Winnersaint

Concur, real cycling season is from Omloop to LBL. Always liked the Vuelta though.

Agree with the consensus that this despite being the closest race for years was one of the most boring. ASO tried to gerrymander a Bardet victory but failed. Course design was so blatantly geared that way. The only stages that stood out for me were Planche de Belle Filles and Peyregudes. Too many long ones for sprinters and no Tom Demoulin. Will be interesting next year, Froome will be 33. Indurain was 31 when he won his fifth Tour, Hinault and Anquetil were 30 and Mercx 29. The only older rider to win a post war yellow jersey was Cadel Evans in a race where Wiggins was pretty much nailed on until he crashed out.This race was effectively decided in Dusseldorf and bookended in Marseille.

Best rant ever crab!

There speaks a voice of reason.

Wondered when you'd pop up with your usual summer angst!

I think the problem with the referendum result is that it was as much a protest against the establishment by people who felt disenfranchised as much anything else. Arguments can be made both ways about the economy plusses and minuses but this wasn't about Britain and its economic relationship with the EU which should have been the core argument. For an awful lot of people, it was about immigration plain and simple. I think the rise in, and fear of Islamic fundamentalism didn't help especially with large numbers of migrants camped at 'The Jungle' in Calais. In the end I don't think the opportunist econo/political migrant from 'The Jungle' could be distinguished by many from the eastern European migrants from the EU. Remain didn't do enough to promote the merits of EU membership and Leave tapped into the nasty racist undercurrent that exists in our country.

And if it f*cks the economy for the next twenty years (I stress if!) that's Ok is it? Remoaner, snowflake and proud of it!

Contador up the road

Looking forward to tomorrow. They are riding roads I was on three weeks back. Down the Ornon towards Bourg d'Oisans then left along the the D1091 to Rochetaille before going right to Allemont. Up the dam (Love the dam climb) over the lake and past the Vaujany turn and the EDF HEP station before hitting the Glandon/Croix de Fer. I have unfinished business with the D926! Descent off the CdF will be sketchy, but valley road from St Jean du Maurienne should bring it back if any GC gets away. Telegraphe will be neutral but expect Bardet and Aru to kick it off on the Galibier. The drop to the Lauteret and from there to Serre Chavalier could be crucial. It's the sort of descent where if one rider gets away they could stay away. Hold on it's going to be a great afternoon!

And on the fourth day, I climbed Alpe d'Huez!! Pros make it look easy. It's an absolute cnt. The approach from the roundabout is downhill and quick, but reach the depart sign near the left hander and you're fishing for gears. Big ring quickly becomes small ring and rapidly it's as far down the block as you can get it. Thing is with Alpe d'Huez everyone that's ever watched the TdF knows it. Seen a doped LA and JU duke it out and how the fck did Pantani get up there so quickly. The gradients at the bottom are serious. Seeing an average of 11%+ on first three pitches. Any speed carried in just disappears in the blink of an eye. When you reach La Garde after six bends it does ease to around 8%, but the middle (easier) section still can rear up into double figures. When you round Dutch Corner the ski resort just appears, like almost vertically above you. Reach Huez village and there's still over a third of the climb still to go and it kicks up to double figures once more to reach the resort in the sky. The last few Km's are more of the same cntish stuff 13- 16% in places as once again you gain height quickly towards the finish. Rounding bend 1 the last double percentage ramp seems cruel, but nothing can stop you. Iconic? Yes! Enjoyable? In a strange way, yes! Fck you A d'H. Btch, btch. BTW it took me 105 mmins up and 20 mins to come down and on the last two drops I didn't see my Garmin go below 66kph.

Ha ha! It took me 105 minutes to go up The Alpe a couple of weeks back at 7kmph. I couldn't spin my 34-32 it was just a grind. These pros are amazing.

Don't you have something better to do with your time ffs!

Never even been anywhere near. Got on leaderboard on short climb a few years ago. Not even top 50 now even though faster.

Half a team to be exact. Resignation date for Sept 17 was June 1st. Point wasn't necessarily to compare two different occupations just to use it to emphasise that VVD has the same right to seek altenative employment if he feels it could advance his career by doing so, same as I could. Remuneration doesn't come in to it either, what does leave a nasty taste is the role of an agent pressing for a move to line his pockets.

Why would anyone believe a fascist rag like that, unless they were congenitally stupid?

Not unbelieveable, just realistic! I'm good if we stick firm like we did with MS and VW and hold out for another season just not holding my breath or worrying about it. Sorry far more important thing to get knickers in a twist about in life, and if not I repeat; Get a f**king life!

Regardless of how much we paid that is the way the football industry works. Admittedly, not the same in education but the principle is the same. Sports people do not do it for loyalty, for them it's all about winning. With respect, VVD is unlikely to win much with Saints. Support the team/club not individuals. Anyone that thinks that we will be anything other than Prem also rans is frankly barking mad. Been the same since promotion to the top flight in 66, just the goalposts have changed in the meantime. We are only in a slightly better position than we were then. If you don't like it, go and support someone else.

I am the only one here who doesn't give a Shyte? If he wants to play for us, fine, if he doesn't, get rid. What is the problem? Oh and by the way I signed a permanent contract with my employers back in the day. If I'd wanted/needed to move to a different education authority I could have done so without penalty. How is he different? Regardless of the money, how many on here have switched jobs because it offers better prospects to be successful? Can't have it both ways! Also sick and tired of all the mongs on here dissecting and reading stuff into social media shyte. get a f**king life.

Dippers don't do The Sun

You are a sad strange little man.

If people were consistent the same attitude should apply to VvD. I don't see any difference.

Funny!

As funny as fook! Who do these people think they are. Talk about an over-inflated sense of self importance!

Wow, feel for Barguil. As for Richie Porte, what can you say? Horrible crash. Medical people at BMC reckon 4 weeks before he's back on the bike.

This sort of stuff makes us look like a bunch of sad arses!