Tour De France

Well its that time of year again guys,

The tour starts tomorrow,

Who will win ?

NOT ARMSTRONG

The sprints will be won by our Mark Cavendish,

I also think his team Columbia will win the team event,

No idea about the mountain men ,

Or time trails,

Whats your views and predictions ?

Don't rule out Armstrong - he's a sensational athlete and competitor - but the smart money is all on Contador. Armstrong has said he will ride for Contador if he represents the team's best chance of a win, but I'm not sure I believe it (shades of Bernard Hinault/Greg LeMond in 1986?). We will see. Evans will bottle it again - his best chance was last year and he didn't take it. Sastre's tactics last year were spot on but I can't see him winning it again. Menchov always get mentioned and never produces the goods, no reason why this year will be different.

Cav will win stages but does he have the consistency to take the green jersey? He will be a marked man in the bunch sprints so will need his team to be strong. He can do it - if he stays out of trouble and can get over the mountains - but it won't be easy.

Wouldn't suprise me if Contador took King of the Mountains as well as yellow. Maybe Andy Schleck will challenge for it - I fancy him for a big stage win in the mountains but not the GC.

No doubt there will be positive drugs tests again - sad but at least they are getting caught.

BTW if you want to know what sports commentary is all about, listen to Phil Liggett on the ITV4 coverage, especially the mountain stages. Best in the business.

Cav will have to also start going for mid stage sprints as well if he wants the green jersey. though I'm sure I read an article saying this year the goal is to finish and a few stage wins.

I believe more than likely it will be Contador but will be interesting in the later stages if Armstrong's in with a chance  will he follow team orders or go for it himself.

BTW if you want to know what sports commentary is all about, listen to Phil Liggett on the ITV4 coverage, especially the mountain stages. Best in the business.[/quote]

Fully agree,

Its a pity ITV4 can not show more than the limited highlights they are allowed,

Eurosport is crap,

I turn the sound down and admire the scenery most of the time.

Cavendish: "If I reach Paris and I win as much as I can along the way, maybe the green jersey comes then. But I won't be disappointed if I don't have it."

I see Tom Boonen has just been cleared to ride by a court of arbitration despite his fondness for cocaine - could be a challenger for green.

Quoted from grimsby pete

BTW if you want to know what sports commentary is all about, listen to Phil Liggett on the ITV4 coverage, especially the mountain stages. Best in the business.

Fully agree,

Its a pity ITV4 can not show more than the limited highlights they are allowed,

Eurosport is crap,

I turn the sound down and admire the scenery most of the time.[/quote]

Is Phil Liggett the guy who used to do it when it was on channel 4? the Channel 4 coverage was great from what I remember, I've not got the attention span to watch a whole live race but used to enjoy the half hour daily show on channel 4.

I think so didn't ITV just nick the whole channel 4 crew

Is Phil Liggett the guy who used to do it when it was on channel 4? the Channel 4 coverage was great from what I remember, I've not got the attention span to watch a whole live race but used to enjoy the half hour daily show on channel 4.

[/quote]

Yes thats right,

ITV4 now have a 1 hour  highlights programme,

Which is good if you are at work during the day,

I am retired so on some days I like to watch the race live,

The mountain stages are the ones I find I am viewing if I am in,

I also like to see the sprint finishes now we have Cavendish in the race.

Just off on a slight tangent, .....does everyone know the Tour of Britain is starting in scunny this year? got some big teams in it this year apparently....i live there so i'll be going along to it....

Wiggins 3rd today,

Cavendish to win tomorrow Sunday,

Come on you brits,

Quoted from tails303

Just off on a slight tangent, .....does everyone know the Tour of Britain is starting in scunny this year? got some big teams in it this year apparently....i live there so i'll be going along to it....

No I did not know that,

Do they come to suffolk and if yes when ?

Ta very much.

Just saw a interview with Bradley Wiggins,

He is hoping to finish in the top 15 overall,

He has improved his mountain work and looks really lean and fit.

He does seem very upbeat about his chances, though I must admit I cant see him finishing that high. all depends on how the big players deal with the mountains.  His team should nail the team time trial.

Cavendish wins, ( sunday,)

As predicted by me,  

Prediction for monday,

Cavendish again,  

was quite surprised boardman thinks that teams will start not bothering chasing down breakaways so less chance of a sprint.

Quoted from grimsby pete

No I did not know that,

Do they come to suffolk and if yes when ?

Ta very much.

Doesn't look like they do mate...nearest to suffolk looks like being round here or the final london stage..

http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/_ns_race/

Quoted from grimsby pete

No I did not know that,

Do they come to suffolk and if yes when ?

Ta very much.

I'd fancy myself as having a chance of becoming "King of the Mountains" in Suffolk

Quoted from barralad

I'd fancy myself as having a chance of becoming "King of the Mountains" in Suffolk

I been here over 22 years now,

I am still looking for a slight incline,

Quoted from grimsby pete

I been here over 22 years now,

I am still looking for a slight incline,

Have you tried viagra  

Quoted from Civvy at last

Have you tried viagra  

I bloody need it civvy

Cavendish wins again ,

As predicted,

Tomorrow tues, team time trail,

Team Columbia to win ,

I'll take that bet columbia have done all the work today so a close 1 with Astana taking it.

Just finished watching the highlights and Lance Armstrong being interviewed.  God I hope Contador wins maybe overtakes Armstrong on the final mountain stage as he goes past just sticks his fingers up and mouths something that the commentators can't repeat.

Quoted from leicmariner

I'll take that bet columbia have done all the work today so a close 1 with Astana taking it.

Yes you were right,

Phew ! what a race  ,

I was impressed with Armstrong, maybe he his not past it.

On the flat tomorrow,

So Cavendish it is,

Haven't seen yet but followed the txt commentary on bbc. If you going for Cav I'll go for a Wiggalius break away after 3km and none of the teams can be arsed to chase it down. (insert cheeky smiley face here as work computer wont let me use them)

Quoted from leicmariner

Haven't seen yet but followed the txt commentary on bbc. If you going for Cav I'll go for a Wiggalius break away after 3km and none of the teams can be arsed to chase it down. (insert cheeky smiley face here as work computer wont let me use them)

   Like that ?

that would be the 1

I cant believe I was wrong!

So your wrong non of predicted Tomas Voeckler

Though I did say a break away would stay out!

It nearly didn't,the rest all wanted to stop and wait so he had to do the last 3ks on his own.

Yes just before that the live stream I was watching on justin.tv went down finally found a english commentary stream in time to watch him go over the line.

oh well watch the cricket now.

Quoted from leicmariner

oh well watch the cricket now.

All down to Kevin Springbok I think.

not doing nearly as badly as I feared though

famous last words as Mr Springbok finds another way of giving away his wicket.

I have been out all day so not seen any TDF or cricket,

Just put the cricket on,

We look if we are doing OK,

I will watch ITV4 highlights of the TDF later,

Sounds as if I was wrong and Leicmariner half wrong,

Cavendish to win tomorrow then.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I have been out all day so not seen any TDF or cricket,

Just put the cricket on,

We look if we are doing OK,

I will watch ITV4 highlights of the TDF later,

Sounds as if I was wrong and Leicmariner half wrong,

Cavendish to win tomorrow then.

Leicestermariner is usually half wrong   He is a junior member of the Icenian tribe and shouldn't know much about bike racing really,his bike is still in my shed.

Quoted from theicenian

Leicestermariner is usually half wrong   He is a junior member of the Icenian tribe and shouldn't know much about bike racing really,his bike is still in my shed.

Ever thought about putting it on E bay Icy ?

Quoted from grimsby pete

Ever thought about putting it on E bay Icy ?

Lightweight rust and rotting rubber.Does that sell well on e-bay?

Just seen the finish for tomorrow,

Cavendish will find it very hard to win it, iom,

So second thoughts,

I will go for Contador,

Pah,

could any of these so called "cyclists" complete the Bike To The Bank marathon ?

No chance.  

Quoted from grimsby pete

Just seen the finish for tomorrow,

Cavendish will find it very hard to win it, iom,

So second thoughts,

I will go for Contador,

If so Armstrong just behind though dont discount a shleck to urine on the astana parade

"Pah,

could any of these so called "cyclists" complete the Bike To The Bank marathon ?

No chance."

only if they have there spotters out in the final km to check gradient an wind.

Quoted from leicmariner

If so Armstrong just behind though dont discount a shleck to urine on the astana parade

"Pah,

could any of these so called "cyclists" complete the Bike To The Bank marathon ?

No chance."

only if they have there spotters out in the final km to check gradient an wind.

Steep Hill is not quite a vertical drop.

Hushvod wins ,

BUT

Well done David Miller,

A really good breakaway and only caught in the  last 2k.

Tomorrow the mountains , great !

No idea who will win the next 3 stages,

I will just sit back and enjoy the race and the scenery.

I thought millar would do it with about 3k to go!

the mountains now lets see if a track cyclist can go up hill (Wiggins)

Hello gents. I know nothing about the tour but am increasingly interested. I just wondered if anybody could tell me what would be considered a successful tour for Wiggins, Millar and Cavendish?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Hello gents. I know nothing about the tour but am increasingly interested. I just wondered if anybody could tell me what would be considered a successful tour for Wiggins, Millar and Cavendish?

Wiggins and Miller are both hoping for a top 10-15 place by the end of the race,

Cavendish is looking to win as many stages as poss,

He is a sprinter so he wins when the stage is flat,

At the moment he is the fastest sprinter in the world,

Last year he won 4 stages,

This year he will be looking for 6-7 wins,

At present Cavendish has won 2 so hopefully another 4 or 5 to come ,

Miller and Wiggins are both good time trialists,

So later in tour , one of them might win that stage,

The mountains are a killer , so we will find out in the next 3 days who will be in contention and who falls behind,

We then go back on the flat but there sre some more moutain stages later.

Hope that gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect,

Thanks Pete, much appreciated.

Cav is looking to FINISH the tour this year and if that happens maybe the green comes with it.

I see after the first group caught Millar today they dropped him and he lost a minute plus, really do feel sorry for him to get caught with a km to go and still lose a minute has gotta hurt.

Quoted from leicmariner

I thought millar would do it with about 3k to go!

the mountains now lets see if a track cyclist can go up hill (Wiggins)

although at the time of writing this I thought Wiggins would be dropped like a bad smell as soon as it went up hill may I be the first to say well flipping done Wiggo!!! If he can keep it up top 15 will come and hopefully pick up a bit of time on the time trial.

Quoted from leicmariner

although at the time of writing this I thought Wiggins would be dropped like a bad smell as soon as it went up hill may I be the first to say well flipping done Wiggo!!! If he can keep it up top 15 will come and hopefully pick up a bit of time on the time trial.

Agree,

He did very well today,

Lets hope he can keep it up,

Also old man Armstrong is doing a lot better than I thought he would,so well done to him too.

Lovely scenery today , don't you think ?

very nice.  though the usual crowd of insane cycling fans on the mountain roads distracted a little.   

very nice.  though the usual crowd of insane cycling fans on the mountain roads distracted a little.   

Sanchez deserved win today,

Wiggins still doing very well holding down 5th place overall.

One more killer day in the mountains then the lads can have a day off.

Shame about Cav but then thats what happens if you cant get consistent sprint points

Another succesfull breakaway,

Won today by Fedrigo,

Wiggins still doing well in 5th,

Rest day tomorrow monday,

Start of a few flat days on tuesday,

Have a good rest Cavendish we are all rooting for you.

Cavendish wins again, ( tues)

This mans just too good,

Guess who might win tomorrow

I'm gona go for Thor (awesome name) I think  he's going to get 1 stage from Cav this year

Quoted from leicmariner

I'm gona go for Thor (awesome name) I think  he's going to get 1 stage from Cav this year

Nobody will beat Cav on a sprint,

The only way somebody will win on the flat is,

1. Cavendish falls off his bike,

      OR

2. His team miscalculate and get Cav to the sprint part too late,



Cavendish has got his heart set on winning the last stage in Paris,

Which is great, because I have always found that to be the most boring stage of the race.

the final stage is more like a victory lap though usually someone does have an attack but will always get caught. Was watching a thing about the tour a few weeks ago and the best finish has to be the 1 where the final stage was a time trial (think it was a lamond win) that way no one knows who's gona win until the last rider (who would be the leader in GC) comes over the line

Cav gets the green jersey and it was tight til the last 100 yards.

Never a doubt in my mind,

Cavendish is unbeatable,

As long as his great team mates get him in the right position at the right time,

Nobody will ever catch him,

Tomorrows winner will be  ?????????????????????














Maybe CAVENDISH

loads of TdF riders are on twitter - it's work a look:

[url]http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong[/url]
[url]http://twitter.com/Carlos_Sastre[/url]
[url]http://twitter.com/bradwiggins[/url]
[url]http://twitter.com/LeviLeipheimer[/url]
[url]http://twitter.com/CadelOfficial[/url]
[url]http://twitter.com/wegelius[/url]

...just a few of them.

the bbc keep quoting wiggin's wifes twitter as she spends her time tring to find him in the pelaton

There's a breakaway from the breakaway so no sprint win today,

Mountains again tomorrow, great !

Result to follow shortly,

Winner Sorenson,

Tomorrow , no idea.

Cav keeps it the green though so not a problem.


read a bit of the twitter stuff some of its quite amusing though the video of armstrong hincapie and Cav amused me as Cav just looks like a little kid who's getting to play with the older cooler kids

also they all take the urine out of the green goblin.

Well the winner wont be Leipheimer as he broke his wrist yesterday.

Might weaken the Astana team a little bit

Also means Wiggins is 4th

Rain rain rain today,

Another successful breakaway,

Won by Haussler,

Cavendish lost the green jersey again,

He will get it back when the tour goes back on the flat,

Might even be tomorrow as it's a flatish day in the mountain area,

I would think he will get it back  depends weather any of the columbia team wanna exert themselves before a serious mountain stage and if there are any serious brake aways.

Cavendish deducted the 14pts he got today,

I think for swearving across the path of a fellow racer,

Stage won yet again by a breakaway,

High mountains tomorrow,

That will sort a few contenders out.

felt sorry for Hincapie yellow jersey taken off him by his own team and Cav was unlucky I've seen worst sprints

Contador wins stage and takes yellow,

Wiggins has a very good go at it and he his now 3rd overall.

Rest day tomorrow.

Bradley Wiggins will give up the track and the chance of another medal in the 2012 olympics to concentrate on winning the Tour De France.

The way he his going it might even be this year,

He's in 3rd place at the moment and doing well in the mountains,

The time trail will give him a good chance of a stage win,

BUT I can not see him getting in front of Contador this year,

Good luck for next year Bradley,

BUT a place on the podium this year will be a great achievement.

Perhaps this sort of thing should be introduced in BTTB II with the leader getting to wear the Black and White jersey.  The last one has to wear a sCUNTs top  

I can't see anyone challenging Contador for the next few years - unless they take away the mountain top finishes altogether. The only part of his race that's even remotely suspect is his time trialling but that has improved massively. The guy has won the last 3 grand tours he has started (and would certainly have won the Tour last year had he been allowed to enter). He attacks for fun in the mountains and as we saw yesterday nobody can live with his acceleration. In other words, I am standing by my pre-race prediction!

Wiggins has amazed me in the mountains but he doesn't have the turn of speed to attack and take time out of anyone on those stages. The question is how much he can claw back with his time trialling prowess. The challenge for him this year is to take time out of Armstrong, but with a couple more days in the Alps and Mt Ventoux still to come he could yet have a bad day and lose time himself.

As for Cav, no green jersey this year but barring injury/crashes you should put your house on him to win on the Champs Elysees on Sunday.

Quoted from Imperial Corner

I can't see anyone challenging Contador for the next few years - unless they take away the mountain top finishes altogether. The only part of his race that's even remotely suspect is his time trialling but that has improved massively. The guy has won the last 3 grand tours he has started (and would certainly have won the Tour last year had he been allowed to enter). He attacks for fun in the mountains and as we saw yesterday nobody can live with his acceleration. In other words, I am standing by my pre-race prediction!

Wiggins has amazed me in the mountains but he doesn't have the turn of speed to attack and take time out of anyone on those stages. The question is how much he can claw back with his time trialling prowess. The challenge for him this year is to take time out of Armstrong, but with a couple more days in the Alps and Mt Ventoux still to come he could yet have a bad day and lose time himself.

As for Cav, no green jersey this year but barring injury/crashes you should put your house on him to win on the Champs Elysees on Sunday.

Spot on. Must admit to only following cycling a little bit if it is not the Tour de France and Wiggins has astounded me the change from a successful track cyclist to a road cyclist in such a small time is unbelievable, hell if he can do that in 7 months could he get closer in a years time!  

Astarloza wins the stage today( Tues)

Wiggins stays with Contador and Armstrong,

He made it look easy,

I am sure Wiggins will win this race within 3years.

Just watched the highlights, and then checked those twitters Big jens is ok but what was all that about with Bruneel, God I cant help thinking about something that was said on the BBc commentary

317: From Chris, still at work, via text on 81111: "Hope I'm not speaking to soon, but it's good to go into the last week with no drama of illegal substances. All of the talk is of the contenders, not the cheaters, in the Tour."

1315: News has just reached me that a vehicle belonging to Astana's team has been stopped and searched by customs officials at the Swiss-France border during today's stage. Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens says that a search was conducted for about three hours inside an Astana truck - not the team bus itself - but that nothing of concern was found.

I know nothing was found but theres definetly something kicked off in that team

Pleased Jens is ok,

I was watching it live,

Hell he went down at some speed,

Bet he lost a lot of skin,

Well Wiggo lost time to day but only has to make up 2 and a bit minutes on Schleck to take back 2nd in the time trial which is possible cant see him getting much closer to contador maybe a few seconds but not 5 mins!

Yes,Wiggins will make time up tomorrow may get back to 3rd,

This is his 1st real go at the tour so a very good effort wherever he finishes,

I hope he makes the podium but if not a great tour by Bradley.

To be honest I have never bothererd with such things as the TDF. I don't know anyone who really does.  That's why it is so refreshing to see all these posts on it.  With all the different possibilities each day/leg whatever you call it.  There certainly seems to be a lot more to it than Grand Prix.  Without too much detail could somebody give me a general idea on how it works and how the eventual winner is decided.  

Please bare in mind I am a complete novice on how these sort of competitions work.

Quoted from Civvy at last

To be honest I have never bothererd with such things as the TDF. I don't know anyone who really does.  That's why it is so refreshing to see all these posts on it.  With all the different possibilities each day/leg whatever you call it.  There certainly seems to be a lot more to it than Grand Prix.  Without too much detail could somebody give me a general idea on how it works and how the eventual winner is decided.  

Please bare in mind I am a complete novice on how these sort of competitions work.

Plus there is some great scenery to watch as they ride through France.

Quoted from Civvy at last

To be honest I have never bothererd with such things as the TDF. I don't know anyone who really does.  That's why it is so refreshing to see all these posts on it.  With all the different possibilities each day/leg whatever you call it.  There certainly seems to be a lot more to it than Grand Prix.  Without too much detail could somebody give me a general idea on how it works and how the eventual winner is decided.  

Please bare in mind I am a complete novice on how these sort of competitions work.

the tour is basically a three week race quick total time wins the the yellow Jersey (maillot jaurne) this part of the competion is also called GC (general classification).  the person who wins this has to be good at all parts of the tour going up hill down dale and time trialing.

Green Jersey (points competition) ignore the time most stages have a couple of intermediate sprints along the way with points for the first three over the line first gets 6 (I think) and on the flat stages the winner of the final sprint gets 30 points (again I think) and points available for the first 20 riders, and no points available on time trials.

Polka Dot Jersey (again a points competition) first one to the top of the hill gets points and depending on the difficulty level of the hill the points available vary.

Cycling although seems quite individual at first the teams start 9 people in usually a leader (likely to do well in GC) a sprinter (green jersey) and then the Domestiques usually there to either help the leader or the sprinter although sounds shity they will do anything for the good of the team see stage 13 I think where Cancellara got in an early break away up a hill couldnt keep up with it and when his teammates (the schlecks) caught up turned himself inside out in order to help them up the hill for a km and then was promptly dropped by them after theyed had the rest.   See also Jens Voight (any stage).

There are also two individual time trials where cyclist are completly on there own and this year back by popular demand the Team time trial (all aerodynamic) GC's is unlikly to be won by someone who cant time trial.


Think I have covered most of it there is actually a guide on the bbc and you would probably be better off reading that, though if you want an easy way of being an expert read up on EPO .

bottom also use the bbc guide to find out about the White Jersey (best young rider) and the Lanterne Rouge who sadly crashed out today and the harlequin jersey which i have never seen.

Contador wins time trail and keeps yellow,

Armstong moves to 3rd and Wiggins 4th overall.

Well done to them all,

A exciting race,

David Miller came in 5th one place above Wiggy in the stage.

Also still leaves us with can Wiggins get is it 11 seconds on armstrong on tomorrow. I dont think so but god it would be good!

Just watched highlights of the last 2 days.

slightly drunk but just realized at the start of this race I thought Wiggo was an idiot to think he could get top 20 and now I'm disappointed he's in forth.  So can I please apologies to him now but intercourse it, all or nothing attack attack attack !!!!

see you on Sunday!