AndyNorthernSaints Posted 29 June, 2009 Share Posted 29 June, 2009 Starts saturday. Favourite sporting event of the year. Anyone else looking forward to it? Not sure about Yellow jersey but Cavendish has a chance for the Green and Millar/Wiggins in the team and individual time trials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 29 June, 2009 Share Posted 29 June, 2009 I use to enjoy it when it was on channel four and I was 'in' to cycling. too many other distractions now. It will be interesting to see if it drug free this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 29 June, 2009 Share Posted 29 June, 2009 I use to enjoy it when it was on channel four and I was 'in' to cycling. too many other distractions now. It will be interesting to see if it drug free this year! It will be amazing if it is. I like a bit of a cycle most evenings when I get home, I will happily ride for about 10 miles just to get some exercise after a day sat on my backside in the car. When I watch Le Tour my legs ache at the thought of of all those miles day in day out, throw in the mountains and I get short of breath for them. Its no wonder some of them are tempted by the darkside of the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilsburydoughboy Posted 1 July, 2009 Share Posted 1 July, 2009 Best sporting event of the year Looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 4 July, 2009 Share Posted 4 July, 2009 Things could get interesting in the Astana camp. Theres four riders all with the ability to win the overall in the team, and with Armstrong not named as team leader, can his ego put up with it or will he try to stamp his authority on the race in the early days? Can't see too many others in with a shout, possibly Sastre and maybe Evans if he can handle the pressure better than last year. COuld be the most interesting Tour for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldskoolsi Posted 4 July, 2009 Share Posted 4 July, 2009 Best bit of last year was Evans having a meltdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilsburydoughboy Posted 4 July, 2009 Share Posted 4 July, 2009 There was some really good times today. The slopes down in towards the town were amazing with some really tricky turns considering all the bikes were time trial bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Two great wins from Cavendish. Thought he'd struggle to repeat last years four wins but he looks unbeatable in a sprint finish and a good bet for the Green jersey if he can get through the mountain stages ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Martini Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I don't think Cavendish will get enough points from just his stage wins. Riders like for instance Hushovd and Freire will get points form intermediate stages as well and Cavendish just doesn't handle hills that well. I doubt if he will actually make Paris, if I were him I'd leave after a few more wins and try to make it wins in the tree big tours in one year by going to the Vuelta as well. Tomorrow should be interesting, a team time trial is always fun, especially so early in the Tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I don't think Cavendish will get enough points from just his stage wins. Riders like for instance Hushovd and Freire will get points form intermediate stages as well and Cavendish just doesn't handle hills that well. I doubt if he will actually make Paris, if I were him I'd leave after a few more wins and try to make it wins in the tree big tours in one year by going to the Vuelta as well. Tomorrow should be interesting, a team time trial is always fun, especially so early in the Tour. Your right about about the intermediate stages/points but i think Cavendish looks leaner and fitter this year and wants to be winning a sprint finish in Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 This is the sporting event of the year. Nothing surpasses it. Sod the doping scandals etc. This is breathing through every orifice in your body sport. V impressed with Columbia HTC team effort to lead out for Cavendish. I'm sure they will suffer in TTT tomorrow. Situation in Astana re Armstrong - Contador - Kloden is interesting also. It's gonna be a good three weeks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 7 July, 2009 Share Posted 7 July, 2009 As I had half a day off yesterday I got to watch the live coverage on ITV Interactive - except that with 800m to go to coverage ended. A very angry e-mail was fired off yesterday in disgust. Still, two good wins for Cavendish. People who say he is not good in the hills, fair enough not in the big mountains, but he did win the Milan - San Remo which has some decent climbs in it. Also, intermediate sprints only 6, 4 and 2 points whereas stage in is 35 points. Will just have to see how he does in the mountain stages where there are only 4th, 3rd and 2nd category climbs. He will need to stay with Hushovd in those to claim any minor placing points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 7 July, 2009 Share Posted 7 July, 2009 Your right about about the intermediate stages/points but i think Cavendish looks leaner and fitter this year and wants to be winning a sprint finish in Paris. He's got a good team around him and i think they'll take a few more stages yet. I'd like to think he'll get to Paris, but can't see him lasting the climbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 8 July, 2009 Share Posted 8 July, 2009 Definately my favourite sport event of the year. Initially couldn't see past Contador for the yellow, but am now starting to think Armstrong may have a chance. Of the non-Astana riders, Evans looked in great form during the Dauphine Libere, but lacks support. Maybe Sastre if he can get away in the mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 8 July, 2009 Share Posted 8 July, 2009 Cadel Evans will never win the Tour - he just doesn't attack. He sits behind someone and hopes for the best. The TTT has ended his faint hopes. Not convinced Armstrong will be able to 'survive' the mountains with the top riders. Wonder if Denny Menchov has a chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 8 July, 2009 Share Posted 8 July, 2009 Cadel Evans will never win the Tour - he just doesn't attack. He sits behind someone and hopes for the best. The TTT has ended his faint hopes. Not convinced Armstrong will be able to 'survive' the mountains with the top riders. Wonder if Denny Menchov has a chance? Tend to agree re Armstrong. I hope not, but I suspect he'll lose the odd minute or two here and there in the mountains which will see him miss out on yellow. I saw Evans ride very aggressively on one mountain stage in the Dauphine Libere - it was only because Valverde & Contador rode together that he didn't gain a big lead- maybe he has finally realised what he needs to do. Menchov was great in Italy, but has lost a lot of time already. Long Shot - Kloden? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brightspark Posted 11 July, 2009 Share Posted 11 July, 2009 May I also say it is the best sporting event of the year. Evans all of a sudden has become a much more attacking rider, but as observed in Andorra yesterday, Contador is just far too good and is likely to win the tour with ease if nothing unexpected happens. As for the green, Cavendish should be able to win it - the only thing that may stop him is if, like on Stage 5 - nobody helps Team High Road in the sprints and breakaways aways win the stages that Cavendish can gain significant points on. Otherwise, only Hushovd will be a threat through some of the hilly stages. AND WHAT ABOUT WIGGINS? A fantastic display in Andorra, we thought he was just a time triallist!!! He will never be a Contador, but he was better than his team mate and leader Van de Velde yesterday IMO and if he can keep that up has a cracking chance at a top 10. If Team Sky can get him next year we may be featuring more than we think in next years tour!!! (that is if Sky get IN the tour... but with Brailsford behind British Cycling I think it's guaranteed we'll get there) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 11 July, 2009 Share Posted 11 July, 2009 May I also say it is the best sporting event of the year. Evans all of a sudden has become a much more attacking rider, but as observed in Andorra yesterday, Contador is just far too good and is likely to win the tour with ease if nothing unexpected happens. Personally I don't think Evans will win the Tour all the while he has a hole in his arse. Contador looked sharp yesterday but it was a bit of a pointless move and a waste of energy so early in the race. Armstrong for me didn't look bothered, and in the pre race interview he said that it will all come down to the final week, probably to be sorted out on the Ventoux. I think he will be very quiet and be happy to let Contador think he is winning the Astana leadership battle, and then bam, we may just see the old Armstrong in the Alps.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Martini Posted 11 July, 2009 Share Posted 11 July, 2009 Cavendish lost the green jersey to Hushovd today, I'm not sure he'll get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 14 July, 2009 Share Posted 14 July, 2009 Cavendish lost the green jersey to Hushovd today, I'm not sure he'll get it back. Cavendish won today's stage and is now only six points behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 16 July, 2009 Share Posted 16 July, 2009 Cavendish lost the green jersey to Hushovd today, I'm not sure he'll get it back. Are you sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 Cavendish out of green again, and none too happy about it. Not sure he'll get it back now, can't see him keeping up with Hushvod over the mountains to pick up any intermediates. Hopefully he can stay in touch, should make the Champs Elysee interesting. Abdoujaparov vs the coke can anyone? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 19 July, 2009 Share Posted 19 July, 2009 Just like to put in a word for Bradley Wiggins. What a transformation! I think he has a really good chance of top 3 now, especially because he will time trial better than some of the other GC contenders. Amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 20 July, 2009 Share Posted 20 July, 2009 Top 2 for Wiggins I reckon, Armstrong really struggled yesterday and couldnt hold Bradleys wheel when he had a kick. Thats assuming he can survive the Ventoux. I've been up it in car, quite how anyone can ride a bike up it is beyond me. Nearly boiled the brake fluid on the way down but thats another story...:smt103 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 They go past my flat in about 20 minutes. Better have a wee and pop out again. I thought of wearing my saints shirt but I'm a shy retiring type and only wear it for footie training. They've done the great St B, a skip along the valley and then the Little SB. Personally I use the ski lifts as there are some seriously steep hills locally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 See some of the interviews across the networks this evening Contador seems to have his biggest concern about Bradley mainly due to the time trial on Wednesday - he is a bit of the unknown element it would appear. Contador currently seems to have the measure of everyone in the high mountains; however you never know he might crack and let someone in over the three main stages for GC left this week. Cracking stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 (edited) Awful crash for Jens Voigt, fingers crossed he isn't too badly injured. Shades of the old Lance today, and I'm still not convinced he doesn't have something up his sleeve, it wouldn't take much for him to beat Contador in the TT and then its all down to the Ventoux, and if its true about him and Bruyneel staring a new team next year he isn't going to be too bothered about attacking Contador, plus we still have Wiggins in the mix, who can time trial with the best of them. Going to be a very exciting last few days I reckon. Edited 21 July, 2009 by Huffton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Awful crash for Jens Voigt, fingers crossed he isn't too badly injured. Agreed, that was nasty; hopefully his transfer to Grenoble for an MRI was just a precaution and nothing worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 21 July, 2009 Share Posted 21 July, 2009 Agreed, that was nasty; hopefully his transfer to Grenoble for an MRI was just a precaution and nothing worse. Current indications are that Jens Voigt has avoided serious injury, looks like he has "fracture of the right cheekbone and a concussion", see http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/95591/voigt-recovering-in-grenoble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockportsaint Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 Just like to put in a word for Bradley Wiggins. What a transformation! I think he has a really good chance of top 3 now, especially because he will time trial better than some of the other GC contenders. Amazing. unfortunately any time you see such a "transformation" in a pro cyclist, your suspicions are aroused. I'd like to thing "Wiggo" is doing it clean, but then you read Bernard Kohl saying that doping is the norm in the peloton: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/09/berhard-kohl-cycling-drugs-tour-de-france Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 One of the DJs on the radio over here calls it "The Tour De Pharmacy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 I bet your NZ DJ knows a lot about professional cycling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 I expect he reads, via the internet, about all the drug taking in cycling that has been going on for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 I expect he reads, via the internet, about all the drug taking in cycling that has been going on for years. Schhhh, don't hide the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 Shades of the old Lance today, and I'm still not convinced he doesn't have something up his sleeve, it wouldn't take much for him to beat Contador in the TT and then its all down to the VentouxQUOTE] That crossed my mind as well. I suspect Contador may still have too much though. Kloeden is still well placed and looking comfortable, as is Andy Schleck. Definately going to be interesting. As for Wiggins he has lost a lot of weight this year and focussed purely on this event. That is only going to lead to an improvement. Looking good for at least 3rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 22 July, 2009 Share Posted 22 July, 2009 I expect he reads, via the internet, about all the drug taking in cycling that has been going on for years. I suspect, that like others, he doesn't bother to read about the fact that cycling has the MOST drug testing, and is actually catching the CHEATS successfully. Looks like a totally clean Tour this year (famous last words!), proof that it is working. My only hope is that other sports will drug test as rigourously as cycling, and then we will catch all the cheats. Don't kid yourself that cycling is the only sport with a drug issue (btw, I know you will kid yourself. You, saintwarwick and others have a nice big bag over your collective head). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockportsaint Posted 23 July, 2009 Share Posted 23 July, 2009 Hmm - famous last words indeed Bungle: Giro d'Italia runner up Di Luca just tested positive for CERA (the latest version of EPO - the blood booster): http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8163587.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 24 July, 2009 Share Posted 24 July, 2009 Cavendish wins his 5th stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Martini Posted 24 July, 2009 Share Posted 24 July, 2009 Hmm - famous last words indeed Bungle: Giro d'Italia runner up Di Luca just tested positive for CERA (the latest version of EPO - the blood booster): http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8163587.stm The tour is still clean though. DI Luca has been under suspicion ever since he had the bloodvalues of a 5-year old during the Giro d'Italia he won so there's no real surprise there. That's why none of the big teams wanted him in their team after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilsburydoughboy Posted 24 July, 2009 Share Posted 24 July, 2009 Cav to win the sprint on Sunday. Up yours you cheating bastards. Wiggins for third place in Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 25 July, 2009 Share Posted 25 July, 2009 Wiggins showed true guts to hang in there today to just hold on to 4th place by 3 seconds. Superb stuff by Bradley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 26 July, 2009 Share Posted 26 July, 2009 What a corking win for Cavendish today - absolutely no-one anywhere near him. It's great seeing Britain finally having an impact on Le Tour. Excellent stuff. Contador a deserving winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 26 July, 2009 Share Posted 26 July, 2009 What a corking win for Cavendish today - absolutely no-one anywhere near him. It's great seeing Britain finally having an impact on Le Tour. Excellent stuff. Contador a deserving winner. Agree 100%, six tour wins out of 21 is awesome, did any other winners manage more than one win? Good to see Bradley Wiggins finishing 4th as well, nobody would of predicted that at the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 26 July, 2009 Share Posted 26 July, 2009 Agree 100%, six tour wins out of 21 is awesome, did any other winners manage more than one win? Contador did if you include the time trial. That was a great tour. Wiggins and Cavandish were very special indeed. Cav should go on to break all sorts of stage winning records over the years and Wiggins, well with the right training and strategy he could finish on the podium in 2010. Would be good to see him win a stage though, he definitely deserves one. Nicolas Roach rode well too. I agree about this being the sporting event of the year. The crowds on Ventoux signify that. 500,000 apparently, although no idea how you'd go about counting them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSparky Posted 26 July, 2009 Share Posted 26 July, 2009 A stunningly good tour this year; superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 26 July, 2009 Share Posted 26 July, 2009 Best Tour for years. Wiggins for a podium next year? Just looked at the Cav/Hushovd incident again and theres no way he should have been disqualified. The Cav held his line, the barriers curved in and then back out which squeezed Hushovd. Poor show from the commisaires which ended Cavs green jersey hopes. Anyway prediction for next year: 1: Contador 2:Wiggins 3: Schlek Green: Cav KOM: Haven't got a scooby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 27 July, 2009 Share Posted 27 July, 2009 Great 1st & 3rd week - middle week was a bit tame/easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 27 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 27 July, 2009 Thought it would be difficult for Cavendish to repeat last years 4 stage wins but 6 was amazing. Lets hope he gets more than 4 seconds coverage during the sports personality awards now. Although Cav was brilliant i will remember this tour for Wiggins being up there with the top climbers/GC Riders all tour. Just hope he now concentrates on road racing rather than track as i can see him winning maybe swiss/spanish tour and get a podium finish in france next year if he continues to improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 27 July, 2009 Share Posted 27 July, 2009 Best Tour for years. Wiggins for a podium next year? Just looked at the Cav/Hushovd incident again and theres no way he should have been disqualified. The Cav held his line, the barriers curved in and then back out which squeezed Hushovd. That was the way i saw it and the Eurosport guys too. Cavendish needs to add a bit to his game so he can contest the intermediate sprints, something Hushovd did better than him this year. Doing so will see him in green for years to come. Hats off to Wiggins too, particularly after his Cofidis 2007 experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockportsaint Posted 2 August, 2009 Share Posted 2 August, 2009 The tour is still clean though. DI Luca has been under suspicion ever since he had the bloodvalues of a 5-year old during the Giro d'Italia he won so there's no real surprise there. That's why none of the big teams wanted him in their team after that. not any more, unfortunately: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8178940.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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