Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[raindog]

What with his "F**king Enormous" headline in L'equipe today and the profanity laden rant at the camera man, Brad's surely demonstrating that he's at his limit in terms of brain function at the end of these stages. It's quite a portfolio which I personally don't take offence to but in my opinion, SKY's press team needs to get on top of the situation and help him out a bit.

I agree in a way, but I think Brad's the kind of bloke who couldn't give a toss about anything except racing his bike. Reminds me of Hinault in some ways, except instead of swearing he used to actually make physical contact with anyone who rubbed him up the wrong way.

 

[thom]

I agree in a way, but I think Brad's the kind of bloke who couldn't give a toss about anything except racing his bike. Reminds me of Hinault in some ways, except instead of swearing he used to actually make physical contact with anyone who rubbed him up the wrong way.

Sure, it's just I think he is more eloquent and perceptive when given a bit more space. The concern for his team is that there are maybe 2 weeks of this until Paris if he stays in yellow and journalists know that they can get could copy from him with provocative questions, setting him up for a fall. I don't think he or his team want that to be the main story.

 

[smutchin]

cycling fans have a long history of being bullshitted and lied to.

Yes, I know. I'm a cycling fan too.

d.

 

[smutchin]

Well, if he made the comments in French, that puts a whole new slant on it anyway - "con" may literally translate as the c-bomb but it doesn't have nearly the same force in French. It's no stronger than "idiot", really.

d.

 

[thom]

Well, if he made the comments in French, that puts a whole new slant on it anyway - "con" may literally translate as the c-bomb but it doesn't have nearly the same force in French. It's no stronger than "idiot", really.

d.

He spoke in English but it has been translated into various European languages this afternoon, employing differing extremes of argot.

 

[lukesdad]

That was a brilliant finish. Up there with the best I've seen. Real racing,You want to watch what's going on everywhere.

It's said that Nibali and Evans can descend, and Wiggins and Frome are not so hot. Can't say I noticed a huge difference between the 4 of them today. Then the race to the line was full blooded. Vandenbrooke then Evans trying to get away and being dragged back. Great stuff. I didn't think they'd get to Pinot but it was still tense stuff. 5 star viewing.

Nibali was just testing the water today I think, Froome nearly lost it on one corner. That descent wasn't technical or narrow enough for him to give it 100%. On a long narrow descent he could put a minute into the others and double that if its wet.
With this in mind I now regard him to be the bigger threat to Wiggo

 

[thom]

Nibali was just testing the water today I think, Froome nearly lost it on one corner. That descent wasn't technical or narrow enough for him to give it 100%. On a long narrow descent he could put a minute into the others and double that if its wet.
With this in mind I now regard him to be the bigger threat to Wiggo

The second day in the Alps will give a better opportunity although there is the La Toussuire climb at the end of it. Coming off La Croix de Fer and the Col du Mollard the roads have many, many switchbacks, (although they aren't taking the bonkers road off Mollard that has 42 consecutive hairpins).

 

[gavintc]

The truth is that drug cheats do not have a little badge on their chests stating that they are cheating. The evidence comes after the event, sometimes a suspicion arises through exceptional performance, but it is dreadfully difficult to sort the honest man from the doping man. I personally 'believe' that the current crop of British riders are clean - and that Sky appear to have a good, well publicised 'clean' policy. But, does that make us all 100% convinced and content that all is well? I suggest that most cycle race supporters will always retain a certain amount of doubt - a few %age. To do otherwise implies gullibility and there have been too many occasions when we have believed only to be disappointed. I was discussing this with a friend who works on the periphery of Sky and BC. He is convinced that it would be extremely difficult to dope in the open regime that is in place and that the culture developed in Sky would make doping extremely unlikely. I hope so.

So, turning to the Wiggo rant. I propose that the only man who genuinely knows if Wiggo is clean is himself. The rest of us believe, hope, pray it is all above board.

I also hope he can do it this year. It is certainly excellent to see a Brit wearing yellow and I think he will extend his lead tomorrow.

 

[ColinJ]

Nibali was just testing the water today I think, Froome nearly lost it on one corner. That descent wasn't technical or narrow enough for him to give it 100%. On a long narrow descent he could put a minute into the others and double that if its wet.
With this in mind I now regard him to be the bigger threat to Wiggo

I think it was a bit foolish trying to stay with him on that descent. He would have gained about 20 or 30 seconds max, and he didn't have any support with him so the chasers would easily have got him back on the flat run in. Why take the chance of a crash?

 

[smutchin]

He spoke in English but it has been translated into various European languages this afternoon, employing differing extremes of argot.

Ah. I see. Thanks for the clarification. (I didn't see the press conference, obviously, only read the reports.)

Anyway, I agree with him in any language.

d.

 

[lukesdad]

I think it was a bit foolish trying to stay with him on that descent. He would have gained about 20 or 30 seconds max, and he didn't have any support with him so the chasers would easily have got him back on the flat run in. Why take the chance of a crash?

Gamesmanship probably.

 

[beastie]

I think it was a bit foolish trying to stay with him on that descent. He would have gained about 20 or 30 seconds max, and he didn't have any support with him so the chasers would easily have got him back on the flat run in. Why take the chance of a crash?

It was hardly a dangerous descent, Wiggins was comfortably on Evans wheel and Nibali was just flexing his downhill muscles.
Nibali needs to TT the best he has ever done or he will need to put many minutes into Wiggins between the two TT's.

 

[yello]

I don't know what coverage you get in the UK, and whether it's the same that I see here in France (I'm guessing it is) but it seemed to me that Evans had fallen back at one point on the descent. Now it may have been simply how it looked as the camera cut to them but the last shot we had of the group, Evans was leading. I wonder if he did have a moment?

Frome did - he ran wide on one bend following his Nibs, nearly running into the barrier.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Checking the odds online you can get as high as 25/1 on Froome. Well worth a tenner.

 

[ColinJ]

It was hardly a dangerous descent, Wiggins was comfortably on Evans wheel and Nibali was just flexing his downhill muscles.

Well, er ...

it seemed to me that Evans had fallen back at one point on the descent. Now it may have been simply how it looked as the camera cut to them but the last shot we had of the group, Evans was leading. I wonder if he did have a moment?

Frome did - he ran wide on one bend following his Nibs, nearly running into the barrier.

That's what I was getting at!