Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[lukesdad]

For me Lotto are the team of the tour so far, it will be interesting to see their tactics when it comes to the mountains. Wonder if they ll be spent.

 

[PaulB]

Time to bring back time bonuses? http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-comment/comment-it’s-deja-vu-all-over-again/

 

[lukesdad]

I agree with that article, and to add the mountain stages would also become a little more competetive for the GC riders especially when the time gaps are small. I think Prudmomes arguement against them is a bit silly really He wants the winner to be the rider who has ridden the shortest time, but in truth in the past few years its been who can ride the best time trial.

 

[PaulB]

I think Prudmomes arguement against them is a bit silly really He wants the winner to be the rider who has ridden the shortest time, but in truth in the past few years its been who can ride the best time trial.

And one other factor that needs to be considered is the number of crashes which could result in a potential winner being robbed of the chance due to unforseen circumstances. I also read a report recently that suggested the number of crashes is in one way encouraging as it was indicative of the reduction in drugs making the riders tireder and therefore making more mistakes.

 

[martint235]

Have there been more crashes than previous years? We seem to be averaging one or two a day at the mo which seems less than previous years or is that just my memory deceiving me?

 

[PaulB]

Have there been more crashes than previous years? We seem to be averaging one or two a day at the mo which seems less than previous years or is that just my memory deceiving me?

We are virtually promised that there WILL be more the longer the tour goes on.

 

[yello]

in the past few years its been who can ride the best time trial.

Seems that way doesn't it? Win the time in a time trial and then defend it. Race of truth? Maybe...

We talk of stages favouring certain riders, even of entire tours better suiting others. I like this aspect of cycling, of GTs, adds to the equation. Some say this year's TdF is praps Wiggins' best change of winning and you can see the reasoning, there's little doubt that the format advantages him.

I personally like that the organisers change things around exactly because it changes the bias.

 

[Keith Oates]

I'm not a fan of Rudehomme but I think that dropping the points for a win etc. was the correct decision. It's not only the TT results that count but also the riders performance on the climbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[smutchin]

Oooh. Boasson Hagen looks like one to watch in the future. His stats are looking great.

Yeah, I read something in the paper the other day about the discovery of the Boasson-Hagen. Did the Tour of Switzerland extremely fast, apparently. Bizarrely, it was in the science section rather than the sports pages.

d.

 

[Shadow]

I personally like that the organisers change things around exactly because it changes the bias.

I agree; this is one of the reasons I thought the Giro was a fantastic race this year.

 

[Twizit]

Yeah, I read something in the paper the other day about the discovery of the Boasson-Hagen. Did the Tour of Switzerland extremely fast, apparently. Bizarrely, it was in the science section rather than the sports pages.

d.

PMSL

 

[LosingFocus]

Yeah, I read something in the paper the other day about the discovery of the Boasson-Hagen. Did the Tour of Switzerland extremely fast, apparently. Bizarrely, it was in the science section rather than the sports pages.

d.

Cannot. Like. This. Enough.

 

[yello]

Yeah, I read something in the paper the other day about the discovery of the Boasson-Hagen.

Now now.... we can't all have FMs powers of prediction

 

[yello]

Gosh, is someone going to chase Zabriskie down?

 

[raindog]

A bit strange to see Zabriskie up front in light of the names leaked a few days ago.