Tick Tock - Tour de France 2015
Comments
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The last time they did the Croix de Fer before the Alpe was in 2008 (they also did the Galibier first)
I recently watched the bit on the CdF again. It features CSC (Cancellara/Voigt/Arvesen) hammering it on the front for the Schlecks and Sastre and reducing the bunch to about 15-20. And just sitting a wheel or two behind CSC there's this neo-pro from Barloworld who keeps looking down at his stem. Allegedly he showed no talent at that age.
Barloworld's main contribution to that Tour was Jon Lee Agustyn's near death experience though."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 -
No Marcel Kittel for the Tour.
John Degenkolb will take over as lead sprinter and Tom Dumoulin will take over as lead hair model.
How is that pay cut that I talked about earlier coming along?
In any case, he can only win if it has less than 100m elevation. Which means they are few chances for him anyway. Degenkolb is the better choice and Kittel can sort himself out and take 5 wins in the Vuelta.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Can we all agree in advance that the 1st week will be tough and crashy, and to not suddenly get up in arms about it during the Tour itself.
We've known about this for a long time.0 -
I complained about it when the route was announced, so I reserve my right to say 'I told you so' when one or two of the 'big four' are out of contention before we see a mountain.Can we all agree in advance that the 1st week will be tough and crashy, and to not suddenly get up in arms about it during the Tour itself.
We've known about this for a long time.Twitter: @RichN950 -
I complained about it when the route was announced, so I reserve my right to say 'I told you so' when one or two of the 'big four' are out of contention before we see a mountain.Can we all agree in advance that the 1st week will be tough and crashy, and to not suddenly get up in arms about it during the Tour itself.
We've known about this for a long time.
I'm struggling to think of a time when one of the big names *wasn't* out of contention before the first mountain. Although by 'struggling to think of...' I mean 'thought about it for two or three seconds, couldn't think of one and figured if I posted on here then someone will do the hard work for me'.
I'd like to say I'd make more effort if I wasn't packing, but that's not true. I'm just lazy.
Edit: CORSICA!! There was a small mountain there, wasn't there? Anyway, the general thrust of my point stands.Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy0 -
I complained about it when the route was announced, so I reserve my right to say 'I told you so' when one or two of the 'big four' are out of contention before we see a mountain.Can we all agree in advance that the 1st week will be tough and crashy, and to not suddenly get up in arms about it during the Tour itself.
We've known about this for a long time.
"I told you so" is permissible "it's a joke" is just a bit tabloidy0 -
Stages 18, 19 & 20 for me.
Why is it everytime I see that graphic of the Glandon / Croix de Fer I feel a bit sick, but when I ignore it I feel OK about riding the etape? :?
Staying in Le Corbier and will decide on where to watch depending on weather etc.0 -
I fully expect 2 of the big 4 not to make it past the first week. Quintana vs Nibali at the end...
I fully expect people to reflect on this in a few weeks time and completely ridicule me for getting it really badly wrong.0 -
Yeah, but they're just encouraging it. A good Tour should have three or four straightforward non-GC stages just so everyone calms down a bit. This Tour is like giving a five year old a loaded pistol on Christmas morning.I'm struggling to think of a time when one of the big names *wasn't* out of contention before the first mountain. Although by 'struggling to think of...' I mean 'thought about it for two or three seconds, couldn't think of one and figured if I posted on here then someone will do the hard work for me'.Twitter: @RichN950 -
Also no "he only won it 'cos [ENTER NON ATTENDING RIDER'S NAME HERE] wasn't there"
It's incredibly pointless and tedious bearing in mind that all GT's/Classics/one weekers are now won due to the lack of participation of Merckx0 -
Wait a minute... Giant-Alpecin used the Kittel announcement to cover the fact that there will be NO CHENG...0
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giving a five year old a loaded pistol on Christmas morning.I'm struggling to think of a time when one of the big names *wasn't* out of contention before the first mountain. Although by 'struggling to think of...' I mean 'thought about it for two or three seconds, couldn't think of one and figured if I posted on here then someone will do the hard work for me'.
You say that like it would be a bad thing...Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy0 -
Kittel is not a happy bunny.
http://www.marcelkittel.de/en/Not being nominated is without doubt the most difficult time of my career. The forced pause this spring was already not easy. Although there were times I wanted to just throw in the towel, I tried to stay strong and find a way. This is just another blow to me, that I didn’t earn my team’s trust for a Tour nomination. It is not a good situation but on the other hand, instructive. I will learn to cope with it and thereby I will also grow.0 -
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As a classics fan I'm quietly pleased Degenkolb isn't relegated to a leadout train.
I still see him as being the guy that won't finish the flat sprint stages in the top 3, but if its rolling or cobbled, he'll be up for it. I can see him getting a couple of top 3's, maybe even a stage win.0 -
Kittel's only got himself to blame. They said the big test would be the ZLM Tour and he got dropped on most stages.
So that's two duff Tours and two good Tours for him now...0 -
Great for Cavendish.
That Tour stage win record is getting closer...
Though having said that Greipel looks mighty.0 -
There were very few significant crashes in Yorkshire last year, apart from the one at the finish on stage 1. But then that's a sprint, which is always dangerous.Edit: CORSICA!! There was a small mountain there, wasn't there? Anyway, the general thrust of my point stands.0 -
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If the current weather holds, it's going to present certain challenges when they hit the south...
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The last time they did the Croix de Fer before the Alpe was in 2008 (they also did the Galibier first)
I recently watched the bit on the CdF again. It features CSC (Cancellara/Voigt/Arvesen) hammering it on the front for the Schlecks and Sastre and reducing the bunch to about 15-20. And just sitting a wheel or two behind CSC there's this neo-pro from Barloworld who keeps looking down at his stem. Allegedly he showed no talent at that age.
Nice catch. I really got to watch me some old stages of the TourIt's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
Turns out I've ridden the exact route of stage 12 - about 5 years ago.
It's a monstrous stage, one of the ones I'm looking forward to the most in the tour.0 -
The last time they did the Croix de Fer before the Alpe was in 2008 (they also did the Galibier first)
I recently watched the bit on the CdF again. It features CSC (Cancellara/Voigt/Arvesen) hammering it on the front for the Schlecks and Sastre and reducing the bunch to about 15-20. And just sitting a wheel or two behind CSC there's this neo-pro from Barloworld who keeps looking down at his stem. Allegedly he showed no talent at that age.
It's well established fact that he was experimenting with an early iteration of his later Sky sponsored doping regime.0 -
FDJ
Chavanel, Bonnet, Ladagnous, Demare, Pinot, Morabito, Geniez, Roy, Vaugrenard
http://www.equipecyclistefdj.fr/fr/actualites/l-equipe-fdj-pour-le-tour-de-france-2015/
https://www.strava.com/pros/tpinot
Chavanel 7th overall in ToB last year0 -
Great for Cavendish.
That Tour stage win record is getting closer...
Though having said that Greipel looks mighty.
Really? He always seems inconsistent to me. If he positions himself perfectly then he'll be a match for Cavendish. If he doesn't then he generally finishes off the podium.0 -
Great for Cavendish.
That Tour stage win record is getting closer...
Though having said that Greipel looks mighty.
Really? He always seems inconsistent to me. If he positions himself perfectly then he'll be a match for Cavendish. If he doesn't then he generally finishes off the podium.
Yeah he had a great ZLM tour and Lotto are a good leadout team.0 -
Sky team...picked by Millar:
Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Danny Pate
Wout Poels, Richie Porte, Sergio Henao and Pete Kennaugh
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/robert-millar-picks-the-team-sky-squad-for-the-tour-de-franceContador is the Greatest0 -
Sky team...picked by Millar:
Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Danny Pate
Wout Poels, Richie Porte, Sergio Henao and Pete Kennaugh
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/robert-millar-picks-the-team-sky-squad-for-the-tour-de-france
no Froome - controversial0
