Tour de France 2011

[davek]

To be fair I think Saxobank are in a strong position at the moment, as either Frank or Andy could win. It does seem a three man fight now between them and Cadel. Voekler has been great hanging in as long as he has but I can't see him holding on tomorrow, and he isn't a great time triallist. Contador is gone, and Basso doesn't seem to have much either.

Leopard-Trek?

 

[mezzrow]

Leopard-Trek?

This. You can't tell the players without a scorecard, you know.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Leopard-Trek?

Sorry yes Cadel doesn't really have anyone that can help him in the mountains, so unless the other contenders join forces to help him out against the Schleck's, he could find himself in a similar position today.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Mechanical deciding the Tour for a 2nd year in a row

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Gutsy effort by Cuddles to drag things back up. Once again getting no help whatsoever.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

All back together. Great descending by Cuddles. All on for the Alp

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Go Cuddles go

 

[davek]

The thinking seems to be that Evans can and will make that 57 seconds gap up on Schleck in the TT tomorrow. Maybe/probably. But the yellow jersey can get a bit extra out of any rider (as Voeckler proved this past week).

I wouldn't be bothered about Evans winning it as he's ridden a great race and it's always good to see an English-speaking cyclist win a Tour, but I'd like Schleck to win because he's had a go at attacking whereas Evans is just a reactive rider.

Best Tour for years.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Nowt wrong with that..

Anyway, never mind the yellow jersey, that's for the tossers. The green jersey is where it's at.

Wonder why it is only me who agrees with you...!

 

[Goat]

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The thinking seems to be that Evans can and will make that 57 seconds gap up on Schleck in the TT tomorrow. Maybe/probably. But the yellow jersey can get a bit extra out of any rider (as Voeckler proved this past week).

I wouldn't be bothered about Evans winning it as he's ridden a great race and it's always good to see an English-speaking cyclist win a Tour, but I'd like Schleck to win because he's had a go at attacking whereas Evans is just a reactive rider.

Best Tour for years.

I'm hoping for Cadel to win tomorrow and he 'should' make up that time, but we saw last year that Schleck can do a decent time trial. We'll soon find out.

 

[Columbia6]

The best Tour I've ever seen, the last four days have been unbelievable entertainment. A part of me is hoping this heralds a new style of racing in the sport, more old-school where the favourites duke it out on their own, less of this sterile hiding behind your team until halfway up the final climb crap.

I don't ordinarily like Cadel Evans, but you have to say if he does win, he'll have deserved it this year. Still hope Schleck does a special ride though. Could very well be the closest ever finish, and I think that would put it up amongst the top 3 Tours ever.

 

[Goat]

How many days does this smackfest go on for?

 

[davek]

The best Tour I've ever seen, the last four days have been unbelievable entertainment. A part of me is hoping this heralds a new style of racing in the sport, more old-school where the favourites duke it out on their own, less of this sterile hiding behind your team until halfway up the final climb crap.

I don't ordinarily like Cadel Evans, but you have to say if he does win, he'll have deserved it this year. Still hope Schleck does a special ride though. Could very well be the closest ever finish, and I think that would put it up amongst the top 3 Tours ever.

I'd say it's the best Tour since Roche beat Delgado. But this is probably better because one of four could realistically have laid down a winning ride today with one real race day to go. A proper thriller.

 

[davek]

How many days does this smackfest go on for?

I'm dreading the news post Tour that Schleck and/or Evnas are EPO'd up.