Tour de France *Spoilers*

[KennaughKickIt]

I'll not bother then.

I have gone back to ITV4 coverage and commentary - I tried ITV4 pics with Eurosport on laptop commentary but it was out of sync.

I'm quite enjoying hurling abuse at the Chuckle Brothers. Mrs Marmion shakes her head in pity and despair. Today's outburst of "how the f*ck can it be Van Garderen if you've just seen him cross the line a few seconds ago you monkey-twatting-nobber" was the final straw for her and she left the room.

I used to hurl abuse but I started taking pity around the time they said that Simon Yates was two years younger than Adam.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I used to hurl abuse but I started taking pity around the time they said that Simon Yates was two years younger than Adam.

Mind, it might have felt like that for the mother.

 

[Crackle]

Phil's a Wirralite, I'll not hear a word against him. So make sure you use more than one word.

 

[400bhp]

I like the Ned and Chris stuff on ITV4.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I like the Ned and Chris stuff on ITV4.

Yep, I could listen to them all day quite easily.
In past years they have talked over the pictures for quite a while until Liggett and Sherwen came on, but this year it seems to be straight to them - which is a huge shame. Like, gigantic.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Yep, these mountains are more about damage limitation. He'll pick up a bit of time in the TT, and being four minutes back from the White Jersey Boys (and likely more tomorrow) he'll have a chance to get in a breakaway going into the last week .

But as @beastie pointed out he had a very busy spring, and may not have a lot left, so maybe he'll struggle. Hope not.

 

[Andrew Br]

Looks like he's always been into cycling

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/simon-brotherton-famous-last-words-32886

And he replaced Hugh Porter when Porter retired.

Sadly, Porter hasn't retired.


.

 

[smutchin]

Just to go back to the earlier Arthur Vichot discussion for a moment...

I would. And I'm not even that way inclined.

 

[smutchin]

Nothing wrong with be sceptical. After all if we had all "done one" when Lance was winning...

On the other hand, there are those of us who never liked or trusted Lance* but do like and trust Nibali...

Being sceptical is fine, but I haven't seen any numbers on Nibali's efforts today so I remain entirely open-minded. Sure, he made it look far too easy, but his nearest competition was a bunch of youngsters and a couple of ageing ex-dopers.


*(being another one who came to the sport in the mid-80s, my cycling hero is Lemond and I'm sure that's part of the reason I never much liked Lance - I always wanted Ullrich to beat him, even though I always had a niggling suspicion about Ullrich as well)

 

[Strathlubnaig]

On the other hand, there are those of us who never liked or trusted Lance* but do like and trust Nibali...

Being sceptical is fine, but I haven't seen any numbers on Nibali's efforts today so I remain entirely open-minded. Sure, he made it look far too easy, but his nearest competition was a bunch of youngsters and a couple of ageing ex-dopers.


*(being another one who came to the sport in the mid-80s, my cycling hero is Lemond and I'm sure that's part of the reason I never much liked Lance - I always wanted Ullrich to beat him, even though I always had a niggling suspicion about Ullrich as well)

I read his stats for final climb was 5.8 w/kg, so nothing unusual there.

 

[Ganymede]

Just to go back to the earlier Arthur Vichot discussion for a moment...

I would. And I'm not even that way inclined.

He'd only break your heart. The cute ones always do.

I'm enjoying the bits of the Tour that I've been able to sit and watch but I keep finding I'm longing for someone else to take the yellow for a day or two just so it's not a procession. Hypocritical, as when Wiggo did it I thought it was great. So shallow.

 

[Hont]

I read his stats for final climb was 5.8 w/kg, so nothing unusual there.

I saw that too. Cause for some optimism.

But there are a number of causes for doubt too. When Cadel and Brad (generally acknowledged as clean riders) won their Tours they had been on great form all year. Nibali has been ordinary all year and now comes to July with Tour winning form. This is very much the MO of Andy Schleck and, yes, Armstrong, which of course fits with what you would expect from someone doping to win the Tour.

Yesterday he easily distanced a number of riders who I suspect are still on the sauce. It reminded me very much of Basso's first Giro win.

I hope NIbali is clean but, given cycling's history and Astana's record, hope is as far as I'll go.

 

[raindog]

I know these profiles are squashed up which makes them look steeper and more pointy than the stage really is, but they're still scary, aren't they?

today's lumps.....

 

[tug benson]

Very lumpy today, Nibali could have fun going down hill today

 

[montage]

Nibbles has the most progressive palmares I'm the peloton, the only source of suspicion is that he rides for Astana, and did see an increase in ability when he started at the squad - however this could also be in line with natural progression.

Nibbles would have been smashed by froome and contador up that final climb if te figure of 5.8w/kg is correct, no two ways about that. That's also about the figure wiggo was putting out in the tour of California for anyone that is interested.

I doubt he is dirty, and he is a class rider, however his comments about wiggo not being a champion etc during the 2012 tdf were a bit pathetic and form part of the reason why I really hope somebody pulls a stunner out the bag to overhaul him.

With the sprint jersey and yellow jersey all but tied up, let's hope there is some epic competition over the spotty sleeves!