Tour de France - 2012

[Greystache]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Looking forward to the first mountain stage on Saturday. As interesting as the final 1km sprint can be, in the context of the GC race the flat stages are pretty dull.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Looking forward to the first mountain stage on Saturday. As interesting as the final 1km sprint can be, in the context of the GC race the flat stages are pretty dull.

Yes, love the mountain stages, the best part.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Looking forward to the first mountain stage on Saturday. As interesting as the final 1km sprint can be, in the context of the GC race the flat stages are pretty dull.

Watching for 4 hours all to see a 200m sprint finish ain't my idea of fun, especially at that time of night.... The 30min highlight package has been ample viewing.

But all that changes when the real tour begins on Saturday night.

[EasternWest]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

No more than many others, but I believe that has all but been cleaned up. You would have to be crazy to use performance enhancement drugs. Have a look at what is coming out now about Armstrong.

No, Contador is a special kind of cheat. The kind that costs other people the chance to win the tour. He cheated in 2007, though in the murky world of cycling drug investigations wasn't caught at the time. Evans should be a two time tour winner now, and for that Contador deserved to be remembered as a special kind of cheat.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

So enjoying watching the TDF, lack of sleep is starting to take it's toll though...I arrive at work looking like a zombie managing about 5 hrs sleep each day, luckily I can hide away in my office.

I don't know who is looking more forward to the rest day the TDF riders or myself.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

So enjoying watching the TDF, lack of sleep is starting to take it's toll though...I arrive at work looking like a zombie managing about 5 hrs sleep each day, luckily I can hide away in my office.

I don't know who is looking more forward to the rest day the TDF riders or myself.

Haha, yes its tough going for us.

Great to watch the mountain stages, really enjoyed the last two nights. The time trial tonight is going to be very interesting between Cadel and Wiggins as a large time difference can make it hard to claw back later.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Haha, yes its tough going for us.

Great to watch the mountain stages, really enjoyed the last two nights. The time trial tonight is going to be very interesting between Cadel and Wiggins as a large time difference can make it hard to claw back later.

Yep BAD, I was hoping that Cadel could've clawed back some of those seconds that Wiggins has on him after he attacked towards the end of the stage last night...but wasn't to be.

Yes, I love the mountain stages also...I have a friend who is working with the Green Edge team over there I can't wait till he gets back so I can hear from an insiders point of view how it was working with them.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Great to watch the mountain stages, really enjoyed the last two nights. The time trial tonight is going to be very interesting between Cadel and Wiggins as a large time difference can make it hard to claw back later.

What do you see as being a 'large' difference?

Going to be a tough night, Cadel has always given up time to Wiggins in this time of TT (early in the race). He gave up 1'43" over 52km at the Criterium du Dauphine last month... Any similiar time gap will be too great against a Sky team thats looking very strong.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

What do you see as being a 'large' difference?

Going to be a tough night, Cadel has always given up time to Wiggins in this time of TT (early in the race). He gave up 1'43" over 52km at the Criterium du Dauphine last month... Any similiar time gap will be too great against a Sky team thats looking very strong.

Yes that is what I call large based on what has happened to date.

Lets hope Cadel was using last month as training only and wasn't too worried about his time.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Yes that is what I call large based on what has happened to date.

Lets hope Cadel was using last month as training only and wasn't too worried about his time.

More importantly lets hope he holds onto his drink bottle.

(He dropped his drink bottle in the TT I mentioned and struggled in warm conditions, but Wiggins rode an awesome TT... as he has a habit of doing)

Really needs to keep the gap under a minute and make up the time when the big mountain stages come around.

[GVGjr]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

If Cadel can keep the damaged to 30 seconds tonight he would have done a good job. If he drops a minute then he has a lot of work to do.

[GVGjr]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Can Cadel bounce back from last night?

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

Can Cadel bounce back from last night?

Its starting to get a big margin to make up, even at this stage of the Tour. He is going to have to chip away in the mountains this week.

[Mantis]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

What do you see as being a 'large' difference?

Going to be a tough night, Cadel has always given up time to Wiggins in this time of TT (early in the race). He gave up 1'43" over 52km at the Criterium du Dauphine last month... Any similiar time gap will be too great against a Sky team thats looking very strong.

History repeats.

Going to be extremely tough now especially with Froome looking so strong too.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tour de France - 2012

History repeats.

Going to be extremely tough now especially with Froome looking so strong too.

I guess the big difference is the three weeks of cycling and can Wiggins and Froome last the distance.