Reply With QuoteI reckon the yellow jersey will go between Wiggins and Evans, with Contador and one of the Schleck brothers out, this is his chance.
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Tour de France thread
As requested elsewhere, and given the sudden popularity of cycling related threads, a thread to discuss any aspect of this year's version of the world's greatest cycling event.
I suppose the big question is - Can Wiggo win it ?
ALso, will Cav retain the Green Jersey ?
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I reckon the yellow jersey will go between Wiggins and Evans, with Contador and one of the Schleck brothers out, this is his chance.
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When does it start?
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Saturday 30th JuneOriginally Posted by dan17
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Wiggins has to stay out of trouble in the first week, and remain competitive while he's doing it. No easy thing, especially considering how windy it's been recently. If he gets through the first week he's got a great chance - the Tour won't be won in the Nord Pas but it could be lost here.
Hardly outsiders but I expect Menchov and Valverde to go well on this course, think Cav will struggle to keep green (his focus is on the Olympics and he will have to do his bit for Bradley too). What about Chris Froome E/W for a place in the first four?
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Tour de Drugs
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Best chance for Cav to win the green jersey is for wiggy to crash out in the first few stages. Sky are set up for the yellow, however with both jerseys on their mind they might just miss both if they are not careful. Cav will miss Thomas.
Saying that, ican't wait.
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I'd be surprised if Cav gets anywhere near the last week. They'll be looking for him to pick up a couple of early stages and then bow out I would have thought.
Sky will have to take a few risks. They cant ride on the front the whole time and wreck thir legs early on as controlling for three weeks is completely different than the one week in the dauphine.
Whatver happens if Brad can get on the podium that will be an immense achievement and a great step forward for British cycling.
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Thanks. Appreciate you starting the thread Badger Cav's aim is to get to Paris but I believe his training has been tailored to the Olympic road race more. He is quoted as saying he will be competitive in the sprints and in particular be more competitive in the type of sprints that haven't suited him in the past, but in reality it is all about Wiggo. No Brit has ever been in a similar position on the eve of a Tour. The next three weeks could herald the single greatest sporting success in my opinion by an individual or team from these shores since 1966. Wiggins is in fabulous form and there is 101km of time trialling in this year's parcours. Evans will undoubtedly be a threat as will Nibali and Valverde. That said Sky are very strong with Rogers and Froome in good shape and with Richie Porte in there as well there I think Brad has a great chance. Screw the Olympics this is the greatest sporting show on earth. Bring it on! Incidentally do people prefer Liggett and Sherwen (ITV4) to Harmon and Kelly (British Eurosport)
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Don't know maybe some little known Spanish puncher this time round I think.Neither Wiggins nor Evans could control a real
climber,not without the help of the Schlecks this time anyway.Wiggins won't win the Tour that's for sure,I'd rate both Hesjdal
and Nibali as having better chances..
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Wiggins and Evans might not be the best climbers but they are the best all rounders, these little Spanish climbers usually are poor at time trails.
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Wow Sagan could be a bit of a revelation in this tour. In that kind of form he could well be a major contender for the olympic road race too.
Team sky a bit fragmented with Froome and Rogers' problems but Wiggins never in any trouble. Really nerve-wracking stuff though. If he looses fine, but i'd hate to see any of the big guns lose it in a crash.
We'll see what kind of form Cavendish is in tomorrow.
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What a bizarre opening stage but maybe a good move by the organisers? The massive uphill finish avoided the big pile-ups we are used to seeing in the first week with all the top boys getting home in level time, the only one missing out was my EW bet Froome who punctured very late and lost 1.25. Good day for Wiggins tho.
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Pretty good it seems! Great ride
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Awesome stuff. Cav goes into hiding sticks on Grepel's wheel and gets lead out. Boy did he look pee'd off Stunning bike races the last two days. Peloton going 45mph in last 10k. Kin ell! Utter respect for these guys.
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Loved that from Cav today. Having to negotiate the last few kilometers on his own reminded me of his world title win. He timed it perfectly.
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Watching the interview with cav, he does not like playing second fiddle at all. His wins this year will be all the more special because he will have to do the majority of the work himself.
Great win today
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It's funny isn't it. As much as he insists he's happy about the team focusing on yellow it does come across like he is. I'm sure it's probably something to do with the fact he's being constantly questioned about it.
He will have known the score from day one. He has known most of the team sky backroom staff for years from GB cycling so i don't think there is any discontent there at all though.
And I think he is genuine when he says helping a brit win yellow would be massive for him, just as it was for all those who helped him win the world champiosnhips last year.
Just over a year ago i'd never really watched a bike race, but now I can't get enough. Wish I had Eurosport.
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Crazy stage today. Sagen is a beast. How can he sprint like that after climbing hills?
Loads of crashes, Rojas abandoned and a few people lost time. Brilliant sport though, great to watch.
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Will be interesting to see how Sky cope without Sioutsou. Porte, Froome, Rogers, Knees and Boason Hagen, will have to work twice as hard in the mountains. Cant see Eisel or Cav being too much help.
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No luck or lead out again today for Cav. Sky have, unsurprisingly, put all their eggs in Wiggins basket. The way its going and with his Olympic aspirations I can see Cav climbing off a day or two into the mountains.
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I bet Cadel Evans thought he had won with 200m to go, only to see Froome cruise past him. Superb effort by SKY, but a much bigger test tomorrow now Wiggo is in yellow.
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That was sheer drama! Not just the finish, but the carnage on the climb. Seeing Frank Schleck, Sammy Sanchez, Menchov, Rolland etc getting blown out the back of the peloton on that climb was worth my Sky subscription in its own right, well before next season starts. BTW that truly looked a horrible spiteful climb. 22% is monstrous at the end of 190km. Only things I have climbed similar in gradient are in the Chilterns but they're over and done with fairly shortly and aren't 6K in length. Been up Howe hill out of Watlington up towards Nettlebed (22% according to my mate's Garmin) a couple of times recently. Last time I was seeing freaking stars with the effort. Chapeau to the pros. Great day for British cycling.
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Just awesome from Sky. There is a heck of a long way to go, but Wiggo looked so comfortable just sitting behind Evans at the end. Evans was absolutely spent and both Froomey and Brad looked to have plenty left in the tank.
Sky could almost afford to cede the Jersey and then win it back in the TT, but somehow I don't think that's going to happen. Doesn't seem to be their way.
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It is on ITV4 as well.
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Well done Wiggo & Froome.
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Froome was amazing today, wiggy was even better. Sky are massive
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All this chatter of doping is really starting to do my nut in. When Usain Bolt runs 9.58 no-one harps on about Ben Johnson and how Usain must be doping. When Paula Radcliffe smashed the Marathon world record i dont recall one utterance of she must be cheating. But as soon as two British guys who have been at the top of the tree for the last year start anihilating the field they must be cheats.
None of this should be allowed to detract from the great effort being put in by these two riders and the rest of the Sky team.
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Its complete ******, but happens every year when someone new takes the lead. If they applied the same testing procedures to football as theydo to cycling the game would fall apart overnight...
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As sad as it is, I am not surprised at the doping speculation.
if Armstrong did dope, then out of the last 16 tours, only 2 years were won by clean riders.
Loved wiggins response tho, and Brailsfords support of his outburst.
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Trouble is, the TDF is such a riduculouslly hard event I don't think you can complete it without taking 'something'.
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That's a pathetic comment.
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Those b'stards down there have got our summer. Thieving gits.
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Well done Tommy Voeckler on his win, and also to the indestructable Jens Voight.
First 'big' day passed wthout too much apparent worry for SKY, but bigger climbs tomorrow. Where will Evans make his bid ?
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Massive day today. I'm locked into Eurosport already.
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Top 5 overall after stage 11
The new rankings in the overall classification looks like this:
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) SKY
2. Chris Froome (GBR) SKY at 2'05"
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) LIQ at 2'23"
4. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC at 3'19"
5. Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) LTB 4'48"
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Could chris froome beat wiggins if he was allowed to race?
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Yes. But he'll get his chances in the next few years.
Who said this in June ? "We're bringing an even stronger team to the Tour this year and the route would seem to favour me". Oh yes, Cadel Evans.
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Evans is a joke. Won it last year by grinding his way through the mountains without ever setting the pace then beating Schlek in the time trial. This year he finally goes on the attack, far too early in the stage imo, and promptly blows up on the final climb. The tour is Bradleys to lose, with his strongest opponent seemingly being his own lieutenant.
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Evans is not very likable but he won last year in the only way he could win.
I expect Wiggins will try to do the same thing this year.
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Froome would have taken a fair chunk of time out of Wiggins today if he'd attacked. He's immense.
Next year Sky should make Wiggins ride for Froome. Only fair. Nest year will be incredible with Contador back, Andy Schleck...the 100th tour too I believe.
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Never been a massive fan of professional cycling but always had immense admiration for what these guys put their bodies through. Drugs or no drugs, it's an amazing feat. And as for that saddle...
Anyway, since Wiggins has been at the front I've found myself glued to this excellent visualisation of each day's race. A cracking bit of web and visualisation design.
http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/live/aso/
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Great link thanks!
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Millar in the breakaway. This could stay away too as no one has any reason to chase it down.
It would be incredible if he won a stage. If anyone hasn't read his book then do so, it's compelling.
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Froome climbed better than Wiggins at last years Vuelta, the warnings were there....
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GB Road Race Team @ the Olympics : 4 stage winners at this year's TdF, and the national Road Race Champion. ( Not forgetting that one of those TdF riders is the current World champion, and by the start of the Games another will almost certainly be the TdF winner ).
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Well done Dave Millar, 35 years old ,the ability and experience showed.
Anniversary of Tommy Simpson's death made the victory even more poignant.
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Anybody get on my tip? Unfortunately I didn't! Guess he would have started between 12-1 to 20-1 ???
Big challenge now for Sky to keep him, not inconceivable that Wiggins could win yellow this year and Froome could lead the team next year - great to see the French (Europcar) doing so well. A classic TDF needs some French winners.
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He says not. I guess he has to say that. If I was Froome and the tour was there for the taking I'd have to take that opportunity. Who knows what might happen in the future.
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Possibly if he hadn't punctured on stage 1. As it is I don't think so. Wiggins is steady and would have hammered out the same pace up to the end of that stage. Froome has a kick that Wiggins doesn't possess but you can only sustain that pace for very short periods on these steep climbs.
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