Once again it's time for best sport on two wheels.
Is it me or have crashes become more and more frequent the last years? It seems the last 10km or so always seem so nervous these days, it's every tour we lose some of the favourites on the flat boring first stages.
My prediction for victory: Hoffmann-LaRoche before GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.
I made a bet with myself before posting, when would the first doping joke appear? I had the first reply down, so now I win a cup of coffee.
Ok, that was mean. After all, Pfizer might well be in the top three.
:lol: @ tour bus getting stuck under the finish arch.
Quote from: Maladict on June 30, 2013, 05:54:50 AM
:lol: @ tour bus getting stuck under the finish arch.
That was just terrible. :lol:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedias.lequipe.fr%2Fimg-photo-jpg%2Ffait-tr-inhabituel-le-bus-d-une-ipe-en-l-occurrence-orica-greenedge-a-coinc-evant-la%2F1500000000291412%2F0%3A334%2C2048%3A1366-665-0-70%2F9167a.jpg&hash=4b0b735eb820c50d208414c79ff7b06c6334716f)
Also, no matter what he uses, the fact that Tony Martin is riding the 2nd stage is insane.
"He was diagnosed with a concussion and contusion on his left lung. There was also tissue damage on his hip, left knee, shoulder and back."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IysrERmAOFc
Video from the Orica GreenEDGE team, owners of the bus.
Fruit! :lol:
Quote from: Liep on June 30, 2013, 05:40:46 AM
Once again it's time for best sport on two wheels.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.studiolum.com%2Fwang%2Flubok%2Fbear-on-bicycle-1.jpg&hash=9d2701b781d0da8aadcbb4d93152279203ebd524)
Freak.
I bet doping will continue to be the bigger story instead of the riders.
Quote from: lustindarkness on June 30, 2013, 10:28:01 AM
I bet doping will continue to be the bigger story instead of the riders.
It isn't.
Indeed, it's a dog bites man story.
These recent years have been full of annoying crashes taking out the favourites before the mountains. This year Van den Broeck and now Brajkovich has crashed. Are today's riders just less skilful?
Can't take this sport seriously after the past few years.
Lack of skill? Not sure, is the average age of a tour rider younger? with less experience? The bikes are faster? Are the routes more dangerous? there have always been sharp turns, and not all crashes are at the turns anyway.
Daryl Impey just became the first African rider in the yellow jersey according to the commentators.
Hush you, I'll be watching a repeat later today, I'm letting The Wife watch The Price is Right. LOL
[spoiler]Froome[/spoiler] completely destroyed all competition on the first mountain stage, and promptly had to deny accusations of doping usage after the win. To paraphrase: "I'm a 100% clean, no, really, I am."
This one also made me chuckle: "Today the sport is much more trustworthy"
Thoroughly enjoyable stage today.
Thank you for the spoiler tag, I did watch it earlier today. Great race day, finally in the mountains.
Quote from: lustindarkness on July 06, 2013, 03:21:35 PM
Thank you for the spoiler tag, I did watch it earlier today. Great race day, finally in the mountains.
Tomorrow just looks brutal and seems like the other teams are gonna have to throw a lot at Sky.
I come home after a little bike ride and the peloton has already exploded and there's 123 km to go, this is going to be a good stage. :cool:
Quote from: Liep on July 07, 2013, 05:50:13 AM
I come home after a little bike ride and the peloton has already exploded and there's 123 km to go, this is going to be a good stage. :cool:
Thanks for reminder, I'm off to watch it now. :cheers:
Quote from: Liep on July 07, 2013, 05:50:13 AM
I come home after a little bike ride and the peloton has already exploded and there's 123 km to go, this is going to be a good stage. :cool:
Thanks for the reminder, I'm off to take a lap around the city.:cheers:
Excellent stage today, Movistar just failed to finish off Frome, plucky win by the Dan Martin, the Irishman.
Love this photo:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BOpWGNjCYAAAp59.jpg:large)
On Sunday ended the Austrian Tour. It always coincides with the Tour de France. During my first year in Austria I caught bits of it on TV, and first thought it was the Tour de France, but then I noticed that they were somewhere in Tyrol. Austrian TV shows the local tour instead of the Tour de France.
Just saw the replay of the sprint, I agree with the French that Cavendish was innocent on that occasion, the Argos leadout man clearly sways right into Cav's lane.
But tomorrow is the real battle, looking forward to seeing if Fuglsang can get into the top 10.
Quote from: Liep on July 09, 2013, 06:33:32 PM
Just saw the replay of the sprint, I agree with the French that Cavendish was innocent on that occasion, the Argos leadout man clearly sways right into Cav's lane.
But tomorrow is the real battle, looking forward to seeing if Fuglsang can get into the top 10.
Yeah, it's one to leave to the experts; to my untrained eye it looks like he shoulder barged the guy.
Orica-GreenEDGE team's tribute to a rather famous band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fAl1-mBhFpU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fAl1-mBhFpU)
Somewhat 'pedestrian' stage today, nice and flat with a Kittel stage win, though 2.5km there was a nasty pile-up and I mean pile-up, not heard about the extent of injures.
Quote from: mongers on July 10, 2013, 08:00:21 PM
Orica-GreenEDGE team's tribute to a rather famous band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fAl1-mBhFpU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fAl1-mBhFpU)
Bumping because I think people here would enjoy the above video. :)
Aye, saw that, good fun. Also, between this and the planned transfer of the yellow jersey in the early stages it looks like a really solid team.
I can't believe there are no serious injuries from yesterday's pile up. I will be gone the whole weekend so I left it recording, not sure I will ever be able to catch up and watch it. Do they have an Android app to keep up with it?
Quote from: lustindarkness on July 12, 2013, 08:43:10 AM
I can't believe there are no serious injuries from yesterday's pile up. I will be gone the whole weekend so I left it recording, not sure I will ever be able to catch up and watch it. Do they have an Android app to keep up with it?
There is a pretty good tour app, but it's sponsor varied so I don't know what they call it in USA. Here's it's "TV2 Tour App" and in Australia it's "Skoda Tour App", etc.
And at least be sure to watch the end of Sunday's stage up Mt. Ventoux.
I'll be in a navy function all weekend, whatever time not there, I'll be driving or exploring restaurants. :)
I'll have to search the play store from the phone.
Very exciting stage today with all the wind. Attacks from left and right with big winners and big losers.
Why'd Lemond have to get hisself shot up Cheney-style? :( The death of American cycling. "I'd win the Tour on Twinkies and Coca-Cola!"
I think back lovingly to the pre-Armstrong days. I don't care about cycling, but that was when Le Tour was shown a day late on ESPN at 3:00 in the morning, and my pop would program the VCR to tape it and watch after work the next day. With zero US interest and no Internet to speak of, it was quite easy not to know the results by then. The British announcer... Phil Liggett[?] always commanded my pop's respect. It was very irritating for him to have Phil joined by some Yankee Doodle Dipshit once Lance got big.
But my dad's great hero was Eddy Mercx. Last I recollect, he felt Eddy was robbed of his 6th win by fan shoving (?) or other bad luck. We watched mostly in the Indurain era.
Only once did I get to see my pop race; he was going to bag it til he saw I'd laid out my clothes on the floor in anticipation of getting up at 5:00am to get there. Doing a crit for the 35 or 40 y.o. plus racers... and damn if he didn't place 2nd, with a very dramatic jersey-pulling finish.
Quote from: Liep on July 12, 2013, 10:01:22 AM
Very exciting stage today with all the wind. Attacks from left and right with big winners and big losers.
Yeah, for what was billed as a flat transition stage, it turned out to be very exciting, lots of tactics. The commentators here said this was one of the most exciting of these types of stage they'd seen in years.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on July 12, 2013, 12:05:46 PM
Why'd Lemond have to get hisself shot up Cheney-style? :( The death of American cycling. "I'd win the Tour on Twinkies and Coca-Cola!"
I think back lovingly to the pre-Armstrong days. I don't care about cycling, but that was when Le Tour was shown a day late on ESPN at 3:00 in the morning, and my pop would program the VCR to tape it and watch after work the next day. With zero US interest and no Internet to speak of, it was quite easy not to know the results by then. The British announcer... Phil Liggett[?] always commanded my pop's respect. It was very irritating for him to have Phil joined by some Yankee Doodle Dipshit once Lance got big.
But my dad's great hero was Eddy Mercx. Last I recollect, he felt Eddy was robbed of his 6th win by fan shoving (?) or other bad luck. We watched mostly in the Indurain era.
Only once did I get to see my pop race; he was going to bag it til he saw I'd laid out my clothes on the floor in anticipation of getting up at 5:00am to get there. Doing a crit for the 35 or 40 y.o. plus racers... and damn if he didn't place 2nd, with a very dramatic jersey-pulling finish.
:cool:
Nice stories Capt. :)
He's still going strong, doing the commentary on our itv4 coverage, partnered with an former tour rider, whose name escapes me, but who spend a couple of months a year reconnoitring the routes so had stacks of knowledge to hand.
Here's their hour long highlights of todays stage, though I guess the website might block non-uk IPs?
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/tour-de-france/series-21/episode-15 (https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/tour-de-france/series-21/episode-15)
Interview with a fan on Ventoux: "It's full of weird events and good spirits here."
Reporter: "What has been the weirdest today?"
Fan: "A guy riding a bike up Ventoux followed by 3 guys running behind him and hitting him with a huge inflatable penis."
Reporter: "..."
Quote from: Liep on July 14, 2013, 08:23:27 AM
Interview with a fan on Ventoux: "It's full of weird events and good spirits here."
Reporter: "What has been the weirdest today?"
Fan: "A guy riding a bike up Ventoux followed by 3 guys running behind him and hitting him with a huge inflatable penis."
Reporter: "..."
:lol:
[N.A. Languishite]
Euros. :rolleyes:
[/N.A. Languishite]
Rather good stage today.
Froome can pull himself inside out...he suffered mightily to win today. Contador no longer can as he doesn't seem to be pumped full of drugs.
Quintana needs a couple of more years. Then he will dance up all the way of the big mountains.
Quote from: PDH on July 14, 2013, 10:28:43 AM
Froome can pull himself inside out...he suffered mightily to win today. Contador no longer can as he doesn't seem to be pumped full of drugs.
Quintana needs a couple of more years. Then he will dance up all the way of the big mountains.
Indeed.
Though one has to wonder if Froome can keep that up through the next week on the mountains without cracking; he looked almost in trouble but kept going.
Peter Sagan's one handed wheelie on a 10% slop as he was about to be over taken by the peleton (his job having been done for the day) was rather impressive.
Haven't found a photo of the event, but similar to what he does here, but up a hill:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bicycling.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fpeter-sagan-wheelie.jpg&hash=6a675a9efb62e34144cb663de66591d8edc81cb5)
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WAMR7ToP_Ag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WAMR7ToP_Ag)
Froome just set the best time ever recorded up Ventoux, faster than both Armstrong and Pantani when their drug abuse was at its highest. And now he's puzzled and sad that people suspect him of doping.
Compare:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-129478/Tour-France-Lances-blast-dopes-Ventoux.html
http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2013/0715/462560-fed-up-froome-sick-of-doping-talk/
Quote from: Liep on July 15, 2013, 05:37:21 AM
Froome just set the best time ever recorded up Ventoux, faster than both Armstrong and Pantani when their drug abuse was at its highest. And now he's puzzled and sad that people suspect him of doping.
Compare:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-129478/Tour-France-Lances-blast-dopes-Ventoux.html
http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2013/0715/462560-fed-up-froome-sick-of-doping-talk/
By all accounts the weather conditions were pretty favourable yesterday, a good following wind for much of the way, temperatures cooling to 18C on the summit and even a fair amount of cloud cover to protect them in places.
So it's not that surprising that a cyclist in possibly the form of their life, giving it their all (too much in my opinion, given what's coming next) should give such a performance.
Just watched yesterday's stage, some great climbing. I expect to see a lot more of out colombian friend in years to come. Froome performed awesome.
Interesting stage today; Contador comes down over cooking the final descent, Froome reacts somewhat arrogantly, as if people shouldn't react to him, forgetting that he himself didn't have to chase Contador's back wheel.
Enjoyable mountain time trail today.
Lots of interesting technical decisions to be made; the change of bikes at the top of the 2nd mountain was entertaining in a 'It's A Knockout' way.
I'm afraid I'm never going to like Froome. With his obvious display of "I'm stronger than the captain" last year and this "Oh, I didn't really go full speed today, so I'm surprised I won".
Another influence is, of course, that he's making the Tour boring by being so much stronger than everybody else.
Quote from: Liep on July 17, 2013, 05:54:10 PM
I'm afraid I'm never going to like Froome. With his obvious display of "I'm stronger than the captain" last year and this "Oh, I didn't really go full speed today, so I'm surprised I won".
Another influence is, of course, that he's making the Tour boring by being so much stronger than everybody else.
Yeah, I'm not liking him in comparison to Wiggins.
And I don't get his dispute with Contador over yesterdays incident. Contador has the right to race as he wants, attack who and how he want and if he overcooks the cornering that's his own fault.
But why is Froome whinging about Contador being reckless, nearly bringing himself down? If he can't hack it or was a bit too timid, then don't follow on the guy's wheel, just back off and then there's no story.
Yeah, I think Bjarne Riis said it well in reply to Froome being worried about the coming descent on Alpe d'Huez: "Froome has brakes on his bike, he can use them if he wants."
Also this gem from Gadret in the same article: "It's cycling, we're not footballers. If it starts to rain I'll be thrilled as I suffer in this heat."
http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/La-descente-qui-fait-peur/386503
Two nicely put opinions. :)
What is happening? Froome is desperately trying to close gaps to attackers on the first mountain of the stage, his team is already completely broken. I've never seen the yellow jersey this confused.
Quote from: Liep on July 18, 2013, 05:51:42 AM
What is happening? Froome is desperately trying to close gaps to attackers on the first mountain of the stage, his team is already completely broken. I've never seen the yellow jersey this confused.
Not watching it at the mo, but maybe he thinks he can do it all on his own ?
Froome's reaction to his 20 second penalty is ridiculous. Wanting Porte to take the blame, even if he clearly was the one to send him down for food.
"At the end of the day a rule is a rule and if I've been given 20 seconds I'll have to take that, but if you look at the technicality it was actually Richie Porte who fed from the car not myself. I fed from Richie Porte so maybe that's something that needs to be taken in consideration," he said.
Best fan comment: "Now he can't say he didn't cheat."
We have seen riders hit the wall before, they didn't have people to help them out - Froome obviously called for the car before Porte dropped back, so it was him who was at fault. Froome is becoming the least likeable yellow since Lance, I rather liked seeing him in a bit of bother today.
Quote from: PDH on July 18, 2013, 07:07:34 PM
We have seen riders hit the wall before, they didn't have people to help them out - Froome obviously called for the car before Porte dropped back, so it was him who was at fault. Froome is becoming the least likeable yellow since Lance, I rather liked seeing him in a bit of bother today.
I wouldn't put him quite in the Armstrong camp, but he's equally ungracious.
I don't get caught up with the whole supporting ones countrymen in such a sport, so I'd like to see Quintana do well over the next couple of days. :bowler:
edit:Also great to see a Frenchman finally win a stage this year. It's possible that twice up Alpe d'Huez will make it legendary stage too.
Quote from: mongers on July 18, 2013, 07:30:45 PM
I wouldn't put him quite in the Armstrong camp, but he's equally ungracious.
I don't get caught up with the whole supporting ones countrymen in such a sport, so I'd like to see Quintana do well over the next couple of days. :bowler:
edit:
Also great to see a Frenchman finally win a stage this year. It's possible that twice up Alpe d'Huez will make it legendary stage too.
Oh, I didn't put him in the Armstrong level, but just the worst since then. I also like Quintana, he will be great in a couple of years. I was a bit sad Van Garderen bonked at the end today, he will also be very good (if not great) in a couple of years, still to see the Frenchman surge ahead and race to the finish was inspiring today.
+1 to last 4 posts.
That acceleration from Froome to catch and leave Rodriguez and Quintana behind was just insane.
Quote from: Liep on July 20, 2013, 10:02:38 AM
That acceleration from Froome to catch and leave Rodriguez and Quintana behind was just insane.
Yes, though I think he though he could bluff them into not bothering to chase and so win the stage.
As it was, an excellent win by Quintana and like one of the commentators said, he along with Rodriguez and Froome demonstrates the new blood/next generation of the riders; Contador is now a spent force.
Great ride up the last two mountains by Jens Voigt. :)
It's OK, when Froome wins he's British, when he's rude or ungracious he's Kenyan/South African. :bowler:
They can't all be Wiggins, all understated cool, sideburns and celebrating casually with a G&T and a fag.
So, just finished watching today's stage, glad for Quintana, we will see a lot more of him in the coming years.
Quote from: Brazen on July 20, 2013, 12:49:04 PM
It's OK, when Froome wins he's British, when he's rude or ungracious he's Kenyan/South African. :bowler:
They can't all be Wiggins, all understated cool, sideburns and celebrating casually with a G&T and a fag.
You'll have to point us toward the people saying that, as I've not heard it hear nor in real-life.
Amongst this stage 20 highlights page is a nice interview with Jens Voigt, where he explains the deal he struck with this legs on this stagev :cool: :
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/ (http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/)
Quote from: mongers on July 20, 2013, 06:35:00 PM
Amongst this stage 20 highlights page is a nice interview with Jens Voigt, where he explains the deal he struck with this legs on this stagev :cool: :
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/ (http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/)
Not available outside the UK.
I am looking forward to the sprint finish today, The Wife is looking forward to it finishing as she is tired of watching it. LOL
Nice flyover.
Nice finish, Cavendish did not have the lead out he needed, Kittel won the 1st and last stages.
Quote from: lustindarkness on July 21, 2013, 12:21:43 PM
Quote from: mongers on July 20, 2013, 06:35:00 PM
Amongst this stage 20 highlights page is a nice interview with Jens Voigt, where he explains the deal he struck with this legs on this stagev :cool: :
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/ (http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/stages/stage20/)
Not available outside the UK.
I am looking forward to the sprint finish today, The Wife is looking forward to it finishing as she is tired of watching it. LOL
:D
Quote from: lustindarkness on July 21, 2013, 01:13:21 PM
Nice flyover.
Yeah there was a nice reaction shot as Froome and Porte looked at each other and pointed to the sky as the planes flew over as they started up the Champs-Élysées. :cool: