Cycling thread 2015

The Esk · June 13, 2015

@Bruce Wayne we're going to be in France during Le Tour. I'm planning on going to Col de la Croix de Bauzon on Stage 15 if the roads are not too crowded, failing that will got Valence for the finish

Wat Tyler · June 13, 2015

Bruce Wayne said:
Yes, he used to be someone you could count on to try and animate the classics a bit. Valverde is really the only one left that does that, although I'm not sure he's a very desirable trophy boy for it either.

It sounds from his press conference that Nibali gave up the jersey today. He was saying he's not fussed by the Dauphine at all. Not sure whether it's mind games or what.

Usually I would say thats bullshine but the Pra Loup stage it looked like he was fine when he climbed off, it was weird.

hudd101 · June 13, 2015

Quite an interesting stage today.

Bruce Wayne · June 15, 2015

the esk said:
@Bruce Wayne we're going to be in France during Le Tour. I'm planning on going to Col de la Croix de Bauzon on Stage 15 if the roads are not too crowded, failing that will got Valence for the finish

Sorry mate, didn't get an alert so missed this. It looks like that will be a sprint stage so I wouldn't imaging the climb will be too busy. The French don't seem to spectate as keenly as we do, so unless it's a decisive mountain the crowds always seem a bit sparse.

Mende (the start point for that stage) has some good history to it though. Frenchman Laurent Jalabert won there in 1995 and his break on the Montee Croix Neuve was so exciting they (unofficially) renamed the mountain Montee Jalabert. That was when the EPO era was in full bloom though so take the performance with a pinch of salt, but I think there's a monument to him at the summit.

Will you be taking your bikes down?

Bruce Wayne · June 15, 2015

Wat Tyler said:
Usually I would say thats bullshine but the Pra Loup stage it looked like he was fine when he climbed off, it was weird.

Good win by Froome in the end but it's hard to really take much from it. God only knows what Nibali was up to, and of course Contador and Quintana were absent. Hopefully they all make it through the first week in one piece and we get to see all four of them duking it out.

The Esk · June 15, 2015

Bruce Wayne said:
Sorry mate, didn't get an alert so missed this. It looks like that will be a sprint stage so I wouldn't imaging the climb will be too busy. The French don't seem to spectate as keenly as we do, so unless it's a decisive mountain the crowds always seem a bit sparse.

Mende (the start point for that stage) has some good history to it though. Frenchman Laurent Jalabert won there in 1995 and his break on the Montee Croix Neuve was so exciting they (unofficially) renamed the mountain Montee Jalabert. That was when the EPO era was in full bloom though so take the performance with a pinch of salt, but I think there's a monument to him at the summit.

Will you be taking your bikes down?

Won't have bikes with us I'm afraid, might rent some whilst we are there though

We might just go to the finish in Valence as it's a quick drive up the A7 from where we are staying....

Bruce Wayne · June 15, 2015

the esk said:
Won't have bikes with us I'm afraid, might rent some whilst we are there though

We might just go to the finish in Valence as it's a quick drive up the A7 from where we are staying....

You'll probably see more at the finish. They'll probably have a screen up or you can watch it in a bar/cafe or something. Stages usually finish mid-afternoon time so you can potter about, have lunch, meander to the finish, watch Kittel beat Cavendish...

sbbefc · June 15, 2015

Simon Yates future tour winner?

Bruce Wayne · June 16, 2015

sbbefc said:
Simon Yates future tour winner?

He's certainly done really well and both his and Adam's decision to join Orica rather than Sky has been vindicated. Adam finished 6th I think in last years race, and Simon went one better this year. Both look like great prospects. Adam had his first GT at the Vuelta last year and you'd imagine both he and Simon will get another GT under their belt this season. It will be fascinating to see how they go.

Bruce Wayne · June 26, 2015

Le Tour starts in just over a week. A week full of classic style stages to kick things off and then a whole host of summit finishes. Should be cracking.