Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[thom]

Hesjedal abandons

 

[martint235]

Hesjedal abandons

A shame but not entirely surprising

 

[montage]

Cav cant have a lead out train the G man's not there ! Sooner he gets away from Brailsford the better.

I had a nice chat with Brailsford the other day, nice chap!

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Anyone see this picture tweeted by David Millar? Looks impressive

Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk 2

 

[defy-one]

I think I'll switch. I was watching itv4 hd, but they do my head in! Now I know more about what I'm watching I think I can graduate!

Same Same
I have been sky+ itv4 coverage and learning. Time to switch. Gotta go see it one time. Maybe when they come through Boulougne

 

[Rob500]

Quick question. I notice it's on Eurosport as well as itv4. Which is better? I find the 2 guys on itv4 extremely annoying!

I like both tbh and like Willo I watch both. I'm usually in from work in time to see the last lot of KM live but then I'll watch the EuroS highlights at 7pm and then ITV4+1 at 8pm

 

[lukesdad]

I had a nice chat with Brailsford the other day, nice chap!

Goes for you too monty by the sounds of it

 

[smutchin]

The ITV coverage is ok for those who need some explaining as to what goes on and how the tour works

At a very basic level, maybe. But Sean Kelly's insights into the tactics are far more informative, interesting and not forgetting... accurate!

d.

 

[Crackle]

I agree with everything you said, except as far as I can see Sky is not concentrating on 2 jerseys. They are concentrating on just one. Did you see how the Sky train vanished into the thin air at 2.9km to the finish yesterday, leaving Cav with nobody but Edvald at that point and Edvald finding himself leading Cav and every other team at 1.5km to the finish.

I think Cav has no problem with it (he said as much after the stunning win at stage 2), and given the route this year putting all the chips on Wiggo is the logical step for the team to take especially given taking yellow was Sky's stated objective all along since it was formed. Now everybody except Millar on the Olympics team are from Sky, being part of the team might help Cav take gold, so there is probably some method in the madness this season.

However since Wiggo's contract was a 4 year one starting in December 2009, and iirc Cav's has another two year to run, it is next year that is likely to be super frustrating. But things can change, I suppose.

He did say that and he said he was happy to be part of something special, which is potentially a first British winner. Being part of Sky is allowing him to prepare for an Olympic title, I'm not sure he'd get that opportunity with another team. I also think he's got aspiration for points jerseys outside the tour, witness a narrow miss in the Giro and so far Sky have adapted to all the challenges they've needed to overcome, I expect they'll do better integrating Cav in the future and they're badly missing Thomas this year. This is far from a normal year. It does concern me though that their train does look a bit clueless sometimes.

 

[Noodley]

Today's not-very-interesting fact is another birthday...Simone Stortoni of Lampre. So look out for #48 carrying a birthday cake and wearing a party hat - he might even have a few balloons tied to his bike.

 

[yello]

And Nibali. Don't forget Nibali!

I did think about him for today but I think he'll be quite content to be out of the headlines for a while yet. he's going to be there or thereabouts methinks when the gaps start widening in the GC.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

What does this mean, in English? Get him in the shower with wet towel? Snipe him from a rooftop? What?

The Tour this year was always going to be about Wiggy and yellow. Cav knew this when he signed up, he was never going to have a train and even taking St Bernie was a concession that left Wiggy a man down. I really don't get all this outrage that Cav and the WC jersey aren't being respected. It has to be either idiots or people with really big blinkers on who think that. Oh and people who are desperate to see Wiggy and Cav going at it with handbags outside the Sky bus. Freaks.

Flattery will get you nowhere. That's just about the twattiest post so far.

Perhaps you could enlighten us further? Most people who'd have reason to have a head to head as you say with handbags, would be rivals, you know a sprinter up against a sprinter or a GC contender up against another GC contender. But, you're obviously unaware that Cav is a sprinter and Wiggo is a GC contender and aren't really rivals at all so precisely what you're harping on about only you and Noodley know?

'Going at it with handbags outside the Sky bus' and you accuse others of being a freak?

You complete twonk.

 

[yello]

Hesjedal abandons

Huge shame. All going a bit pear shaped for Garmin at the moment (and I'm sure that's pleasing some!). I hope thems that remain have a quiet day and regroup. I wonder what the game plan will be for them now? Besides ride for pride and finish that is.

 

[yello]

Being part of Sky is allowing him to prepare for an Olympic title, I'm not sure he'd get that opportunity with another team.

That is a very good point and one I'd not considered. Suits Sky, suits Wiggins and suits Cavendish.

 

[smutchin]

they're badly missing Thomas this year.

Yep, definitely.

Shame that he seems to prefer the track when he's such a strong road racer. Bloody Olympics.

d.