Tour de Romandie 2014 "spoiler"
Comments
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argyllflyer wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:I'm the first to say how rubbish this race normally is - but why isn't it on Eurosport?
Sky bought the rights to it (and Tour de Suisse which they seem to have less interest in as it wasn't shown live in 2013 and isn't going to be this year either) last year, I assume because of its position as warm-up race for the Tour contenders such as Froome. Whether they were outbidded or not I don't know. But British Eurosport have the snooker and Turkey on just now so maybe felt it wasn't worth the price.
The coverage on Sky is identical to 2013, from presenter Graham Little to pundit Roger Hammond, and there has been a predictable focus on Team Sky. Yesterday's preview was interviews with some of the Giant-Shimano squad though so no not totally GC and Sky-obsessed.
F*ckers. Trying to screw more money out of me with monopolistic behaviour.0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Term1te wrote:OCDuPalais wrote:Term1te wrote:If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis,
What you talking about, Wallis?
German name for the Canton of Valais, half of which is part of the Swiss Romandie, where apparently there is currently a cycling tour.
Er......you're not familiar with the work of the late Gary Coleman then?
No I wasn't, although Wikipedia has filled in the gaps. Sad story....0 -
Term1te wrote:andyp wrote:dsoutar wrote:Why is it you never see Swiss wine in the UK - do they drink it all themselves ? There's hundreds of acres of vineyards, both here and also in the Rhone valley around Sion
The Swiss take pride in growing most of their food in their own country, and this includes wine, which is good stuff on the whole.
I live close to a number of Swiss vineyards, and to be honest the reason you don't see it in the UK, is that it isn't very good, not the bottles you could buy at UK prices. If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis, and I had a really nice Merlot from Tessin on a flight once, but if you can afford to drink it, it probably won't be that good. The local white wines are drinkable, but only come out when we have visitors. The reds north of the Alps, think German red wine...
We have the Belgium Beer thread...how about one for connoisseurs of Swiss wine?Half man, Half bike0 -
Pross wrote:(this race must be dull if I've resorted to posting musical theatre lyrics!)
There's never anything wrong with a bit of musical theatre, because you know the sun will come out tomorrow, you've always got your memories, you can post them on the pics thread, you can dream a dream if the parcours or racing is poor, or look at the hills they're alive with the sound of music, think of all the food glorious food that the poor skinny b*ggers can't eat, look at the 2014 gear thread for a few of your favourite things and just generally think wouldn't it be loverly if we all got on.
On second thoughts this race is really dull and I'm actually not annoyed I have a two day wedding coming up and so will miss the rest of the coverage.Correlation is not causation.0 -
Ridgerider wrote:Term1te wrote:andyp wrote:dsoutar wrote:Why is it you never see Swiss wine in the UK - do they drink it all themselves ? There's hundreds of acres of vineyards, both here and also in the Rhone valley around Sion
The Swiss take pride in growing most of their food in their own country, and this includes wine, which is good stuff on the whole.
I live close to a number of Swiss vineyards, and to be honest the reason you don't see it in the UK, is that it isn't very good, not the bottles you could buy at UK prices. If someone else is paying, there are some very nice reds from Wallis, and I had a really nice Merlot from Tessin on a flight once, but if you can afford to drink it, it probably won't be that good. The local white wines are drinkable, but only come out when we have visitors. The reds north of the Alps, think German red wine...
We have the Belgium Beer thread...how about one for connoisseurs of Swiss wine?
That could be a pretty short thread....
Wine, of course, is an integral part of any TdF stage Spoiler intro, along with cheese, local produce, horses, geology and occasionally, if needs must, a stage profile.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
No tA Doctor wrote:Wine, of course, is an integral part of any TdF stage Spoiler intro, along with cheese, local produce, horses, geology and occasionally, if needs must, a stage profile.
Ahem and cows, don't forget the cows!
Correlation is not causation.0 -
I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.0
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Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
Does it possess undertones of elderflower and juniper berries? Or an alpine meadow?
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The masseur with the Spanish team at the World RR Cycling Championships for the last 20+ years is also the masseur with Malaga FC, the football club sponsored by UNESCO.Macaloon wrote:Froome won in 2013 without much of a team for most of the Tour. He's raised his game for 2014, dispensing with the team for most of the season. He should ride the Tour in a UNESCO jersey.
So Froome wouldn’t be the first in the professional cycling world to be associated with UNESCO, and would have at least one member in his backroom staff.0 -
knedlicky wrote:
The masseur with the Spanish team at the World RR Cycling Championships for the last 20+ years is also the masseur with Malaga FC, the football club sponsored by UNESCO.Macaloon wrote:Froome won in 2013 without much of a team for most of the Tour. He's raised his game for 2014, dispensing with the team for most of the season. He should ride the Tour in a UNESCO jersey.
So Froome wouldn’t be the first in the professional cycling world to be associated with UNESCO, and would have at least one member in his backroom staff.
Add to that Sky have actually already cornered the UN blue in their kit. Also good if he can wing a UN passport as it means you can smuggle all manner of things across borders with diplomatic immunity Correlation is not causation.0 -
knedlicky wrote:
The masseur with the Spanish team at the World RR Cycling Championships for the last 20+ years is also the masseur with Malaga FC, the football club sponsored by UNESCO.Macaloon wrote:Froome won in 2013 without much of a team for most of the Tour. He's raised his game for 2014, dispensing with the team for most of the season. He should ride the Tour in a UNESCO jersey.
So Froome wouldn’t be the first in the professional cycling world to be associated with UNESCO, and would have at least one member in his backroom staff.
I've hiked in many UNESCO World Heritage places around the world, so with that connection would also offer my services....
...if I didnt think Froome was a bit of a tool
:P0 -
r0bh wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
Does it possess undertones of elderflower and juniper berries? Or an alpine meadow?
Undertones of edelweiss surely? Of is that the wrong alpine country?Correlation is not causation.0 -
Dolan Driver wrote:Frenchfighter, your deep interest and passion for the sport of professional cycling is not in question. Your hatred of Team SKY is also not in doubt and you are entitled to hold that opinion if you so chose.
However your constant negative comments in every race thread in recent times about Froome and SKY is beginning to make this forum a fairly sh!tty place to come to when we neutral pro fans want to see what went on in the world of professional cycling on any given day. I neither love nor hate SKY, they are just another pro team in my humble opinion.
So FF, I implore you to draw a line under your SKY bashing for the sake of the neutrals in the audience who just want to enjoy the racing, whoever it is that is winning or losing.
DD.
Frenchie is just keeping an update on how the SKY squad is riding leading up to 'the big one' (as most folks see it) ... Given how the majority of others behave about all things SKY related (Wiggins' dress sense, Michelle Cound, Homophobic remarks about skinsuits) I'd say commenting on the actual racing is a welcome change ... Sadly their hasn't even been much participation, far less racing from SKY (apart from a brief flurry at Andalucia, plus Thomas (Flamders, P-R) and Wiggins (P-R) and Stannard who got injured) ...0 -
Above The Cows wrote:r0bh wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
Does it possess undertones of elderflower and juniper berries? Or an alpine meadow?
Undertones of edelweiss surely? Of is that the wrong alpine country?
Edelwiess a-plenty in Switzerland0 -
I think he's, or will be, a better climber than Gerrans, but Gerrans is a far superior rider. The latter dominates races in Australia, not just wins. He's a potential climber/hilly classic rider with a decent kick according to his teammates. But as you say, his results so far indicate that he's good at hilly race. The Jonathan Lovelock bloke said similarly about his ability after a long stage rather than a straight up climb like Fuji.frenchfighter wrote:There is a piece on him in CA number 3 by someone who knows him very well. Says he is an excellent rider, a rider a bit like Gerrans (punchy, hard to drop on the climbs, fast finish - not the wheelsucking talent). Could lose a few kg of muscle mass as well. He has also had a bad knee injury (6month off) then when Liquigas were at a race to check him out he broke his ankle just before hand. 2013 was his first year of uninterrupted training. I dont follow Asia at all so can only go on what this chap says.
He has also been pretty good at finishing races this year unlike some of his collegaues with significantly more experience.
Arredondo always put him to the sword in Japan when they met up...0 -
wombly knees wrote:
I think he's, or will be, a better climber than Gerrans, but Gerrans is a far superior rider. The latter dominates races in Australia, not just wins. He's a potential climber/hilly classic rider with a decent kick according to his teammates. But as you say, his results so far indicate that he's good at hilly race. The Jonathan Lovelock bloke said similarly about his ability after a long stage rather than a straight up climb like Fuji.frenchfighter wrote:There is a piece on him in CA number 3 by someone who knows him very well. Says he is an excellent rider, a rider a bit like Gerrans (punchy, hard to drop on the climbs, fast finish - not the wheelsucking talent). Could lose a few kg of muscle mass as well. He has also had a bad knee injury (6month off) then when Liquigas were at a race to check him out he broke his ankle just before hand. 2013 was his first year of uninterrupted training. I dont follow Asia at all so can only go on what this chap says.
He has also been pretty good at finishing races this year unlike some of his collegaues with significantly more experience.
Arredondo always put him to the sword in Japan when they met up...
Oh, no question that Gerrans is the superior rider.
Frenchie, the guy you're talking about is Andrew Christie-Johnson, his (and Porte, Haas, Von Hoff's etc) former manager - Anthony Tan based his CA piece on his story. Very interesting guy.0 -
Anthony Tan piece? An interesting Tan article without Aus being god's gift to cycling? That is a rarity... even if second hand.0
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I think that's being generous to him... his "updates" tend to be more along the lines of "look at what this useless bunch of tossers have done now" than simply stating the facts. And if he's so concerned with this one team above all others for whatever reason, what's stopping him from starting his very own "All about SKY" thread where he can post these "updates" without cluttering up the rest of the forum? As someone already pointed out, it's the way he drags it into so many threads that is causing problems for people. Spoiler threads are meant to be about a race, not any single team in that race.Crankbrother wrote:Frenchie is just keeping an update on how the SKY squad is riding leading up to 'the big one' (as most folks see it) ... Given how the majority of others behave about all things SKY related (Wiggins' dress sense, Michelle Cound, Homophobic remarks about skinsuits) I'd say commenting on the actual racing is a welcome change ... Sadly their hasn't even been much participation, far less racing from SKY (apart from a brief flurry at Andalucia, plus Thomas (Flamders, P-R) and Wiggins (P-R) and Stannard who got injured) ...
I'm reluctant to block him because he actually does post a lot of good stuff, and I don't just mean photos. There are often races where he's the only one providing a running commentary on the thread, and I appreciate that. But he really needs to turn the SKY stuff down a couple of notches.0 -
Looks like it’s going to be raining for the first half of today’s stage (i.e. including for the first two climbs/descents).0
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Lieuwe Westra (AST) and Matthias Brändle (IAM), DNS. Brändle was 5th in the GC.
Break formed with Wyss (BMC), Bobridge (BEL), Veelers (GIA), Favilli (LAM), Vallee (LTB), Grivko (AST), Gautier and Malacarne (both EUC), about 50 secs ahead after 15 kms.0 -
Without frenchie pro race would have half the activity it does have.
Hopefully today's stage gives us some entertaining racing.0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
A more scathing wine recommendation is impossible to imagine....a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.0 -
wombly knees wrote:Anthony Tan piece? An interesting Tan article without Aus being god's gift to cycling? That is a rarity... even if second hand.
Yeah - managed to make himself not the focus for once
Its a good chapter - get hold of Cycling Anthology vol 3 if you can0 -
Macaloon wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
A more scathing wine recommendation is impossible to imagine.
"...when poured into both your bidons for a morning ride"0 -
Shamelessly copied from elsewhere...
Chris Froome @chrisfroome 6m
Today's profile and heavy rain forecasted. 3 guesses what Nibali is planning for today.. #WWND (What Would Nibali Do) pic.twitter.com/twNufXdrZK0 -
knedlicky wrote:
The masseur with the Spanish team at the World RR Cycling Championships for the last 20+ years is also the masseur with Malaga FC, the football club sponsored by UNESCO.Macaloon wrote:Froome won in 2013 without much of a team for most of the Tour. He's raised his game for 2014, dispensing with the team for most of the season. He should ride the Tour in a UNESCO jersey.
So Froome wouldn’t be the first in the professional cycling world to be associated with UNESCO, and would have at least one member in his backroom staff.
The knedlicky gilet: awarded to poster of the most encyclopaedic anecdote of a stage race.
[See what happens when FF creates an image vacuum?]...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:Macaloon wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
A more scathing wine recommendation is impossible to imagine.
"...when poured into both your bidons for a morning ride"
Oh I thought "quite refreshing" was code for is drinkable in a spritzer.Correlation is not causation.0 -
Above The Cows wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:Macaloon wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:I've no problem with some of the white wines from Valais. A petite Arvine can be quite refreshing on a hot summer's day.
A more scathing wine recommendation is impossible to imagine.
"...when poured into both your bidons for a morning ride"
Oh I thought "quite refreshing" was code for is drinkable in a spritzer.
Spritzers (I hate even typing the word) are the work of the devil
Please do not bring them up again0 -
Now today could be good, but there's a bad mix of contenders.
Aside from Nibali, Pinot, Frank, Roche/Majka, maybe Spilak, the rest of the GC riders are all really good TTers that might be happy to wait for tomorrow. Tony Martin might need to be got rid of first though.0 -
Haha, reminds me of Cosmo's description of him from MSR 2014 :Pjam1e wrote:Shamelessly copied from elsewhere...
Chris Froome @chrisfroome 6m
Today's profile and heavy rain forecasted. 3 guesses what Nibali is planning for today.. #WWND (What Would Nibali Do) pic.twitter.com/twNufXdrZK0
