Title: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:44:33 Always enjoy watching this, anyone else?
Good lazy evening television. Currently showing on ITV4, and Cav is perched on the shoulder of the leader with less than 10k to go. Come on Cav :) Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:46:48 4k to go now.
Come on Cav you can do it. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Bob's Orange on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:46:57 This is one sport Luxembourg are not bad at. How are the Burgers getting on?
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:47:59 Uhhhh... no idea, but my man Mark Cavendish is looking good with 3.0k left
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:50:05 Here comes the sprint...
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 18:51:17 Woo hoo, big win for Cav there.
Easy in the end. That's my boy. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Reg Smeeton on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 19:08:09 This is one sport Luxembourg are not bad at. How are the Burgers getting on? Presumably you mean Frank and Andy Shleck....not too clever in the time trial yesterday. I fucking loves Le Tour....I can now get ITV 4, so Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, who used to do it on C4 years ago, with Gary Imlach. I like nothing better than watching an entire stage on Eurosport....do ITV 4 do it? I've even broken out the old yellow wrist band, as an act of homage to the great man. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Monday, July 6, 2009, 16:06:03 Cav won again today to maintain the green jersey :)
Lance Armstrong had a good stage. It is shown live on ITV4, on the red button. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: jonny72 on Monday, July 6, 2009, 16:12:11 Why is it that we're the best in the world, by some distance, when it comes to cycling round a small indoor track but as soon as we go outdoors we turn to shit?
I know Cavendish will win a good few stages, but why the fuck aren't any of our cyclists challenging for the overall title? Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Monday, July 6, 2009, 16:14:16 You what, Mark Cavendish is the best sprinter in the world, bar none.
I think I am right in saying that the best ever Brit won 8 stages in his career, Cav is already on 6 and is only 24. Brad Wiggins is riding the tour as well, bit down the field after today's stage I'd warrant but was 3rd overall last night. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Reg Smeeton on Monday, July 6, 2009, 16:24:40 Why is it that we're the best in the world, by some distance, when it comes to cycling round a small indoor track but as soon as we go outdoors we turn to shit? I know Cavendish will win a good few stages, but why the fuck aren't any of our cyclists challenging for the overall title? Quite simple really...a significant pot of dosh was thrown at track cycling. The athletes all train in the same velodrome under the same top coaches. Road racing has never been in the British tradition, where the time trial dominates at club level, so it's on the continent where the major action happens. Any aspirant Brit has to get a ride there, be a top man in all the disciplines of mountain climbing and time trialling, get onto a strong team, and then become a patron. All this while passing drug tests....it can be done, Stephen Roche of Ireland won a tour. David Millar looked like he might have the all round ability, but fell foul of the testers, and was banned for 2 years. Tommy Simpson was probably the last British serious contender for yellow, but he died from amphetimine induced dehydration going up Mont Ventoux. Our track boys like Bradley Wiggins and in the past Chris Boardman, can do well in TT's but can't get up mountains....our last decent grimpeur Robert Miller, couldn't time trial Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: jonny72 on Monday, July 6, 2009, 17:23:03 Are people like Wiggins and Cavendish that far off the pace to win Le Tour?
Couldn't we put our own team together? Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Mexicano Rojo on Monday, July 6, 2009, 17:38:02 what a tef team? that would be skill.
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Batch on Monday, July 6, 2009, 17:45:01 Are people like Wiggins and Cavendish that far off the pace to win Le Tour? Overall win,yes they are . It's the mountains that kills 'em. Maybe challenge for the green journey though... Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Reg Smeeton on Monday, July 6, 2009, 18:04:18 Are people like Wiggins and Cavendish that far off the pace to win Le Tour? Couldn't we put our own team together? Sky are putting in a team next year...composed of mainly, although not exclusively of British riders, it's got Dave Brailsford as the brains...he of the Olympic team. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: larwood on Monday, July 6, 2009, 19:19:49 what a tef team? that would be skill. :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:Although i'm not sure the lycra cycle short is an item of clothing everyone who posts on here would be able to carry off. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: yeo on Monday, July 6, 2009, 19:56:17 A TEF team would be ace but only if we ride old womens Shopping Bikes or Choppers 8)
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: land_of_bo on Monday, July 6, 2009, 19:59:29 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Although i'm not sure the lycra cycle short is an item of clothing everyone who posts on here would be able to carry off. I love my lycra bib shorts. Not sure my 100 miles a week is up to le tour standard though Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: jonny72 on Monday, July 6, 2009, 20:16:31 Sky are putting in a team next year...composed of mainly, although not exclusively of British riders, it's got Dave Brailsford as the brains...he of the Olympic team. Hadn't heard about that before, just had a read up and it looks promising. Apparently they're aiming to win Le Tour within 5 years with all British riders - though it will take them time to build things up and get it going properly. Seems like they're just extending their track programme to the road, in which case they must have a pretty good chance of succeeding. I wonder if you can get odds on them winning Le Tour some time soon? No Cavendish or Wiggins in the team, to begin with at least as they've got a year left on their current contracts. They'll also be reliant on a wild card entry to Le Tour, though its hard to see them not giving them one as I imagine they will have a pretty high profile with Sky involved and their track success. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 18:46:46 After today's time trial stage around Montpellier, Lance Armstrong is denied the yellow jersey only due to the result in the 1st stage around Monaco. What I and many others are finding really interesting is that Lance is not even the recognised team leader... Contador must be pissed.
Incidentally during that first stage on Sunday they did a fair amount of the F1 track including the tunnel. Seeing a bike go down there you really get to understand just how narrow the track is. Unbelievable. Anyway, Brad Wiggins remains in the top 10 for now. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 16:05:41 Another big stage win for Cavlar, destroying green jersey bearer Thor Hushovd in the process, again.
I had to follow it at work on the live text service so I didn't get to see the breakaway group sat at the level crossing waiting for the train to pass. Think the winner is deffo going to be either Lance or Contador. Interesting as they are in the same team. If the story of Sky entering a team in the future then why the ruddy hell aren't they covering it this year? Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 17:13:59 Another win today for the Manx Missile as he regains the green jersey, and also equals the record number of stage wins for a Brit (eight), in just 1 and a half tours as well.
He has targetted the final stage, up the Champs Elysees, as his next win. Well done Cav. Sports Personality of the year 2009 :) Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 17:15:58 Oh, and Wiggo is still 5th overall.
Let's go team GB! Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: horlock07 on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 20:26:58 After today's time trial stage around Montpellier, Lance Armstrong is denied the yellow jersey only due to the result in the 1st stage around Monaco. What I and many others are finding really interesting is that Lance is not even the recognised team leader... Contador must be pissed. Incidentally during that first stage on Sunday they did a fair amount of the F1 track including the tunnel. Seeing a bike go down there you really get to understand just how narrow the track is. Unbelievable. Anyway, Brad Wiggins remains in the top 10 for now. I'm loving Lance's interviews and the simmering tension in Astana - especially the day he joined the split and took time off Contador which was just life, where as when Contador proved the point and took time back on the climb it proved that he wasn't a team player! Cannot wait until tomorrow. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Thursday, July 16, 2009, 16:53:23 Didn't see any of today's stage, but do know that Lance predicted a breakaway winner this morning.
Cav retained the green jersey and in fact increased his points lead, and Wiggins has, I think, maintained his 5th place, 46 seconds back off the yellow jersey. Up the mountains now. Great stuff. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: land_of_bo on Thursday, July 16, 2009, 21:10:53 It's all good, loving it!
Next June I'm taking on the Tourmalet *gulp* Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Saturday, July 18, 2009, 11:16:45 Wiggo up to 4th now, and with just a surprise leader, Contador and Lance ahead of him it means that he is doing very well indeed.
Kept with the peloton and even forced the pace at times yesterday. Remains to be seen how long he can keep this up for (should do well in the time trial but alps will be very tough) but either way he is flying the flag for us out there :) Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Saturday, July 18, 2009, 11:27:58 Mini-interview with Wiggo: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jan/09/bradley-wiggins-cycling-olympics-interview
He's a good lad. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Reg Smeeton on Saturday, July 18, 2009, 12:14:38 Got to be impressed with Wiggins....
Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: Batch on Sunday, July 19, 2009, 15:16:14 That separated the men from the old men :)
Great ride from Wiggins today. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 19, 2009, 18:13:32 Well done Bradley, up to 3rd now behind Contador and Lance, but still a long long way to go.
The real Tour only began today. In the article below he talks about how he has improved his hill-climbing (evident today) by losing a bit of weight: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jul/19/bradley-wiggins-tour-de-france Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 16:43:32 The Luxembourgers arrived today and pushed our Bradley down to 6th.
I reckon he'll smoke them in the time trial though. Watch out for the black socks 8) Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 16:50:43 Also, I think that Cav ought to pipe down a bit about his exclusion.
Just take it, and get on with it. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Thursday, July 23, 2009, 22:10:14 Exciting stage today in the time trials. Wiggo came 6th and now sits 4th in the GC, although Contador won it outright I believe and so tightens his grip on the yellow jersey.
How much has our Brad got left? He has done so so well. Cav hasn't done much of late but is surely saving himself for the ride into Paris. Anyway, as predicted by me early on, with just 3 stages left, Contador looks a dead cert to take the grandest prize in all of sport. Shame on Di Luca though. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Friday, July 24, 2009, 17:06:17 Cavlar crosses the line first again today, against the odds really, and now is the most successful British rider of all times when it comes to stage wins. And he's only on his second tour.
Think Brad dropped a few seconds on 3rd place but it is all about tomorrow now. Title: Re: Le Tour Post by: michael on Sunday, July 26, 2009, 18:04:31 Brave ride by Wiggo up Mt Ventoux yesterday cemented his 4th place ahead of today's procession into Paris. What a hero.
Cav won today, again, bit lucky in the last corner but his astonishing sprint finish would have done the job regardless of who was on his wheel. It was also nice to see him show some humility and respect towards his rivals during the last week. All in all an exceptionally good tour for the Brits, and a fantastic 3 weeks for Contador who excelled in all disciplines. Hopefully he is clean. 8) |