Tour de France 2012 (with SPOILERS)

[Baggy]

Today's not-very-interesting fact: One winner of the overall combativity award did not complete the Tour....

 

[smutchin]

He hasn't had to do anything so far but let's not mistake that for not being able to do anything if he needs to - remember the way he chased down the Evans escape at the Dauphiné? I'm sure Evans hasn't forgotten and I wonder how much it's preying on his mind...

d.

 

[Auntie Helen]

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????

I heard him say 'dick head' and then he corrected it, so even worse!

 

[thom]

Nibali's getting a bit upset here about Brad. Not sure I have much sympathy with him if it is true that he publicly said he didn't rate Wiggins as a rider before the tour.

 

[smutchin]

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

Yes, plus the team is working so well at the moment, there's a danger they could end up just carrying him all the way to Paris. That would be boring indeed. I'd really like to see him tested properly and show that he can respond to it. It would be a bit of an anticlimax if we finally got a first British Tour winner without witnessing any real racing from him.

Winning a road stage would really be the icing on the cake - and would kill off the comparisons to Indurain. He's shown that he can contest a small group sprint at Romandie, so let's hope he gets the chance to do the same at the Tour.

d.

 

[Crackle]

Nibali's getting a bit upset here about Brad. Not sure I have much sympathy with him if it is true that he publicly said he didn't rate Wiggins as a rider before the tour.

Nope, no sympathy at all.

 

[smutchin]

Nibali's getting a bit upset here about Brad. Not sure I have much sympathy with him if it is true that he publicly said he didn't rate Wiggins as a rider before the tour.

I have some sympathy for Nibali. I get the impression he'd be happier about losing to Wiggins if he thought Wiggins had been made to work for it. He'd rather lose to Froome, clearly.

d.

 

[Noodley]

Another successful not-very-interesting fact.

 

[Baggy]

Another successful not-very-interesting fact.

Indeed, how will you keep this up?

 

[Noodley]

Indeed, how will you keep this up?

I have been in training. The rest day did me good tho.

 

[thom]

I have some sympathy for Nibali. I get the impression he'd be happier about losing to Wiggins if he thought Wiggins had been made to work for it. He'd rather lose to Froome, clearly.

d.

I sort of agree if you mean he'd be happier if he thought Wiggins had more talent and "panache".
Wiggoisticly, you'd be a "w****r" to think he and his team had not sacrificed and worked "f*****g" hard for his form and to get where they are now....

This type of behaviour shows the team has full confidence in their leader :

 

[Chuffy]

Nibali's getting a bit upset here about Brad. Not sure I have much sympathy with him if it is true that he publicly said he didn't rate Wiggins as a rider before the tour.

Probably the most successful attack he'll make all Tour.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Probably the most successful attack he'll make all Tour.

Ha ha. I'm afraid Nibali is being a hypocrite and a sore loser. He basically wrote Wiggins off before the Tour, so Wiggins is well within his rights to turn it back on him just a little. And at least he's not saying anything in public, unlike Nibali...

 

[montage]

Nibali has a real chip on his shoulder about Wiggo, and it's turning him from one of my favoured riders into me thinking the he's a bit of a prick. Fair play for his aggressive riding style so far though

 

[Beebo]

was that the slowest sprint finish ever? good to see all 4 men totally spent.

even i could have won that last 1km sprint, if i has a 193km head start.