Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[Willo]

All day I stayed away from this thread so I could watch the highlights and then f***ing BBC London gave the result in their "and coming up at 6.30" thing

Happened to me last week. Avoided the stage result all day only for the south east news to suddenly announce that Cavendish had won making the link to local lad Sean Yates' role at Sky. It has been getting more and more difficult avoiding the results with the popularity increasing over recent years and this year is just going to get worse with Wiggings and Sky leading the way (not that I'm complaining of course!)

 

[thom]

Did I hear right on the highlight show.
Tony Martin caught next rider. Had a flat in the first 5km and couldn't even hold the time trial position? All with a fractured wrist?? BEAST!

Here he is after the stage :
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720...board=tour-de-france&id=1726461859001&yr=2012

 

[Chuffy]

Happened to me last week. Avoided the stage result all day only for the south east news to suddenly announce that Cavendish had won making the link to local lad Sean Yates' role at Sky. It has been getting more and more difficult avoiding the results with the popularity increasing over recent years and this year is just going to get worse with Wiggings and Sky leading the way (not that I'm complaining of course!)

Curse you mainstream TV! How dare you catch up on our favourite nice sport!

 

[Chuffy]

I don't think they'll do it, but I think an interesting tactic for future stages would be to put Froome in the break-away. He could cruise along not doing much work because Wiggins would be in the peloton. Would also mean Sky wouldn't have to do all the peloton's chasing work because if the break wasn't caught Froome would get yellow!

Hmmmm. I can't see other riders in the break being happy to drag Froome - the likes of Liquigas and BMC would be 100% guaranteed to chase them down. I don't think Wiggy would be chuffed at Froome getting yellow either - it would mean an awkward handover or Brad having to genuinely beat Froome in a TT for the missing seconds.

 

[Chrisc]

Did I hear right on the highlight show.
Tony Martin caught next rider. Had a flat in the first 5km and couldn't even hold the time trial position? All with a fractured wrist?? BEAST!

These guys aren't Wendyballers are they. :-)

 

[Paul_L]

Do Sky have a bit of a dilemma with Froome now being a realistic podium chance, or even a Sky and British 1-2?

With Froome seemingly being Brad's last man in the mountains after EBH, Barry and Porte have done their shifts, will there be a temptation to look to protect him a bit more, and thus allowing BMC or Liquigas to take advantage of Sky not being in full control?

I don't know if i'm looking for problems that don't exist, and whilst it would be awesome for Froome to end up on the podium, the main objective of Brad ending up in yellow shouldn't be lost.

That said, i'm sure Davey B has it all in hand!

 

[Noodley]

Today's not-very-interesting fact: due to it being a rest day there will be lots of specualtion about stuff that is made up by people looking for things to speculate about.

 

[beastie]

Today's not-very-interesting fact: due to it being a rest day there will be lots of specualtion about stuff that is made up by people looking for things to speculate about.

That is not a fact, but merely speculation.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Do Sky have a bit of a dilemma with Froome now being a realistic podium chance, or even a Sky and British 1-2?

No. They are riding for Wiggins, and unless he gets injured or cracks so badly that he has no hope of winning, that is what they will do. If Froome stays in the Top 3 just by being the best lieutenant he can be, then so much the better.

 

[LosingFocus]

Martin abandons the Tour.

"I cannot imagine sitting in the back of the peloton suffering every day a little bit more as I did during this week"

 

[smutchin]

 

[PpPete]

Martin abandons the Tour.

"I cannot imagine sitting in the back of the peloton suffering every day a little bit more as I did during this week"

Dan?
Tony?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Tony. He's been riding with a fractured wrist.

 

[Smokin Joe]

No. They are riding for Wiggins, and unless he gets injured or cracks so badly that he has no hope of winning, that is what they will do. If Froome stays in the Top 3 just by being the best lieutenant he can be, then so much the better.

It might not work out like that. Wiggins is a strong climber but one paced, Froome is more of a natural and better able to go with the attacks. Should Evans, Nibali or Schlek get away Froome would be in the perfect position of being able to go with them in defence of his team leader and not having to do any work. I'd like to see Wiggins win the race, but my money is on Froome. It ain't over yet.

 

[smutchin]

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/news/roche-predicts-fireworks-mountains-tour-de-france-2012/

Roche added: "I do understand - it is frustrating to be in a situation like Bradley's, but we should be able to hold back and be courteous in the situation.
"We have a certain role to play as a role model for kids."

I wonder... Does being a courteous doper set a better example than having a dirty mouth but clean legs?

d.