Tour De France 2013

I didn't think Froome had that in him compared to the other riders. :eek:

When Quintana went off, I thought he was gone. :wave:

Great show of strength by Froome. :clap:
 
let get down to the important issue. :D


What time will I need to get to the woodhouse pass next year for a good spot
 
I was gutted with the ITV4 coverage yesterday due to the amount of adverts.
Understand they have to have them but surely someone must realise that near the end, things happen quickly.
Commercial break with the peleton 21 seconds behind and when back Froome was in the lead. Gutted at that one.
 
I agree about the itv4 coverage, they completely missed when froome made his break..what a ride by him, and his team though.
 
The solution, Eurosport on the TV or Eurosport Player on your computer or mobile device.

I see there is already speculation about the Armstrong-type performance of Froome yesterday......

"Three quick thoughts on ‎#Froome's performance in the ‎#TDF today:

1. It was fast, very fast. The 23:14 ascent of Ax-3-Domaines puts Froome in third on the all-time list for the climb, behind only Laiseka and Armstrong in 2001. The VAM of 1715 m/h converts to a power output of 6.3 W/kg (Ferrari method) and about 6.5 W/kg with other models (CPL, rst). Very fast.

2. Before today's performance is instantly condemned as proof of nefarious pharmacology in the sport, keep in mind what I've tried to emphasize many times over the last few years, which is the context of the climb and variability around performance. For example, this climb was done in Stage 12, 13 and 14 of the 2001, 2003 and 2005 Tours, respectively. The earlier placement in week 1 as the first climb of the Tour may affect performance. Also, variability in conditions (particularly wind and heat) make it impossible to make 'guilt by performance' proclamations. Let's wait to analyze the entire Tour, the collection of climbs, and then compare to history's known dopers. The problem when you get too close in is a kind of "performance pixelation", so step back and see the whole screen. That will happen in time.

3. Having said that, what was noteworthy today were the enormous gaps created on the final climb. That's because with the exception of Froome and perhaps Porte, the rest of the peloton performed in a manner that is typical of cycling over the last few years. Their performances were consistent with post-biological passport levels, and matched or even fell short of the prediction models. It was only Froome and Sky who exceeded them. Therefore, skepticism is normal, and failing to appreciate that will come only from extreme naivety or patriotism. History has taught us the value of some healthy cynicism, and if this level continues for three weeks, it makes for an uncomfortable Tour, of that there is no doubt.

Either it is one exceptional individual, or...well, we know the rest, we have seen this movie too often in the sport.

But, this is something only time will tell, as it always does."
 
Ricardodaforce said:
The solution, Eurosport on the TV or Eurosport Player on your computer or mobile device.[/I]
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Some of us don't have Eurosport unfortunately. I'm just glad ITV do have the coverage, because I can't imagine C4 doing nowadays. :shake: There is a very good live map on the Yahoo/Eurosport site.


Sadly there will always be doubts cycling considering its past, but you have to believe everything is above board until proved otherwise. :shrug:


Today is looking very interesting so far. Froome has lost his team, and Peter Kennaugh got knocked of his bike and disappeared down a ditch. :eek: Luckily he made his way back to the road.
 
I'm glad my Freeview box has a split screen function today with the Cycling and the Tennis on at the same time. :D

History could be made in the Tennis, and the Cycling is very absorbing as usual.

Of course, if I didn't have a chest infection I would have been out in the glorious Sun and caught the end of both. ;)
 
Ouch! I wouldn't be surprised if we see Cavendish thrown off Le Tour for that!
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Ouch! I wouldn't be surprised if we see Cavendish thrown off Le Tour for that!
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I thought that at first, from the front view, but then above the chap sits up, goes right, and the goes right again into Cavendish's way. Then the lean is to not get pushed sideways.

They could judge it anyway though. :shrug:
 
redhed17 said:
I thought that at first, from the front view, but then above the chap sits up, goes right, and the goes right again into Cavendish's way. Then the lean is to not get pushed sideways.

They could judge it anyway though. :shrug:
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He got away with it.
 
I just read Cav had Urine thrown over him during the stage today, Disgusting! :thumbsdown:
 
AndrewA123 said:
I just read Cav had Urine thrown over him during the stage today, Disgusting! :thumbsdown:
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Totally agree. I hope as it gets more popular the it doesn't start to attract the yobs. After the tacks on the road last year too, it doesn't look too good. :shake:

I think the French would come down on someone like a ton of bricks if they're found messing with the great race. ;)

Froome did excellent today. :clap: He can do it in the Mountains, and in the Time Trial. Everything a contender needs to do. :thumbs: It will be interesting to see if his team can back him up for the many attacks from other teams he will get in the coming mountain stages. He looks the class of the field though. Much better than I thought he'd be in comparison to the other riders.
 
redhed17 said:
Froome did excellent today. :clap: He can do it in the Mountains, and in the Time Trial. Everything a contender needs to do.
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Reminds me of that other fellow, what was his name? American guy...:lol::lol:

All credit to him, he's now got an impressive buffer. But we still have some brutal stages to come.

This Tour really isn't working out for Cavendish is it.
 
Do you guys think the TV companies have a responsibility to show an anti-doping stance by not working with ex-dopers? I've always found it unpalatable that Eurosport works with Sean Kelly and Richard Virenque. Out here, TVE uses Pedro Delgado. All of whom carry a stench of doping with them.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Do you guys think the TV companies have a responsibility to show an anti-doping stance by not working with ex-dopers? I've always found it unpalatable that Eurosport works with Sean Kelly and Richard Virenque. Out here, TVE uses Pedro Delgado. All of whom carry a stench of doping with them.
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I didn't know Sean Kelly had failed drug tests. :(

I would have the zero tolerance stance that Sky seem to take. Have nothing to do with dopers. :shake: I don't watch Eurosport, but would rather dopers didn't continue in the sport in any way.

Make the punishments so punitive that it discourages anyone from even thinking about it imho.
 
Kelly once failed a drugs test, strangely, he'd submitted a sample "donated" by his team mechanic - problem was, team mechanic had been on some form of "uppers" to cope with the late nights of rebuilding the bikes :lol:
 
Ricardodaforce said:
That they seem to take NOW.....
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Have Sky not always had that attitude? :shrug:

After the history of the sport, you can only hope that attitudes have changed for all the teams now.


On the commentary today. 'Cavendish is ahead and never gets beaten from this position. Kittel wins!' :lol:
 
redhed17 said:
Have Sky not always had that attitude? :shrug:

After the history of the sport, you can only hope that attitudes have changed for all the teams now.

On the commentary today. 'Cavendish is ahead and never gets beaten from this position. Kittel wins!' :lol:
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Sky have been associated with some very dodgy characters. They have subsequently got rid of them, but nevertheless they were part of the set up.
 
Buttkicker said:
Cav was very Lucky to get away with the crash incident without some kind of sanction but that is now in the past.. I think a more pressing question is that Kittel keeps winning and looking more and more confident

is there a changing of the guard at the top of the sprinting tree
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Kittel seems to be the man in form.

There was a mid race sprint yesterday, and Cavendish seemed to give up when he was beside Greipel, and it looked easy enough to win. :thinking:

Whether Cavendish is just not on top form, or is over the plateau of his career, only time will tell.


A very good program on TV last night about Cavendish. Didn't realise it was 2 hours, but it kept me watching. ;) I've found him to be a very moody person in races and some interviews. I don't think this programme changed my view of him, but it was a great insight into his life. Looked like he has a bit of OCD, which no one came out and said. ;)
 
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redhed17 said:
A very good program on TV last night about Cavendish. Didn't realise it was 2 hours, but it kept me watching. ;) I've found him to be a very moody person in races and some interviews. I don't think this programme changed my view of him, but it was a great insight into his life. Looked like he has a bit of OCD, which no one came out and said. ;)
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i watched that too.

i think he seemed like a fairly nice bloke in "real life". definitely has OCD or something similar, not sure anyone needed to say it :D
 
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