toofarnorth Posted 10 July, 2011 Share Posted 10 July, 2011 Gutted for Brad. Thought he was in great form and probably wont get a better chance of a podium finish. Not sure he will compete in tour next year due to olympics and following year he will be 33. Dont forget he has switched successfully back to track riding at points this season so I would be very surprised if he's not in the tour next year. Well thats obviously what we are all hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Trubble Posted 10 July, 2011 Share Posted 10 July, 2011 http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10072011/58/tour-de-france-french-tv-car-causes-shocking-tour-crash.html I don't know what to make of that crash. Deliberate? It looked like he just fooked up and had little choice. Terrible driving though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chin Strain Posted 10 July, 2011 Share Posted 10 July, 2011 http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10072011/58/tour-de-france-french-tv-car-causes-shocking-tour-crash.html I don't know what to make of that crash. Deliberate? It looked like he just fooked up and had little choice. Terrible driving though. Hoogerland had 30 stitches. That fence was barbed wire - he was so lucky not to have been killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 10 July, 2011 Share Posted 10 July, 2011 http://yfrog.com/khfszazj Hoogerlands injuries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 10 July, 2011 Share Posted 10 July, 2011 http://yfrog.com/khfszazj Hoogerlands injuries Holy crap. No wonder he looked in masses of pain on the podium. Amazing he managed to finish the stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 11 July, 2011 Share Posted 11 July, 2011 Hoogerland was massively lucky to miss the concrete posts and 'only' land on the barbed wire. Back on his bike in under two minutes .. who says footballers are over-paid Jessys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 12 July, 2011 Share Posted 12 July, 2011 Yes, what a brave ride by Hoogerland and an equally impressive ride by Voeckler to take yellow. I think the overall win is out of the question, but I hope he can hold the jersey for a while and finish in the top 10. The tour is really on now, just a shame about all the crashes and retirements amongst some of the more interesting riders (Wiggins, Vinokourov etc.). Cavendish looking good and could again end up with 4 stages or more, despite this I think he'll struggle to take the green jersey onceagain. Gilbert is in terrific form and will continue to take serious points on most stages - including the ones where Cavendish can't compete (a la Sunday). Evans is also well placed and will score points in the mountains when the others don't - if yellow is out of the question for him green could be a nice alternative for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 12 July, 2011 Share Posted 12 July, 2011 http://yfrog.com/khfszazj Hoogerlands injuries Ow. bet that smarts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 12 July, 2011 Share Posted 12 July, 2011 I think this is now between Andy Schleck and Evans. Contador looks injured and is riding strangely. Gilbert is fantastic. Always liked him since he was one of the first cyclists to come out strongly against drug taking to the point where many of his fellow riders wouldn't talk to him. I reckon he'll take the green jersey by grabbing enough points on the stages where Cav strolls in 30 minutes behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Contador looks injured and is riding strangely. Strangely clean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Beautiful sprint from Cavendish. And he's got the Green Jersey now too. Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 17 July, 2011 Share Posted 17 July, 2011 It looks like it will all come down to who best manages the 2 days of climbs up the Col du Galibier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 19 July, 2011 Share Posted 19 July, 2011 Blimey, could I be wrong about Evans? (probably not). Schleks having a bad day, or just over did it in the Pyrenees? COntador been keeping his powder dry, or just went out for a 'steak' last night? And could Voeckler actually hang on? Think this could be the most exciting finish for a fair few years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 19 July, 2011 Share Posted 19 July, 2011 It's been the best tour for a long time, especially for Norway! Neither Schlek seemed comfortable today, especially at descending in the rain which could cause them all sorts of problems tomorrow if they are dropped on one of the climbs. Evans seems strong and Contador too. Think both of them will finish above Voeckler partly due to the time trial but yeah it's going to be really close on GC at the end. Good to see no one really make ground on Cavendish in the green jersey. He only finished 6 minutes back so was clearly trying to keep up for once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 20 July, 2011 Share Posted 20 July, 2011 Poor show and excuses from Andy Schlek yesterday. What does he want, all top of mountain finishes??? if you can't cope with fast and tricky descents you aint gonna win the tour. Cadel Evans seems like a different rider this tour and has suprised me. This has been best tour for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 20 July, 2011 Share Posted 20 July, 2011 Poor show and excuses from Andy Schlek yesterday. What does he want, all top of mountain finishes??? if you can't cope with fast and tricky descents you aint gonna win the tour. Cadel Evans seems like a different rider this tour and has suprised me. This has been best tour for years. This is pretty much the first time i've watched in but absolutely loving it. Think that Rigoberto Uran is getting a bit of a rough ride as Geraint Thomas and Boasan Hagen steal all the coverage but he's having a great tour so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 20 July, 2011 Share Posted 20 July, 2011 Poor show and excuses from Andy Schlek yesterday. What does he want, all top of mountain finishes??? if you can't cope with fast and tricky descents you aint gonna win the tour. Cadel Evans seems like a different rider this tour and has suprised me. This has been best tour for years. Agree with all of this but the effects of the Wouter Weylandt tragedy in the Giro obviously weigh heavily on the Leopard Treks. Still think Bertie's got something up his sleeve (not a contaminated steak), but would like to see Evans in yellow in Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 20 July, 2011 Share Posted 20 July, 2011 Can't understand why the brothers won't team up to attack Contador and work him over, unless thay are playing a dangerous waiting game for tomorrow ar even the Alpe on friday. Whatever, its the best Tour for years and setting up nicely for a serious finale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 21 July, 2011 Share Posted 21 July, 2011 Can't understand why the brothers won't team up to attack Contador and work him over, unless thay are playing a dangerous waiting game for tomorrow ar even the Alpe on friday. Whatever, its the best Tour for years and setting up nicely for a serious finale. perhaps the brothers aren't strong enough to dictate anything whatsoever.Plus it's known that they don't like to descend on wet roads,Frank moaning about Contador attacking on the descent yesterday is just sour grapes, when your opponent has a known weakness you exploit it.Didn't see the Schleck's hanging about waiting for Contador when his knee was troubling him.Rooting for Evans myself but we'll have to see if he can limit the damages on the Galibier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 21 July, 2011 Share Posted 21 July, 2011 Well, well! Just about the most amazing stage for many a year. Andy Schleck going on the Izoard was supremely courageous (just chatting to next door neighbour - reckons Izoard is the nastiest climb he's done) but chapeau to Thomas Voeckler for still being in yellow. Don't think he'll be there tomorrow. Think he'll get battered going up Telegraphe, the steep side of Galibier and Alpe d'Huez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 21 July, 2011 Share Posted 21 July, 2011 Just awesome from Andy Schleck and amazing courage from Voeckler, who looked absolutely dead at the end. Think he will struggle tomorrow leaving Andy to take another bit of time out of Evans, which he'll need on Saturday. Hopefully Cav can make it in in time tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 22 July, 2011 Share Posted 22 July, 2011 I didn't think that either Schleck had it in him to launch an attack like that. Truly awesome. I'd lost a bit of respect for Andy after the complaining of the last couple of days, but after that he's regained it and more. I hope that he is not cooked for today's stage. Great chase by Evans, who I think is still just about favourite and another brave ride from Voeckler. I'd be happy to see any of those 3 win now. Fingers crossed that Cavendish can make it through the last mountain stage today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted 22 July, 2011 Share Posted 22 July, 2011 Awesome stage yesterday - amazing rides from Andy Schlek and Thomas Voeckler, both determined to have that yellow jersey at the end of the day and oh so close! Absolutely stunning in HD too. Can't wait for todays to start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 22 July, 2011 Share Posted 22 July, 2011 Great stage again. Really hope Schlek has enough in the tank tomorrow to hold off Mr Negative Evans. Its only a 40k TT so the time gaps shouldn't be huge, but a minute is doable for a rider of Evans ability. Going to be a Lemond/Fignon replay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofarnorth Posted 23 July, 2011 Share Posted 23 July, 2011 Great stage again. Really hope Schlek has enough in the tank tomorrow to hold off Mr Negative Evans. Its only a 40k TT so the time gaps shouldn't be huge, but a minute is doable for a rider of Evans ability. Going to be a Lemond/Fignon replay! Evans just set off and I really think he'll overcome the Schlecks unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 23 July, 2011 Share Posted 23 July, 2011 Have to say I'm gutted. I've never liked Evans, and he's done nothing ths year to change that. A classic wheelsucker IMO. Yes he can grind it out in teh big hills but only when he has a wheel to follow/chase. Still on the bright side, disasters aside tomorrow should see the first British green jersey. Chapeau Cav! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 23 July, 2011 Share Posted 23 July, 2011 (edited) Evans just set off and I really think he'll overcome the Schlecks unfortunately. Trouble with the Schlecks is that they're only capable of 1 big day per tour.Plus they're just climbers who can't roll in time trials. Evans strategy was always damage limitation on A Schleck's big day and as he (A Schleck) had a couple of off days in the Pyrenees all Evans had to do was stick in there and then whang them for 2 minutes + in a 42k time trial . For the Schlecks to have had a chance of winning the tour it was Franck who needed the big day on the Galibier but I guess he didn't have anything in the tank.Schlecks will be like Poulidor,eternal seconds. Edited 24 July, 2011 by Window Cleaner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVER THE HILL Posted 24 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 24 July, 2011 It pains me to say this but well done to Cadel Evans,the best man in this tour without doubt. As for Andy Schleck time is on his side and his strategy needs to be better next time . Special well done to Cav and the HTC team as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 24 July, 2011 Share Posted 24 July, 2011 Isn't cav something like 3 or 4 stage wins behind Armstrong? IMO Armstrong is a legend. Not everyones cup if tea, but I think he's awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 24 July, 2011 Share Posted 24 July, 2011 What a fantastic TDF! Thrills and spills all the way, Voekler was just awesome, the Schleks didn't quite do enough, and Evans a worthy winner. I was lucky enough to go out and see some of it and i guess it's only up close that you get to see the scale of the beast. We rode Isoard last Monday (from the hard side, same way as this year's tour) and it's got to be up with the toughest climbs on the tour. Very long (35 km from Guillestre), very pretty, and very steep over the last 5kms. Tuesday we rode from Guillestre towards the Agnell and rode over 40km of climbing before being hit by some seriously bad weather, we were over 2000m when the weather turned to torrential rain and sleet and we were lucky to get out without anything worse than mild hypothermia after sheltering in a mountain village cafe for a couple of hours. Wednesday was our first day of TDF and we rode Briancon to Montgenevre which was a relatively straightforward 10km at 6.5%, We had a great view but it was the first climb of the day and the racing was very uneventful. Very rapid decent and into the car to beat the traffic across to the Galibier for the Thursday stage. Thursday morning we rode up fromFenny L'Oisans to the top of the Lauterate, absolutely monster crowds. Unfortunately Galibier was shut to bikes so rather than stand for 5 hours to see them turn from Lataurette to Galibier we hacked back to the team car and shot down to Bourg on closed roads, lunch in Bourg then up to a very agreeable Pub/Auberge on the Vaujany road to watch the stage on the big screen with about 200 others .... what a stage to watch in a group .... Andy's attack on isoard, Evans getting no help at all with the chase .... Voekler's heroics ..... Frank mugging everybody at the finish. Then to cap a great day, back into Bourg and we rode Alpe D'Huez in the evening heat. Riding ADH was the highlight of the week, monstrous first 3km, then pretty big in the middle, and a very long steep finish too. Awesome atmosphere all the way up with whole villages and fan clubs camping out, each with their own van-sized sound system. Nipper up in 1 hr 10min and I was delighted with my 1hr 33min too! Another awesome decent (top speed 68kmh). Thursday night we partied in Bourg, Friday morning nipper rode up to Dutch corner early doors; Mrs Sandwich and I walked up to number 19 and spent the whole day people watching, eating, sunbathing and chilling. A really great week if you like bikes, beer, great wine, great food, big mountains, and ogling the wall-to-wall Euro-totty .... highly recommended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 25 July, 2011 Share Posted 25 July, 2011 Sounds like a brilliant trip Sandwich. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to get out there with bike someday myself. In the meantime I'll have to practice around the Chilterns and Berkshire Downs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 25 July, 2011 Share Posted 25 July, 2011 Men of the Tour for me are Voeckler & Cav. ( And as for the bike choice, went with the Specialized Secteur Elite, but would equally recommend the TREK 1.5 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 25 July, 2011 Share Posted 25 July, 2011 Glad you got your bike sorted. Still hard when it comes to a choice between equally good'uns in your price range. sometimes it comes down to looks and colour more than anything. I've had a similar problem deciding between the Cube Agree GTC Pro and the Ridley Orion. Although the Ridley is slightly better kitted the Cube is IMO a better looking bike, but it is predominantly white, which from the experience of my existing Cube bike is a b u g g e r to keep clean, whereas the Ridley is mainly black. Tough decision! Anyway enjoy your new bike, but beware it can become addictive. Before you know where you are you'll be applying the bike ownership equation. This is the number of bikes already owned + 1. It's a slippery slope. It's only taken me a year to go from a good quality entry level aluminium frame with carbon forks and Shimano Tiagra groupset to wanting a carbon framed machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 25 July, 2011 Share Posted 25 July, 2011 Sounds like a cracking trip, hope to do something similar when the kids are older. As for the tour, well that was surely one of the best I can remember. Fair play to Evans for finally winning, he deserved it for the pursuit of Andy Schleck's breakaway when he rode 11km without any help to close him down. Just wow for Cavendish. David Millar said today that he is Britain's best sportsman and as far as I'm concerned there is no argument against it. When people comment on our sports stars as being bottlers or not quite good enough I will refer them to Cav. 20 wins in 4 years is just unbelievable and quite un-British! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lutz Posted 26 July, 2011 Share Posted 26 July, 2011 Hey Sandwich,I want to ride the Tourmalet next year,what did you have teeth wise on the front and rear?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Hey Sandwich,I want to ride the Tourmalet next year,what did you have teeth wise on the front and rear?? Now you've got me! I haven't got a clue *****il I went outside and counted); I ride a standard road triple which I think is 30 or 32 on the smallest cog and on the back I have 25-12. From my experience people ride the big mountains on all sorts of bikes (road/hybrid/MTB/tandem!) and all sorts of gears - big double - compact - triple. The only hard and fast rule appears to be to make sure you go about 3 gears lower than you think you need! I assume this is your first 'real' mountain so no amount of training can really prepare you for it - if you are fit you will get up no problems, if you are half fit you will find it hard and will get between 75% and 95% of the way - if you aren't fit forget it! The mountains are long (if you include the run-in you may well be climbing for nearly two hours), the mountains are steep (Tourmalet prob averages 8% and several kms go into double figure gradients), it is probably going to be hot (this year wasn't, which was an exception; at home you do most of your cycling at somewhere between 16-24 degrees, in France in summer you can expect to cycle in temps of 28-32 or higher), there is also a slight altitude affect in the proper big mountains. But don't let me put you off - if you cycle regularly you will be fine. I am 49, 5'10" and 13-plus stone, I cycled 6 mountains in 6 days this year. For the last couple of years I have cycled at nearly 15 stone which put me at a serious disadvantage speed-wise! This year I noticed a measurable improvement - I still couldn't get anywhere near hard-core amateurs and proper club cyclists but I did move into the coveted best-of-the-rest category and experienced the thrill of regularly passing occasional riders, some older riders, and generally the weak and the lame. I guess this is where your gearing thing comes in - I regularly passed MTB amateurs who were struggling up in their very low gears. In terms of the gears I try and ride wherever possible in my second lowest gear (keeping one in reserve for emergencies); a fine plan that lasts for about 20 minutes - the first big ramp you hit you will be in your lowest gear and if you are anything like me you might be in it for the next 4 or 5 kms depending on gradient. I would say I rode two thirds of AHD in my lowest cog which gives me a forward speed of between 6.5 and 9.5 kms per hour - obviously depending on cadence which can fall below 50 on the steepest sections and goes up to 70 on 'easier' sections. Obviously it all depends where you are in the cycling pantheon - I am a very keen 'weekender' but have never been anywhere near a club or a race (alas, I only really got into it in my forties, i would have loved to have ridden these sort of bikes in my teens and twenties!). For comparison I tend to ride most of my home riding in the middle cog, only using the big cog for downhills and wind behind situations, and I don't tend to use granny very often for local riding. I average around 25/kmh for a 2 hour ride and can travel comfortably at 28-32kmh on the flat at a cadence of 90-94 - anymore than that and my knees start complaining! Good luck next year, you will absolutely love it, let us know how you get on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lutz Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 Cheers for that,I'm starting back on mybike this year after abreak of nearly 30 years,used to race alot then my interest turned to the other sex!! Went up the Tourmalet a couple of years ago...in the car and thought to myself yes i will have some of that(on my bike). Lutz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 29 July, 2011 Share Posted 29 July, 2011 This is a useful site if you are planning on doing some cycling in the mountains. http://www.climbbybike.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 6 February, 2012 Share Posted 6 February, 2012 no Contador again this year then. 2 years for doping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVER THE HILL Posted 6 February, 2012 Author Share Posted 6 February, 2012 It seems bizarre to ban him now when the evidence seems to say that no advantage was gained and the substance was taken by accident. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9063709/Alberto-Contador-handed-two-year-ban-for-doping-and-is-stripped-of-2010-Tour-de-Fr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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