Tour de France *Spoilers*

[laurence]

A Polish pun. Respeck.
He's been a favourite of mine really since last year when he gave Cav a handsling in the stage with the echelons last year. I hope he can hold up through the mountains - he had one horrible day in one of the races earlier this year (Dauphine? Can't remember).

my Girlski started me calling him little flower. I became a fan last year, he is a real fighter. just bought 'flower power' caps for me and Girlski - it will make a change from the CCC Polstat one she borrows from me.

 

[suzeworld]

Yeah, 'mud in the gears' sounds like something that could be sprayed clear with water in short order to me.

That's what I thought after I saw Porte washing his face with his own bottle!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

1) Why did Phil and Paul dither over the result when we'd already seen the photo?

Because they are buffoons.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I reckon that one of them is showing signs of some form of dementia.

One of them becomes a better rider with every passing year, not sure if it's similar condition. Maybe they are the same person?

Despite Sherwen's huge influence on getting English-speaking amateurs over to France and then into the pro peloton, I still hate him.

 

[smutchin]

Yeah, ok, I can see why you might want to abandon in those circumstances.

 

[Ganymede]

View attachment 50185

Yeah, ok, I can see why you might want to abandon in those circumstances.

oooooh, nasty. Poor chap.

 

[Booyaa]

View attachment 50185

Yeah, ok, I can see why you might want to abandon in those circumstances.

Ouch!

 

[Smokin Joe]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this or even noticed, but on the cobbled stage the other day were a few of the riders (Couldn't see what team) using clip on short mudguards behind the saddle? I noticed it on the few shots from the back of the second peloton shortly after the split and I can't for the life of me think what else they could be. Or maybe my eyes are worse than I thought?

 

[Louch]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this or even noticed, but on the cobbled stage the other day were a few of the riders (Couldn't see what team) using clip on short mudguards behind the saddle? I noticed it on the few shots from the back of the second peloton shortly after the split and I can't for the life of me think what else they could be. Or maybe my eyes are worse than I thought?

likely be ass savers, they were in use in the Giro too. I have a couple, handy wee things

 

[Beebo]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this or even noticed, but on the cobbled stage the other day were a few of the riders (Couldn't see what team) using clip on short mudguards behind the saddle? I noticed it on the few shots from the back of the second peloton shortly after the split and I can't for the life of me think what else they could be. Or maybe my eyes are worse than I thought?

They were, Rob Hayles was saying they use them to keep the water off their rear, especially when they have a split saddle, as they dont want to get an infection in that region, especially as the mud will be a mix of farmers manure.
He also said the UCI frown on people using them.

 

[Beebo]

View attachment 50185

Yeah, ok, I can see why you might want to abandon in those circumstances.

Both hands broken! Cant he ride no handed?

 

[tigger]

Re Nibali. There's always a doping doubt in cycling, and the legacy of Vino and Astana certainly don't help ease this, but I don't think Nibbles has ever been implicated with anything dodgy. (Edit: maybe there was an accusation of training with Ferrari in the past?)

But the usual doubt cast aside, his performance on stage 5 is absolutely of no surprise. For one he's been regarded for years as one of the best bike handlers in the business. Secondly he did his homework and practiced on the cobbles in bad spring weather. Lastly he's a tough mother who can handle the cold and wet. He smashed up Froome in the Tirreno-Adriatico in similar conditions last year and then again against all comers in a wet and snowy Giro last year. In short, he's a super hard, super talented and incredibly calculated bike racer.

Tomorrow's stage will be interesting. Contador will have to attack I think.

 

[beastie]

Re Nibali. There's always a doping doubt in cycling, and the legacy of Vino and Astana certainly don't help ease this, but I don't think Nibbles has ever been implicated with anything dodgy. (Edit: maybe there was an accusation of training with Ferrari in the past?)

But the usual doubt cast aside, his performance on stage 5 is absolutely of no surprise. For one he's been regarded for years as one of the best bike handlers in the business. Secondly he did his homework and practiced on the cobbles in bad spring weather. Lastly he's a tough mother who can handle the cold and wet. He smashed up Froome in the Tirreno-Adriatico in similar conditions last year and then again against all comers in a wet and snowy Giro last year. In short, he's a super hard, super talented and incredibly calculated bike racer.

Tomorrow's stage will be interesting. Contador will have to attack I think.

Your point about bad weather is pot on. If it gets wet in the Pyrenees then Nibali will be hard to beat.

 

[beastie]

Tomorrow's stage will be interesting. Contador will have to attack I think.

I think Monday will be the first all out effort uphill . Tomorrow's final climb will be a short sprint with small gaps IMO.

 

[laurence]

I think Monday will be the first all out effort uphill . Tomorrow's final climb will be a short sprint with small gaps IMO.

the way this Tour is going, nothing will surprise me.