. Cavendish or Meersman

RichN95.

Orica Greenedge have big leadership issues too.

If you can find a viable leader in their squad, please let them know.

Turfle

OPQS just announced:
Mark Cavendish, Sylvain Chavanel, Michal Kwiatkowski, Tony Martin, Jerome Pineau, Gert Steegmans, Niki Terpstra, Matteo Trentin, and Peter Velits.

knedlicky

FJS wrote:

FDJ. Bouhanni or Demare
Blanco. Gesink or Mollema
OPQS. Cavendish or Meersman

I heard a rumour that FDJ won't be taking Demare, partly as it's his wish to only do short tours this year, partly as he thinks the route is too hilly for him and maybe next year will suit him more.

It's anyway unlikely FDJ will take both if they hope to get Pinot on the podium, so who goes of the two may be the one who wins the national championship (if either manage that).

Richmond Racer

RichN95 wrote:

Orica Greenedge have big leadership issues too.

If you can find a viable leader in their squad, please let them know.

But its Go....

Yeah, you're right

RichN95.

FJS wrote:

OPQS. Cavendish or Meersman

I know you were joking but Team Cav has been confirmed today: Cavendish, Chavanel, Kwiatkowski, Martin, Pineau, Steegmans, Terpstra, Trentin & P Velits

durhamwasp

Gone through it in my head several times, and really cant see how Froome wont win, other than a crash. He is easily the form cyclist, and the dominant rider of 2013. Not only that but as we saw last year, the TdF climbs are absolutely made for the sky mountain railway train! Infact, I can see him walking it with boring ease to be honest. Would love to see him win on the Ventoux.