Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[beastie]

VDB looked the strongest, and maybe also the canniest of the GC men today. Wiggins seemed pretty comfortable though. Tomorrow is better suited for an attack on Sky. If Wiggins has a similar sized lead after the final climb he should hold the yellow all the way to Paris.

I expect Evans to give it his best tomorrow.

 

[yello]

I'm baffled... and forgive what might seem a stupid question.... has the climbers competition changed this year? Is there no overall? Just stunned to see Voekler given the polka dots.

He rode out of his skin today, dicky knees and all. Chapeau sir

 

[beastie]

I'm baffled... and forgive what might seem a stupid question.... has the climbers competition changed this year? Is there no overall? Just stunned to see Voekler given the polka dots.

He rode out of his skin today, dicky knees and all. Chapeau sir

TV leads because he picked up more points on one climb (HC) than anyone had accrued through the rest of the race so far.

 

[thom]

I expect Evans to give it his best tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the stage I've been most looking forward to - spectacular climbs and real attacking possibilities.
But I think the only way Cadel will get significant time back on Wiggins will be due to a crash, mechanical or illness now.

 

[yello]

Cheers beastie.

I just googled it and found that there had been changes but there's still an overall. As you say, TV just collected enough points today to top the table. I don't think he had KOM points before today.

Double points for the summit finish tomorrow.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

There are still some big stages in the Pyrenees too... Stage 17 is a mountaintop finish and Stage 16 is just a beast. It won't be all over tomorrow by any means.

 

[yello]

Double points for stage 17 finish too btw.

 

[smutchin]

I'm baffled... and forgive what might seem a stupid question.... has the climbers competition changed this year? Is there no overall? Just stunned to see Voekler given the polka dots.

As I understand it, they changed the scoring because people were winning by sweeping up all the 3rd and 4th cat climbs, so they've weighted it to favour the genuine climbers in much the same way they tweaked the points comp last year to favour the sprinters.

d.

 

[beastie]

No, but if Wiggins still has 1m 30s lead before stage 16 he can afford to lose 2 mins plus and still win the ITT. I am unconvinced that Evans will be stronger uphill to be honest. Isn't it interesting - not a boring parcours at all.

Edit Above was response to FM last post.

 

[frayBentos59]

apologies if this has been mentioned already (accessing site on phone) but did Boardman on ITV actually say 'just having a dick in' to quickly correct himself with dig in????

 

[User169]

As I understand it, they changed the scoring because people were winning by sweeping up all the 3rd and 4th cat climbs, so they've weighted it to favour the genuine climbers in much the same way they tweaked the points comp last year to favour the sprinters.

d.

No more wins a la tricky dicky then. Sounds like a good plan!

 

[doctornige]

I too a looking fwd to the Albertville stage, but a, travelling all day! Bah!

 

[srw]

No, but if Wiggins still has 1m 30s lead before stage 16 he can afford to lose 2 mins plus and still win the ITT. I am unconvinced that Evans will be stronger uphill to be honest.

Has Wiggins actually had to do any work yet (other than in the ITT)? I've not watched the highlights of every stage, but when I have watched he's always been in someone else's wheel - either one of his team-mates, or Evans's. On the other hand all of his main competitors have spent large chunks of time at the front on their own.

I'm no expert, but what's really impressed me has been the willingness and ability of Sky to work as a unit - to sacrifice ego to the greater good.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Has Wiggins actually had to do any work yet (other than in the ITT)? I've not watched the highlights of every stage, but when I have watched he's always been in someone else's wheel - either one of his team-mates, or Evans's. On the other hand all of his main competitors have spent large chunks of time at the front on their own.

It's true and I am sure he learned from Evans in this respect... Wiggins is doing so well at least partly by knowing his own limitations and how to compensate for them as much as his strengths.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Indurain and Armstrong rode the same way. Strong teams to set a fast pace and discourage attacks and hold onto the time you've gained in the TTs. In theory you finish with the same time as your rivals everyday and occasionally pinch a bit more when they pay for the efforts they had to make.

It actually makes for a boring tour, but it's very effective and you can't criticise riders for playing to their strengths.