Tour de France 2013 *spoilers*

[beastie]

Anyone got a weather report for today?

 

[raindog]

Anyone got a weather report for today?

thunder storms, apparently

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Anyone got a weather report for today?

Some showers in the morning, thunder after that, gusty, temps around 14. http://france.meteofrance.com/france/montagne?MONTAGNE_PORTLET.path=montagneprevisionville/381911

 

[thom]

A little something to get you in the mood...
View: http://youtu.be/-3r74rhLL7Q

After watching that, I just think Froome should show no mercy whatsoever...
But the crowds will be bonkers.

 

[The Couch]

So, @The Couch, how should Hoogerland be prononunced?

You pronounce the "Hoo" a bit like the oldest profession in the world but without closing it with a "w" sound, just keep it open
then the "ger" is like the "gar" in sugar
and the a in "land" is a short sound like the a in the British way of pronouncing "bath"

EDIT: of course I would not pronounce it either 100% the same way as a "Hollander" would, since in Belgium we speak decent Dutch

 

[laurence]

excellent tweet from Millar...

David Millar ‏@millarmind 4m
Dear Greenedge Bus, please can you park yourself under the finish line today, BEFORE we pass for the first time. Much appreciated. David

 

[The Couch]

A tweet from Kittel:
He wants the Dutch fans (on the Aple d'Huez) to singe this when Koen de Kort passes by... now that would be great tv

 

[thom]

@rich p & @Twizit : breathe a sigh of relief - Will Foth reports new tarmac has been laid

 

[smutchin]

"@albertocontador: Hill top finish today with two times up Alpe D'Huez! Who knows what will happen...??"

You can almost hear the glint in his eye.

 

[jdtate101]

We were speculating last september on this...
@Crackle clearly wasn't paying proper attention.

I maintain my position of the time, the Sarenne route is the better (more idyllic) route up the Alpe (and the hairpin route is the better route down it...)

I'd also rate the Sarenne the harder climb....it's longer and steeper in parts. Only plus it has over the traditional route is that it doesn't catch the afternoon sun in quite the same way so is less of an oven. I did it on a drizzly day and it was a humid sweat fest even then.

 

[Beebo]

What is the chance any one in the autobus getting lapped?

 

[The Couch]

Not looking like the same impact as a couple of turns higher up:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460659934031087&l=e7aba8d7d1

But it's good to see somebody taking up the challenge of trying to push the (crazy) Dutch away .... especially with this year's Mollemania

 

[rich p]

I've just seen Quintana interviewed and no way is he 23!
He looks as old as me

 

[MisterStan]

I've just seen Quintana interviewed and no way is he 23!
He looks as old as me

Tough paper round?

 

[PpPete]

You pronounce the "Hoo" a bit like the oldest profession in the world but without closing it with a "w" sound, just keep it open
then the "ger" is like the "gar" in sugar
and the a in "land" is a short sound like the a in the British way of pronouncing "bath"

EDIT: of course I would not pronounce it either 100% the same way as a "Hollander" would, since in Belgium we speak decent Dutch

Makes up for what you do to French ?